Babyville

I first read this Jane Green novel at least three years ago, when I was unmarried and without kids. At the time, I wrote a review of the book for my library's website. Having just finished it for my book group, I realize how my perspective has changed since the first read. Reading my old review made me laugh out loud at how I thought I knew what I was talking about when I said that having a baby changes your life. At the time, I had no idea about the scope of that statement. Oh, the folly of youth...

The book follows three British women--one who wants to get pregnant but can't, one who doesn't want to get pregnant but does, and one who is married and has a baby, only to become infatuated with a married male friend. On this second read, I was more sympathetic toward the woman who couldn't get pregnant, because I now know the true joy of having a baby. I could hardly get through the last third of the book which follows the infatuation storyline. I was very frustrated with that character's desire to leave her husband and start a new relationship--I just don't understand how she could get that annoyed and mad at her husband to want to leave him and her child for someone new. I just don't understand it now that I'm married; I'm sure it seemed much more plausible before when I was not involved with anyone.

I usually enjoy rereading books, and have a couple that I try to read every year, but this reread just wasn't the same.

K

Life on the Refridgerator Door: A Novel in Notes

On Lissa's suggestion (but now I can't find her review on her blog) and after reading a review in a library publication, I read this book during my lunch break a couple of weeks ago. I admit, I knew how it ended just because at my library, the reference librarians have to check the cataloging of every adult book purchased--so seeing the subject heading Breast--Cancer--Fiction basically runied the ending for me. Knowing this, I read it anyway, interested in a book composed entirely of notes between a mother and daughter. (There have been books consisting of only emails or text messages, but I think this is the first in notes.) I admit, I tried very hard to hold back the tears so that my two male coworkers wouldn't see me crying at my desk during my lunch. The book was short and sweet, and made me grateful for the days I have had so far with Addison, and I prayed that I might be with her until we are both old and gray.

K

10-18-07 update: found Lissa's review: http://papercuts.tscpl.org/2007/09/60_second_video_book_review_li.html#comments