LIZ: BOOK #24

Too Close to the Falls by Catherine Gildiner

400 pages

Completed 5/24/10

An account of Gildiner's own 1950s childhood, full of town characters, her religious school-based upbringing, and the challenges that came along with those, shapes this book from the very beginning.

Employed at her father's pharmacy at four, put on delivery duty with the one African American man in town soon after, Gildener's sharp humor amuses throughout this memoir without being predictable.

A good memoir about coming of age in a time before my own, with an undercurrent of self-discovery, this memoir was good, but not one that I'd recommend.

LIZ: BOOK #23

Crazy Love by Leslie Morgan Steiner

336 pages

Completed 5/6/10

The memoir of Steiner's fast-tracked relationship and subsequent marriage to the man of her dreams - who was physically abusive. Eloquently written and with the gift of retrospect, this book made me feel for the author. An intelligent, educated woman who ignored the signs of, and then the blatant domestic abuse at the hands of her husband until a near-death encounter made her leave.

The complicated relationship with her parents was not explained enough, in my opinion. Especially towards the end of the book, when a unthinkable betrayal occurs. Despite the horrific encounters with her battering spouse, I didn't feel very emotional until something unrelated to the troubled couple occurs.

This well-written account of abuse and subsequent escape is a good book for teens, in my opinion. Yes, a bit advanced and unrelatable to most teenagers (grad school rather than high school), but an account of things she missed, friends who betrayed, family who didn't understand, and strength in getting out would be indispensable for girls getting into new relationships.

LIZ: BOOK #22

Waiter Rant by The Waiter aka Steve Dublancia

302 pages

Completed 5/5/10

Started as a blog destressing about his waiter position at a high-end NYC restaurant. As a twice-time server, I could totally relate to most of the obnoxious - and great - customers. But what I found most intriguing about this memoir was the breakdown of the relationships between coworkers, bosses, and significant others. Fueled by his own sense of underachievement and unmistakable confusion of where he wants to go in life (even though he's pushing 40), Dublancia really made me feel for him.

I enjoyed how each chapter focused on one subject without it being spacey between them. Although not as side-splitting as I had hoped, the dry humor and amusing conversations kept me entertained.

I checked out his blog, www.waiterrant.net, which Dublancia still updates frequently, and think I'll bookmark it. Likable in a way only someone who admits to his faults can be, the writing was edited just enough to feel like this was just someone telling you his story face-to-face.

LIZ: BOOK #21

Whistling in the Dark by Lesley Kagen

336 pages

Completed 5/4/10


This novel revolves around two young sisters in the 1950s left to fend for themselves with a hospitalized mother, absent older sister, and alcoholic stepfather, in a town that's been plagued by two assaults and murders of two girls. The sisters' relationship is touching; other than that, though, nothing in this book really got to me.

Far too many characters with far too large families lead to confusion, a twisted love triangle, all combined with the unlikeliness of the majority of the situations written, this was novel was far too much of a stretch to be believable.

Sometimes after reading books, I check online to see what other readers had to say. I was surprised that the overwhelming majority of people loved this book - I thought it was overwritten, lacking, and disappointing all at the same time. I think it's time for a memoir...