Review: Eligible

Eligible

By Curtis Sittenfeld

Published: April 19, 2016

From the “wickedly entertaining” (USA Today) Curtis Sittenfeld, New York Times bestselling author of Prep and American Wife, comes a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Equal parts homage to Jane Austen and bold literary experiment, Eligible is a brilliant, playful, and delicious saga for the twenty-first century.
 
This version of the Bennet family—and Mr. Darcy—is one that you have and haven’t met before: Liz is a magazine writer in her late thirties who, like her yoga instructor older sister, Jane, lives in New York City. When their father has a health scare, they return to their childhood home in Cincinnati to help—and discover that the sprawling Tudor they grew up in is crumbling and the family is in disarray.
 
Youngest sisters Kitty and Lydia are too busy with their CrossFit workouts and Paleo diets to get jobs. Mary, the middle sister, is earning her third online master’s degree and barely leaves her room, except for those mysterious Tuesday-night outings she won’t discuss. And Mrs. Bennet has one thing on her mind: how to marry off her daughters, especially as Jane’s fortieth birthday fast approaches.
 
Enter Chip Bingley, a handsome new-in-town doctor who recently appeared on the juggernaut reality TV dating show Eligible. At a Fourth of July barbecue, Chip takes an immediate interest in Jane, but Chip’s friend neurosurgeon Fitzwilliam Darcy reveals himself to Liz to be much less charming. . . . 
 
And yet, first impressions can be deceiving.
 
Wonderfully tender and hilariously funny, Eligible both honors and updates Austen’s beloved tale. Tackling gender, class, courtship, and family, Sittenfeld reaffirms herself as one of the most dazzling authors writing today.

My review:

I have been a devoted fan of Jane Austen since my teen years and Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite novels. I also enjoy reading books based on her novels though some are definitely better than others. Eligible appealed to me because I liked the idea of a modern day Pride and Prejudice and was curious to see how Sittenfeld would adapt the story. In some ways I was pleased but in others I was very disappointed.

Eligible is set in Cincinnati, Ohio, the home of the Bennets' once glorious Tudor home that has fallen into disrepair. The main character Liz and her sister Jane are home from New York in the wake of their dad's heart attack where they now shoulder the burden of taking care of him and everyone else. Liz's younger sisters Kitty and Lydia are unemployed and spoiled fitness fanatics with coarse manners. Mrs. Bennet is a shopaholic socialite and Mary is a dull intellectual who continually racks up degrees without getting a job. Mr. Bennet like the original character is bad with finances and not concerned at all with all the problems around him. 

The part of the novel that disappointed me most was the romance between Liz and Darcy. I felt like it was poorly developed and lacked the spark and sizzle of the hero and heroine's relationship in Pride and Prejudice. Jane and Chip's romance had some issues and felt a little rushed but I suppose that echoes the original in a way. I also struggled to relate to Liz and didn't like her as much as I'd hoped compared to Elizabeth Bennet.

What I did like was the way the story was updated with some contemporary twists, including some that I definitely didn't expect. The novel is entertaining as it pokes fun at reality TV dating shows and the foibles of the Bennet clan. I think readers who like the original novel but don't mind the idea of a modern take on the story might enjoy Eligible while purists and Austen devotees should probably consider skipping it or perhaps check it out from the library. 

Note: I received an ARC for review purposes courtesy of the publisher and Edelweiss

Waiting on Wednesday (179)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme to discuss upcoming books we can't wait to get our hands on. Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week, I'm waiting on:

Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine

Release date: July 5, 2016

In Ink and Bone, New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine introduced a world where knowledge is power, and power corrupts absolutely. Now, she continues the story of those who dare to defy the Great Library—and rewrite history... 
 
With an iron fist, The Great Library controls the knowledge of the world, ruthlessly stamping out all rebellion, forbidding the personal ownership of books in the name of the greater good.
 
Jess Brightwell has survived his introduction to the sinister, seductive world of the Library, but serving in its army is nothing like he envisioned. His life and the lives of those he cares for have been altered forever. His best friend is lost, and Morgan, the girl he loves, is locked away in the Iron Tower and doomed to a life apart.
 
Embarking on a mission to save one of their own, Jess and his band of allies make one wrong move and suddenly find themselves hunted by the Library’s deadly automata and forced to flee Alexandria, all the way to London.
 
But Jess’s home isn't safe anymore. The Welsh army is coming, London is burning, and soon, Jess must choose between his friends, his family, or the Library willing to sacrifice anything and anyone in the search for ultimate control...

I loved Ink and Bone. It was one of my favorite books of 2015 so I can't wait to get my hands on this sequel!

Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen by Alison Weir

Release date: May 31, 2016

Bestselling author and acclaimed historian Alison Weir takes on what no fiction writer has done before: creating a dramatic six-book series in which each novel covers one of King Henry VIII’s wives. In this captivating opening volume, Weir brings to life the tumultuous tale of Katherine of Aragon, Henry’s first, devoted, and “true” queen.
 
A princess of Spain, Catalina is only sixteen years old when she sets foot on the shores of England. The youngest daughter of the powerful monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, Catalina is a coveted prize for a royal marriage—and Arthur, Prince of Wales, and heir to the English throne, has won her hand. But tragedy strikes and Catalina, now Princess Katherine, is betrothed to the future Henry VIII. She must wait for his coming-of-age, an ordeal that tests her resolve, casts doubt on her trusted confidantes, and turns her into a virtual prisoner.
 
Katherine’s patience is rewarded when she becomes Queen of England. The affection between Katherine and Henry is genuine, but forces beyond her control threaten to rend her marriage, and indeed the nation, apart. Henry has fallen under the spell of Katherine’s maid of honor, Anne Boleyn. Now Katherine must be prepared to fight, to the end if God wills it, for her faith, her legitimacy, and her heart.

I loved Alison Weir's Tudor nonfiction/biographies so I have high hopes for this series of novels.

Review: A Window Opens

A Window Opens

By Elisabeth Egan

Published: August 25, 2015

From the books editor at Glamour magazine comes a heartfelt and painfully funny debut about what happens when a wife and mother of three leaps at the chance to fulfill her professional destiny—only to learn every opportunity comes at a price.

In A Window Opens, beloved books editor at Glamour magazine Elisabeth Egan brings us Alice Pearse, a compulsively honest, longing-to-have-it-all, sandwich generation heroine for our social-media-obsessed, lean in (or opt out) age. Like her fictional forebears Kate Reddy and Bridget Jones, Alice plays many roles (which she never refers to as “wearing many hats” and wishes you wouldn’t, either). She is a mostly-happily married mother of three, an attentive daughter, an ambivalent dog-owner, a part-time editor, a loyal neighbor and a Zen commuter. She is not: a cook, a craftswoman, a decorator, an active PTA member, a natural caretaker or the breadwinner. But when her husband makes a radical career change, Alice is ready to lean in—and she knows exactly how lucky she is to land a job at Scroll, a hip young start-up which promises to be the future of reading, with its chain of chic literary lounges and dedication to beloved classics. The Holy Grail of working mothers―an intellectually satisfying job and a happy personal life―seems suddenly within reach.

Despite the disapproval of her best friend, who owns the local bookstore, Alice is proud of her new “balancing act” (which is more like a three-ring circus) until her dad gets sick, her marriage flounders, her babysitter gets fed up, her kids start to grow up and her work takes an unexpected turn. Readers will cheer as Alice realizes the question is not whether it’s possible to have it all, but what does she―Alice Pearse―really want?

My review:

As someone who is not a wife or mom I wondered if I would be able to connect with Alice Pearse but to my surprise I did. I could relate to her love of books and her family and I thought she was a caring person. I liked her sense of humor too. 

A Window Opens is not completely the lighthearted book I expected as it also has some sorrow and asks some harder questions about what is important in life and how to balance work and family. I also liked the comparisons to Amazon and how technology has changed our reading habits. Scroll is an interesting concept and also a sad one. Scroll is supposed to be an Amazon like box store and the parent company is like a combination of Amazon and Walmart so I could understand why Alice's best friend was worried about the fate of her bookstore. As the book went on I was reminded a little of The Devil Wear's Prada because of how demanding Alice's job was. 

In addition to the challenges of a new job, Alice's husband is also struggling after losing his job and taking over primary care of their kids while Alice works. At times he annoyed me because he kind of landed himself in that situation and made things worse. Alice may have been working longer hours and been attached to her phone at home because of work demands but he is the reason she left the part time job she loved in the first place. 

I loved Alice's father. He is an awesome dad and grandfather and it is clear that Alice gets her love of books from him. He can no longer speak due to throat cancer but he can definitely make his opinions heard. His text messages cracked me up and I really enjoyed the relationship between Alice and her dad.

A Window Opens is a book I really enjoyed and I could see it being made into a movie. I liked the insight into the book industry as well as the story of a modern family trying to get through some struggles. I also liked the humor that helped balance the darker moments. While the book's description references Bridget Jones, I think readers who like Liane Moriarty would like this book as it is reminiscent of her writing style. This is Elisabeth Egan's debut novel and I would definitely check out what she writes next.

I received an e-ARC for review purposes courtesy of the publisher and Edelweiss

Sunday Post (47) / It's Monday, What Are You Reading

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme now hosted by Kathryn at Book Date, where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next.

I had a busy week at work with book group and getting ready for Tuesday's Edible Book Festival. Thanks to my very kindhearted book group members I have some more entries for the festival. We now have 6 patron entries and 7 staff entries which is a lot better than the two patron entries I thought we'd have. Next week I hope to have some pictures of the edible books to share.

Yesterday was interesting with a snow storm that caused the library to delay opening till noon. I am so sick of snow! I was kind of taken by surprise that we had a level one snow emergency in April. I really wish it had happened on a different weekend but I was really lucky and the main roads were not that bad. Most of it had already melted by the time I returned home. We were super busy at the library too. I think people were relieved that the roads were cleared off and they came out in droves.

Tuesday is going to be a crazy day. I am working 10-8 because I have a supervisor's meeting in the morning and then the Edible Book Festival and Star Wars movie night in the evening. Friday we have our Bigfoot program. A lot of people in my area believe in Bigfoot. We have had 2 or 3 Bigfoot programs in the past that always filled up and this one already has 75 attendees (registration is limited to 100). If only I could get those people to come to some of my other programs!

#FitReaders Weekly Check In

#FitReaders is hosted by Felicia at The Geeky Blogger and Jen at That's What I'm Talking About

I did better with my steps than I thought I would but this week I will not be able to do as much. I think it would be good to take a break from exercising and I know when I visit my parents this weekend I won't be able to get my steps in. I will also try to eat healthier this week. 

Sunday--4,820 steps
Monday--10,671 steps
Tuesday--5,332 steps
Wednesday--10,573 steps
Thursday--12,053 steps
Friday--10,334 steps
Saturday--12,192 steps

Last week on my blog:

Somewhere Out There by Amy Hatvany (review)

Books read:

Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse

I thought this book was fantastic. I couldn't put it down because I had to know what would happen to Hanneke, Mirjam and the other characters. There were parts that were definitely nail biting as well as heartbreaking. 

Side note: I love how the author included little details like popular snacks that Hanneke liked. One of them which I'd never heard of before was stroopwafels, which are a thin wafer like sandwich cookie with a caramel filling. You set it on top of a hot cup of coffee or tea and it gets all melty before you eat it. I was happy to find some at Walmart so I enjoyed that while I read.

Currently reading:

The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson

This is a slower paced book but I am enjoying it. It takes a little longer to warm up to the characters than her other novel, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, which I loved. The first part of the book establishes the characters and the village setting but now the war (WWI) has started and things should get interesting. 

The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien (reread)

I made more progress this week. Sam and Frodo are now in Ithilien and have just met Faramir. 

Currently listening to:

Emma by Jane Austen (reread)

Although Emma is not my favorite of Jane Austen's novels, I am delighted by this audio book. I have seen a lot of glowing reviews for Juliet Stevenson's narration of the various Jane Austen audio books and I can see why she is so popular! I also find more appreciation for this novel now as I reread it. There are all sorts of things I didn't catch before or didn't remember.

On my TBR pile:

Love, Lies and Spies by Cindy Anstey

New books received:

Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston (library book)

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (library book)

What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan (library book)

The Marriage Pact by M.J. Pullen (library book)

Regrets Only by M.J. Pullen (library book)

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom (library book)

Review: Somewhere Out There

Somewhere Out There

By Amy Hatvany

Published: March 1, 2016

Natalie Clark knew never to ask her sensitive adoptive mother questions about her past. She doesn’t even know her birth mother’s name—only that the young woman signed parental rights over to the state when Natalie was a baby. Now Natalie’s own daughter must complete a family tree project for school, and Natalie is determined to unearth the truth about her roots.

Brooke Walker doesn’t have a family. At least, that’s what she tells herself after being separated from her mother and her little sister at age four. Having grown up in a state facility and countless foster homes, Brooke survives the only way she knows how, by relying on herself. So when she discovers she’s pregnant, Brooke faces a heart-wrenching decision: give up her baby or raise the child completely on her own. Scared and confused, she feels lost until a surprise encounter gives her hope for the future.

How do our early experiences—the subtle and the traumatic—define us as adults? How do we build relationships when we’ve been deprived of real connection? Critically acclaimed author Amy Hatvany considers controversial and complicated questions about childhood through the lens of her finely crafted characters in this astute novel about mending wounds by diving into the truth of what first tore us apart.

My review:

Natalie and Brooke had very different childhoods. After their birth mom Jennifer got in trouble with the law and gave them up for adoption, Natalie was adopted right away but Brooke had a turbulent life in foster care and group homes. The novel looks at who they are as women now and how their childhood affected them. It also explores the new relationship between Brooke and Natalie and Brooke's fears about becoming a mother. Jennifer's perspective is also included. She wasn't a good mom to her daughters but she did love them and it tore her apart to let them go. She had some rough years and now has moved past her mistakes.

Natalie was fortunate as a baby to be adopted into a nurturing family and her own family life is pretty happy though not without its challenges. Brooke on the other hand had a much more hardscrabble childhood and she has trouble trusting people and letting them into her life. Although it was Brooke I really felt for (and Natalie to a lesser degree), I was surprised to feel sympathy for Jennifer too. The author shows how Jennifer struggles to change her life and find peace. 

I think all three characters are well developed and given depth. There are no easy answers here and I think that makes the novel much more realistic. Somewhere Out There would be a fantastic novel for book discussion groups. It is the first book by Amy Hatvany that I've read and I definitely plan to read more. 

Note: I received an ARC for review purposes courtesy of the publisher and Edelweiss

Waiting on Wednesday (178)

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme to discuss upcoming books we can't wait to get our hands on. Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm waiting on:

Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee

Release date: May 24, 2016

From the author of the critically acclaimed Under a Painted Sky, an unforgettable story of determination set against a backdrop of devastating tragedy. Perfect for fans of Code Name Verity.
 
San Francisco, 1906: Fifteen-year-old Mercy Wong is determined to break from the poverty in Chinatown, and an education at St. Clare’s School for Girls is her best hope. Although St. Clare’s is off-limits to all but the wealthiest white girls, Mercy gains admittance through a mix of cunning and a little bribery, only to discover that getting in was the easiest part. Not to be undone by a bunch of spoiled heiresses, Mercy stands strong—until disaster strikes.

On April 18, an historic earthquake rocks San Francisco, destroying Mercy’s home and school. With martial law in effect, she is forced to wait with her classmates for their families in a temporary park encampment. Mercy can't sit by while they wait for the Army to bring help. Fires might rage, and the city may be in shambles, yet Mercy still has the 'bossy' cheeks that mark her as someone who gets things done. But what can one teenaged girl do to heal so many suffering in her broken city?

Breakout author Stacey Lee masterfully crafts another remarkable novel set against a unique historical backdrop. Strong-willed Mercy Wong leads a cast of diverse characters in this extraordinary tale of survival.

I think this sounds pretty good. I love historical fiction and Mercy sounds like an interesting character.

Wanderlost by Jen Malone

Release date: May 31, 2016

Not all those who wander are lost, but Aubree Sadler most definitely is on this novel’s whirlwind trip through Europe. A romantic and charming YA debut perfect for fans of Stephanie Perkins and Jenny Han.

Aubree can’t think of a better place to be than in perfectly boring Ohio, and she’s ready for a relaxing summer. But when her older sister, Elizabeth, gets into real trouble, Aubree is talked into taking over Elizabeth’s summer job, leading a group of senior citizens on a bus tour through Europe.

Aubree doesn’t even make it to the first stop in Amsterdam before their perfect plan unravels, leaving her with no phone, no carefully prepared binder full of helpful facts, and an unexpected guest: the tour company owner’s son, Sam. Considering she’s pretending to be Elizabeth, she absolutely shouldn’t fall for him, but she can’t help it, especially with the most romantic European cities as the backdrop for their love story.

But her relationship with Sam is threatening to ruin her relationship with her sister, and she feels like she’s letting both of them down. Aubree knows this trip may show her who she really is—she just hopes she likes where she ends up.

I think this sounds like such a fun book for summer reading. I would love to leave perfectly boring Ohio this summer and travel to Europe! Since that isn't a possibility I will enjoy reading this one and armchair traveling instead :)

Sunday Post (46) / It's Monday, What Are You Reading

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme now hosted by Kathryn at Book Date, where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next.

Happy first week of April! Here we have snow on the ground though it hopefully won't last long. It was a crazy day yesterday. It started off with sunshine then in the afternoon it rained and then in the early evening the rain mixed with snow and then by the night time there was snow on the ground. I didn't expect that! I spent the day running errands and going to another library's DIY festival. They had a 3-D printer there from the local university. It was really cool to see how 3-D printing worked. I'm hoping to have the presenter come to our library later this year or next year. I know some libraries own 3-D printers for the public to use but that is still outside our price range (though the 3-D pen might not be).

Last week I visited my parents for Easter and we received some good news about my mom. She does not have cancer and her latest lab results were really good so it looks like her bone marrow is producing blood cells again like it should. She has to get blood tests every two weeks to monitor it but that is really fantastic news!

This week I have my evening book group and I work on Saturday but other than that it will be pretty quiet. Next week is our edible book festival and so far the response has not been promising. Aside from library staff only two people have turned in entry forms. Next year I have decided to scrap the edible book festival (way too stressful) and try a Peeps diorama contest instead. I am using Peeps to make my entry for the edible book festival. Today I will be practicing turning a Twinkie into a car to go with Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman (my entry will be called Go, Peeps. Go!). 

#FitReaders Weekly Check In

#FitReaders is hosted by Felicia at The Geeky Blogger and Jen at That's What I'm Talking About

I have decided to allow myself one day off a week from exercising and meeting my step goal (likely Sundays) but this past week I accidentally overslept on Wednesday so I didn't have time to work out. I also wasn't feeling that great so I sat a lot at work. I hope to do better this week! 

Sunday--5,015 steps
Monday--11,464 steps
Tuesday--10,753 steps
Wednesday--4,748 steps
Thursday--11,362 steps
Friday--11,334 steps
Saturday--11,215 steps

Last week on my blog:

Top Ten Five Star Reads (post)

The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine (review)

Books read:

A Window Opens by Elisabeth Egan

I liked this book more than I thought I would. The main character is a 30-something woman who loves her part time job at a magazine (it allows her to spend more time with the kids) but when her husband unexpectedly leaves his job to start his own law firm, she takes a full time job at Scroll, a trendy Amazon like company. The book looks at careers, the family/work balance, friendships and marriage relationships among other things.

The Breathtaker by Alice Blanchard

This is our evening book discussion book and I thought I'd like it but I really didn't. It features a killer who plots his gruesome murders around when tornadoes will strike. It was gritty and very detailed both in describing crime scenes and tornado chasing. I figured out who the killer was the moment he was introduced and I didn't really care for the characters. I am curious to see how the other group members felt about it.

Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld

I have mixed feelings about this book. I did think it was kind of fun to read a modern day version of Pride and Prejudice and I liked some of the new twists the author used. My issue was with the main Liz and Darcy romance which didn't quite work for me. I also thought some of the characters were less likable in this version and the story lacked the charm of the original. 

Books listened to:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (reread)

Currently reading:

The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien (reread)

Frodo and Sam are now following Gollum on safe paths through the marshes...

Currently listening to:

Emma by Jane Austen (reread)

I am listening to the version read by Juliet Stevenson (does not go with this paperback cover). Juliet Stevenson played the annoying Mrs. Elton in the Gwyneth Paltrow version of Emma from the 90s and I am enjoying her narration so far.

On my TBR pile:

Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse

I am planning to start this book today. My sister read an advance copy of it too and she loved it. The story is set in The Netherlands during WWII. The main character is a teen who helps her family by selling items on the black market. She is asked by one of her customers to look for a Jewish girl the customer had been hiding and through this she becomes involved with the resistance. Sounds good doesn't it?

Love, Lies and Spies by Cindy Anstey

This is a YA Regency historical romance with spies. It sounds like fun!

New books received:

The Winemakers by Jan Moran (for review)

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly (for review)

Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom (for review)

Before We Visit the Goddess by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (for review)

Forever and Forever by Josi S. Kilpack (for review)

A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner (library book)