I’ve been managing my “read 25 books this year” goal pretty well…I just finished book 15 (People of the Book, by Geraldine Brooks, which I’d recommend). For those of you keeping track 
, I am reading Sophie Kinsella’s Remember Me?, which was on my list of books I wanted to read this summer.
I wanted to talk about the two books I read, 13 and 14.
The first was the Ann Packer novel, The Dive from Clausen’s Pier. I’m not spoiling anything when I tell you the book opens with Carrie’s boyfriend Mike having a diving accident that leaves him comatose. Adding into the issues Carrie confronts in dealing with the aftermath is that she was outgrowing the relationship before the accident took place (she and Mike were high school sweethearts, now engaged). The book portrays Carrie as she deals with the accident and makes choices that affect everyone around her.
This was a weird book for me because although I liked the writing and the book, I really didn’t like Carrie very much. Not so much because of her doubts about her future with Mike, but how she treats people in general. I thought I would have more empathy, but I found her character to be flaky and impulsive in ways that tended to hurt other people. I was surprised at the fact I disliked her so much.
The second book was Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? This was a totally fun book that I read in a day, detailing Kaling’s life from nerdy schoolgirl to Hollywood medium-to-bigwig-dom. Kaling has a brilliant chapter on peaking in high school that pretty much sums up my thoughts on the subject as well (ie, it’s kind of sad if high school was the best time of your life…).
One of the things I liked so much was how “regular person”-like Kaling seems. She’s part of Hollywood, but doesn’t put on airs about what got her there. I also found it interesting reading her take on being a normal size woman in a “you must be skinny” business. She tells a revealing story about doing a “People‘s Most Beautiful” shoot with her colleague Ellie Kemper and how the only dress that would fit her “large” (size 8) frame was hideously unflattering. The other dresses (size 4, thank you very much), were beautiful, so she put her foot down and insisted that she wear one of those, much to the clothing stylist’s dismay (the dress had to be dismantled to work). I remember that issue and how pretty Kaling and Kemper looked and how I was surprised to learn they were both Ivy Leaguers (Dartmouth for Kaling; Princeton for Kemper–the section they were in was on beautiful smarties). So, it was fun to learn the back story.
Needless to say, I would totally recommend Kaling’s book as a great summer/beach read. I would recommend Dive as well, when you’re in the mood for something more serious!
Do you have a preference for light versus heavy reads, or does it depend?
zo, i am so glad you are talking books today because i was going to tell you anyway that i finished “shoe addicts anonymous” last eve! it was a really fun read, perfect for july, and THANK YOU for the suggestion! now i am starting the 50 shades of grey series!…on page 4 of book one, haha!
i like how you switch up the type of books you read…lighter to heavier, different genres, authors, etc. i find i seek lighter fare during the summer…although that being said, i can’t do too many chick lits in a row before my brain wants something a little deeper!
mindy was the girl from “facts of life,” right? i’d be interested in checking out that book. i always like hearing what goes on “behind the scenes” in L.A.! (ex: tori spelling’s bio!).
looking forward to your thoughts on the sophie kinsella – she is on my list of authors to read…
i think for next year, one of my goals will be to track books on goodreads!
I’m so glad you liked Shoe Addicts! It’s fun, isn’t it! Can’t wait to get your review of 50 shades! Mindy Kaling is actually on The Office. She’s a writer/actress. Mindy Cohn was on the Facts Life (I wonder if she’s written a book…that could be fun).
So far, I’m really enjoying Remember Me? People of the Book was pretty heavy/serious, so the lightness balances it well!
I’ve not heard of either book, always good to get more ideas. Books seem to be a theme lately! I recently got on Goodreads at Fran’s suggestion and I’m so glad. I can tell it’s going to be fun to have reviews to look back at, especially when someone asks you for a recommendation! And, we can see what everyone else is reading and recommending. I wish I had joined sooner! Just do it!
I’m always tempted to join Goodreads…I’ve been pretty slow when it comes to all these social media sites…but I’m sure I’ll get there eventually! I do hate the sensation of knowing that I know a book that fits the bill, but can’t think of what it is!
I’ve been wanting to read Kaling’s book but I am always weary of the celebrity books like that (despite a slightly unhealthy obsession with People magazine). She does seem like a down to earth, real woman despite her fame so I’m glad to have a recommendation for it!
It’s definitely a “she’s a real person!” kind of book. It’s sort of easy to forget she’s (rich and?) famous reading it because she sounds so familiar!
Thanks for the book idea and reviews. I am getting little ideas here and there from your lists. I have contemplated stopping a book before when I haven’t liked the main voice. It is a weird experience.
Definitely weird. As I said, stranger because I was interested in the story, but just found Carrie so hard to like. I was happy to get to the end!
I liked People of the Book also. I did it on audio back in my commuting days. I also did Remember Me? that way. I don’t remember being thrilled with it, but it was light. In preparation for our trip I’m trying to arrange books for lightness. Last year, I read two heavy sort of depressing books while traveling and I think they kind of put me in a funk. I’m specifically looking for light or really, really good. I need to pack my book bag soon…good grief! I need to pack ALL of my bags soon!