Girl in Translation- Jean Kwok

 

Our first book club selection of the year! 

Girl in Translation was a cute, semiautobiographical book that follows Kimberly Chang, an immigrant who arrives in New York City with her mother from Hong Kong. It chronicles Kim’s struggles and adversity as a young girl who has a “knack for school,” working alongside her mother in a sweatshop at night and working through classes and schoolwork to get out of that life during the day.

This was a very interesting book. It makes you uncomfortable at several moments, but you keep reading because it’s so gripping. You want nothing more than the best for Kim and her mother, if only because the squalor that they are put through daily is inhumane and unnecessary. It makes me wonder how much of this is true, and whether people are forced to live like this for the freedom that America offers. 

I gave this a 4, mostly because I was unhappy with the way it ended. If it’s what really happened, then ok, but if not, I don’t like it on principle. I don’t feel like I can say anything more than that without explaining myself and spoiling the way the book ends, so I’ll leave it at that, but it was certainly a topic of discussion at book club!

The End of Your Life Book Club- Will Schwalbe

As expected, I cried in a quiet, tears running down your face way through pretty much the last few chapters of this book. With a title like that you have to expect it. I knew what I was getting myself into. But I am happy that I read this book.

Mary Anne Schwalbe has pancreatic cancer. The book is very clear from the beginning that her prognosis is not optimistic. But that is not what this book is about. This book is about a mother and a son, the books they read together, and the way to live a happy and fulfilling life. 

I was pretty afraid to read this, honestly, and especially during January. Trying to read Jonathan Franzen's Freedom and being so depressed I had to stop about 10% in comes to mind. But Schwalbe's book isn't so much about dying as it is about living. I am really impressed with both the writing and the way he told his mother's story. It's clear that she was an incredible woman. 

I don't know what to say. This book was fantastic, despite the tearful ending. 4. 

Let's Pretend This Never Happened- Jenny Lawson

Let’s Pretend this Never Happened, a mostly true memoir by Jenny Lawson, was a foul mouthed book of hilarity. In the vein of Tina Fey, Jenny Lawson records her childhood, college years, and adult life in a voice that is unlike anything I’ve ever read in a book. Written as if Lawson is talking to us, with asides, footnotes, and editors notes apologizing/clarifying, “the blogess” lives up to her name, and has gained a new reader.

I’m not sure what else there is to say… Lawson grew up in the country and has had some seriously unbelievable things happen to her in life. Each of these is told in its own chapter, mostly winding its way up to present day. She may actually be a crazy person, but in a good way, an incredibly entertaining way.

Another 4, bordering on a 5. So funny that I can’t do it justice. Read it.

Moonwalking with Einstein- Joshua Foer

Moonwalking with Einstein was yet another venture outside of my comfort zone. A book about memory, more of a memoir than a self-help book, Moonwalking with Einstein takes the reader (listener in my case) through Josh Foer’s journey from regular guy who can’t remember where his keys are to US Memory Champion.

I have to admit, this was much better than I was expecting. It’s been on my radar awhile, after being a best seller on both Amazon and NY Times. Before I impulse downloaded it to listen to, I thought there would be no way I’d ever pay attention to a book about memory tricks. But it’s so much more than that.

I can’t believe how interesting it was to hear about Foer’s training and tricks. The information unearthed through his studies of and with the various experts in the field was captivating. It’s remarkable what the human brain can do. Even now, I can remember the various list of random nonsense that was the one example Foer walks you through how to remember (pickled garlic, cottage cheese, peat smoked salmon, six bottles of white wine, three pairs of socks, three hula hoops, scuba diving gear, dry ice machine, email Sofia, skin colored cat suit). Are you kidding? That’s nonsense that I memorized and I listened to that part of the book a week and a half ago. Incredibly impressive.

I gave this a 3 based on my rating system (3 = liked it but won’t read it again) but this one was one that almost breaks the scale. I don’t need to read it again but I was really impressed with it. So much different (and so much better!) than I expected!

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and other concerns)- Mindy Kaling

I have to admit that I was hooked on this one from the title. I mean come on, who reads that title and doesn’t a) at least smirk in appreciation, and b) realize that this is something that they’ve thought at least once in life. I suppose the second point is one that should only be applied to girls.

In the vein of Bossypants and Seriously… I’m Kidding, Is Everyone Hanging out Without Me? Was another celebrity memoir that I was never not going to like. The early Office episodes that Mindy Kaling wrote are some of my favorites, and Kelly Kapoor remains one of the funniest parts of the mediocre later seasons. What I didn’t expect was to identify with it quite so much. Through her stories of childhood, struggles in New York, and life as an Office writer in Los Angeles, I found that I was nodding or laughing along with some of her better made points. For example- the chapter about never having a one night stand chiefly because she is significantly concerned about personal safety. I mean really, the point that you are either inviting in or accepting an invitation from a person you know literally nothing about is a legitimate one.

Aside from these observations about obviously important things in life, I enjoyed the book because a lot of it was written in list form. Another highlight was the “11 Favorite Moments in Comedy” chapter, which, spoiler alert, is topped by Will Ferrell crying about his punted dog Baxter in Anchorman, a personal favorite.

I’m not sure how you read this and not at least enjoy it a little bit. Personally I have it somewhere in between a 4 and a 5. It’s not quite to the Bossypants level, but this is a point Mindy Kaling makes herself very early on, and that in itself makes the book even more endearing.

Seriously... I'm Kidding- Ellen DeGeneres

This is another book that I enjoyed a lot, most likely because I like the author. I have read Ellen’s other books and found them pretty funny, so when I heard that she had written a third, I put it on hold immediately. Obviously (as usual) it came in at the same time as two other books, however, I was so excited to read it, it was the first one that I started.

I wasn’t disappointed. What I like the best about Ellen DeGeneres is that she’s funny without being mean spirited. This book was full of funny stories, but also some good advice and stories from her life in general that the previous two books didn’t have. For example (and this is a lengthy quote, but I liked it so much that I wrote it down!):

“All I’m saying is I don’t see the sense in comparing ourselves to other people all the time. It’s not being better than anyone else or having nicer things… I personally like being unique. I like being my own person with my own style and my own opinions and my own toothbrush. I think it’s so much better to stand out in some way and set yourself apart from the masses. It would be so boring to look out into the world and see hundreds of people who look and think exactly like me… And who’s to say what’s better or worse anyway? Who’s to even say what’s normal or average? We’re all different people and we’re allowed to be different from one another. If someone ever says you’re weird, say thank you. And then curtsy. No, don’t curtsy. That might be too weird. Bow. And tip your imaginary hat. That’ll show them.”

I mean how do you not love that? Funny, and genuinely good advice (maybe not the bowing though). She’s great. A solid 4.

Stories I Only Tell My Friends- Rob Lowe

First, full disclosure: I love Rob Lowe. I think if I was born a little bit earlier I would love him even more, not having seen the movies he is most famous for until later in my life. Sam Seaborn, Chris Traeger, these are just two of the characters that Rob Lowe has played in my lifetime that I love. Essentially, if it was shown in his writing (I assume it’s him, but am skeptical despite not seeing any credit to a ghostwriter) that he was even a fraction like these men, I was going to be happy with his book.

As Rob takes us through his life, in an order that was mostly chronological but with the occasional tangent, the first thing that really hit me was the sheer amount of stars he happened to know or just run into as a kid. The coincidences are unreal. In one chapter he meets and stars in amateur movies with a young Sean Penn and Charlie Sheen, then later meets LeVar Burton literally a week before he hit it big in Roots. Somehow he has a connection to the people who did the Star Wars special effects and saw the Death Star before the movie came out. He meets Jim Henson and Frank Oz from the muppet show. Frankly, it’s fascinating, if slightly unbelievable. I mean it makes sense, he was living in Malibu and trying to get into the business, but it just seems bizarre that he manages to run into so many celebrities before they were big.

Regardless, the look at Rob’s life was absorbing. I read this book in about four days, and found myself even more interested in his life than I had expected. I think my only disappointment was that he didn’t talk about The West Wing, or his more recent projects more. I know that most of his fans are more interested in his 80s, pre-sober life, but I would have liked to see more about working with the other actors that I recognized (Allison Janney, Martin Sheen, Bradley Whitford, etc) and the other things that I know him for. He touched briefly on his relationship with Aaron Sorkin and why he finally left the show, but in general glosses over all of the sketchy subjects of his life (being known as difficult, leaving The West Wing because of money, the backlash from his sex tape, his struggles with alcoholism). I think it would have been more realistic if he had focused on these things just a little bit more. The tough stuff that he did touch on rang a little bit false to me, and every once in awhile I caught myself thinking he was a bit pompous.

However, I still very much enjoyed the look at Rob Lowe’s life, and he is certainly still one of my favorites. This is another solid 3, not something I need to read again, but I’m glad I picked it up.

Heaven is for Real- Todd Burpo

And now for something completely different… I’m about to get religious, so if you aren’t interested in reading that, I’d stop reading now.

Maybe you’ve heard something about this book. I certainly had. Currently sitting at #6 on Amazon’s bestseller list, Heaven is for Real is the story of Colton Burpo, a four year old child who went to Heaven during a life threatening surgery.

I’m not sure exactly how to go about reviewing this book. So much of how much it will be enjoyed depends on the reader’s levels of faith and cynicism. Though my cynicism can (on occasion) be quite high, in general so is my faith. And because of that, I’m sure that anyone who has any measure of faith has also had a moment (or several) of doubt. The most challenging part of being a Christian in my opinion is the question of “what if none of this is real?” And in moments like those, it is easy to forget the miracles and complexities in life, and then to be reminded with stories like the one being told in this book.

I am sure there are those that think Todd Burpo, the author, pastor, and father of Colton could be a) making all of this up, b) using an experience in his life to get pushy about religion, or c) is essentially full of crap and deluded into thinking this is real. I don’t believe that. For me, the book rings true, and there are enough details that Colton has conveyed that line up with scripture and other things that a four year old would know nothing about that I believe he had the near death experience he says he had and saw Heaven. While reading, I found myself comforted, feeling more confident in that which I already know: when we die, it’s not over. We will see our loved ones again.

Obviously this book isn’t for everyone, and certainly this “review” is more of an endorsement for Christianity than the actual book, but it’s worth reading. I enjoyed it. I’ll give it a three, but know that I feel strange giving something a rating that deals with concepts beyond my understanding. As for the book itself, the writing was acceptable, the stories realistic and emotional, and I liked it enough to be pleased that I read it.

Bossypants- Tina Fey

Continuing to kick things off is the hilarious book Bossypants, by my new favorite person ever, Tina Fey.  The sample chapter alone had me nearly crying. Seriously, get on Amazon right now and read it and try not to die laughing.  The stories had me consistently laughing out loud, and identifying with her in a way that you wouldn't think a conservative engineer could with a liberal comedy writer.  Maybe it’s because Tina Fey is a fellow nerd, or maybe simply because the entire book is so full of sarcasm and my own kind of humor. Regardless, I couldn’t help but love it.  I could barely put it down. The stories she tells about growing up, SNL, 30 Rock, and family life with her daughter and husband are all so funny that it makes me want to be her best friend. 

I suppose I should add one caveat though, and that is that I loved Tina Fey and her work already. Even before reading her book I was a big fan, and in fact had preordered the book weeks in advance because I knew that I would love it. I'm her target audience. The amount of times I’ve seen Mean Girls alone should be concerning to most reasonable people. I knew from the beginning that there was no way I wasn’t going to like it.  In fact, I put aside the other book that I was in the middle of in order to read it. I think the biggest win here for me is that I wasn’t disappointed at all.  It was 277 pages of awesome. But if you don’t like her style of humor and writing, you’re probably not going to like her book either.

5- of course. 

Next up: Returning to The Girl Who Fell From the Sky by Heidi Durrow, which had the unfortunate luck to be put aside when I got Bossypants.