I got a lot of reading done on my recent vacation, and as always, I wanted to share that with you.
Enough Already. I enjoyed this easy-to-read memoir by Valerie Bertenelli, in which she describes coming to terms with her body and appearance. I think the lessons she learns will resonate with all women; namely, you’re not going to be magically happy when you lose those mystical ten pounds, if you’re not happy now. I guess I didn’t remember that she was a Jenny Craig spokesperson at one point, and had posed in a bikini for People magazine; her self-worth has been tied to her appearance for her entire life. That’s what happens when you grow up on national television, I suppose, but I also think that most – if not all – women could relate to this. Anyway, it’s a book about self-care, learning to love yourself, and nourishing your soul, and you all know THAT IS MY JAM. So I did like that a lot. It’s also kind of a love letter to Eddie Van Halen, which is really interesting. Apparently their relationship improved a lot AFTER their divorce, and they remained loving friends until his death. There is not much about her second husband, but it kind of felt like they might have been separated or divorcing while she was writing this book, much of which takes place during the early days of the pandemic. She includes some recipes, and I had no idea she had her own cooking show and cookbooks. It’s a nice easy read with some great life lessons in it.
Plucked: A History of Hair Removal. Hair removal and the history thereof is a topic that I am genuinely fascinated by, and this did not disappoint! I always wondered, watching Downton Abbey, if the girls’ smooth underarms in their sheer dresses was historically accurate AND IT WAS! Underarm and lower leg hair removal was all the rage at the time. In fact, depilatories were popular in the nineteenth century for facial hair, although they contained arsenic and often led to disfigurement, illness, and death. But they effectively removed hair! I also have always wondered about trends – how did we go from the groomed 50s to the here baby, there mama, everywhere daddy daddy hair of the 60s and 70s, to the shaped yet gloriously luxuriant lady shrubbery of the 80s and 90s to the Brazilian of 2000s. It’s a journey! It was just so interesting, all the political and societal implications of hair growth and lack thereof, plus the absolutely horrifying lengths that people have gone to in order to become smooth and hairless, and not just the arsenic-laced depilatories. I loved the acknowledgements too: the author dedicates the book to her mother, who “…attuned me to the mystery and beauty of being alive; I, in turn, offer a few lines of dedication in an academic monograph on hair removal. So it goes.”
Jameela Green Ruins Everything. This was such a good satire about, of all things, ISIS and terrorism. You wouldn’t think it would be funny and informative, given the subject, but here we are. I admit I almost didn’t make it through the first chapter, because it dealt with woman-on-woman dislike, dating back to high school, and I hate that kind of thing. I hate it. Can we all just move past things that happened in high school? Can we all just stop judging appearances and being threatened by others’ successes or being happy with others’ failures? COME ON. Anyway, once I moved past that chapter, that little theme mostly dropped out, and I’m glad I didn’t quit. It was very entertaining! Plus, the author lives in Regina and is the creator of Little Mosque on the Prairie, which – true confessions – I have never watched, but I like when I see a Canadian woman be successful, particularly a Canadian woman of colour from the Prairies.
Swimming Home. I have only ever read Levy’s memoirs; this is the first of her novels I’ve read, and it was compelling, dark, rich, and surprising. It’s the kind of book you could analyze for days, if you were in an English class. Major trigger warning: suicidal ideation and depression.
Calories and Corsets. I always think of diet culture as being a fairly recent phenomenon, but it sure isn’t. This is a very interesting look at the history of diet culture, and the “fixes” that have been in place to achieve the popular figure of the day. It’s also a good reminder that “quick fixes” are harmful to our bodies and that there are just so many factors that go into our outer appearances.
My Name Is Lucy Barton. Back in April, I bought Strout’s latest, Oh William, and I have been mentally saving it for vacation. Before reading it, though, I wanted to reread the two books that come before it: this one, and Anything Is Possible. It is not a series exactly, but it deals with the same characters and their lives. It has been a few years since I read the first two, so I thought I would go for a refresher. My Name Is Lucy Barton is just SO good. Imagine being able to write like Elizabeth Strout! It’s breathtaking. I’ve read this three times and I can’t even describe it; there’s no plot to speak of, but the character development is so layered and nuanced. The main character is in the hospital and is visited by her mother, and through their conversations around people from “back home,” we get a very intense picture of Lucy’s previous life, one of poverty and abuse, and that does NOT sound appealing, but it actually is a very excellent and thought-provoking book.
Anything Is Possible. While My Name Is Lucy Barton deals with Lucy and her life in New York, this book deals with the people mentioned by her and her mother, in small-town Illinois. Again, this is not a plot-driven book; it is more of a series of vignettes that are all interconnected. If the theme of Lucy Barton is mothers and daughters, this would be more about people who leave and people who stay, and the secrets that we all have and the traumas, big and small, that inform the way we live.
Oh William! Finally! The long-awaited Oh William! This book is an exploration of the relationship between Lucy Barton and her former husband, William. They discover some things about William’s past and the little turn in the “plot,” (there is, again, not much of a plot), was something I didn’t see coming but I have been thinking about a lot. This did not disappoint, and as always with Strout’s writing, it is beautiful and so very thick and nuanced. One of the themes is safety; who do we feel safe with, how do we create a life with other people. Of the three books, Lucy Barton is my favourite, but I really enjoyed the other two as well.
None of these books were what I would consider Beach Reads, but most were quick reads and I liked them all. Have you read anything good lately? xo
Oooh! A lot of cultural studies of appearance, diet culture, and depilation! I feel I got a good gist of that history from your reviews, Nicole. I adore Elizabeth Strout too and have been saving Oh William too… except for the school year because as you say it isn’t quite so plot-driven and I’ll be able to put it down if I need to :).
You WON’T! I basically read every spare moment I had when I was reading it!
Ha. So much for my best-laid plans then!
I recently read Strayed’s Wild (late, I know) and loved it. It’s going to stay with me a long, long time. Delving into Elif Batuman right now (The Idiot and Either/Or). The protagonist reminds me of being a naive undergraduate and trying to figure out life through books one reads.
Oh interesting! I’ll have to look into that!
When Noah’s home we read a lot of the same books so I’ve been reading a lot of fantasy, but I just started Piranesi, which is more in a magical realism vein.
Someone else had recommended Piranesi, but I can’t remember who. I’m not a fan of fantasy so I’m not sure if I’d like it, but let me know what you think!
My TBR list just got longer! I think I read one of Valerie Bertinelli’s earlier books and I’m definitely interested in getting an update on her. Histories of hair removal and dieting? Count me in!
Lolololol those histories were so weirdly fascinating! Oooh corsets.
I have! I just read Sarah Polley’s Run Towards the Danger and thought it was astounding. Highly recommend.
Putting it on the list! Thanks Ariana!
I just learned Eddie Van Halen died. That sent me down a much longer Wikipedia rabbit hole than I intended. I’ve only read The Burgess Boys by Strout and I had mixed feelings on it, but you’re making me reconsider reading more. Maybe I’ll pick up Lucy Barton and give it a whirl.
The last really good book I read was The Firekeeper’s Daughter last month. I had zero expectations going in, but I am still thinking about it and recommending to it everyone who asks me for book recommendations.
I have to say that of all Strout’s books, The Burgess Boys was my least favourite. I can barely even remember it, but I remember being disappointed. Everything else she’s written, I’ve really loved.
You have read a wide variety of books! I have not read most of these! I did read Oh William and I really enjoyed it. I just finished “True Biz” which is about a school for the Deaf and is written by a deaf author. It was really good and I learned a lot, like how cochlear implants are controversial in the deaf community. Then I read a lighter book called “Marrying the Ketchups” which made me nostalgic for my college waitressing gig! Now I’m reading a collection of poetry, which is so not typical for me, called “Where Hope Comes From” and a slim novel called “Waiting for Eden” that I think is going to pack a punch despite it’s very short length. It’s about a soldier who was severely injured in battle. It’s narrated by his friend who died in the same battle and is stuck in the “in between” as he waits for his friend to die… It was recommended by a book podcaster (Sarah’s Bookshelves Live) whose tastes almost always align with mine.
Oooh that sounds interesting, Where Hope Comes From. I also waitressed so I think I’d like Marrying the Ketchups! Thanks Lisa!
I like Valerie Bertinelli a lot, and I don’t usually like reading about celebs, but I think I’ll like reading about her. You read a lot of books, which I really appreciate. I want to read as many books as you do. I read slowly and have actual ADHD, so no matter how much I want to read a book, I’ll start watching a show instead. I also think it has to do with how well the room is lit. I need a good lamp in my living room so I can read longer at night.
I sincerely apologize for making this comment about MY reading habits.
All of this is to say that you are an inspiration to me. Xoxo
Don’t be sorry, I love hearing about other people! I enjoyed the Valerie Bertinelli – it was a light read, but quite interesting and pretty relatable.
I recently finished Dave Grohl’s memoir The Storyteller and loved it. Are you a fan of nirvana or foo fighters? He seems like such a fun loving, kind, grateful person who adores his mom, which is amazing for a rock star.
I am a fan! I am putting that on my list!
I love that you went back and reread all the Lucy Bartons. I’ve only read the third one and am itching to know more about her story. I thought she was fascinating!!
Oh goodness — I think my reply got eaten up by the internet. I’m going to try again 🙂 Hopefully you don’t end up with two fo these.
I love that you went back and reread all of the Lucy Bartons. I’ve only read the third one and am itching to read them all. I loved her voice and want more of her story!
They came through! I think you should go back and read the other books just because they are so good and deserve a reread!
I love getting the book recommendations here. I barely have time to read the books for my book club, but I do occasionally have a window to read something else and then I flounder. I am currently reading a book that I’m guessing you’ve already read. If you haven’t, I highly recommend it. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. A group at a retirement home try to solve a murder. They are quirky and fun. It’s really well done and I am really enjoying it.
I have read that! I’m glad you’re enjoying it. I liked it too.
Your post is making me want to read again. The past few years weren’t good for my attention span so I read very few books. It didn’t help that my 2 library cards (LA County and my local city library here) expired during COVID safer-at-home and I couldn’t figure out how to renew online. Then I just never got back to reading like I used to; that’s how I got reading more blogs!
I read My Name is Lucy Barton a few years ago and enjoyed it. I should read the next two next time I’m down for some book-reading. Despite my not-so-great attention span that made reading books less enjoyable these last couple of years, I did read a couple of books because my son read them for school and I evidently can’t not read a book that’s on the Kindle. LOL I read The Murmur of Bees, which stayed with me for a while; Boy, Snow, Bird: A Novel and Circe. I’m looking at my Amazon account and I see I borrowed and read a few Amazon Prime free reading books the last couple of years; they look like mostly fluff stories and I don’t remember much about them. So I guess not good? LOL
I’ve never read The Murmur of Bees! Sounds interesting!
“gloriously luxuriant lady shrubbery” is my new favorite phrase. Thank you for that.
I am very interested in the whole history of hair removal – especially because I just want to know how we got here and why it’s so important for us to have perfectly smooth legs and underarms and lady bits. The injustice of it all!
I think you’d like this book, it’s very interesting!
You really have a varied reading list! I love Valerie Bertinelli- I grew up watching her on “One Day at a Time” and now she’s a judge on one of my favorite cooking shows, “Kids’ Baking Championship.” I guess i lost rack of her there for a while in between because I did not know she was a Jenny Craig spokesperson. Her book sounds good.
I had to laugh a little at Plucked, but it does sound really interesting. And I’m torn on these Elizabeth Strout books. I don’t usually like “character driven” books, but you make these sound intriguing- maybe I’ll just try the first one.
If you don’t like character-driven books you may not like them – there isn’t really a plot – but I do love them.
I really recommend the Valerie Bertinelli book, I think you’d like it!
I’d like to read Valerie Bertinelli’s memoir. I’ve always liked her work. I remember reading the Lucy Barton novel but couldn’t tell you what it was about. I guess it didn’t resonate with me. And there are more in conjunction with it? I am so out of it.
There are, there are two books that come after it – not exactly sequels, but kind of? I recommend the Valerie Bertinelli. It was a nice quick read with a really great message about aging and acceptance.
I love that you got even more reading in on vacation!
I recall seeing an interview with Valerie when she was working on this book and she said something like: I’ve been stressing over my body size since I was 13. THIRTEEN. Good lord. What are we doing as a society when that is the case. She’s lovely and I believe my husband has had a crush on her since he was 13. I loved her cooking show
The Elizabeth Strout books sound like a good read for me.
My husband had a crush on her too, back on One Day At A Time! I know, our society puts so much pressure on young girls, and it is terrible. This book is great though, I think you’d like it.