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.

Turning the tables.

Enough me about me and my thoughts for a second.

Let's talk about you.

What are you reading right now? Are you liking it or not so much?

Have you heard of any good reads you can't wait to start?

What are you favorite types of books to read? Do you tend to stick to that type/genre/etc or do you like to branch out once in a while?

Brought to you by Borders.

This came up in my Twitter feed yesterday:

Borders top book recommendations of 2010 so far. In case you are in need of something new to read and not sure what to pick up next, maybe you can find something here.

Non-fiction books

Fiction books

My Favorite.

I ran out of new books to read a couple of weeks ago, and when that happens I tend to turn back to books I've already read that I loved and want to revisit. So I did.


My favorite book is The Time Traveler's Wife. 

Ever since I read this book for the first time a couple of years ago I was hooked. There's just something (well, many things) about it that creates a pull in me and I can't get enough. It's the type of book that's comforting and confusing and easy to relate to.....in short, it reminds me of my life.


First, I love that it's set in Chicago. But Chicago isn't just a backdrop- it's a part of the story in a real way- almost like another character. Henry and Clare (the two main characters, if you haven't read The Time Traveler's Wife) spend time in many of my favorite places and I get a rush of excitement every time a place (like the Art Institute, the Artist's Cafe, Boys Town, Berlin) is mentioned. I fill up with some good ol' hometown pride that allows me to connect on that level with this novel. Not only because I love Chicago and share that love with the characters, but we enjoy doing the same activities in the same places, like old friends.


The relationship between Clare and Henry is one of my favorite novel romances that I've ever read. Niffenegger's writing and description creates such realistic portraits of these two characters that I can't help but feel for them and become attached to them. It's a wildly unique situation they are in and I am fascinated by it. I am also a little bit in awe of the love that they share. Again, through Niffenegger's writing, the love between Clare and Henry feels completely honest and even raw at times. They are a genuine couple for better or for worse and it's evident that these two are meant to be together. I'm very drawn to their story, the way they make their relationship work and the trials and tribulations they must endure to survive. The other thing I love about them as a couple is that they have an age difference between them. It's not two people of same or similar age who happen to meet. Henry is eight years older than Clare but the age difference is never a problem between them. As someone who tends to date men who are older than her (age differences have ranged from four to nine-and-a-half years), I understand the dynamic of how a relationship like that works. I love that Niffenegger chose to create a main couple who come from different worlds and can make it work out so wonderfully. Not without problems, obviously, but they figure it out and it's touching.

Another glorious part of The Time Traveler's Wife is the way it's written. Niffenegger goes in somewhat chronological order- as much as can be allowed with Henry's time travelling- switching between Henry and Clare's point of views. I think it's very clever to see both of their sides on various situations and occurrences because it offers the reader a fully rounded view of their world. It also shows off the nuances between them and how they generally agree on matters but tend to get their in different ways. I love the see Clare and Henry's personalities come out, and Niffenegger has a clear vision of each. Because we see each equally, I think it makes them stronger as a whole. Also, through the story telling, I never have a problem suspending my belief in the fact that Henry time travels. Clearly, this could've easily created a huge problem with the story if me (or any reader) had serious reservations about accepting this fact. However, the way Niffenegger weaves it into the story and reveals the details, I just take it as a part of Henry and feel that it just adds interest and another level to his character. It never seems totally out of place in the story as a whole, and it flows rather seamlessly through Clare and Henry's life. Of course, it creates problems for them and is sometimes cause for tension, but I think because they so readily accept this as truth, it's easy for the reader to do the same.


It's just a wonderfully, romantic and touching story of two otherwise unimportant people who have a really amazing story to tell. If you haven't I definitely recommend reading it. Even if you don't agree with me, you can at least compare notes and form your own opinions of The Time Traveler's Wife.


(p.s. I did see the movie as well. I enjoyed it although I wish they hadn't cut out so, so much of the novel.)

An Ode to Jen Lancaster

Earlier this year I was at a loss for something to read. I had finished my current book, wasn't able to get to a bookstore and nothing looked appealing as a reread on my personal bookshelf. Then my friend Jen asked me if I had ever heard of Jen Lancaster, an author from Chicago who writes memoirs and calls people “asshats” and is funnily bitter? No I hadn't and so the next day at work Jen brought to me Bitter is the New Black, Lancaster's debut memoir. After then reading all the memoirs of Jennifer Lancaster, dot com goddess turned author, I feel like I have a new best friend. Lancaster's writing is so witty and inviting you feel like you've truly come to know her as a person by the time the back cover closes.

The first memoir, Bitter is the New Black, opens with an almost archetypal portrait of a typical, rich, city-girl diva. Lancaster does not try to shy away from who she is and fully divulges that she was not the nicest or most concerned person in Chicago, While this might be initially off-putting, it's refreshing to see someone who is self aware and not afraid to put it out there. Lancaster herself admits with her subtitle, "the bitch had it coming." Throughout the memoir, though, Lancaster loses her big money-making job and subsequently faces the challenges of unemployment. Through this the reader sees a very clear metamorphosis which can only be described as touching and insightful. There's a definite switch throughout where the reader can truly get to know Lancaster as a person and can, because of her unique writing style that pulls the reader right in, really empathize with her situation.

Bright Lights, Big Ass, Lancaster's second memoir, is just plain, laugh-out-loud entertaining. She takes the most mundane occurrences, like grocery shopping, cooking dinner and working temp jobs for example, and turns it into a noteworthy adventure. Combining letters to city officials, emails to friends and first person narratives Lancaster pieces together a portrait of Chicago living sure to amuse both those from the city and those from others.

Such a Pretty Fat, is not only a pleasure to read but an inspirational story. Lancaster's third memoir explores her desire and quest to lose weight, get in shape and get healthier. She keeps her sarcastic, larger-than-life witty tone but the reader can see the real struggle she goes through while attempting different diet fads and trying to make peace with working out at the gym. As Lancaster relays her trials and tribulations, it's easy to enter into her world and go along for the ride. The reader can easily feel Lancaster's frustrations and triumphs throughout the memoir. In the end you are cheering her on as well as gearing up for your own health and fitness makeover.

Pretty in Plaid, explores her past and the events that led up to where she is now. This memoir offers terrific insight to where Lancaster comes from, what makes her what she is and how she became the person she is. Through thoughtfully chosen details from her girlhood, adolescence and early adulthood the reader gets to see the depth of Lancaster and put into perspective her three previous novels. Also, the novels layout, chronicled by wardrobe choices is a brilliant idea and absolutely fitting to Lancaster as a character.

Throughout each memoir, Lancaster achieves a light, entertaining tone that keeps the reader in stitches, literally laughing out loud at the ridiculous and outrageous things that occur in her everyday life. She is able to take the seemingly uninteresting and morph it into something worthy of being shared with others through her friendly writing style and her sarcastically cynical attitude (in the best possible sense). Reading Lancaster's memoirs is like sitting down to coffee with an old friend and catching up on recent events, leaving with a renewed sense of connection to a dear friend.

Not that long ago, Jen and I had the delightful privilege of meeting Jen Lancaster at a book signing for her latest memoir, My Fair Lazy. Truly one of the best nights of my life to date. Lancaster read aloud one of my favorite parts of the memoir, answered questions from the audience and signed copies. She's just as funny and entertaining in person. And My Fair Lazy did not fall short of expectation. Lancaster sets out to “culture up” because, she realized, she watched almost every single reality T.V. show ever created and really didn't do much else. As always, it's an entertaining adventure as Lancaster tries different foods from around the world, learns about wine, takes in a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, eats food created through molecular gastronomy at Moto and finds other ways to become a more cultured person.

Rereads and RENT

I like reading books over again for the same reason I like to watch movies again and again. Because it's like meeting up with an old friend. There's a certain comfort that comes from revisiting a story; it's familiar and it feels comfortable. Maybe some parts you forgot and you get to rediscover. Other parts continue to excite you just like the first time you read them. And still others begin to make sense in new ways each time you return. You get to catch up, as if you're chatting over coffee with a friend from the past, get reacquainted and learn what's new.

I recently reread Anthony Rapp's memoir Without You. I first read this book my freshman year in college, following the wake of release of the movie version of RENT. Anthony Rapp, in case you didn't know, originated the role of Mark Cohen in Jonathan Larson's rock opera, RENT. A show that went from a workshop performance to a sold-out, long-running Broadway phenomenon.

I first discovered RENT through its music. Being a theatre kid in high school, I was always coming across the CDs for various shows. I grew to love the music and then was privileged enough to see the live show as a birthday present. By the time the movie came out, I was a full blown Renthead (what they call RENT fans). So when I found out one of the stars had written a memoir about his life and RENT, I had to get my hands on it. I remember sitting in my dorm room or on the quad on sunny, May days relishing in Rapp's writing. It was fascinating, especially after seeing the movie version oh, about 100 times, to get an insider perspective of the show.

It's been about four years since I first cracked open the book binding of Without You, which wasreleased in 2006. Flash forward to now and me having run out of something to read. I've taken to perusing my sister's bookshelf when I run out of thing to read on my own, andstumbled across her copy of this memoir. I picked it up and considered it. Since my first reading, I had the privilege of seeing both Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal (Broadway's original Roger Davis) reprise their roles on the stage for a touring company. Not only that, but my life has changed in many, many ways and I was intrigued to see how reading Without You now would affect me.

I was still awed by Rapp's personal journeys as well as the journey of RENT. But I was also able to better relate to the subject of loss and the grieving period that must be allowed. In different ways, I've survived more loss than I had prior (of course, as it's a part of growing up and growing stronger) so I connected more strongly with Rapp as he suffered. But I excited to reread through my favorite parts. Some parts I didn't remember, so I got to experience a whole new reaction. It's always nice to travel back every once in a while to revisit the oldies but goodies and interweave them in with the new and fresh.

For the longest time.

Remember that feeling when, on a seemingly unimpressive day at no specific point in time, you happen to meet someone and suddenly everything just....clicks? There's that butterflies in the stomach, smiling all the time, how did this happen (in the best possible way) feeling. After a sea of almost connections, he (or she) is really nice but, and meeting all the not quite right, the something's not there, the just plain wrong people.

Having just come out of the other side of a rather nasty breakup that happened at the beginning of the year, I haven't quite gotten there yet. Like Billy Joel's famous song, "I haven't been there for the longest time." I've been on a couple of dates and met a lot of almosts but I haven't had that feeling in quite some time. There was a friend of a friend's who seemed really cool while I chatted him up on a train ride home one day, so I took the initiative and asked him out. We had a nice time- he took me to a wine bar and we had continuous, interesting conversation but there's wasn't any real heat. After that, he didn't call and I didn't call. I did attend his birthday party however and was highly unimpressed with the evening's events. I knew after that that it couldn't work out. Then there was another friend of a friend's who, after hanging out a couple of times in group formation, asked if I wanted to hang out just us two. He seemed legit and nice so I said yes. Another perfectly wonderful date for gelato and a walk around the neighborhood. There really wasn't a problem- he was polite, entertaining and amiable. It just didn't work. And there's really nothing worse than wanting things to work out and just feeling nothing. When he's such a nice guy and if only you wanted him....but you don't. C'est la vie, as they say. The closest I've come to that omg, this is seriously for real this time, so excited you could pee your pants feeling is vicariously through a novel a read recently. (Is that sad? Maybe a little...oy.)

In Cathy Kelly's novel Past Secrets Maggie is living in Galway with her boyfriend of five years, Grey. It all seems to be working- they moved in together. He was charming and handsome and he was crazy about her. So she thought until she comes home early one day to (stereotypically) find him sleeping with another women, a student of his, in their bed. With all fantasies shattered, Maggie ups and moves back home to help her dad taking care of her ailing mom in Dublin. On a designated errand trip one day, Maggie stops to get gas. Not having driven in some time, she proceeds to fill up the tank with the wrong gas, causing her car to freeze. Looking for help, Maggie enters the garage and, clearly displaying her lack of car knowledge, is laughed right back out by Mr. Mechanic, Ivan Gregory.

Of course, it plays out as the typical boy-meets-girl. Boy teases girl so girl doesn't like him. Boy turns up the charm and girl starts to swoon. Boy wins girl over. But it's so much more than that. Through Kelly's descriptive and emotion-seeking writing, you can literally feel the relationship blossoming between these two. After the initial bad first impression, Ivan becomes what any (or at least almost any) woman is looking for- a champion who can protect you from the the world but who will also stand back and let you live your life that way you need to. And it's just so easy between Ivan and Maggie. I found myself cheering them on, getting excited for the way things were working out and hoping Maggie had found something I real. I even felt that "click," the same click Maggie was feeling, during their scenes. The writing is so quietly powerful that you can't not get sucked in and become personally involved and invested in these characters. It was so refreshing and fun, I didn't want to put to book down, but I also didn't want it to end.

The rest of Past Secrets is a joy as well. The characters are fully fleshed out and developed so that the reader can form personal connections and opinions to and about each. All of the story lines flow together fairly seamlessly and, while it's an easy read, it's one that will pull you right in so for a short period of time, you're moved onto Summer Street in Dublin, living right alongside these characters. And once you finish, it's a little like saying goodbye to some newly acquainted dear friends.