Post Grad Book #2

The Men I Didn't Marry by Janice Kaplan and Lynn Schnurnbrger
Finished: June 29, 2010
Page Count: 285

Why I read it:
The title was intriguing.

Google Books review:
In their third collaboration, Kaplan and Schnurnberger stick to the breezy style they created in The Botox Diaries and Mine Are Spectacular! After emptying her nest, Hallie Lawrence Pierpont is looking forward to reconnecting with her husband of 20 years. But then he dumps her for his fitness guru, and Hallie decides to get busy. A serendipitous meeting with the friend of one of her ex-boyfriends gives her an idea: Hallie is going to reconnect with all the men she didn't marry, starting with millionaire Eric; spiritual guru Barry; and her high school sweetheart, Kevin. Hallie's quest takes her to California and an exotic island, but when all is said and done she finds what she wants back in New York. Though her husband leaves her with no warning and she finds herself living alone for the first time in her adult life, Hallie manages the changes in her life with little angst. This is too little, however, to make the novel anything but a pleasant read-fun while it lasts but easily forgotten. Light women's fiction for larger public library collections.

What I thought:
Confession: I love silly romance novels more than intelligent reads.  Confession: I am not ashamed to admit that.  This book was a lot more fun to read than the last on my list.  It was about romance and travel and trying new things.  Yes, it was rather unrealistic that the main character's husband left her then she found three ex-boyfriends, all of whom were single and spent the last 20-years or so thinking about her.  Still, I found it interesting enough to see how each of these ex-boyfriends were so different, doing different things and reacting to her in different ways.  The end tied itself up nicely, something I expect from a silly romance book.  I liked it a lot though I don't feel any smarter now that I've read it though isn't that the point of a summer book?

Post Grad Book #1

Dervishes by Beth Helms
Finished: June 22, 2010
Page Count: 312

Why I read it:
The cover was shiny, the title piqued my interest and I liked what the inside flap said.

Publishers' Weekly Review/Synopsis:
Helms's mesmerizing debut novel (after story collection American Wives) takes readers to Ankara, Turkey, in the mid-1970s, where 12-year old Canada lives with her mother, Grace, and her father, Rand, whose intelligence career is shrouded in secrecy and sends the family to far-flung locales. By the time they're posted to Ankara, Canada is grappling with the inevitable insecurities and yearnings of puberty, and Grace feels trapped in a loveless marriage. Even when Rand is home, he shows little interest in domestic affairs, leaving Grace mainly to socialize with other Western expatriates and a small circle of wealthy Turks. Partly as a consequence of having lived so long in a world of secrets and cover stories, Grace hasn't learned how to relate to people (or how to let them relate to her), while Canada is mired in her own parallel, secretive universe of cruel adolescence. Helms uses dazzling imagery to mine the cultural and economic divides between the diplomatic enclaves and Turkish Ankara, as well as the chasm between Canada and Grace, which widens as they seek validation outside their home, with unforeseen consequences. Elegant prose and exacting insight illuminate Helms's tale of intrigue and deception.

What I thought:
It's taken me about a week and a half to read this.  At first, I was incredibly intrigued and couldn't put it down.  As I got further in, I found myself skimming pages.  It was beautifully written and I really felt like I was there in Turkey with these characters.  However, at times it was overwhelming and hard to read.  I liked the way each chapter switched perspectives between Canada, the young girl, and her mother Grace.  The book talked of lavish parties and life as an army wife in the 70s when Grace's husband was often out on assignment for weeks at a time.  The time period in such a country was interesting to me and as my sister so smartly said this afternoon "You don't see many books about Turkey."  She makes a valid point.  It was good and I would recommend it if you are the kind of reader that sits and really reads everything carefully- I think I missed a lot by skimming as the storyline was complex and a lot seemed to be going on.

#6: Will the rain ever stop?

Don't get me wrong, I love a good thunderstorm.  But 15 of the 17 days in June with rain?  No thank you.  Yesterday, on the most perfect day of the month, I enjoyed it to its fullest with my dear friend Sean out at Lake Calhoun.  I am currently enjoying this severe thunderstorm that could potentially turn into a tornado watch/warning.  I never used to like these scary storms but now, I find them fascinating.

Last Friday I spoke at a Women's Foundation meeting on behalf of Youth Venture.  Youth Venture was an organization that Box City Vigil works with.  For those of you who don't know, I helped organize an event in 2006 called Box City Vigil for Youth Homelessness at the MN State Capitol.  Now in its 5th year, Youth Venture helps foster the leadership team and the growth of the event.  Youth Venture applied for a grant from the Women's Foundation and I was asked to speak about my experience as a woman both while I planned BCV and the impact it all had on me.  I LOVE talking about Box City.  I HATE driving in Minneapolis but it was well worth it when I got there.  I was so pleased to have been asked to talk about my experience. 

This weekend included the World Cup, late night sushi and happy hour drinks, and Lauren Jo's grad party.  It was a lovely time indeed.  This week has been all work except for last night at Lake Calhoun.  Tomorrow I'm excited to see Toy Story 3 with Liz.  On Saturday, I'm driving down to LaCrosse to hang out with my friend Heidi.  I wanted to go to Winona for Steamboat Days but a Summer Solstice party in LAX sounds just as good, if not better. 

I've been meaning to use this blog to record all the wonderful food I've been making but alas, clearly I have forgotten.  I've made lots of tasty treats but neglected to take pictures of anything.  I'm hoping to remember a bit better in the future to bulk up this blog with wonderful pictures of wonderful food!  Or not so wonderful food like the meal I made tonight- if you do not like the taste of black licorice, do not use tarragon in anything.  Believe me, you'll regret it...
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I'm reading: Dervishes by Beth Helms.  It's the best book I've read all summer so far.  It's about a girl named Canada whose father works for the government and they move all over the world.  Its set in the 70s and they're living in Turkey.  It definitely is keeping me captivated and wanting to finish reading.  That's a good thing. 
Picture of the week: The super fantastic cupcakes I made for Lauren's grad party.  I'm slowly becoming a cupcake professional, basically.  

#4: Missed a week!

I wish I had a really cool reason why I didn't post last week but in all honesty, I just forgot.

Last weekend was Memorial Day weekend and turned out to be a good time (though I wasn't really surprised).  Friday night, Liz, Nina and I saw "Sex & The City 2".  I would not recommend it.  The fashion was wonderful, as it always is, and Aidan made an appearance but the best part of the movie was when Liza Minnelli sang "Single Ladies" at the gay wedding.  And that was within the first half hour.  And then we were there for what seemed like an eternity with Liz saying "I'm so angry" about every five minutes until it was over.

Saturday redeemed my weekend with Liz's birthday bonfire.  I'm happy that some of my friends are her friends too so Trudy, Jaci and Ryan joined us.  We all ended up sitting around the fire late that night and reenacting this YouTube sensation: Mysterious Ticking Noise.  Then I had it stuck in my head for days but it was worth it because it was actually quite fun.

Sunday was Liz's 20th birthday and we spent it at the cabin.  We brought the pupperoo and he was happy to be in such a wide open space.  We went out on the boat and it was wonderful.  We ate good food.  We enjoyed each others' company (until I made Liz angry at dinner but we've moved on, I think).  I love the cabin so I was happy to be there.

The rest of my week has been rather uneventful until now.  I did get to see my friend Justin who has been in Hong Kong for the past semester so that was great because I really missed him.  Then last night, Trudy, Jaci and Allison came over to work on wedding plans for Allison (who is getting married exactly three months from yesterday).  The girls stayed until 2:15 this morning and now I'm waiting for them to come home so we can drive down to Winona and pick up our bridesmaid dresses.  I'm excited not only for the dresses but for a road trip with the girls (which I don't think we've ever done) and to be back in Winona, even if its only briefly.

I guess there's not much more to report at this moment.  I'm happy to be here and I think that's all that matters.

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I'm reading: Normal Girl by Molly Jong-Fast.  Its about some 19-year-old socialite who does drugs and thinks she killed her boyfriend.  I'm not super far in to it and I'm not sure if I like it or not but hey, its something to do.
My nails: OPI's "Fit for a Queensland"... I took a picture of my nails and the polish like last time but it was weird and I found this picture to be so much cuter: