Mad About a Boy by Helen Fielding - Book Review

Book: Mad About the Boy (Bridget Jones #3)

Author: Helen Fielding

Genre: Fiction, Chick-Lit

Publisher/Publish Date: Knopf Canada / October 15, 2013

Source: Public Library

Pages: 336

Rating: 4/5

GoodReads  •  Amazon

Thirteen years have passed, and at the age of 51 Bridget Jones is thrown back into the world of dating, though now as a widow with two young children. Bridget meets a man over Twitter who turns out to be 29, though a lot of fun. She must decided if he fits in her life as a single mother, and learns about herself him the process with the help of her hilarious and crazy friends.

I loved the first two Bridget Jones novels, as well as the movies, and was excited when I heard Helen Fielding wrote a third book in the series. It's a bit of a jump in time, so it was interesting to see a more grown up Bridget, though maybe only a little bit more mature than before. This book has a similar tone to the first time, and includes most of her friends who we have already been introduced to.

I am in my 30's and relate more to Bridget of the first two books, but even though she is in her 50's and they comment on it a lot, she's the same funny, neurotic, weight obsessed, self-help book reading character, but with a little more soul.

The Mystery of Mercy Close by Marian Keyes - Book Review

Book: The Mystery of Mercy Close: A Walsh Sister Novel

Author: Marian Keyes

Genre: Chick Lit 

Publisher/Publish Date: Michael Joseph / September 2012

Source: SF Public Library

Pages: 508

Rating: 4.5/5

GoodReads  •  Amazon

Just a heads up, Marian Keyes is one of my favorite authors. I've read and loved all her books, even the collection of short stories (though not her cook book). Like many of her other books, this centers on the Irish Walsh Family and their five daughters. This is the last book in the series, and it's fun to read a book and know the other characters so well.

The novel starts off with private investigator Helen Walsh getting a very secretive job from her ex-boyfriend. A member of a popular 90's boy band is missing, and she has five days to find him. She has just lost her apartment and is short on money, so she takes the job though she'd rather not be working with her ex.

The story goes back and forth between her search for Wayne, the "Wacky One," and flashbacks to her past relationships and struggles with depression. Helen is a unique, dark, nutty character, and enjoyable to read about.

Looking back on the book, there may be some plot holes in a few of the character arches, but the mystery was strong enough to make me not notice those things.

If you haven't read any of Keyes' books, I highly recommend picking one up, and finding a comfy spot to spend a few hours. I recommend it to people who like Bridget Jone's Diary, The Shopaholic Series, or books by Jen Lancaster.

I'm not sure why there are different covers, but I like both of them. Which do you like better?

best books for a rainy day

I grew up in Oregon, and one of my favorite things to do on a rainy day was to curl up on the couch with a good book. A book that I could get lost in and would take me away from the crummy weather outside. It's been pretty crummy here the last couple weeks, and if it's crummy where you are, here are some books to check out.

The Mitford Years Series, by Jan Karon
This series of nine books follows the  day to day life of a small town rector. Father Tim lives in Mitford; a charming village with lots of fresh air and green hills and full of interesting characters. These books take you back to a time that was simple and you knew all your neighbors by name. I might not be the normal demographic for these books but I enjoy them.





Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, by Judi Barrett
This children's book has some of my favorite illustrations. What's not to love about the idea of meatballs falling from the sky, pancakes so large they cover houses, and no need to go grocery shopping. Like Mitford, this book is also set in a small town.





The Chronicles of Narnia Series, by C.S. Lewis
I have a vivid memory of watching the PBS version of this book as a kid, while it was snowing out doors. Since then I have read the whole series, and love this fantastical story of a magical wardrobe and the Great Lion Aslan. Over the years there have been an assortment of beautiful covers for this book, my favorite being and illustration of "a faun carrying parcels and an umbrella in a snowy wood," which was Lewis' initial idea behind the book, which came to him at age 16 (according to Amazon.com).



About a Boy, by Nick Hornby
Though more people may be familiar with the movie, I read and fell in love with the book first. Will, a 36 year old confirmed bachelor, befriends a young boy when we tries to con a women into dating in. The awkward friendship leads life changing events that improves the lives of the man, boy and those around them. I think this story can teach all of us some valuable lessons and how to be a better friend.





What's your favorite book to read on a rainy day?

Where'd You Go, Bernadette: A Book Review

Book: Where'd You Go, Bernadette: A Novel
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Author: Maria Semple

Publisher/Publish Date: Little, Brown and Company / December 21, 2012

Source: SF Public Library

Pages: 336

Rating: 5/5

Other books from author: This One is Mine. Also, the author wrote for Arrested Development, if that gives you a taste for the style of this book.

GoodReads  •  Amazon

Bernadette Fox is notorious. To her Microsoft-guru husband, she's a fearlessly opinionated partner; to fellow private-school mothers in Seattle, she's a disgrace; to design mavens, she's a revolutionary architect, and to 15-year-old Bee, she is a best friend and, simply, Mom. 

Then Bernadette disappears. It began when Bee aced her report card and claimed her promised reward: a family trip to Antarctica. But Bernadette's intensifying allergy to Seattle--and people in general--has made her so agoraphobic that a virtual assistant in India now runs her most basic errands. A trip to the end of the earth is problematic. 

To find her mother, Bee compiles email messages, official documents, secret correspondence--creating a compulsively readable and touching novel about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter's role in an absurd world. (Description via GoodReads)

** spoiler alert ** 
Loved it! Great story and a quick read. I stayed up way past my bedtime finishing this book. And I'm afraid this review makes it seem a lot more serious then it is, but trust me, it's light-hearted and fun.

The story, told mostly in emails, letters and notes from the daughter, tells the story of a wife's disappearance after a series of unfortunate events. Many of the characters are zany and over the top, but with enough truth to ground them in reality. How the story is told leaves some cracks, which are filled in at the end of the story and adds mystery and suspense. Especially funny is the stories of the suburban moms, and the importance they put on their school and school events and what the leads to some very interesting situations (I think a map of the neighborhood would have helped me understand how the mud slide would have actually happen.)

Much of the arc of the book evolves around a trip to Antarctica the family is planning and it made me want to look into cruises to Antarctica:)

My only complaint is that the time between when she left LA till the time of the story seems a bit long. I think it would have made more sense and easier to comprehend if it was only 10 years or less.

** Perfect for a vacation

January - What I Read

I just started using GoodReads in december and not sure what I would do with out it. I love lists and keeping track of things, so it's a god-send to have a place to easily track my reading and books I want to read. I set a goal of reading 50 books this year, so having read 8 this month, I'm 16% ahead of schedule... maybe I set my goal too low.

So, thanks to GoodReads, I know everything I read this month...

Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America, by Robert Whitaker
While I didn't technically finish this (I skipped a couple chapters), I read it for my book club and discussed it so I feel I have a good understanding of that I skipped over. While this book is a bit alarming, he backs up everything with statistics, making a good case for doctors to think twice before prescribing medicine for psychiatric patients. I'm not a doctor, and not giving out advice, but I recommend this book to anyone who finds this topic fascinating. It can get a little repetitive, so if you do skip over any parts, be sure to at least skip ahead and read the last chapter.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette: A Novel, by Maria Semple
OMG, so good! A bit of satire, a bit of Gone Girl, a whole lot of fun. A quick read, great for a trip to the beach.

Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son's First Son, by Anne Lamott
In some ways a follow up to her book Operating Instructions, this book follows the first year of her son's first son. I love Anne Lamott, and enjoy her memoirs the mosts.

The Boy Next Door, by Meg Cabot
Quick, fun, chick-lit. Meg Cabot is one of my more favorite chick-lit authors, and I've read most of her book. What I didn't like about this was it was all told through emails. So it was all told in first person, which got old really fast.

Drop Dead Healthy: One Man's Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection Hardcover, by A. J. Jacobs
It took me a long time to read this, a few months, since I was just reading it at lunch time. I've enjoyed all of Jacobs' books, maybe I see a little but of me in him. While I sort of wish I had the guts to commit to the experiments he does, it's nice to be able to just sit on the couch as I read his struggles and successes and laugh with him about it. (I also reviewed his book The Know-It-All)

The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag: A Flavia de Luce Novel (Flavia de Luce Mysteries), by Alan Bradley
The second book in a series for young adults. I don't hear much about it (i.e. not as popular as Hunger Games, Harry Potter, etc....) but I have really enjoyed the series so far and will continue to read the rest of it. FYI: the German edition has a much cooler cover design.

Water for Elephants: A Novel, by Sara Gruen
I've been wanting to read this for awhile, and was glad I finally gotten around to it. Fascinating story, and much better than I expected. Haven't seen the movie yet. Is it any good?


In Process......
This Book is Not Good For You, by Pseudonymous Bosch: love this series!
The Casual Vacancy, by J. K. Rowling: I own this so library books usually get read before this.
Cloud Atlas, by David Mitchell: Had to return it to library, but was enjoying it so far.