Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

Sadly, I will not have as much to say about this book as I would like (but check out my personal blog here!!)  That is not because the Girls of the Desert did not collectively enjoy the book -- it's more because the Girls of the Desert collectively were too busy to give it its due!

Those who had finished the book and were able to make book group (four of the girls were stuck at work!) expressed sentiments of great appreciation for the book.  Those who were not quite complete with the book and were able to make our meeting also seemed to fully enjoy what they had read!

The most repeated comments were that we all became reminiscent and nostalgic for a time and place we had never been--New York in the late 1930s.  We loved the main character and her spirit, and we all felt as if while reading, we were transported to New York, almost wishful that we could experience the story first-hand.

Those who had finished are look forward to Mr. Towles' next book and those who had not are just as eager to finish Rules!
Definitely recommend.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

The Group, as a whole, loved this book.
It was entertaining, light, and fast.  The perfect book for mid-winter.

Bernadette is a "wonderfully told story about a rather dysfunctional family (aren't they all), with a mother (Bernadette) who is a genius hermit former architect, the daughter (Bee) who is a brilliant young girl with a medical history and a love of life, and the father (Elgie) who is a workaholic genius microsoft project head who loves his family, if from a distance.  Blech, sounds boring the way I just did that.  Trust me, it's not." (that is from my personal blog: see the full review here!)

Maria Semple, like many authors these days, took on the challenge of a mixed-media (ish) book.  The story is told through e-mails, letters, instant messages, and other written forms (a report from a doctor, for example).  Semple, however, succeeded where many others failed.  The story is successfully told through the mixed media.  Unlike with other books where it is frustrating receiving partial information and/or awkward presentation in unnatural formats, Semple has a gift of somehow presenting a complete story in such a fashion.  The various tones were expertly maneuvered -- ranging from the innocent pre-teen to the evangelical Christian to the professional tone of a doctor.  All are convincing, and all are endearing.

In reading the book, there is laughter, surprise, sympathy, and empathy.  Most of the characters are not only relatable, but salvageable.  They are impressive and crazy, rising just enough above the "normal" to make them interesting.

The group appears to highly recommend this book -- so much so, in fact, that we are yearning for another similarly satisfactory read.  Comments welcome!

**MY personal thoughts:
of course a lof of the thoughts above are conveyed through my lens, but, yes, I loved the book.  I give it FIVE of 5 stars and highly recommend.  It was fun and intriguing.  It really did make me laugh and I'm sure there was a tear shed around there somewhere.  I loved all of the characters, and I am very MUCH looking forward to reading another Semple!

IOU

I owe you a post about Where'd You Go, Bernadette, our last book, which we collectively really enjoyed!  Next up is Rules of Civility by Amor Towles.

it's coming folks....

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

When we chose Anne of Green Gables, we knew that many of the group had not only read the book when we were younger, but some had read it over and over and over again.  For others, the movie (repeated watchings) were our background. And I believe for at least a couple, this was a fresh read.

Most of us were surprised that the book was written quite so long ago... I think we all felt like we had discovered it when it was relatively new on the market.  But no, it was originally published in 1908!  Which actually makes sense given the descriptions and cadence in the book.

This was a book full of details and not much of a grand plot.  If I were to sum up the overarching plot in 1 sentence, it would be something like:  Elderly brother and sister adopt boy but are given a girl and the book takes us through the next few years, as Anne, through her actions, personality, and sometimes words, convinces Marilla and Matthew to keep her.

But that brief description does nothing to give the book justice.
Although the book is almost more a series of mini-plots that fit within the overarching plot, the book is more about the power of love, hope, and friendship.

The group did not discuss the book that much because we were all swept up in how much we just loved it.  It is a wonderful testament to simpler times and the beauty of experiencing all of life as it comes.  Many of us related to Anne's character, but so many aspects of her liveliness have been trampled on by life in the 21st century.  A night with candles and reading?  No tv, no iPads, no smart phones.  It made me ache for a time when people learned about each other by real interactions with each other.

I think everyone in the group would recommend the book.  Highly.  It's just one of those books.  Even if it's not your "genre," it's so wonderfully written, so wonderfully told.  And we are, of course, going to share an Anne of Green Gables movie night ;)

Next up:  Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple.

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris

The overall swing of the group was mild disappointment.  One member really did not like the book.  Another "didn't hate it."  But once we got to talking about it, flipping through the book and parsing out the stories, most agreed that the book was fine, if you like that sort of thing....

For you Sedaris fans out there, of which there are many in our group, if you are going to read this book, PLEASE NOTE it is NOT his usual style of funny most-likely-true essays.

These are .... well, simply put, they're animal allegories.  They are allegories of essentially crap people, but in the stories, such "people" are animals.  For example, there is the story of the Bear who lost her mother and needed sympathy.... and then kept asking for it...  and, well, i hate spoilers.  Suffice it to say, these are not characters that endear themselves to you.  But for many, they are relatable experiences - someone you know, someone you wish you didn't know, some conversation you overheard.

One of the girls in the group really liked the book.  This was a reader who did not, however, have any other Sedaris familiarity.  Which made us think... we were probably harder on the book because of what we were hoping for... what we were expecting.

So the short of it?  If you are a Sedaris fan, pick up this book w/ the knowledge that it is NOT a "Sedaris."  It's good.  It's insightful.  It's dark.  It's funny (in that dark sort of way).  But it's different...

Next up?  Anne of Green Gables.  Yep, we're takin it back to the Old School, 'cause I'm an Old Fool, who's So Cool......
(need sleep)

Next (August Book)

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris....

Wife 22 by Melanie Gideon

The Group met and discussed Wife 22 by Melanie Gideon around mid-July.

I was somewhat surprised by the responses.  On the whole, the Desert Girls were not great fans.  The problem most of the readers had with the book was that they felt that it was a little cliched, a little too simple, a little too surface... not to mention depressing.

BUT.

The readers also felt that the book served as a good reminder for those of us in marriages (more than half) and a sense of camaraderie for those no longer in marriages or in marriages struggling.

It was kind of cute, it was kind of endearing, and it offered a very REAL view into a type of life.  The author is a good story teller and a good writer, but the characters simply weren't terribly endearing.  And it is *noteworthy* how well Gideon employed texts, facebook entries, emails, chats, and common dialogue without the story being weighed down or annoying.  Her style certainly warrants more attention in future books.

Also, the topic is interesting -- a woman involves herself in a study about 21st century marriage and, through the course of the study, finds herself questioning her own life, marriage and family. But the problem is, ultimately, the characters are a little lost in the grandness of the situation.

There was the main character -- Wife 22 herself.  She seemed to be rather selfish and self-obsessed person, a fact not lost on her supposed best friend, to the point of missing some rather big markers about the situation she has embroiled herself in.  Her husband seems to be an oblivious, also selfish, unaware, dishonest, but seemingly "good person."  Her children are precocious and selfish... and yeah, there was a whole lot of selfishness.

I don't believe any of the Desert Girls would recommend NOT reading the book, but we would say, go ahead, it's simple, it's a beach read, and most importantly, know what you're getting into.  We don't want to add spoilers here... but we're happy to share the spoilers if you're sure you want to hear them (just send us an email or post a comment!)

<<note: I had an ARC copy of the book, but the rest of the Desert Girls bought/rented/borrowed their own copies>>