So--just finished Waiter Rant. Very entertaining nonfiction about the life of a waiter who works at an upscale Tuscan restaurant in the New York City area. (Nyack, I found out today online.) Not only does the author skewer himself (why is he 38 and still waiting tables, why does he work w/ CRAZY people, why doesn't he have a relationship), but he also skewers the nutty behavior of customers (complaining about not being able to get a table in the rear of the restaurant, because a woman has just had a stroke, so the customers would have to step over her to get to their preferred table--which they would do!), his coworkers (substance abuse problems, dating issues, etc.) and especially his nutty boss. This book was funny & revealing and reminded me a little of the David Sedaris essay about working as an elf at Macy's. I did cringe a bit whenever the author talked about himself, especially about enjoying strip clubs. But that is the tone of the book--adult, and honest. And I'd rather he reveal the warts and all--gives you a sense that he's not lying. Well, he's probably lying about some of it, but that's expected.
So I gave this one a 4 out of 5 stars, because it's entertaining--plus he's got tips on how to be a good customer in an appendix at the end. Extras are good.
Other good reads I've got waiting for me:
--Masterpiece by Elise Broach. A juv. fiction that got good press in 2008. Some thought it was a Newbery contender.
--The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer. All of my friends at work have been raving about it, and it's our next book club book. Adult Fiction.
--Nation by Terry Pratchett. A teen novel by one of my favorite authors. Can't wait.
--Old Masters, New World: America's Raid on Europe's Great Pictures by Cynthia Saltzman. Read about this on Amazon or goodreads. Love to read literary nonfiction.
So that's it for now. I'm off today, so I'm still putting the teachings of It's All Too Much to work for me and getting rid of some stuff. Au revoir!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
2 recent reads that I loved
It's been a long time since I wrote anything for this blog. Writing can be so stressful, yet so wonderful. So here I am, writing, wondering what to write about...
Okay--I've read some great books over the last month. Here are 2 that are especially wonderful:
It's All Too Much by Peter Walsh
Get that clutter out of your house! You don't want to drown in a bunch of crap and never find the good stuff, do you? So that's the whole book, but Walsh breaks it down into do-able chunks, and he asks you to imagine (w/ your family members too, of course) what the purpose of each room in your house should be--and then you have to brutally get rid of everything that doesn't fit the purpose. Either sell it, toss it, or donate it. And if it's not useful and/or not beautiful, get rid of it. Easy!!! And my husband's reading it right now--and it's working its magic on him. That's the true sign of success.
The other book that impressed me this month is After Tupac and D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson.
Jacqueline Woodson is one of my favorite authors--her book Show Way was my pick for the 2006 Newbery Medal (when I was on the committee). She writes soulful, real books for everyone, even though they're shelved in the children's or teen sections--adults are moved and amazed by her work too. And she's a cool person who is funny and just super wonderful. You can tell she's cool from what she writes, because all of her books have such heart.
After Tupac and D Foster is about 3 girls who become best friends from the ages of 11-13--and she blends their story with that of Tupac Shakur's, who was a hero to the girls and their families and friends because of the odds that he overcame to become famous for his rapping. This is a thin book but it's thick with love and reality and poetry and deep sadness. So glad that this won a Newbery Honor for 2009, and Woodson has won Newbery Honors 3 out of the last 4 years. Now that's cool. And who's saying that the Newbery doesn't award authors of color or books that children or teens can connect with? Come on! All right. I'm done.
Okay--I've read some great books over the last month. Here are 2 that are especially wonderful:
It's All Too Much by Peter Walsh
Get that clutter out of your house! You don't want to drown in a bunch of crap and never find the good stuff, do you? So that's the whole book, but Walsh breaks it down into do-able chunks, and he asks you to imagine (w/ your family members too, of course) what the purpose of each room in your house should be--and then you have to brutally get rid of everything that doesn't fit the purpose. Either sell it, toss it, or donate it. And if it's not useful and/or not beautiful, get rid of it. Easy!!! And my husband's reading it right now--and it's working its magic on him. That's the true sign of success.
The other book that impressed me this month is After Tupac and D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson.
Jacqueline Woodson is one of my favorite authors--her book Show Way was my pick for the 2006 Newbery Medal (when I was on the committee). She writes soulful, real books for everyone, even though they're shelved in the children's or teen sections--adults are moved and amazed by her work too. And she's a cool person who is funny and just super wonderful. You can tell she's cool from what she writes, because all of her books have such heart.
After Tupac and D Foster is about 3 girls who become best friends from the ages of 11-13--and she blends their story with that of Tupac Shakur's, who was a hero to the girls and their families and friends because of the odds that he overcame to become famous for his rapping. This is a thin book but it's thick with love and reality and poetry and deep sadness. So glad that this won a Newbery Honor for 2009, and Woodson has won Newbery Honors 3 out of the last 4 years. Now that's cool. And who's saying that the Newbery doesn't award authors of color or books that children or teens can connect with? Come on! All right. I'm done.
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