Cuba Diaries: An American Housewife in Havana by Isadora Tattlin

I love memoirs; I think the premise of people sharing interesting life experiences with others is fascinating. There is always some background that makes this author worth reading, but it's usually not that they've done something noteworthy. They just had a set of circumstances that sent them down an interesting path.

Isadora Tattlin ended up in Cuba when her husband's job sent the family there for four years. She didn't seek out time in Cuba, but she was open to the experience of living there and reporting back on what she encountered, the people she met, and her reactions to such a different culture than the one she grew up in.

A great friend of mine is from Cuba, plus a few acquaintances, so I've heard some first-hand accounts of the situation from those who've left (and most haven't been back in decades). I've heard of family members calling for items we take for granted in America. A few non-Cuban friends have visited Cuba, and report back the beauty of the country, and their thoughts of the people and government based on two weeks there.

Tattlin's account stands out from what I've heard in the past because she helps the reader understand the people she meets and the conditions they deal with on a daily basis. She doesn't present a political agenda, just a retelling of events mixed with her emotions.

Without A Map by Meredith Hall

I finished Without A Map a few days ago, and have been conflicted about what to write. I love when I can write that the book was enlightening, made me understand the lives of others better, or something along that line. On the other hand, I also can't write to avoid this book or that it's a waste of time, because it was definitely interesting and enjoyable.

I guess this is a traditional memoir. Hall has lived an interesting life, and writes a great book about it, but I didn't walk away with any lessons learned, increased compassion, or new insight. But I enjoyed the reading experience.

Look Me in the Eye: My life with Asperger's by John Elder Robison

I received an advance copy of this book, and was worried this was going to be a Running With Scissors rip-off (though probably a well written one), given the foreword written by Augusten Burroughs. What I didn't know is that Burroughs is Robison's younger brother, and this book has only tangental connections to Burroughs' memoir of his unconventional youth (which I enjoyed, but one telling is enough).

This memoir about growing up with undiagnosed Asperger's Syndrome was enlightening. He recalls the challenges of his social awkwardness, and relates to how his way of thinking has both challenged him and helped him succeed, as well as what he's done to overcome challenges related to Asperger's. Robison also tells of the full and interesting life he's lived since he's learned how to take advantage of his strengths.

I expect this book to have mass market appeal; it was enjoyable and easy to read.

Intuition by Allegra Goodman

I have a habit of skimming the book reviews in the newspaper and magazines and clipping the titles of those that interest me. I'm fairly certain Intuition received a glowing review, since it doesn't have a plot that would generally grab my attention (though I love the Cambridge, Massachusetts setting).

That said, this book was great. The only other book I've read by Allegra Goodman was The Family Markovitz, which was good but tough for me to get into. By contrast, I had trouble putting down Intuition. The plot revolves around a laboratory studying cancer, and the scientists working there. The characters are well developed, and the plot moves along quickly and logically. I was never quite sure what would happen next, but I also was never puzzled about why the plot unfolded the way it did.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone looking for something outside of their normal reading patterns, this does not easily fit into any category I know of other than "Fiction" or "Literature". It was easy to read, but not stupid or light, the characters were easy to relate to, and overall, the book is very well written.

The Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner

I finished this book this morning (it was too irresistible not to read while the coffee is brewing), and loved it just as much as I had expected. The stories covered a range of characters and plots, and even strayed from her usual female protagonists in the Northeast.

One part I really enjoyed is her notes at the end of the book. She's written a few paragraphs about when she wrote each story, aspects of her life that influenced the story development, and feedback she received from both her editor and magazine editors.

This book is consistent in it's quality when compared to Weiner's novels, and I would recommend it to anyone who's enjoyed them.

The Guy Not Taken: Stories by Jennifer Weiner

I avoid reading Jennifer Weiner's books because they become too engrossing. The great plots and characters combined with short chapters has me constantly justifying that I can read one more chapter, until I realize I should have gone to sleep an hour ago, or should have started getting ready for work two chapters back. For me, her books are addictive, and she keeps on delivering.

With that said, this book has been sitting on my shelf for months. I finally picked it up yesterday, and am not disappointed. The format is great, doling out little doses of Ms. Weiner's wit. I'm rationing it; one story per work day, two on weekends. So far, I was late to work yesterday but was able to put down the book satisfied. But I've got a beach chair in my car and the book in my purse, so I may end up in South Boston today, giving up on my Jennifer Weiner "diet".

A Private Hotel for Gentle Ladies by Ellen Cooney

I have a weak spot for books and movies set in Boston, so it was hard for me to ignore this book after seeing a review in the Boston Globe. I'm not particularly interested in historical fiction (this is set in 1900), but I've been trying to get out of my comfort zone.

While it was the setting that drew me to the book, it probably could have been set just as easily in New York or Chicago, so the local references didn't maintain my interest (The Dirty Girls Social Club by Alisa Valdes-Rodruiguez and All Souls, a memoir by Michael Patrick MacDonald are two that did). The plot, however, was out of the ordinary. It wasn't always easy to get into, but overall, it was enjoyable. It's the kind of book that I wouldn't actively recommend, but I also wouldn't discourage people from reading.

Kabul Beauty School

I just finished Kabul Beauty School, and am awestruck by massive cultural differences between the US and Afghanistan. While I've always knew that women don't have the same freedoms in many parts of the world that they have here, the realities of their situation has never set in.

Overall, the book was very good, though I wished that it could have gotten further into the lives of the Afghan women. It ended abruptly, though it fits with the issues facing Afghanistan. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to all women looking for an easy but interesting read.

What should I read next?

I'll be starting a new book next week. I'm thinking I want to read fiction; something light. I'm leaning towards The Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner, but am open to suggestions. Any thoughts on my books in my TBR pile on the left?

Kabul Beauty School, chapters 1-7

There was an NPR interview with the author, Deborah Rodriguez, a couple of weeks ago that really drew me to this book (you can check it out here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10634299). It's been a while since I've been so excited to read a book, so I should start with the fact that my expectations were probably higher than they normally are.

Anyways, I've nearly finished the book (it's 10 chapters, 270 pages long), and I've been going between loving it and finding it overrated. I think I'm more interested in the Afgan women than the author.

Regardless, this is definately an interesting memior. Easy to read, but takes you outside of your comfort zone. It started with a foriegn situation, then backtracks to explain the situation, and progresses into the foriegn nature of Afgani culture. I'm guessing I'll wish it were longer when it's done, I only have 70 pages left.

Getting Started

Wow, this is my first blog entry. Sitting at the salon in my foils today, I was thinking about how cool it would be to share my thoughts on what I read. So this is the start! Feel free to add your thoughts; the more discussion, the better. Recommendations, comments, adn anything else relevent is greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading this!