I am not exaggerating about this. Kelly Corrigan’s account of dealing with breast cancer at the same time that her dad is dealing with bladder cancer is a funny, funny book. I laughed out loud while reading it on a plane. That’s crazy, right?
The title of the book, The Middle Place, refers to the generation that is parenting and being parented at the same time. Kelly is a grown woman, a writer living in California with a family of her own, when she discovers a lump in her breast. She has a biopsy and discovers she has late-stage breast cancer. While she is recounting her trials with chemotherapy, radiation, and the many drugs she is taking, she fills us in on her childhood and family. She grew up in a tight-knit Irish Catholic family in Philadelphia and her relationship with her dad is one for the books. He is one of those perpetually upbeat, energetic, affectionate people that everyone loves. When she finds out that his cancer has returned, she is devastated. She is torn between wanting him to come take care of her and trying to manage his care from the opposite coast.
Cancer is tough, but people are tough, too, and the way Kelly takes on her treatment and then her father’s is nothing short of admirable. But this book is not all cancer, all the time. There’s a lot of love and life in these pages. Adorable toddlers and preschoolers, adventures abroad, the Dot-com bust and what it means to be a Corrigan (does your family have a fight song? C-O-double R-I-G-A-N spells Corrigan). Kelly’s the kind of woman who honestly admits to fighting with her mother over Guess jeans in 1984, losing a coveted job at The Limited AND her virginity in the same chapter that follows her reaction to a three-year-old calling her bald, chemo-ridden self “monster”. How does one combine all of these things seamlessly? I’m telling you, it is funny.
This is probably one of those books that you have been thinking about reading, that is making the rounds of the book groups, and I say, why wait? Don’t put it off, it is surprisingly light and you will feel enriched and grateful after reading it.
July 1st, 2009
Molly - Central
Los Angeles Times reporter Jack McEvoy, featured in Michael Connelly’s earlier novel The Poet, returns in his latest thriller, The Scarecrow. When Jack is laid off from the newspaper with only 14 days notice, he decides to go out with a bang with one final high profile story. What starts out as an investigation into the wrongful arrest of a young gangbanger for the brutal rape of an exotic dancer turns into a case involving the sinister nature of computer technology.
The actual villain in the story is an MIT graduate Wesley Carver known as the Scarecrow. Wesley overseas security at a top-secret data storage facility in Arizona used by many law firms and businesses. His below-the-radar existence gives Carver the ability to mine for victims which he has been doing successfully for years. The reader is introduced to the Scarecrow early in the story as the action switches between his secret work at the facility and McEvoy’s hunt for the killer during his final days as a reporter. Helping Jack in his investigation is the FBI agent featured in Connelly’s previous book, Rachel Walling. As Jack and Rachel uncover information about the killer, they realize that they are also among the hunted.
Michael Connelly, a former Los Angeles Times crime reporter, delves into the state of the newspaper industry while telling a thrilling story. And while not up to the level of his ever popular Harry Bosch series, I found The Scarecrow to be an entertaining summer read.
June 30th, 2009
Lesley - Central
Let me make this clear right off the bat: Truly Plaice isn’t really a giant. At least, she’s isn’t what you’d find at the top of a beanstalk. She’s more an Andre the Giant type; hence the “little” before “giant” in the title of Tiffany Baker’s debut novel The Little Giant of Aberdeen County. That said, it took me about half of the book to accept that Truly wasn’t going to be crushing towns beneath her feet or even yelling “fee, fi, fo, fum,” but once I got over my disappointment, I really started to enjoy this book.
Truly Plaice is truly out of place (sorry, I couldn’t resist) in Aberdeen County during the 1950s. There’s something strange about her from the start - when her mother’s stomach looks more like she’s carrying triplets than a single baby, everyone starts to wonder what kind of child is growing in there. Tragically, Truly’s mother dies in childbirth, leaving her father to raise her and her lovely older sister Serena Jane. Truly grows faster than a normal child, quickly outgrowing her sister’s old clothes until her father’s old shirts are about all she can wear. Her size and awkwardness are made even more obvious in comparison with Serena Jane, whose delicate, doll-like features make her one of the prettiest girls in town.
A series of unfortunate circumstances leads Truly to the home of the Dyersons, a poor family known locally for their consistent bad luck, and Serena Jane to a hasty marriage to Bob-Bob Martin, son of the town doctor. When Serena Jane leaves her family, Truly must pick up the pieces, and in the process, finally accept her own larger-than-life identity. Like its heroine, The Little Giant of Aberdeen County is a little giant of a novel. At 341 pages, it’s not overly wordy, or even too heavy to carry around in a large-ish purse or briefcase, yet it manages to pack quite a number of years between its covers. The ambitious story the author successfully folds into these pages follows Truly’s upbringing from childhood to her later life, and in between, elegantly reveals the changes in Aberdeen County itself through the decades. While barely spanning two generations, the novel captures the feeling of a sprawling epic with a refreshing clarity and conciseness, while subplots involving potential witchcraft and the Vietnam War also add to the intrigue.
June 29th, 2009
Kylee
If, like me, you’re a fan of last summer’s Iron Man movie (on DVD and Blu-Ray), writer Matt Fraction and artist Salvador Larroca have crafted a follow-up graphic novel that builds on some of the same themes and characters of the movie. It’s called The Invincible Iron Man : The Five Nightmares and deals with a question the movie had me thinking about after I saw it: Why isn’t Tony Stark building more Iron Man suits for others to use?
Turns out, Tony’s afraid of what could happen if someone else gets their hands on the technology– and his five nightmares are all variations on that theme. Because others wouldn’t be as trustworthy as billionaire, womanizing, recovering-alcoholics apparently. Not even the government Tony seems to slavishly serve (see the Marvel Civil War) nor the members of S.H.I.E.L.D., where he also serves as director, deserve that kind of power. No, there’s only one man who can wear the Iron Man suit.
Oh, but technology keeps moving forward, and what has been invented, can be re-invented/improved. Tony finds himself facing a new menace, Advanced Genocide Mechanics, a more-or-less one-man show with a familiar name running it, which is outfitting any and all suicide bombers with portable weapons of mass destruction– for a price. And all based on technology gleaned from developments of Stark Enterprises, Tony’s company. (Although, granted, this is comic book technology we’re talking here.)
Familiar faces returning from the movie include Tony’s right-hand woman Pepper Potts, and Jim Rhodes (in his “War Machine” persona), and bad guy Obadiah Stane (via flashback).
The bad news is Robert Downey Jr. doesn’t play Tony Stark/Iron Man in the graphic novel. The playfulness he brought to the role is missing, and the torment he feels knowing that his work is bringing death and destruction is somewhat lacking as well, at least compared to Downey’s performance. But Salvador Larroca’s artwork here is really spectacular, with rich colors and exquisite detail. This is one of the Marvel premiere edition volumes that really lives up to the name.
If you are a fan of the movie, or superhero comics in general, you should definitely give this one a try.
June 26th, 2009
Dennis - Central
Before this month, I’d never heard of the Reform Firm. That was the name of a group of women in the Victorian era who fought to improve women’s education, among other feminist causes. During this time when all women were supposed to be married and the property of their husbands, those who couldn’t marry had very few choices. One of those few choices was becoming a governess. The English Woman’s Journal was founded by two members of the Reform Firm, Barbara Leigh Smith and Bessie Rayner Parkes; they were hoping to influence old legislation that prevented women from owning property after marriage and kept women and girls from attending public schools. The Journal was published by the Victoria Press, which was run by Emily Faithfull; through the journal and the press, the women were able to employ many women to prove their theories by putting them into action.
Coincidentally, the last two books I’ve read involved these interesting women. Governess: The Lives and Times of the Real Jane Eyres, Ruth Brandon includes a chapter on the women of the Reform Firm. Actually, the book takes up with governesses much earlier. Brandon, analyzing journals, letters and literature of the time, recreates the sad lives most governesses led. She begins with Mary Wollstonecraft, author of The Vindication of the Rights of Women, who actually spent a short time as a governess before her writing career took off, and includes Claire Clairmont (Lord Byron’s mistress); Anna Leonowens, the model for The King and I, among others. Brandon shows how precarious governesses’ lives were; always at the whim of their employers, they could be fired for any reason - getting on the wrong side of the mother, for example. As the middle class grew in the Industrial Revolution, more families were able to hire governesses to educate their girls, but they didn’t have the large estates that the wealthy did. As a result, governesses were forced to live intimately with the families, causing much strife. And wages dropped to unliveable levels. The final chapter tells how the Reform Firm began to work at challenging the social mores regarding women’s education, though it was still many years before schools allowed girls in.
The Sealed Letter by Emma Donoghue is a novel based on an illustrious divorce case in 1864. Helen Smith, British, but raised in Italy and India, captured the heart of a much older man, the Vice-Admiral Henry Codrington. They have a few good years of marriage and have two daughters. The Admiral is often away for long periods of time at sea. During one of those absences, Helen invites a good friend of the family, Emily Faithfull!! (she of the Victoria Press above), to live with her and keep her company. By the time Henry comes back Helen is tired of her husband and when the arguments ensue, Emily is asked to leave. Eventually the family is off to Malta on assignment, where Helen begins to “befriend,” if you know what I mean, a few of the officers. When the family eventually returns to London, one of the officers follows, and Helen is caught. The divorce was an incredible scandal, the trial sensational with accusations of rape and a lesbian affair. Though Emily remained a force in the feminist movement until her death, her name was always associated with the scandal.
Both books were incredibly good. Brandon writes a remarkably interesting and readable social history of a small aspect of the lives of Victorian women. Donoghue captures Victorian England so well, fitting in period details without interrupting the flow of the story. All three of her characters have been perfectly rendered; no one is the victim or the victor, each is a unique individual with a complex personality. For those as interested as I am in the Victorian age, add these to your list.
June 24th, 2009
Lisa - Central
In Peter Robinson’s latest All the Colors of Darkness, a group of schoolboys find the body of a man hanging from an oak tree in a forest glade. Shortly thereafter police discover that his partner was murdered. For Detective Inspector Annie Cabbot and her partner Detective Sergeant Winsome Jackson it looks like a case with an easy solution, murder/suicide due to jealousy. The seeming slam dunk means they can return to a knifing case with ties to gangs and drugs in a local housing area. The problem with this plan is that the murder victim was found in a expensive suburb area. And the superintendent wants Chief Inspector Allan Banks called back from his vacation in London to make sure all the angles are covered.
Once on the case Banks tends to agree with the investigating officers, but there is something bothering him and he continues to ask questions, widening the pool of people involved. Suddenly the Superintendent tells him to drop it, that the case is closed and he can return to his aborted vacation. Banks cannot let it lie and continues to investigate, only to find himself mired in an unfamiliar world of espionage and terrorism, not knowing who he can trust and endangering not only himself but anyone close to him.
Robinson’s Banks continues to be an interesting character to read about, not perfect by any means, and struggling with some of the same issues that face everyone: love and loss, grief, aging, second guessing one’s career choice, and just what to do next in a quickly changing world. Combine that with a compelling mystery and you have another winner to read.
June 23rd, 2009
Liz C. - Alicia Ashman
But I really heart Hilary Liftin, author of Candy and Me: A Love Story, a book that does not refer to Candy Spelling. Even though Liftin co-authors both of Tori Spelling’s biographies: New York Times bestselling sTORI telling and the new Mommywood. Is it confusing to start this review with that?
Let’s go back to the beginning. I will never tire of Hollywood princess Tori Spelling and her stories of growing up as the privileged daughter of one of the most popular prime-time television producers of all-time. What’s not to love about growing up in a home large enough to house a bowling alley and gift-wrapping room? (OK, I know she didn’t live at “The Manor” until she was 17, but she still had Halloween costumes designed by Nolan Miller.) It is fascinating to read about her tempestuous relationship with her mother and $30,000 wedding gowns and starring roles on popular television shows. I am an unabashed fan of Beverly Hills, 90210 and couldn’t wait for Tori to pick up her role as the now grown-up fashion designer Donna Martin in the new 90210 series. Her character is silly and down-to-earth and so it seems, is the real life Tori.
Where sTORI telling takes on Tori’s own growing up in Hollywood, Mommywood tackles parenting in la-la land. And it is crazy. But told with humor and recognition of the craziness. Like I said, the real life Tori seems to be down-to-earth and funny. Her relationship with her mother and her own life as a Hollywood child color her every move as a parent, but she is trying her best. She changes her babies’ diapers, struggles with temper tantrums and tucks her kids in at night. She also gets invited to red carpet events, receives expensive merchandise for free and celebrates birthdays with other celebrities and their babies at somewhat over-the-top, but not totally excessive parties. I mean, a moon bounce, magician and bakery cakes are not unheard of even in these parts, right?
I listened to Tori read the audio book and it was very funny. I have a special something for audio books read by the author and this was no exception. Tori has great comedic timing and these are her stories. I also really like Hilary Liftin’s writing, and whatever finessing she might have had with Tori’s stories, it all works.
This definitely kicks off summer beach reading season for me. If you are looking for a little taste of lifestyles of the rich and famous and aren’t squeamish when it comes to swim diapers gone wrong (in a private pool, of course), take a trip to Mommywood. And don’t forget Candy and Me: A Love Story. Cola flavored Bottle Caps rule!
June 22nd, 2009
Molly - Central
James Huston has been writing political thrillers for about a decade, but he’s really hit his stride with his last few books. Marine One starts off with a bang - the president and everyone else on board the Marine One helicopter are killed when it crashes in a thunderstorm - and builds momentum as the legal and political maneuverings get underway.
The helicopter crash is immediately blamed on WorldCopter, the French company that built it. Politicians are grandstanding, the Justice Department has opened an investigation, the NTSB’s preliminary report determines the helicopter was defective, and the widowed former First Lady has hired a powerful attorney to represent her in a wrongful death suit. Enter Mike Nolan.
Mike is a civil litigator who also flies helicopters for the Marine Reserves. He is hired by WorldCopter and their insurers to defend against all comers. When he begins his own investigation into the crash, Mike becomes convinced that it was not the result of defect. Was it the highly skilled but rabidly anti-president marine pilot? The 100 year storm? A governmental agent who wants to keep the President’s intended plans for that night secret? Or something else altogether? While some of the possibilities seem far-fetched, the rush to judgment by all parties involved makes Mike very uneasy. He knows that the only way to save his client is by figuring out what made Marine One crash.
I really liked the mix of legal, political and techno thrills. Huston’s military and legal background make this a well-researched and fascinating ‘what if’ scenario. Huston handles the myriad characters well and is able to meld plot and helicopter crash details without slowing the pace. And if I thought the ultimate revelation about what caused the crash was a bit of a let down, I had a heckuva read along the way.
June 20th, 2009
Jane J. - Central Library
Peter Feldstein found a unique way to record the history of his small town in Iowa with his book the Oxford Project. It began in 1984 when he took a photograph of each of the town’s 676 residents. His plan was to display them all for the town residents to view. In the introduction, Stephen Bloom explains that Feldstein intended the project to be a social experiment, giving equal billing to each resident without pretense. The photos show the residents dressed “as you are” as Feldstein instructed. There is a wide variety of hats, uniforms, and costumes and even a raccoon and a lion. Every resident is included, even babies.
It seems that Feldstein never intended to return to this project, but it is his return to and resumption of photography more than 20 years later that makes this book so interesting. He decided to try to retake photos of the same people, as much as possible. More than 100 of the original group had died and some had moved away, but most of them were still in Oxford.
This time, along with the original photograph and the contemporary one, there is a narrative written by Stephen Bloom, based on an interview with the resident. Although the photos are fascinating, the brief stories combined with them are what makes the book so interesting. The years have brought many experiences and life changes and these are summarized in just a few paragraphs.
The Oxford Project could be called a coffee table book; it is certainly one that can be looked at and enjoyed repeatedly. It describes the values and life experiences of the interconnected residents of a small mid-western town, who display an unexpected variety of opinions and perspectives.
June 19th, 2009
Mary K. - Central
Do you develop crushes on your favorite authors? I suppose it’s hard not to, especially if they write the kind of intimate memoirs of graphic novelist Jeffrey Brown. I’ve been a fan of Brown’s stories since I picked up his first novel, Clumsy, a few years ago. In a series of seemingly simple, yet expressive vignettes, Brown illustrates the highs, lows, and funny moments of his first love. What’s so impressive about this, his first book, and subsequent relationship-themed novels like Unlikely, AEIOU, and Every Girl is the End of the World for Me, is his ability to convey these private relationship moments with such candor, self-deprecation, and charming humor. His raw, almost shaky, drawing style lends to the feeling of reading someone’s quickly scribbled diary. It’s hard not to fall in love.
I was so delighted to see a new Jeffrey Brown book in our “Don’t Miss Lists” recently. Funny Misshapen Body largely departs from the girlfriend chronicles to focus on Brown’s career development as an artist and his struggle with Crohn’s disease. As a kid, Brown loved to draw but didn’t know comics would be the outlet for his art. The journey to write Clumsy involved painting thousands of wooden shoes in college, enduring critiques as an MFA student at the Art Institute of Chicago, befriending legendary graphic novelist Chris Ware, and stumbling upon Quimby’s bookstore in Chicago. For the best context to the story, it’s worth reading Clumsy or any of his other books first before picking up this one.
Perhaps most impressive in Funny Misshapen Body is Brown’s detailing of his life with Crohn’s disease. The hospital scenes are quite personal, but he portrays these experiences with honesty, sensitivity, and an endearing wide-eyed curiosity. This was refreshing after I recently struggled through Charlotte Roche’s Wetlands–see Dennis’ smart review here– which tackles similar medical descriptions with far less heart and poignancy. Jeffrey was certainly an unlucky kid to have to endure these procedures, but such experiences clearly made him a more empathetic writer.
Despite this being his 8th graphic novel, Jeffrey Brown seems to be overlooked by many graphic novel readers. If you’re a fan of Craig Thompson, Adrian Tomine, Dan Clowes, or Harvey Pekar, and haven’t read any Jeffrey Brown, do yourself a favor and pick up his books. But I’ll warn you ahead of time: his most recent author bio says he’s already taken.
June 18th, 2009
Rebecca - Monroe Street
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