This week is the Week of the Book! Well, not The Book. I have yet to make that a priority. Maybe next year. But before Eggroll came around, I got as many chick lit and popular new releases as I could carry from the library. Today I’ll talk fun ones. Tomorrow we’ll do business and baby-raising.

There are only three listed here even though I’ve read a bunch more since my last What I’m Reading post. I’ve decided not to diss books that weren’t my cup of tea unless they are really, really bad. If that happens, then I’ll just put something in my social media feeds. Follow me there for disgruntled goodness (and/or ridiculous amounts of Corgi pics.).

Anyway…

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

First of all, Curtis is a lady. I don’t know why that matters, but it really surprised me when I read that. But it made me like the book more… I was surprised a man could write from a woman’s narration so well and felt more comfortable once I realized it was truly a lady’s voice.

Back to the story itself… This book is a fictional tale of a fictional Laura Bush. Or so it makes you think. Boy, does it give interesting perspective to the “what ifs” that could have been floating around Mrs. Bush’s head while her husband was president (and the years leading up to it.) It is very entertaining from that angle, but also is set in Wisconsin (Milwaukee’s North Shore, my new home turf, to be precise) so it was interesting to be able to place the scenes.

This book might border on “chick lit”, but it uses the English language much better than your average pink-covered book. I liked the author so much, I also tried Prep on audio book. Let’s just say American Wife is the better of the two in my opinion.

**As an aside to the pandering of chick lit – please note the cover of this book with the fancy wedding dress and gown. Spoiler alert – when the couple gets married, its a pretty casual affair. Why the need for this dress on the cover short of visually attracting readers??**

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Am I too old? Too out of touch? Too “eh” when it comes to the interesting ducks who spend their free time writing fan fiction for the Harry Potters and Twilights of the world?

I don’t know the answer to any of these questions, but I can tell you I did not turn cartwheels for Fangirl like a great many of my trusted what-to-read-next advisers.

This book is set in the freshman year of college for a young woman who has made an (anonymous) name for herself writing fan fiction. Among other story lines, we learn that while she can do great things for the Simon Snow characters, she really struggles in writing her own original details. I may know someone who has the same problem (without even the fan fic to keep in my portfolio…)

I’d give this book a B. Not the best book I’ve ever read, but so popular it’s worth a Sunday afternoon. Have you read it? What are your thoughts?

The Death of The Great Santini by Pat Conroy

If you have heard of Pat Conroy, you probably know him for The Great Santini, The Prince of Tides, or The Lords of Discipline. Or if you also know me, you have had Beach Music shoved down your throat. Beach Music is one of the most life changing novels I have ever read. Helped push me towards the University of South Carolina and taught me about Jews in the Holocaust and how f-ed up families are still some of the best. I cry when I finish reading it every single time.

I knew Mr. Conroy drew upon his own upbringing for inspiration for some of his novels. What I didn’t know until reading this new book, The Death of Santini: The Story of a Father and His Son, is that he ALWAYS used his family to create the story lines. Mind blown. How can one individual have such a wackadoo history and make something good of it?! And have a father that obviously screwed up his children in ways most of us couldn’t even imagine that becomes a pretty good friend in the end. Whoa.

As an aspiring author (with her own interesting, albeit MUCH tamer, background), this book was a great inspiration to use your own story to create fiction. For those that just like to read Mr. Conroy’s books, you’ll love hearing about The Great Santini himself, Mr. Conroy’s mother, siblings, and crazy-ass extended family. An absolute must read.

(And then go (re)read Beach Music… You won’t be disappointed!)

I’ve got lots of time with nothing to do but feed a kid and read these days… Any recommendations for new books?