The Woman Who is Always Tan and has a Flat Stomach, Lauren Allison and Lisa Perry. Grand Central Publishing, March 2008.

I have to admit that I’ve stopped attending PTA functions, ceased accepting invitations to book clubs and scrapbooking parties, and have firmly decided not to attend the school gala this coming spring. Why, you may ask, have I become a hermit in my own backyard? Truth be told, it’s all the other moms; you know, the Alpha moms who never have a hair out of place, dress impeccably (even at morning drop-off) and can bake fifty cupcakes while developing a plan to end world hunger. Although I consider myself a pretty confident woman, when in the company of these perfect females, I pale and slither back into my shell. It’s easier to just stay away and hang with all the other turtles.

Lauren Allison and Lisa Perry address these annoyances and others in their humorous collection of essays, The Woman Who is Always Tan and has a Flat Stomach (Grand Central Publishing, 2008).  There’s the “nutrition mom” who has a heart attack when she discovers you’ve fed your child trans fat; the “scrapbooking mom” who spends her hours documenting every action of her well manicured children; the “knitting mom” who crafts clothing out of yarn; and the woman who never gains an ounce, her stomach perpetually flat, her face always tan. Allison and Perry are not sexist in their diatribes – a good portion of the book focuses on husbands who ask or give inane instructions or the man who chooses to repaint the house right before company arrives. A light-hearted read, the book is one we can all relate to, for surely we’ve met one of these caricatures along the road.

Insightful and funny, these authors write what most of us (I’m speaking for myself here) want to say but don’t…because of course, we’re the woman who is always nice on the outside but is seething on the inside.

Serpent's Tail, 2007

After saving her teen-age daughter from a horrific crime scene, police officer and single mother Mona is engulfed in a world of rage and despair. Forced, out of fear, to move in with her ex husband, a man without feeling or concern, Mona and Perdita hang on to one another as feelings of depression begin to overwhelm the teenager.  Mona, a strong, independent woman, refuses to accept help from her partner, Nick, even as the realization that she can not save her daughter engulfs her. 

Boehringer, in a compelling writing style, delivers a story that is at its heart one of relationships - that between mother and daughter.  While the tale is a tragic one, seemingly without redemption, it is unflinching in its details and refreshing in its honesty.  The author does not attempt to package her story with ribbons or bows; rather, she delivers a real look at the nature of relationships as they are - filled with problems, conflict and moments of anger and fear. 




The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall, Grove Atlantic, 2007

I love complex plot lines - films like Stranger Than Fiction or Memento intrigue and entertain me. So Steven Hall's complex and idiosyncratic book, The Raw Shark Texts, is a novel that I simply adore. 

Meet Eric Sanderson as he awakes in a house unknown to him.  A note advises him that he must contact Dr. Randle who will advise him that he is undergoing a severe memory loss due to the trauma of his lover, Clio's death. The note is signed by the first Eric Sanderson.  And so begins a journey unlike any other as Eric 2 attempts to discover the truth behind his life.  Who is he? Why has he lost his memory? Why is he being pursued by a Ludovican shark, a fish that can eat his thoughts and his words? The journey will take Eric, and us, through an underground world created from books, scraps of paper and words as our hero and his companions, Scout (a young woman) and Ian (a surly cat) attempt to fight a category of "fish" that can destroy.  Hall's book is allegorical, a book about loss and love and mankind's ability to close their minds to difficult memory.  At times the book is difficult, if not incomprehensible but these moments are few and far between. Rather, Hall's prose and unique plot line makes the book one that is a must read.




Little Brown, July 2007

Don't you just hate it when a book by an author you like disappoints? Unfortunately that's the case with Elin Hilderbrand's Barefoot. Set in one of my favorite places in the world, Nantucket, during the summer season, Hilderbrand's tale interweaves the lives of three women who have escaped to the island.  Vicki, a mother of two and perfect homemaker, has lung cancer and leaves behind her husband and NYC doctors for the peace of her deceased aunt's home.  Along for the ride is her sister, Brenda, an academic who has destroyed her career by falling for a student and Melanie, a homemaker who has been unable to conceive but finds herself suddenly pregnant.  Add a young college student and island resident named Josh Flynn and you've got one melodramatic, over plotted book.

Now that's not to say that the book is unreadable - it's definitely a quick, beach read (my problem is that I am reading it in October).  The real problem with the book lies in the simple fact that none of the characters are particularly likeable.  They all, with the exception of Josh and Brenda, have blessed lives filled with money, nice cars, homes and the ability to vacation on Nantucket in the summer. Their problems seem rather inane, their whining and complaints vapid. Hell, even Vicki, ill with lung cancer, comes across as thoughtless as she ignores her doctor's warnings and foregoes chemo appointments.

Hilderbrand, who resides on Nantucket, is at her best when she focuses on Josh and on the beautiful island.  It is in these moments when her writing ability shines through all the surrounding drama.  Unfortunately, this is one book that I'd leave in my beach house at the end of the summer.


Grove Atlantic, 2007

Americans have strong feelings about the immigrants amongst their mix.  Recently, Governor Spitzer of New York (where Literature Chick calls home) has sponsored a bill that would allow immigrants to receive driver licenses. Across the country, pundits and analysts have been questioning the decision and marking the political grave of Spitzer. While we may have definitive feelings about the wave of immigrants that hit our shores and borders, the truth is that a majority of us come from immigrants. In my case it's Romania and Russia; in your case it may be Mexico or Iran. 

Author Porchista Khakpour, an Iranian-American, explores the lives of an Iranian family, the Adams (pronounced Od-daam) of Los Angeles in her debut novel, Sons and other Flammable Objects.  Using an unique narrative style that allows each family member to express their own viewpoints, Khakpour delivers a darkly humorous and deeply moving story of post 9/11 immigration and paranoia. 

Darius, the patriarch of the family, teaches at the local college and dreams of returning to Iran, to a place where the wives and children listen and obey.  Lala, wife and mother, lives in a world of sheer misery until she meets her Hispanic friend, Gigi, who shows her another world outside the doors of the family apartment. Xerxes, the son, bears the brunt of his parent's unhappiness and pain, never truly able to assimilate in a world that fears him simply due to the color of his skin and place of his birth.

Brilliant prose, a truly original style and an important voice make Khakpour an author to watch.  This is a debut novel of import and talent; a book that will leave you better for reading it.





5 Spot, 9/2007
As a single mom of two, I find there are many instances where I feel like a fish out of water. Take for example the annual school fundraiser, a black tie event where everyone attends with their spouse.  I've never gone as I no longer have a spouse and lack a significant other. In her new book, Odd Mom Out, author Jane Porter tells the story of Marta Zinsser, a single mom by choice, who feels like an outsider in her Seattle suburb. Like me, Marta is a working mother who can't be bothered to wear the garb of the suburban mom, doesn't get her nails done weekly and finds it hard to make time for PTA meetings. While Marta is comfortable with who she is (at least at the beginning of the book), she begins to question herself when her nine year old daughter, Eva, takes her to task for not being more like the other moms.

Porter writes for those of us who are entering (if not already there) our mid-life - a demographic that is normally ignored in the typical chic lit arena.  Recognizing that we all get older (readers of books included), Porter dissects the lives of women who have succeeded in their careers but may find themselves feeling empty in their personal lives.  When Marta meets the gorgeous, rich Luke (please will someone write a chic lit book with a man who is imperfect!), she must question her determination to go it alone and succumb to both the needs of her daughter and the inner desires in herself.

This is a book that is not only fun to read but one that deals with the turmoil of single mothers everywhere. Bravo Jane Porter! 





FIve Spot, Oct. 2007

As a divorcee, Literature Chick tends to feel sympathetic to others going in the same situation. In fact Literature Chick wrote an entire book about divorce in 2006.  In her new book, Daisy Dooley Does Divorce, Anna Pasternak introduces us to Daisy, a young woman who has just walked away from a loveless marriage at the age of 39. Daisy wears her heart and emotions on the outside, allowing everyone in her path to ascertain that she is a dreamer in search of perfect, all consuming love. Her two best friends, Lucy and Jess, sit at the other end of the spectrum. Lucy is a married woman with two children whose husband is a serial cheater. Jess is an unmarried doctor who views relationships as nothing more than one night stands. 

As Daisy maneuvers the curvy streets of singledom, she comes to recognize that there is only one man she could ever love - the rich and married Julius. When Julius makes her a proposition that is truly unconventional, Daisy must decide whether she can live without him.  Along the journey, she finds her true career, recognizes that love may take many forms and has a fairy tale, albeit a bit too easy, ending.

Pasternak's writing is light and breezy. While there are important issues addressed within the pages, the novel never takes itself too seriously.  Don't expect Doctor Zhivago (Pasternak hails from that family) - this is simply a fun, entertaining read.





Author Nathan McCall is best known for his non-fiction works. His best-selling Make Me Wanna Holler: A Young Black Man in America related his own personal story including his youth, his imprisonment and his success as a journalist and author. While his first fiction book will not hit the shelves until November 2007, the conflict highlighted within its pages is decades old. In Them (Atria, Nov. 2007), McCall tells the story of the Old Fourth Ward in Atlanta, Georgia as it undergoes slow but steady gentrification. Our hero, an African-American printer named Barlowe Reed is a proud man, proud of his rental home and proud of his community that holds the historic birth home of Dr. Martin Luther King. Barlowe is also a man filled with anger, anger that weaves itsel through all of his relationships including those with women and his nephew, Tyrone.

Barlowe's world is soon turned upside down when the neighborhood becomes overrun by whites. Sean and Sandy Gilmore, a young and idealistic white couple, buy the house next door and soon Barlowe finds himself befriending Sandy. Theirs is a friendship that takes place with a fence in between. As the reluctant alliance grows, the ward becomes a hotbed of racial tension inevitably leading to unsettling changes.

McCall's work is one of import that tells a story of the American struggle with racism. At the heart of it is the notion of invisibility - we chose to close our eyes to what is in front of us and continue on with what we know and trust. The Fourth Ward and the story of Barlowe Reed questions how we see one another when we actually open our eyes.

  



Little Brown, 2007

If faced with a traumatic event, what would we do? Would we climb into bed and sleep for days? Would we fall apart and find ourselves unable to carry on? Or would we face life's challenges head on with grace and courage. This is one of the questions explored in Kate Braestrup's memoir, Here If You Need Me.

After her beloved husband, Drew, a Maine state trooper, is killed in a freak accident, Kate decides to honor his memory by pursuing his dream of becoming a minister. Upon graduation, she begins work as a chaplain for the Maine warden service where she gives comfort to families whose loved ones are missing in the woods, comfort to those who have been injured and comfort to the men and women with whom she serves. Her job soon becomes her calling, one that is filled with moments of joy and of sadness.

Braestrup tells a remarkable story of faith in the face of adversity. It is the tale of a woman's strength to reinvent herself when faced with tragedy; to learn to live again in service to others.


Simon and Schuster, 2007
Screenwriter Stef Penney's debut novel, The Tenderness of Wolves, is a sweeping mystery set in rural Canada in the 1800s. From the first sentence, the reader is propelled into the cold, snowy landscape where traders, natives and immigrants must learn to live as one. Told by different characters, in first and third person, Penney weaves an incredibly beautiful and suspense filled tale where love is elusive, life is hard and betrayal is omnipresent.

When Mrs. Ross, a woman who has reluctantly followed her husband to the tiny settlement of Dove River, discovers the dead body of trader Laurent Jammet, the town is thrown into chaos and fear. Discovering that her 17 year old son, Francis, has disappeared, she is determined to search for him and for the truth behind the murder. Helped by the trapper and half-breed, Parker, she sets out on the frozen tundra with a mother's resolve and a woman's courage. Following her are Donald Moody, a representative of the Hudson Bay Company, and his companion, Jacob.  As the parties make their way through the dangerous terrain while wolves howl in the distance, they will discover the truth about the murder and about themselves.

Penney uses words as visual tools to help create the landscape and the characters. Suspense fills every page as we move closer to the ending. An epic, historical thriller that moves and challenges the reader, the novel was awarded the 2006 Costa Book of the Year.






Little Brown, 2007

In a moving portrayal of young woman, author Anita Shreve once again proves her skills at storytelling. With simplicity and pathos, Shreve tells the story of 29 year old Sydney who has already been divorced and widowed. Fleeing her life in Boston, Sydney takes a job as a summer tutor to Julie, youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, sister of Ben and Jeff. Her days, when free, are spent body surfing at the beach, enjoying the freedom of the waves and the beauty of the ocean.

When Ben and Jeff come to spend a weekend,  Sydney finds herself an outsider looking in, looking at a family she dreams of being a part of. After Julie disappears, Sydney and Jeff become partners in the search, catapulting them into a relationship without warning. Sydney soon finds herself in love yet again - this time with Jeff.  Although foreboding signs are all around her, Sydney ignores them until once again she is propelled back into chaos bringing her fragile existence crashing down around her.

Sparsely told, Shreve paints a clean and visual portrait of a young woman longing for family even in the face of persistent adversity. A book of pure beauty and quiet import, Body Surfing is a must read. 

Warner Books, 2007

Kate White, Editor in Chief of Cosmopolitan, delivers another Bailey Weggins mystery in her hard-cover release, Lethally Blond.  Bailey, a celebrity crime journalist for the tabloid magazine, Buzz, finds herself in deep water after she agrees to help an old lover, the gorgeous actor, Chris, find a colleague who is missing. While the story is filled with intrigue around every bend, the numerous plot points serve to confound and confuse (you have to go back and forth at times in order to figure out where you are and who is doing what) rather than entertain. Throughout the book, the dialogue feels forced, strained and off putting; it serves to undermine any empathy one may feel for the main character and her many antagonists out to destroy her. White's attempt to show the reader the backrooms of a tabloid and a television series do not illuminate but clutter an already meandering story. A read to miss this summer.



 



Bloomsbury, October 2007
All hail to the genius of Douglas Coupland. Hailed as a Gen X literary genius, Coupland's soon to be released, The Gum Thief, confirms the hype surrounding this creative, quirky and brilliant author.

Set in the aisles of a Staples store, the book tells the story of Roger and Bethany, both of whom are stuck with lives they do not want but can not seem to change. Roger, a 40 something who has had a life filled with bad luck, spends his days selling pens and writing a novel titled Glove Pond. When Bethany, a Goth in her 20s who lives in utter misery, discover his notebook, a relationship ensues which may just save them both.

Delivering a moving story of dysfunction and love among office supply products, Coupland effectively and creatively interweaves notebook entries from Roger, Bethany, DeeDee (Bethany's mother) with chapters from Glove Pond. In a comedic way, Coupland introduces age old issues that have touched us all - growing older, losing out on love, respect of family and the loss of dreams. The reader will care deeply about these characters, empathize with them, laugh and cry along the way. Do yourself a favor and pre-order these book - Literature Chick promises you won't be sorry.

 Look for our coming review of author Louise Rose Aveni's Lupo: Conversations with an E.T. (Triad Publishing Group). Literature Chick is proud to announce its new relationship with the Triad Publishing Group, a publisher with a new publishing model.