Carli - The Paris Wife

4 stars

I really enjoyed this book.  It is about Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley Richardson, during the 1920s while they live in Paris along with the other writers and artists of that time.  It is told from Hadley's perspective, and is fiction, although it stays close to the facts as they are known about the events at that time.  I thought the time period that this takes place in was fascinating and I was constantly looking up people and events as I read.   This was a fun read and has made me want to read more about this time and some of Ernest Hemingway's works.  This book is a good vacation read, or just a fun book to read when you want something fun and interesting.  I would definitely recommend this book.  

Mom-"I Knew You'd be Lovely" by Alethea Black

2 stars

I'm batting a thousand this year since this is the second of my books to get 2 stars!  This collection of short stories just caught my eye on the shelf.  I liked the title of the book first and then, to be honest, I just liked the way it felt in my hand.  So my first piece of advice is don't judge a book by its cover!

This set of short stories just never delivers the emotional punch I expect from a well written tale.  I suppose I might have been unconsciously comparing it Jhumpa Lahiri and it never matched up.  Black's stories are not as subtle or compelling.  Her subject matter is much more contemporary to western culture and not as universal.  I felt like I was reading something I'd find in a magazine, not true literature.

I wouldn't necessarily tell you not to read it....

Sarah - The Middlesteins

2 stars

Technically, this is mom's book since it was part of her Christmas B&N allotment, but I stole it from her before she had a chance to read it.  I had read a few reviews about it and the critics loved it.

This book follows a family whose mother is slowly killing herself by becoming obese and each family member's reaction to the situation.

I didn't like it because it was just depressing.  I'm not always against depressing, but this book had no redeeming value for me.  The characters were all bitter and I had a hard time identifying with any of them or any of the situations in the book.  It was also weirdly sexual.  So, I wouldn't recommend it.

I liked the cover, so I suppose it would be good for sitting on a shelf.