so many books, so little time

Today I finished Class Mothers by Katherine Stewart. Short and sweet about rich moms in Manhattan. I didn't like the ending though, where one character's resolution is to be a private investigator. That just seems a little to far-fetched. Otherwise pretty good, if you want something totally breezy.

And now I've found several titles I'd like to read, but I think I'm going to start with The Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King. I haven't read The Sunday Wife by her, but I know that is a popular book group selection. This story about Southern women reuniting every summer reminds me of the YaYa books and Deborah Smith. I love good Southern stories--makes me want to move to North Carolina! (But that probably isn't considered the Deep South.) Cathy Kelly, you are next.

K

not reading

My book group chose This is not chick lit : original stories by America's best women writers. I should have known that I wouldn't like it. In the introduction, the editor says that because of the emergence of chick lit, worthy, better, literary female authors are being overlooked in favor of bubblegum pink titles. So the heck what? At least chick lit isn't depressing (most of the time). I tried to read this book, I really did. But when the first short story talks about incest, I'm already done with it. The book is no longer a method of escape and enjoyment for me, it is another reminder of the grim world in which we live. Instead of giving up after that second page, I finished that story and two others. I'm still not impressed and feel that reading this book will only take my time away from more worthy pursuits: craft books and chick lit novels.

K

Goodnight, Nobody

Goodnight, Nobody by Jennifer Weiner

The last book of Weiner's that I read, Little Earthquakes, was wonderful, as was this new one. I loved how the suspense in the book kept me reading. A deeper chick lit offering than some, I love to read her writing. I love reading good books but I hate when they end.

K

Nearlyweds

Nearlyweds by Beth Kendrick

Totally forgetable book. I picked it up in desperation and read enough pages to be interested in the characters, but really, I probably should have passed on this title. I'm just one of those people who has to finish a book once they start it.

K

Alphabet Weekends

On Friday night, I finished Alphabet Weekends. Excellent book. The story involved three couples at different points in their lives and relationships. Although you knew that the couple involved in the title activity was going to get together, the main drive in the plot came from a couple where one member was involved in an affair. I'm pleased that the author stuck with reality and decided not to end everything happily.

This book has inspired us to start our own version of alphabetic dates, the first of which occurred last Friday night as we partook of Russian food at Astoria, then headed to the St. Louis Art Museum for the Art in Bloom event. We had a wonderful evening.

K