I just happened upon this book when I was searching for more books by Sally Koslow, author of The Late Lamented Molly Marx. It sounded like just what I needed at the time, and I was right! I started with a sample downloaded to my Nook, and had to buy it immediately so that I could finish reading it. I couldn't put it down, and it took me less than 24 hours to read all 232 pages.
The best thing about this book is that it could be me and my best friend...if we lived in NYC in our late 20's and didn't have the families we have now! The slacker, Jane, is a lot like me. She really appreciates her leisure time, and plans her work life accordingly. I have more responsibilities than she does, but if I could, I would be her! She is also a little bit artistic (she embroiders, I sew), and she believes in the power of the universe. She has lots of friends, but one everyday friend (Rebecka) with whom she shares everything with. Together they are wild and unstoppable.
The banter between Jane and Rebecka is what really makes this book appeal to me! They tell each other everything, including when the other one is being a b*tch. They go out together, and help each other pick up men, like my best friend and I used to do. They help each other get over break-ups and re-focus on what's important, like drinking and having fun!
By the end of the book, the slacker, Jane, is no longer a slacker. She figures out that her current job (and her boss) is exactly what she needs to feel fulfilled. She basically receives all that she has been asking for from the universe, and in turn learns to stop asking. I have to say that that sounds like heaven to me! I would love to be so happy with the universe and the hand that it's dealt me, that I no longer felt the need to ask for help! I feel as lost as Jane does at the start of the book!
I definitely recommend this book for a fun, light hearted, easy read. However, there are several f-bombs throughout the book, and a hilarious passage describing the difference between a dick and an @sshole (page 72). So if that kind of stuff bothers you, you have been warned!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
Book 2 of the Sookie Stackhouse series was just as good as the first, but not what I was expecting. I hate to compare it to the HBO series True Blood, because I know the show is only loosely based on the books, but because I've seen seasons 1-3, I have no choice.
From the show, I expected the second book to be a lot more about the maenad, and the Fellowship of the Sun, but there was shockingly little about that in the book. I can finally see why my best friend gets so worked up about how much the show deviates from the books! Regardless, I still like the books, and the show, but for different reasons.
One of the things that I actually liked about this book is that you get to see the depth of Sookie's love for Bill. I know that for people that have read the entire series, that isn't necessarily a good thing. I know she ends up with Eric, but I like that she and Bill have a real relationship (as real as it can be between a vampire and a human).
Another thing that I liked is that Sookie's brother, Jason isn't involved with the Fellowship of the Sun. I always found that storyline kind of weird in the show. I was surprised how minimal Jason's role has been in the books so far. Similarly, I didn't like that the character of Godric/Godfrey was so minimalized in the book, and he was made out to be such an evil vampire. Now I'm curious if he will be explored in more detail in subsequent books, or if what we see of him in True Blood is all fabricated for the show.
This book was a good, fast read, and it made me want to read the next book in the series, Club Dead. It's already downloaded to my Nook, and is ready to go, after I finish Slacker Girl, by Alexandra Koslow.
From the show, I expected the second book to be a lot more about the maenad, and the Fellowship of the Sun, but there was shockingly little about that in the book. I can finally see why my best friend gets so worked up about how much the show deviates from the books! Regardless, I still like the books, and the show, but for different reasons.
One of the things that I actually liked about this book is that you get to see the depth of Sookie's love for Bill. I know that for people that have read the entire series, that isn't necessarily a good thing. I know she ends up with Eric, but I like that she and Bill have a real relationship (as real as it can be between a vampire and a human).
Another thing that I liked is that Sookie's brother, Jason isn't involved with the Fellowship of the Sun. I always found that storyline kind of weird in the show. I was surprised how minimal Jason's role has been in the books so far. Similarly, I didn't like that the character of Godric/Godfrey was so minimalized in the book, and he was made out to be such an evil vampire. Now I'm curious if he will be explored in more detail in subsequent books, or if what we see of him in True Blood is all fabricated for the show.
This book was a good, fast read, and it made me want to read the next book in the series, Club Dead. It's already downloaded to my Nook, and is ready to go, after I finish Slacker Girl, by Alexandra Koslow.
The Late Lamented Molly Marx, by Sally Koslow
I finally finished this book! It took over a month, but it wasn't because I wasn't into it. Things get crazy around here with the holidays and something has to be moved to the back burner, and that something was my reading. Never fear though, it is definitely back on the front burner!(See my last post about my new Christmas present.)
So this book was kind of strange for me. There were a lot of reference to Jewish traditions and practices that I knew absolutely nothing about! I have a hard enough time with Christian rituals, but I am totally lost when it comes to shiva and pretty much anything Jewish! I got through it though, and I have to say, that was really the only negative in this book for me, and it's not the author's fault. I blame it on my own disregard for most things religious.
The basic premise of the book deals with a character who dies unexpectantly, and is examining her life from the great beyond, or the "duration" as the book calls it. We get to see the last few years of her life leading up to her mysterious death, and then how her former life goes on without her. We see it through her eyes, as she watches from the duration. It's actually written brilliantly, I think!
The heroine, Molly, is such a likeable, everyday character. She has flaws, but she knows it. Her relationships were messy and difficult when she was alive, and she only (kind of) gets clarity once she is dead. Throughout the novel you are brought on a journey by the author to figure out how Molly died. It's almost as if the author wasn't sure how it was going to end until it did. The characters and supsense are so well created, that you could pin her death on any number of the people in her life!
Overall, I really liked this book. It moved well, and was written in a witty, light-hearted style that I enjoyed. It made me cry at the end too, which is almost always a good thing! It means the author has been successful in connecting you emotionally to the characters and the story, which Koslow definitely does!
So this book was kind of strange for me. There were a lot of reference to Jewish traditions and practices that I knew absolutely nothing about! I have a hard enough time with Christian rituals, but I am totally lost when it comes to shiva and pretty much anything Jewish! I got through it though, and I have to say, that was really the only negative in this book for me, and it's not the author's fault. I blame it on my own disregard for most things religious.
The basic premise of the book deals with a character who dies unexpectantly, and is examining her life from the great beyond, or the "duration" as the book calls it. We get to see the last few years of her life leading up to her mysterious death, and then how her former life goes on without her. We see it through her eyes, as she watches from the duration. It's actually written brilliantly, I think!
The heroine, Molly, is such a likeable, everyday character. She has flaws, but she knows it. Her relationships were messy and difficult when she was alive, and she only (kind of) gets clarity once she is dead. Throughout the novel you are brought on a journey by the author to figure out how Molly died. It's almost as if the author wasn't sure how it was going to end until it did. The characters and supsense are so well created, that you could pin her death on any number of the people in her life!
Overall, I really liked this book. It moved well, and was written in a witty, light-hearted style that I enjoyed. It made me cry at the end too, which is almost always a good thing! It means the author has been successful in connecting you emotionally to the characters and the story, which Koslow definitely does!
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