This is Where I Leave You: I was really skeptical about this book because of the premise. I wasn’t sure how an author could make a shiva into a funny and sad novel. I somewhat reluctantly began reading it for a book club where we are going to read books then watch the movie version. I ended up liking the book a lot. The book effortlessly switches from funny to sad and back again. I usually read books with a female protagonist so I enjoyed reading a book from a male perspective. I recommend reading the book before you see the movie!
Not That Kind of Girl: I enjoyed this book. It was interesting to learn about Lena’s life. She is, unsurprisingly, very candid and willing to be vulnerable. I wish she had written more about her life now and less about her past relationships. She has such a fascinating career – acting, directing, and writing a show – and I would have loved more insights into that. That being said, I would recommend it to friends.
Seating Arrangements: I enjoyed this book. It was a really interesting glimpse at an elite family and the secrets and imperfections that hide behind the gates. The book was extremely well written and I felt connected to the characters. The book was funny, poignant, and suspenseful. If you liked The Darlings, you’d like this book!
Crazy Salad and Scribble Scribble: I have been a fan of Nora Ephron movies for as long as I can remember. You’ve Got Mail is one of my favorite movies because of the love story and, of course, because it took place on the Upper West Side. My younger sister and our babysitter were actually walking the in the park when they filmed the famous last scene. I loved reading Crazy Salad and Scribble Scribble: Some Things About Women and Notes on Media (here) because it was a perfect combination of two things that I’m passionate about, feminism and writing. Nora Ephron wrote about what could be known as the height of the feminist movement and it was really interesting to read her perspective and see how far things have come. In addition to having an expansive film directing career, Nora also wrote for publications like the New York Post and Gourmet Magazine and I enjoyed reading about her career path and advice for writers. Nora is such a talented writer and the essays in the collection are fast, fun, funny, and informative.
Girl on the Train: I stayed up way too late for a few nights reading Girl on the Train. I recommended the book to so many people. It was suspenseful, engaging, and fun to read. I thought the author did a really good job with the character development and creating unexpected twists. I’ll admit that the book was a bit slow in the begging but it got a lot better after the first few chapters. It has been compared to Gone Girl frequently and, although it wasn’t quite as elaborate, I thought that it came close. I absolutely recommend Girl on the Train.
Extra Credit:
You Should Have Known: This book had mixed reviews but I thought that it was a worthwhile read. It’s a psychological thriller. It was very interesting to watch the true story about Grace’s husband unfold. I enjoy love reading books about NYC and it was interesting for me to read about NYC schools from a parent’s perspective. I liked watching Grace become independent and confident about being on her own.
