The Wedding Girl

The Wedding Girl

Madeleine Wickham

The first book of 2011 is also my first book for the Chick Lit Plus Reading challenge. 

In The Wedding Girl, Milly Havill is set to marry Simon Pinnacle.  Just days before the wedding an event from Milly's past comes back to haunt her.  A chance encounter leads to the revelation of secrets from Milly's past. As Milly deals with the repercussions, her friends and family are each forced to confront their own secrets and lives to discover the truth of who they are.

I first read Madeleine Wickham a few years ago. I like Brit Chick Lit, and came across one of her books that I enjoyed.  I was surprised to learn Madeleine Wickham is actually Sophie Kinsella, author of the Shopaholic series of books.

Frankly, I much prefer the books written under the Wickham nom de plume to the books she writes as Kinsella.  I find myself more easily able to identify with the heroines and their situations.  The plot lines are more complex, the situations more relatable.

There were a lot of surprises in The Wedding Girl.  I love that most characters are not quite who they seem to be.   Everyone has some kind of secret, wears some kind of mask, plays a role.  Everyone has to consider who they really are, what will really make them happy.  And that is a risk, because sometimes the people we care about the most can't see past our facade to really know the truth of who we are.

The Wedding Girl was a quick, fun read that I enjoyed the whole way through. 

Seeking Recommendations

You may have read earlier that I am doing Chick Lit Plus' Reading Challenge in 2011.  That means I'll be reading, you guessed it, Chick Lit.

Off the table are mystery/thrillers and historical romance.  But anything else goes. I think.  So,  this is where you come in.  I need chick lit suggestions.  I like smart Chick Lit (Jennifer Weiner, Emily Giffin, Marian Keyes). I like Brit Chick Lit. I'm interested in books that might stretch the definition of Chick Lit.

Any thoughts? I have to read twelve. So please, add your suggestions in the comments.

Thanks!

I'm Doing Chick Lit Plus' Reading Challenge

One of the blogs I follow, Chick Lit Plus (http://ow.ly/3nWGf ), is sponsoring a reading challenge for 2011.  It is a simple challenge, twelve chick lit books throughout the year, two of which must be by a debut author.  So why this challenge?

The label "chick lit" alone is enough to turn off some people, and I understand that argument. You don't see much "men's fiction" but let's be honest.  Some fiction appeals more to certain groups than others. I, for example, don't often choose to read about hunting and fishing- they simply aren't interests of mine. That being said, some people use the term "chick lit" to be summarily dismissive of a work simply because it is written by, or geared towards, women.  And while some books I've read certainly fit the "chick lit" stereotype, others do not.  And if they do, so what? People read for a myriad of reasons. If someone gets some enjoyment reading the Shopaholic series, even if it isn't your cup of tea, why do you care? 

So part of the reason I'm doing this challenge is to, hopefully, broaden people's understanding of what "chick lit" is and show where it, like any other entertaining piece of fiction, has merit.  Secondly, although I read a fair amount of non-fiction to learn, sometimes I like to read to escape from the day to day chaos in my own life.  This challenge will remind me to slow down, at least once a month, and read.  There are so many talented, smart writers out there, writing about things that matter to me or that I can relate to. Still, I sometimes forget to take time to enjoy them.

So, I hope you'll join me on this journey, participating yourself or following the challenge related posts.   And as always, suggestions are welcome!

Book 31: The Accidental Bestseller

When I started Wendy Wax's The Accidental Bestseller I expected something else.    And I'll be honest. For the first hundred or so pages, I was enjoying the book but not devouring it.  I was ready to chalk it up to a pleasant summer read, with a predictable path and characters.  It made for a nice few pages to read before bed, but I didn't see it as one that would make me excited about a blog post.


But then, something changed.  Having been neglectful of my reading, I took the book off the night stand, and brought it downstairs.  I wanted to be entertained by a good story. I sat on the sofa, the iPod playing a nice mellow mix in the background, and I turned the next page.


 Unexpectedly, I was sucked into the story, and I realized it wasn't the story that was lacking, it was my attention to it.


The Accidental Bestseller provides an inside look at the publishing world, focusing on Kendall Aims and three of her author friends. When Kendall undergoes monumental professional and personal crises simultaneously, the friends band together in a rather unorthodox way to help her reach the deadline for her next novel.  The four agree to collaborate with Kendall on the novel, each voicing their own characters and each- unknowing to the others- pulls from her personal life to create the story.  The ghost authors must remain a secret, and they all assume their secrets will remain safe.


Truth and secrets play unexpected starring themes in The Accidental Bestseller, and in turn, make it a much more compelling read than I anticipated when I first opened the book. Even as I was reading, thoughts abounded about keeping secrets and telling truths.  How many of us, no matter how close we are to someone else, still hold back a part of ourselves, still keep our own secrets?  I don't care if it is because we are ashamed of something, or scared, or just private.  Is there some small part of us that we hold back under the misguided (or accurate) assumption that those we hold dear can't handle that part of us?  If we say we trust someone implicitly- a best friend, a spouse- do we owe telling them everything about us? What if it is just to assuage our conscience?


Similarly, can we still be truthful by remaining silent?  What happens if we decide to put the truth out there?  Or if the truth is found out, and exposed for us?  Where do we draw the line at full disclosure and deciding that we have the right to keep some things to ourselves if we want to?


Set primarily in the metro Atlanta area and New York City, I enjoyed reading about so many places with which I am familiar.  Wax authentically captures Atlanta and its surrounding areas, something I am always appreciative of since it is an area I know well. The unique plot through the publishing industry, the intricacies of the agent, publisher, and author relationship, were really fascinating. That's an area I don't know much about and I feel like I had an "insider's view" into the arena.  I'm glad I read it, and I look forward to reading Ms. Wax's latest book, Magnolia Wednesdays.


http://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Bestseller-Wendy-Wax/dp/0515148075/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276563120&sr=1-1

Book 23: Best Friends Forever

Yes, yes. Book 23 was supposed to be the Biography of Mark Twain.  I will eventually finish it.  But, I had a crazy week, and I suddenly wanted Fiction. Part of the reason I'm reading these 52 books is to go through ones I had bought and not finished yet.  Yesterday was rainy and dreary and just cried out for a good story.  Jennifer Weiner's Best Friends Forever fit the bill.


The thing I like about Jennifer Weiner is that she writes about real women. Women who aren't the epitome of beauty as defined by any number of magazines. But also women with real insecurities, a real sense of humor, with things they love and hate about themselves. Women with gumption.


I've had the same best friend since I was 15 years old. While the adventures in Best Friends Forever feel somewhat surreal and beyond anything I can imagine experiencing with my own best friend, the authenticity underlying the friendship between Addie and Val is striking. The sense that there is nothing that can destroy your friendship. The sense of that one person who is there for you, no matter what.   


In this story, Addie and Val's friendship suffered for 15 years, after Val betrayed Addie in high school.  Their lives took very different paths, and on the night of their high school reunion, an accident brings them back together.  Despite the hurt feelings, and despite the betrayal, despite fears about what might happen, Addie and Val are able to resume their friendship and set off on an quirky adventure.


That's the kicker for me.  I have that kind of best friend. I've mentioned her before in other posts, and we've never had an incident between us like the one that ripped Addie and Val's friendship.  Still, there's the comfort in that relationship, that even when we go months between visits, this friend is still the one I first want to tell happy and exciting news. Or the one I want to talk to when I need additional insight somewhere.


That sense of enduring friendship, is, I think, one of life's greatest treasures. I love an opportunity to read any book that celebrates that kind of relationship.


http://www.amazon.com/Best-Friends-Forever-Jennifer-Weiner/dp/0743294300/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272230323&sr=1-1


By the way, Good in Bed and In Her Shoes are also excellent reads by Jennifer Weiner.

Book 14: Firefly Lane

I saw a reference to author Kristin Hannah somewhere on Facebook. Maybe Emily Giffin's page? I can't really remember. But then I was browsing at Barnes and Noble and came across Firefly Lane, noticed the author's name, and decided to pick it up. I read the back cover. It sounded interesting if not a bit predictable, but I bought it anyway.

I like it when a book surprises me. With Firefly Lane, I thought I knew what conflict would tear apart best friends of thirty years, and I was wrong. I was also surprised with what became the catalyst for reconciliation. I definitely didn't expect to be tearing up at the end. But there I was, reading this well-written novel about two best friends, Kate and Tully, from the time they were high school students in the 1970's through present day. Kristin Hannah draws her characters well. As the reader, you understand both Kate and Tully's insecurities. You feel for Kate, always hiding a bit in Tully's shadow. I cheered Kate on as she found the courage to go after the most important thing in her life. I respected Tully for believing she deserved success, and for working to get there. I felt for Tully realizing that her career can't give her everything... and I'd say more about that, but then I'd be giving away too much of the story.

For the last third of the book, I thought mostly about my own best friend. We've been friends now for more than twenty years. I don't feel old enough to make that statement, but here we are. From the first time we carpooled to some Key Club event in high school, through college, to her mother dying, and then my father; to her wedding, to the birth of her children; to the girls trips we still manage to take; to all the emails and phone calls, Facebook posts, text messages, cards, all the stuff that goes into making a lasting friendship, I've been lucky enough to have Vanessa as my best friend. We've lived in different states for most of our friendship now, but all that does is make things more interesting logistically. She's still the person I want most to share gossip with, or talk to about the really important things. She's the first person, outside of family, who I know will be there for me. And I say that not to discount my many other wonderful, close friends, but there's a longevity and so many shared experiences with Vanessa that make our friendship what it is.

I think that is the point- and beauty- of Firefly Lane. It's the celebration of that unique, unbreakable bond of real, true friendship. It stands the test of time, maybe even the test of betrayal.

I really enjoyed this one, and will be checking out more of Kristin Hannah's work. Recommended for anyone who likes good chick lit, or a good story in general.

http://www.amazon.com/Firefly-Lane-Kristin-Hannah/dp/0312537077/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267942875&sr=8-1