What Nora Knew (NetGalley)Linda Yellinrelease date: January 20 Molly Hallberg is sassy. Looking for that promotion. Longing for Mr. Right. Living in New York City. Lounging in the Hamptons. Just like we all want to do, right, ladies? Because that’s probably the draw of what’s sometimes dismissed as “chick lit”, isn’t it? A fun romp through …
The Longings of Wayward Girls (Galley Alley) Karen Brown Karen Brown’s Longings of Wayward Girls is one of the only chick lit titles I’ve read this summer … and it’s a great one! Brown tells the story of Sadie at twelve and Sadie years later as wife and mother. Because what happened to Sadie then was haunting …
Sisterland (NetGalley) Curtis Sittenfeld release date: June 25,2013 Daisy and Violet were identical twins who couldn’t have been more different. Daisy longs to fit in; Violet couldn’t have cared less. Daisy is pretty; Violet overweight. Daisy has the perfect family: loving husband, toddler Rosie and baby Owen; in her 30s Violet is still single and …
Meg Wolitzer reviewed Jeanette Walls’ Silver Star today on NPR (link) and while I don’t disagree with some of her criticism (sometimes the direction was shaky, and maybe the girls are a little too resourceful), I also couldn’t help but think that she totally missed the mark on why some readers return to a favorite author in the …
The Aviator’s Wife (NetGalley) Melanie Benjamin I was Mom. I was Wife. I was Tragedy. I was Pilot. They all were me, and I, them. That was a fate we could not escape, we women; we would always be called upon by other in a way men simply never were. But weren’t we always, first …
The Distant Hours Kate Morton “… stories are everywhere. That’s all writing is, apparently, capturing sights and thoughts on paper. Spinning, like a spider does, but using words to make the pattern.” As soon as Edie Burchill confessed she kept a copy of Jane Eyre in her bag should she “need to queue unexpectedly” I …
Every Last One Anna Quindlen Mary Beth and Greg Latham have a picture perfect family:17-year-old Ruby, a talented writer; and twins Alex, a budding athlete, and Max, the drummer. Mary runs a successful landscaping business and Greg is a respected local doctor. Add to that their sprawling home in a small town, surround them with …
Secret Daughterby Shilpi Somaya Gowda Somer and Krishnan have it all. Meeting in med school he was drawn to her American optimism and drive, she to his British accent and exotic Indian homeland. Marrying to improve their chances of being assigned a shared residency program, they set out (as most do) with the dream that …
Peony in LoveLisa See [spoiler alert] This was a quick Kindle purchase–I needed something light and breezy and (in true Kindle fashion) I needed it now! Having read Lisa See’s Snow Flower and the Secret Fan I anticipated another story of love and friendship–and was eager to gain more insight into 17th century China. I …
Cookbook CollectorAllegra Goodman So I like to cook. I love to eat. I read cookbooks for fun. And the icing on the cake? NPR commentator Maureen Corrigan called author Allegra Goodman an “updated Jane Austen” and the novel a contemporary take on Sense and Sensibility. And while the basics are there (two sisters blind to …
This is my symphony 