In "The 50% Rule," Erin Hatzikostas encourages people to do things differently. At work, at home, in life in general, she argues, we would all benefitIn "The 50% Rule," Erin Hatzikostas encourages people to do things differently. At work, at home, in life in general, she argues, we would all benefit from doing things about 50% the way others do, while putting our own spin on the remaining 50%. I had the good fortune to hear Erin speak in person this spring and to participate in a workshop with her afterward. Her energy is infectious, and I appreciate her total dedication to being her authentic self. ...more
In its best moments, "I'll Be Right Here" has a lot in common with John Irving's sprawling novels. You learn about a huge cast of characters, what theIn its best moments, "I'll Be Right Here" has a lot in common with John Irving's sprawling novels. You learn about a huge cast of characters, what they're thinking and how they feel about each other and their lives. Novelist Amy Bloom brings a warmth to these characters and many of them have a real lifelike glow. Unfortunately, Bloom lacks Irving's gift for tying it all together. And so at times the reader is lost in a sea of discursive narratives spanning decades and locations (WWII France, 1950s NYC, more). As the story moves backward and forward in time, there's very little propelling the story forward. Five-star prose and a two-star "plot" left me wanting more from the book.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. ...more
Weike Wang explores lots of interesting and timely topics in her novel "Rental House." The story, which centers on a white man and a Chinese-American Weike Wang explores lots of interesting and timely topics in her novel "Rental House." The story, which centers on a white man and a Chinese-American woman who marry after meeting at Yale, touches on issues of race and class, immigration, money and family dynamics. It's definitely unlike anything else I've read. At some point, though, I struggle with a book in which no one 鈥� not one singular character! 鈥� is particularly likable. No one here evolves or grows or changes his or her perspective based on the (sometimes outrageous) behavior of the other people in the story. ...more
"I Leave It Up to You," a family drama by Jinwoo Chong, is a pandemic novel with a new twist. Here, a gay man who had distanced himself from his Korea"I Leave It Up to You," a family drama by Jinwoo Chong, is a pandemic novel with a new twist. Here, a gay man who had distanced himself from his Korean immigrant family wakes up from a two-year coma to find his old life is gone. His fianc茅 has moved on. His job as a copywriter and apartment in Manhattan? Gone. The reader is along for the ride as Jack Jr. struggles to figure out why everyone's wearing masks and what's going on with the sushi restaurant his family runs in Fort Lee, N.J. Will he find a way to rebuild his independent life or will he slide back into the one he left behind in a rebellious huff in his late teens? Jack Jr. makes a sympathetic main character, one who's open about his flaws and uncertainties as well as his wounded heart. I could see the story as the basis for a TV series, especially given Chong's evocative writing about the restaurant and the work that goes into stocking it with trips to the fish market.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. ...more
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