Okay, not total failure. I’m a drama queen.
I vowed that even with a hectic month of travel, I would stay truthful to my mission of 52 books.
And then the shitstorm known as Ireland happened (and is still happening) and fell right off that wagon and onto my face.
I DID read three books. And I vow to read FIVE books this month, to catch up on everything…even if one of those books is a 100-page book of Oscar Wilde poetry. Hey, that counts.
Here’s what I did read.
The World According to Garp – John Irving
Quick summary
This is the life and times of T. S. Garp, the bastard son of Jenny Fields–a feminist leader ahead of her times. This is the life and death of a famous mother and her almost-famous son; theirs is a world of sexual extremes–even of sexual assassinations. It is a novel rich with “lunacy and sorrow”; yet the dark, violent events of the story do not undermine a comedy both ribald and robust.
Three-line review
Well slap my ass and call me Charlie, this was unexpected! My first ever John Irving book, and it won’t be my last. I love the dark humour throughout, and Garp might be one of my all-time fave characters. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I hate books within books.
****/*****
A Brief History of Ireland – Richard Killeen
Quick summary
An insanely thorough, in-depth account of Irish history, from prehistoric times right up until now.
Three-line review
I literally threw up my hands at page 250 and yelled, “THAT’S IT, I’M OUT!” The offending word was “indeed,” which I had counted 20 times by page 10. Is it possible to write a good history book without being fucking academic? If so, let me know.
**/*****
Bossypants – Tina Fey
Quick summary
Before Liz Lemon, before “Weekend Update,” before “Sarah Palin,” Tina Fey was just a young girl with a dream: a recurring stress dream that she was being chased through a local airport by her middle-school gym teacher. She also had a dream that one day she would be a comedian on TV.
She has seen both these dreams come true.
At last, Tina Fey’s story can be told.
Three-line review
Nothing groundbreaking in literature about this book, but Tina Fey is HYSTERICAL and reading this autobiography was a breeze. I laughed out loud often and obnoxiously. Fey is one smart cookie, and I wish she’d let me be her best friend.
****/*****