[girlbomb_redux]

I have to give props to Jami Attenberg for her first book, Instant Love, which is really good. Like Melissa Bank's The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing, or Curtis Sittenfeld's new book, it's interconnected stories about women and relationships, and it's really sharp and interesting. There's an excerpt available on the Amazon page above if you click "See all editorial reviews," but it's not long enough, and the later stories are the ones I liked best. Anyway, many thumbs up from me.

[curioushair]

I just finished Paula Kamen's All In My Head. I strongly recommend it for anyone suffering from headaches or any kind of chronic pain. (I know what a migraine feels like, but I can only imagine the hell of having an unrelenting one for the past fifteen years.)

[doxy]

Finished "The Thinking Fan's Guide to the World Cup" whilst in Germany. The title was extremely fitting...as it gave me notions of each country in the World Cup that I've not known prior to reading it.
Anyway, two authors chose 32 other authors to write about specific countries: their experiences with that country, a brief history and football/soccer history of that country. Brilliant idea, as I was able to talk to anyone from any of the countries involved (provided they speak English/Spanish) about their countries. For instance: Japan has the most efficient toilettes(sp), Holland ride the mose bikes per-capita, Sweden has the friendliest prisons and why Spain and Paraguay have their own dialects of Spanish.

I'm half-way through "The News from Paraguay" now...and I like it.

[crazyoldcatlady]

Oh I was wondering when lorrie morre was going to come up... I LOVE LOVE LOVE her short story from Self-Help entitled "How to Become a Writer". Probably the only effective second-person narrative I've ever read. That, and eerily accurate...

[girlbomb_redux]

Yeah, I think Curtis Sittenfeld is almost like Lorrie Moore, in the way she nails an emotional state that hasn't yet been described.

[celimene]

Cat, I loved Prep and I just finished The Man of My Dreams. Curtis can really capture angst and youthful romance so well. I want her to write as a mature woman now too! I love her writing.

[girlbomb_redux]

Thank you, ophelia. I am much honored.

[catsoup]

I read The Wonder Spot. I liked it. I liked Girls' Guide as well, maybe a little better. I heard an interview with her recently and she sounded like a nice person. Not phony or pretentious.

I just started The Man of My Dreams. I adored Prep. I read a lot of it at a cafe over a couple days. Some days I was crying, some days I was laughing.

[crazyoldcatlady]

speaking of melissa banks, i picked up her new book yesterday in borders and flipped through it; feeling poor so i didn't buy it, has anyone read it?

[snafooey]

I've read a couple of good reviews of The Man of My Dreams. I'm wondering if there's some leftover animosity after she trashed Melissa Banks new book awhile ago, like she's now Faye Dunaway after doing Mommie Dearest or something.

I liked it and thought it had a lot of interesting things to say about female insecurity/self-perception. . .but I still thought Prep was better. Certainly not a "sophomore slump" by any means, though.

[opheliathemuse]

Girlbomb, I found you! Awesome, completely amazing book you wrote. I loved it. Read it in one sitting.

[curioushair]

Right now I'm reading Pagan Night by Kate Braverman.

[mornington]

I finished Trudi Canavan's Black Magician Trilogy the other day. I read all three books in a week; they're fascinating and incredibly readable. The story is quite fast-paced, and the characters are believeable (and human). I like fantasy, but I was recommended them by someone who doesn't like the genre. I'd recommend it if you want something light - but not fluffy - and fun to read.

[girlbomb_redux]

Thank you, catsoup! (blushing smiley)

[catsoup]

Girlbomb, I finished your book over the weekend. I absolutely loved it. Thank you for writing it.

(Oh and your pic in the back is lovely! Brains, bravery, AND beauty! I may have a new crush. )

[crazyoldcatlady]

Finished In Cold Blood yesterday. I swear that anywhere I go now, I can't help but eye two middle aged men together as suspicious characters.

[girlbomb_redux]

Yeah, I liked The Accidental well enough, but I thought it was just okay -- not earthshaking in the least.

Meanwhile, Curtis Sittenfeld's new book, The Man of my Dreams, is getting shit on by reviewers, but I thought it was just as good as Prep, which was pretty good.

[bunnyb]

I finished Ali Smith's The Accidental today. An interesting read, it's unconventional in its structure (five beginning, middle and ends for each character) and I liked it for its mixing of high and low culture (it's literary in sections although not esoteric). It's an easy read but not a pointless one.

[curioushair]

Sounds good, saktii. I just ordered the Lisa Carver book.

I read one of her other ones, the title escapes me at the moment, but I think a lot (or all) of it was from Rollerberby.

[amilita]

Oh, my ex used to have all issues of Lisa Carver's 'zine Rollerderby. I love her writing, too.