The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank

So, I have been messing around with the Blog tonight - adding some cool new features...check them out.

I got this book at the December Book Exchange. It was just what the doctor ordered for the holidays. Light, easy, entertaining and forgettable. The main character, Jane Rosenthal, is out in the mad, mad world of singleness and dating. This novel captures what is must be like to be coming of age in America today. My only complaint about this book is that the author would skip big gaps of time from chapter to chapter. It gave me the same feeling as when I miss dialogue in a movie, that I have to "catch up" to understand what is happening. Otherwise, it was a fun read.

The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

This book to me forever to read. The author has this rambling, speak-writing style that really slows down the reading pace. The novel is an Oprah Book Club pick and it is always hit or miss for me with her picks. I loved Night by Elie Wiesel and Cane River by Lalita Tademy but this one was so-so. The novel takes place in post-Hitler Germany. Michael, the 16 year old narrator falls ill on his way home from school one day and is rescued by a woman twice his age. After a time, she becomes his lover and then inexplicably disappears. When Michael next sees her, she is on trial for war crimes. As he watches her refuse to defend herself, he realizes that she is illiterate. Torn between his revulsion of her actions and his prior love for her, Michael ends up reading books onto tapes and sending them to her in prison. The plus for this book is that it makes you think about what subsequent generations thought and felt about those who participated in the war but that is about it. I am glad I finished this book but I can't really recommend it as a great read.

Heartburn by Nora Ephron

The comment on the front of this novel says "sidesplitting" and while there were some funny parts I am never particularly amused by the disintegration of a marriage. However, once I learned that this novel is essentially autobiographical, I realized it might have been the only way the author could process what had happened to her marriage. So, okay, I'll cut the book a little slack.

The Book Club meeting, on the other hand, was truly sidesplitting! We met at Allie's Wine Bar and Tapas and shared some extraordinary food, drinks and desserts. Our waiter, a young Don Henley look-alike, was funny, engaging and very patient with his rowdy cougar den. We were so loud, rowdy and raunchy that it is a good thing we had our own room with doors that could be closed!!

I love the December meeting! It is not about the book but about spending time with each other reminiscing about the past year and talking about our plans for the year to come...laughing, drinking, eating, crying, arguing, encouraging, complimenting, complaining and just truly caring about each other. This was my 3rd December meeting and Book Exchange and I couldn't be happier. We have a great time, every time and I look forward to many more Book Club meetings!

Disclosure by Michael Crichton

When I first started reading this book I was sceptical because it wasn't Crichton's usual science fiction. This book is centered on corporate politics and sexual harassment. A high level male executive gets passed over for a promotion by a woman. The woman sexually harasses him. He then finds himself with a serious problem. How can he keep his current position, how can he address the issue of harassment by a female superior, and can he figure out the political reasons why he was placed in that position in the first place? The book presents interesting statistics from 1994. At which time about 5% of all the reported cases of sexual harassment were made by men about female superiors. Doesn't sound like very many but, at that time only about 5% of top level executives were women. This then suggested that the rate of harassment by women was the same as for men. Makes me wonder if it's the same or worse now?

Done with Facebook

Hello All. I have pulled myself off of Facebook. I wasn't connecting with anyone I'm not already connected with and it just seemed redundant. If your reading this - you are already my friend anyway. Love you all.