Junior Scholar Prepares to Cluck

My daughter has a literary mind and therefore will be hitting the streets tonight as one of literature’s most renowned heroines.  She will be a chicken.  Inspired by the (extremely) short story Little Chicken Finger Puppet Book.  This book is so short that I do not believe it has an author.  But I know this wordsmith’s work by heart.  Jane likes to put the puppet in her mouth.

Happy Halloween, readers! 

Chicken wishes come true.
(for parents)

Jane is unaware her enthusiasm is 'hatching' (LOL!)
future Halloween fun.

This Entry is Actually About the Book - Apologies in Advance

As soon as my mom told me about Margot by Jillian Cantor I knew I had to read it.  The book is a fictitious story of Anne Frank’s older sister Margot – what if she had survived?  I can’t think of a subject I would be more excited to read.  Meaning, expectations were high (and likely unreasonable).

Unsurprisingly, I was pretty disappointed.  I was annoyed on several levels by this story (which gets a solid rating on Goodreads by the way – what’s up people?)  Some big, some small.   As I was reading, my inner monologue was bullet-pointing out what I didn’t like about the book.  Like a grocery list of complaints.  It went a little something like this:

• The main character Margot has a weird combination of not remembering things and yet also calling into question some pretty significant facts from her sister’s diary.  I would expect that in a COMPLETELY MADE UP BOOK that the author could at least nail down a few parts of the story.  Commit to something, please.
•  Margot goes by the pseudonym “Margie” in the book to hide her real identity.  Almost every spoken line by other characters uses her name.  This really got on my nerves.  That is not how people converse.   The dialogue in this book was oddly unrealistic.
•  I didn’t buy the flashbacks.  At one point, Margie compares getting into an elevator after an incident at work to feeling like being in line at a concentration camp.  Um, not buying that.  At all.

After all of these little things, I started getting personal.  Author Jillian Cantor, what right do you have to butcher this story?  You live in Arizona! 

I realize that this blog entry is probably too book-centric, but I can’t help it.  I feel pretty strongly about this one, though I still gave it 3 stars on Goodreads because it was a quick read and I liked the subject.  Even if she pretty much butchered it.

All of the Good ‘Wild and Crazy Guy’ Headlines Have Been Taken by Actual Journalists

As a student of the theatre (translation: I was a Thespian in high school) (also, please note pretentious “re” spelling of theatre) I can appreciate the dedication and craft that Steve Martin describes went into his stand-up act in his book Born Standing Up.  I shouldn’t have been surprised, since I know how much rehearsal goes into seemingly impromptu performances – both on the stage and in business – but it was still kind of a surprise to learn how studied his comedy was.  Especially for a guy with such a silly sense of humor.

If you are interested in comedy this is a quick, amusing read.  Though some parts are funny because he is describing his act or a bit self-deprecating, it isn’t meant to be a laugh out loud book.  It is a rather frank description of his 18-year journey as a stand-up comedian (and amateur banjo player) that led to him being a “wild and craaaaazy guy!”

And, lady readers especially, this book does not dive into a behind the scenes look at Father of the Bride.  The movie isn’t even mentioned.  So if you read this just be prepared for that.

Bookworm Barely Mentions Book She Supposedly (But Really Did) Read

My Old Boss’ Old Boss asked me to read Thirty Rooms to Hide In: Insanity, Addiction, and Rock 'n' Roll in the Shadow of the Mayo Clinic by Luke Longstreet Sullivan.  I don’t like to do what bosses say, so I waited a year.  Look for me on LinkedIn!

Actually, I forgot about it (even though it was in my Virtual To Read Pile on Good Reads) and was reminded when reading UnfinishedThinking, a blog that people actually read by the President of my company.  He is dying, but seems to be the last to know since he was put in hospice in January.  He’s a writer so his blog is legit.

Now that you’ve likely clicked on that link, I’ve lost you – but I will keep going.

Thirty Rooms to Hide In was written by a guy who worked at my company, The Martin Agency, back in the 80s.  I had heard it was funny and after the dual recommendation/request above I bought it without reading anything about the plot.  Too often, the summary gives too much away.

This was a book about a family of 6 boys growing up with an alcoholic father.  The author’s approach was somewhat lighthearted, but the whole thing hit a little close to home for me.  Mom, I’d skip this one if I were you.

Can I just say it made me really, really glad to have a girl?  ONE girl?  I mean, these boys raised 40 rats as pets in a shed.  That is my absolute worst nightmare.  That and listening to bosses.

A reasonable number of family members.
Photo credit: Katie Kraft

One of My Shorter But More Clearly Labeled Rants

Book Friend & Actual Friend Valerie has been looking to win me over with a winning read.  It’s been her personal challenge ever since I politely suggested that instead of lending me a stack of books and saying “I am not big on any of these, but see what you think” that she focus on quality over quantity strategy.  She was receptive to this feedback and lent me The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison.

I can see why she lent me this book, since lots of people are comparing it to Gone Girl.

A RANT

It’s so annoying when there is a big popular book and then everyone compares new books to that book.  As if the logic is “Wish you hadn’t already read Gone Girl?  Well, you have but here is another author doing a worse version of it.”

RANT OVER

A Silent Wife was a quick and easy read.  Perfect for someone who is two beers deep at 10pm on a Tuesday night and has all of their baby food already prepped and ready to go for the next morning.  And also for me, who is often two beers deep but usually does not have the food ready by 10 pm.  It’s not an especially memorable book and the characters are not believable and also unlikeable.  In this case, somehow that wasn’t a total deal breaker and I enjoyed the mental break of reading about revenge murder.  (I did not give anything away there, that comes out in about the second page.)

So, good job and thank you Valerie.  Also, I hate you for being in Spain and having an amazing time while I write this post.  Congratulations on your engagement.

Bookworm Jr. confuses literature with room wrecking.