Review: If You Were Here

Just finished reading If You Were Here, Jen Lancaster's first fictional novel, and couldn't wait to discuss it.

As I said in my previous post, this book was everything I hoped it would be. And more. Lancaster's unique voice shines through her characters, keeping right on point with the clever wit and hilarious sarcasm. At several points throughout the novel, I literally laughed out loud at the comedy of phrasing and the situations these characters, Mac and Mia, get themselves in. One of my favorite lines in the entire book comes after a local gang member in the Chicago neighborhood tries to throw a Molotov Cocktail at their rental home. He fails and Mia remarks, “One second he's standing there looking all smug and menacing in his ski mask, and the next, he's covered in turpentine and flaming harder than Boys Town on Pride weekend.” HI-larious. Humorous remarks like this land throughout If You Were Here.

Clever one liners aside, the story itself is quite interesting. If You Were Here tells the story of Mac and Mia, a Chicago based couple who decide it's time to make the move to the suburbs. After looking at an endless supply of almost houses, they settle on a money pit of a house in need of total renovation. The story retells their adventures in DIY home repair, hiring contractors, renovation nightmares and all things in between. What I loved was the twists and turns this novel takes. There are many unpredictable points reached that I never saw coming. They added a captivating element that made it hard to put the book down. I also really enjoyed that just when you think things can't get any worse or go any further, they do. Lancaster does a great job of setting up scenes and then taking it to the brink, keeping the reader engaged and entertained.

Mac and Mia (who slightly resemble Jen and Fletch in some ways from the memoirs, in a good way) have an interesting and realistic relationship that you can't not root for all the way to the end. Lancaster delves into the other side of happily ever after and hits at real marital problems stemming from financial woes, house disrepair and disagreements. We, the readers, get to see this couple work through such looming problems, making Mac and Mia seem more like old friends than simply characters on a page.

My only (minor) gripe is that I wish Mia was a little more confrontational up front when having to deal with overbearing neighbors and pushy executives and the like. In the end though, she steps up and makes her voice heard in a fantastic way.

Lancaster has successfully made her mark on the fiction world and I can't wait to see where she takes us next.

Jen Lancaster, in person.

If you're a book nerd like me then getting to meet one of your favorite authors in person is always a big thrill.


Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending my second (!) Jen Lancaster book signing for her new novel, If You Were Here.

This is Lancaster's first work of fiction, which is quite exciting. I'm totally obsessed with her memoirs and couldn't wait to my my hands on this book. Luckily, my sister pre-ordered me a copy for my birthday (Thanks, sis!) and I got it just in time for the event.

Even getting to the Barnes and Noble the better part of an hour early, it was still standing room only left. The crowds had already formed to hear Lancaster read, answer questions and get books signed. My friend Jen and I patiently waited, discussing all things Jen Lancaster: previous books and the parts we loved, how Lancaster might make her entrance (we hoped pumping her fists like Rocky to “Eye of the Tiger”....no luck), and what we thought the new novel was going to be like.

Then the time came, Lancaster came to the podium as the crowd snaked all around the upstairs of Barnes and Noble cheered. She started off reading an excerpt from If You Were Here that had everyone laughing out loud at her trademark humor and wit. There's certainly no lacking of Lancaster's voice in her characters. With that excerpt, anyone who hadn't read the book yet (Jen and I included) couldn't wait to see what else was in store. Following the reading Lancaster answered questions from the audience about her pets, what she misses about the city and other things book related.

Lancaster's just as funny in person as she is in her writing and it always a pleasure getting to hear her speak. After a quick coffee break, it was time to get our books signed. Jen and I stepped into the line winding around various book shelves displaying titles from all things gardening to parenting, spirituality and all things in between. We spent out time waiting entertaining ourselves discussing random book titles and reading through a book of useless information (example: people, on average, laugh about 13 times per day.) Finally, it was almost our turn. We briefly discussed what we should talk about while getting our books signs and then we were. Lancaster was friendly and open as she signed out books and posed for a picture. It was a fantastically fun evening and I've since made my way over halfway through If You Were Here. So far I'll say it's everything I hoped it would be.

525,600 minutes

Happy new year!

I hope that everyone had a fabulous holiday season complete with too much food, time spent with family and friends, and of course plenty of good reads.

2010 was an interesting year for me full of a lot of ups and downs. Not my best year, but I suppose also not my worst. I began this blog in the middle of 2010, after much thought and deliberation on just what I should blog about and how to actually bring it all to fruition. It's been a great pleasure being able to share my insights and my favorite books with others and I look forward to much more of that with the new year.

That being said, I start the new year armed with a multitude of new books to jump into. As an avid reader who comes from a family of family avid readers (read: my mother) I was gifted a handful of books for Christmas, which I am delighted about particularly because some are by a favorite author and they all sound wonderful in their own ways.

What I received was Once in a Lifetime by Cathy Kelly, who's also the author of Past Secrets, which I loved. I also got City Dog and If Andy Warhol had a Girlfriend by Alison Pace, a favorite author of mine, and Style A to Zoe by Rachel Zoe. I die for Rachel Zoe and think she's a-mazing.

I am currently still reading The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. It's quite long and so it's taken me some time to get through but I am loving it. It's a real page turner full of wildly fascinating facts, interesting potential conspiracy theories and unusual adventure. I have a hard time putting it down and stepping away because I'm so captivated by Robert Langdon (the main character) and the events as they unfold. I want to stay glued to my seat and take it all in. I'm about halfway through as it is now and I have a strong suspicion it won't be too much longer before I hit the back cover.

So here's to 2011. May it be filled with love and light and loads of new stories to discover.

December: Read a New Book Month

I know I'm a little late in saying so, but December is "read a new book month."

I love this. I love that there's a month dedicated to people discovering new books to enjoy (or maybe not enjoy but you'll never know unless you crack open the cover, right?). I love reading is being promoted, because in some ways, it seems like a long lost hobby. I meet a lot of people that just don't read for pleasure, and it's so sad for me. there's nothing better sometimes than diving into a new story, getting lost in the characters and the plot points and getting a little escape especially during the crazy holiday season.

So in honor of Read a New Book Month I am reading a new book. I'm reading The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown, author of Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons.

I read Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons in high school but I remember that I loved them. For a while Da Vinci Code was my favorite book. Brown's writing is instantly attention grabbing and his historic knowledge of symbolism and mysticism is fascinating.

 

So over Thanksgiving when my aunt offered to lend me and my mom some books I quickly grabbed The Lost Symbol. I've started it and so far it's been everything I'd hoped for. I was instantly pulled into the plot and was excited to revisit Robert Langdon, the main character from Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons who's also the main character in this book. I'm not very far in yet but I can already foresee the adventures that are to come and the interesting facts I will inevitably learn.

Now to you- are you reading any new books right now? Are you enjoying them? What are you reading?

Also a challenge- if you know someone who loves to read or even someone who doesn't- share a book with them so they too can partake in both the holiday spirit and the spirit of read a new book month.