Must Read...

I am slightly late on some of this stuff, on other stuff, I will tell you that I'm cutting edge and you will be forced to believe me.

I just read, in quick succession, all of Emily Giffin's work. I have to say that she does elevate the Chick-Lit genre with Something Borrowed & Something Blue. I have been telling everyone I know to read them. I also liked her latest offering, Love the One You're With, but was not as impressed with Baby Proof. As someone who has been struggling, of late, with the issue of whether or not to become a mother, I didn't think she did a very good job of portraying the thoughts and emotions that go into deciding these things. I have had many a conversation with my peers who are childless about the decision to move forward into mommyhood, and my girls all have some great things to say about the whys and why nots of the whole shebang. I'm also very grateful for my twin aunts who provide an unvarnished view of motherhood while also allowing me to contribute my desire to spoil each and every one of their offspring.

I also tore through American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld. I found the book much richer than Prep-- the characterizations were much more on point this time; perhaps because she had our perceptions of W. and Laura Bush to play off of. I was happy that the black people in the book were somewhat more clearly drawn than in Prep, but I also think she must not interact with many real life well-educated African Americans (despite going to Groton and Vassar and teaching at St. Alban's *ahem*) who aren't the products of grinding poverty, scholarships and white benefactor largesse.

Next up on the reading list is Little Bee. I have been sufficiently intrigued by all of the reviews to pick up a copy. Also tackling Ida B. Wells and the Ripley novels.