An Appetite for: Books - The Breakaway

 

I have mixed feelings about this one. I’m a big fan of Jennifer Weiner, particularly her novels that have some mystery (Big Summer or Goodnight Nobody) and also loved her memoir. But this novel, about a woman named Abby who leads a bike tour and the ensuing drama of the fellow riders, was uneven. There were bright spots whenever the author wrote about backstory but all the present day action felt flat to me and I didn’t like the main characters. Abby had a lovely boyfriend for over two years and yet she was quick to cheat on him - made her very unlikable to me. I’ll still happily read more from this author but this one wasn’t as good as I hoped.

I'm grateful for NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

An Appetite for: Books - Romantic Comedy

 

A deliciously funny and romantic summer read, enjoyed on audiobook. Sally, a writer at a late night show inspired by SNL, feels a romantic connection with host Noah Brewster, an uber-famous singer. I loved how the book was structured in 3 sections: 1.) a week in the life of the show, played out day by day, 2.) an epistolary interlude between the two main characters, and 3.) the steamy meet-up.

The crackling chemistry between Sally and Noah almost embarrassed me, like I shouldn’t be witnessing such intimacy. Reminded me of Before Sunrise, that Ethan Hawke film, where the main characters have so much chemistry and connection in how they speak and communicate.

Small quibble on the audiobook: I enjoyed it but had trouble distinguishing which of the characters was speaking at times.

An Appetite for: Stuff - Lovely Sunscreens

 

The best sunscreen is the one that you wear. I have started to build a collection of many that I actually enjoy using every day. The two I'm featuring today are lovely under make-up. I put my skincare on after I shower, let it soak in for a good 30 minutes while I do other things, and then put the sunscreen on as a first step before make-up. Each of these has a nice watery texture that feels light on my skin - and like a treat, not a chore!

An Appetite for: Books - Palm Beach

 

So glad I found this book, mentioned by Becca Freeman on Bad on Paper podcast - one of my absolute favorite podcasts and she is a trusted source of book recommendations for me. The writing and story grabbed me from the start and flew fast with surprising depth (in contrast to the fluffy title & cover art). A musical theater actor loses his ability to sing so relocates with his wife and young son to Palm Beach Florida to be the house manager for a billionaire. The lives of both families become intertwined. A fresh story of the uber-wealthy contrasted with the 99%.

Another recent acquisition (a bit of LIFO - last in first out!) but counts as Project Read My Bookshelf!

An Appetite for: Books - Six Days in Rome

 

Reading this book felt like a Roman holiday - wonderfully written in a unique structure that I found captivating. The narrator takes a planned and thoroughly "itineraried" vacation to Rome without the boyfriend who inspired the trip. The author seamlessly weaves together the detailed experiences of the trip with reminiscences of her life back in New York City and her childhood, including stories of her famous Leonard Cohen-esque father. Really enjoyed this and think this story and its style will stay with me. Look forward to whatever this author writes next (as this was her debut).

This was a more recent acquisition but still counts as Project Read My Bookshelf!

An Appetite for: Audiobooks - The One

 

Adhering to the "loophole" of Project Read My Bookshelf, I read an audiobook from the library - and it was a 5-star experience. I heard about The One by John Marrs on Sarah's Bookshelves Live podcast and the premise intrigued me. The book takes place in modern-day times and all is "normal" except for one new technological advancement - you can now find your one soulmate through DNA matching (as simple as genetic testing by just mailing in a swab and your $9.99 fee). Many people can end up matchless, because sending in your DNA is purely voluntary and because you can be matched with anyone on the globe so your match may not even know about the technology.. 

I was so enthralled with the story that I finished it in only four days - any excuse to take a drive or go for walk! The story is told in a quick-paced round robin of alternating featured characters and the audio is voiced by multiple people (loved their various British accents). From the 2nd chapter, I knew this was not going to be what I expected and it was a great ride - no spoilers - just enjoy it for yourself.

But it does raise some provocative questions I am still mulling: Is there really only ONE love match in the world for each person? Does it take the romance out to be given your soulmate without any discovery? And can a serial killer have a heart of gold?

An Appetite for: Books - Hotel Du Lac

 

A "last hurrah" - my last library book - before I embark on Project Read My Bookshelf. I heard about this book -  published in 1984 and winner of the Booker Prize - on a Sarah's Bookshelves Live podcast about backlist gems, and this sounded like my kind of book. A woman of a certain age, though not yet 40, who writes romance novels, flees her home in England to a small hotel in Switzerland. The reasons for her swift escape are slowly revealed. Through the eyes of our lead character, we get to know the other guests staying at the hotel during this off-season, but these peripheral characters are lightly drawn with just the essence of what we need to know to understand them - to think we understand them until more is revealed. I loved this little jewel box of a novel (less than 200 pages) which reminded me of A Gentleman in Moscow but with the tone of House of Mirth. This was my first book by Anita Brookner and I would read more from her generous backlist.

As a side note, I loved the cover and was captivated by the cover image. When I looked at the photo credit, I saw it was taken by Sarah Moon and it made sense why I liked it so much. I've been a fan of her photos for decades - I still remember a photo spread in the New York Times magazine section that I kept for years. She has a distinct style, ethereally elegant and moody with a use of color that I love (though ironically, this cover image is black and white and equally arresting). It was good to be reminded of her work.