Fabulous books

I just finished reading the best novel, "Left Neglected" by Lisa Genova. It's about a mom who is on the fast track in an affluent Boston suburb. She leads a hectic, career driven life, but it's cut short when she is in an accident and suffers a brain injury, which erases the left side of her world. It was fascinating to me how I didn't like her in the beginning - I couldn't stand how she ignored her children, but in the end she finds happiness and peace for herself and her family. I had never heard of this type of brain injury and found it fascinating.

The one I am reading right now is "A Widow's Story" by Joyce Carol Oates. It's about life after her husband dies. Incredibly sad, but it's helping me understand what some of the widows go through in Laguna Woods.

Jodi Picoult's newest book, "Sing you Home" arrives on the shelves tomorrow. I plan to be first in line. It even comes with a CD. I won't be buying this one on my Kindle, which by the way I love, as I know Juli will want to read this one. Right now I only buy books on my Kindle that I know my daughter won't want to read. We're still all about sharing.

Read this!

I am currently reading a wonderful book, a novel - who knew? It's called "The Help," by Kathryn Stockett. So that I don't have to reinvent the wheel here is what Publishers Weekly writes: "...set during the civil rights movement in Jackson, Miss., where black women were trusted to raise white children but not to polish the household silver. Eugenia Skeeter Phelan is just home from college in 1962, and, anxious to become a writer, is advised to hone her chops by writing about what disturbs you. The budding social activist begins to collect the stories of the black women on whom the country club sets relies and mistrusts enlisting the help of Aibileen, a maid who's raised 17 children, and Aibileen's best friend Minny, who's found herself unemployed more than a few times after mouthing off to her white employers. The book Skeeter puts together based on their stories is scathing and shocking, bringing pride and hope to the black community, while giving Skeeter the courage to break down her personal boundaries and pursue her dreams." Fabulous read!

Sharing thoughts on “Oprah” with Erica Jong

I have a confession to make: I have read every book written by Kitty Kelley. There I said it. So, of course I bought the book, “Oprah.”

The reason I got the book is because Kelley wrote it. I like her books and I know that every word in each book has been researched, researched and researched again. I admire her tenacity in getting the truth in her biographies.

Although not a lot is new and revealing in this book – the queen of TV has talked about many of her personal experiences on her show – it is interesting to see how she has changed a few things in her stories to make a better story. The same is true in the recent book about Martha Stewart, “Best Friends.” What I’ve learned in these two books about these powerful women is that they have worked extremely hard to get where they are and they have been relentless in their pursuit of huge wealth - no matter what it takes. I admire them for staying focused and on track. I find it also interesting that they have both worked diligently to “collect” famous friends - they are big-time name droppers – and this is what they appear to be quite proud of. But hey, they don’t know the Butterfly Six Plus Two: Darrolyn Fennelly, Hans Smith, Alan Potter, Wade and Kimberly Wooldridge, Karyn Allen and Rick Dale, to name just a few of my fabulous friends.

Let's face it Martha and Oprah have made a wonderful difference in the lives of women and men around the world. For this they should be celebrated. Can you imagine a life without a daily dose of Oprah? I can't!

Erica Jong has written a piece on the “Oprah” book and I want to share it because it’s exactly how I feel about Kelley’s latest book. By the way, years ago I interviewed Jong, author of “Fear of Flying,” and many other books. She is a delightful person, warm and extremely funny. Here’s the link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-jong/oprah-kitty-and-me_b_536548.html

Memory is Your Memoir

This past weekend I attended the annual Literary Orange 2010 at UCI, a conference that “celebrates authors, readers and libraries.” I sat in on the memoir writing session and heard from some of the experts. One of the panelists suggested “framing two stories at the same time in your memoir to move the story forward.” They all agreed that at the end of a memoir it must teach the reader something, however, the memoir can’t be written in a “preachy style.”

Author Norman Ollestad said that when he wrote, “Crazy for the Storm: A Memoir of Survival,” he wrote the draft in chronological order, then went back in and did some intercutting, reflecting on his experience. Also one said that when writing a memoir, it’s also a good idea to take a screenwriting course – it helps with creating scenes. Another suggested reading “The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion. I have read it – excellent writing.

Also at Literary Orange I purchased the book, “Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America – and Found Unexpected Peace.” The author, William Lobdell, is a former Los Angeles Times reporter. I just started reading this book and it’s so good I can’t put it down. (Oops, I think I’m supposed to be writing my own book.) I especially like it because I know some of the people who are in it and of course it’s great to read a book that is set in your own backyard – Orange County. This is an excellent memoir.

Next on my book list

My friend Jane D'Cunha recommends this book, "The Help," by Kathryn Stockett. Publisher's Weekly writes: "It's set during the civil rights movement in Jackson, Miss., where black women were trusted to raise white children but not to polish the household silver. Eugenia Skeeter Phelan is just home from college in 1962, and, anxious to become a writer, is advised to hone her chops by writing about what disturbs you."

Between the Covers

From the time I learned to read, my mother says that I have had my nose in a book. As a kid I was always getting yelled at to “get outside and play – put that book down.” But now if I want to I can read all day. I also recently purchased an iPod – it’s a fun thing to do, to occasionally read an e-book. I just carry it in my purse or pocket and when Alan is driving or I’m standing in line somewhere, I just pull it out and read away.

Over the past couple of weeks I have read the following books and I highly recommend them:

Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick (fiction)
Game Change by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin (nonfiction)
True Compass: A Memoir by Edward Kennedy
The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan (memoir)
The Best of Friends: Martha and Me by Mariana Pasternak

Just released: Imperfect Birds by Anne Lamott