I have so many conflicting feelings about Pineapple Street! This buzzy debut from powerhouse editor Jenny Jackson has been described “as close to crazy rich WASPs as WASPs can get” which pretty much sums up the basic plot. Narrator Marin Ireland literally elevates any material, so it was her lively narration that really kept me… Keep Reading
MS. DEMEANOR by ELINOR LIPMAN
This cover and the catchy title caught my eye and the synopsis really grabbed me! Successful attorney Jane Morgan owns an amazing New York City apartment, but her orderly life comes crashing down when she is caught having relations with an associate from her law firm…on the roof of her apartment building! Both are… Keep Reading
LOVE, PAMELA by PAMELA ANDERSON
I was completely intrigued by Pamela Anderson’s story after watching the Netflix documentary. An animal rights activist, devoted mother and voracious reader, she is so much more than just her centerfolds and crazy marriages. Raised by parents who were at best inadequate and at worst, violent and brutish, Pamela still manages to see the… Keep Reading
RULES OF CIVILITY by AMOR TOWLES
What a rich and sparkling view of New York City just before World War II! An absolute joy to listen to. At the heart of this book are Washington’s Rules of Civility (actually created in 1595 but copied by Washington into his notebook), a list of common-sense manners which should be followed today. These rules… Keep Reading
BIG SWISS by JEN BEAGIN
I’m certain I won’t read another book this year as quirky as Big Swiss. The title refers to the nickname that our main protagonist Greta gives to the voice in the therapy sessions she is transcribing. Greta works for a sex therapist named Om in Hudson, New York (where everyone knows each other) transcribing… Keep Reading
DEMON COPPERHEAD by BARBARA KINGSOLVER
Stunning! Epic! Where do I begin? Well the endnotes provide the framework for this extraordinary novel: Barbara Kingsolver thanks Charles Dickens for creating David Copperfield and writing about the damage poverty had on children at that time. Sadly, those problems are still with us. Our narrator Demon (born Damon) is born into abject poverty and… Keep Reading
SPARE by PRINCE HARRY DUKE OF SUSSEX
As a royal watcher from a very young age (I even remember Princess Margaret’s escapades on the island of Mustique!), I could not wait to listen to this audiobook. For all the hysterical headlines devoted to Harry’s book, ‘Spare’ is actually a rather tender and thoughtful examination of the madness surrounding the Royal Family. I… Keep Reading
AESTHETICA by ALLIE ROWBOTTOM
This scathing yet thoughtful novel follows former influencer Anna on the eve of a groundbreaking surgery that will reverse all of her previous cosmetic enhancements, and restore her back to her “natural” self. The book alternates between the adult Anna and the 19-year-old Anna who has just arrived in L.A. from Texas. The author never… Keep Reading
THE RABBIT HUTCH by TESS GUNTY
Astounding! Tess Gunty is brilliant. I am not smart enough to give this book the review it deserves. This absolutely STUNNING debut novel, the winner of the National Book Award 2022 for Fiction, is unlike any book I’ve ever listened to. Definitely not an easy read, this book tackles trauma, the foster care system,… Keep Reading
FRIENDS, LOVERS AND THE BIG TERRIBLE THING by MATTHEW PERRY
Unflinching. Brutal. Honest. Incredibly enlightening. These are just some of the feelings inspired by Matthew Perry’s outstanding autobiography. Even if you weren’t a huge fan of ‘Friends’, the inside story of the megahit and its influence on Matt’s life is compelling. All the fame and money in the world couldn’t stop him from relapsing over… Keep Reading
