One Day by David Nicholls

It is very rare that I put a book down.  But it's been over 2 months, and I still haven't had the desire to finish reading One Day.  I picked it up because the book was made into a movie this summer, and I always like to read the book before seeing the movie.  Maybe I got it backwards this time.

I wasn't expecting the British dialect which although isn't something I dislike, it turned me off in this case. I felt like the same situations just kept repeating themselves.  After 9 chapters, and more than a third of the way through, I just lost interest.  I guess it's the movie for me.  

Enlightenment for Idiots by Anne Cushman

Everyone needs a little chic lit from time to time.  The main character in this book is believably dumb.  You watch her go from one bad decision to the next, all the time hoping she pulls her act together.  The book was actually longer than I expected, and in true chic-lit form has a happy ending.  It is the perfect “lounging by the pool on a hot afternoon” kind of read. 

Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding

My massage therapist, who told me about the dollar bookstore, also told me that she liked reading Bridget Jones’s Diary. So I found it at the aforementioned dollar bookstore and read it over the last two or three weeks. I think I’ll save the sequel for later. I’ve been itching to read The Book Thief. Lately, my nightly reading time has been curtailed by marathons of Weeds. We have watched the first 5 seasons during the last month. But this review isn’t about Weeds its about Bridget.

Review:
Bridget Jones’s Diary turned out to be a clever book. I really liked the unique diary-esque entries. I particularly enjoyed the daily weight, calorie, alcohol, cigarette, lotto ticket totals, because it is something neurotically real. Especially because I had seen both movies before reading the book, I couldn’t help but use Renee’s voice as the narrator in my head. Written with British humor, with a very British style, I really enjoyed the language of the story as something different than my usual.

The Italian Wedding by Nicky Pellegrino

This book was given to me by my friend. She got it from a girl who was couch surfing at her house in Norway.

Review:
It took me 5 or 6 chapters to really get into this book. Pieta’s father came from Italy to London many years ago to start an Italian restaurant. As the story progresses, we learn about the mother and father’s history, which to me was more interesting than the base story. One of the best parts of the book is that the author includes Italian recipes as they are used in the story. Even if the story was a bit lacking, at least I learned a few new recipes.

Truly, Madly: A novel by Heather Webber

This book will always hold a special place in my heart as my first ARC. Fortunately, it arrived December 16th 2009, the day before we left for Christmas in Cabo.

Review:
I usually enjoy a little magic in my books or TV. Truly, Madly reminded me of the canceled ABC series called Pushing Daisies; a little magic, a little mystery, and a little romance. The main character, Lucy Valentine, discovers that her ‘special talent’ of finding lost objects is useful in solving mysteries. A member of a matchmaking family, she also has to contend with the family business while her parents are out of town. I thought the premise was cute, and the novel was a good crossover between romance and mystery. Truly, Madly has the potential to become a charming little series.

The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin & Anna Kraus

During college I worked as a nanny, which is why I am surprised I never managed to pick this book up before now or see the movie. For a while I was really opposed to anything resembling chick lit, but now I have seen the light. There is nothing wrong with reading a little light chick lit every now and again. Actually, it’s kind of a pleasure after a long hard day.

Review:
The Nanny Diaries is written from the perspective of “Nan” the Nanny. Come now, couldn’t you think of something a little less obvious? This of course, is second only to the evil mother, “Mrs. X.” Apparently, the author thought this would be a clever way to make it seem like Mrs. X really existed. I however, would have much rather enjoyed reading about Mrs. Goldingsternman, or Mrs. Heathrightcliff… or whatever silly name. But, Mrs. X? It just irritated me. Nevertheless, aside from the terrible names of the characters, it was a fun easy read. Although I thoroughly enjoyed reminiscing about my own “nanny-days,” I felt there was much lacking in the story. I always hunger for dynamic characters that grow and change and surprise me. These characters were predictable the whole way through. I give this book a 2.5 out of 5, (but I’m still going rent the movie!)