Offered Books:
The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir
The Anomaly by Michael Rutger
When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Perri
Calypso by David Sedaris
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Selected:
The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir
Others Purchased:
Calypso by David Sedaris
The Book of Essie follows the titular Essie Hicks, one of the stars of a reality TV show - Six for Hicks - that focuses on her conservative religious family. She is their youngest child, and we open on her arranging for her mother to discover that she is pregnant - even though she has just turned 17 and is unmarried. Her family works with the producers to arrange a wedding, and Essie manages to bring in her classmate, Roarke Richards, and a (formerly) conservative reporter by the name of Liberty Bell to try to free herself from her family's grip.
It's hard to read that premise and not flash to the not-so-long-ago reality shows 17 Kids and Counting and Jon & Kate Plus 8 and how the controversies associated with both. In fact, a passing familiarity with both shows - or even a vague remembrance of either - probably helps the reader get into the 'reality' of the book's show. It isn't necessary - Weir does an excellent job of making the book independent of the mentioned series - but it definitely deepens the appreciation of the world-building done throughout the novel.
The novel shifts between Essie's, Roarke's, and Liberty's point of view and how they navigate the situation - Essie trying to manipulate it to the best of her abilities to protect herself, Roarke's response to being suddenly and abruptly thrown into this spotlight as the groom to cover up Essie's pregnancy, and Liberty's interviews with Essie and her own former past as a conservative 'star.' All three characters are well-rounded and believable, which is crucial given the heightened reality that the characters are placed in.
Weir also does a good job of interweaving their individual stories while driving the plot forward. No section of the book feels wasted, and it moves at a brisk pace. Not a single chapter feels inconsequential, which can happen very easily when bouncing between multiple characters.
All in all, this is a great novel, and I look forward to what Weir writes in the future.
4.5 out of 5
Calypso, by David Sedaris, is a series of essays where Sedaris reflects on his life and aging, set somewhat against the purchase of a vacation house - dubbed by him Sea Section - where he plans to spend time with his family.
I've seen many describe this as a darkly comic look at life for those growing older, but I'll be honest: while parts of this book are funny, overall it reads as much more melancholic to me. There are parts that are actually quite painful to read, and I wouldn't really recommend this to anyone who reads to escape.
Sedaris does have a way with storytelling, and the novel isn't hard to get through (outside of the emotional toll it takes in parts). While it is interesting to read about the ups and downs of his life with his family, he doesn't hold back - we get all of the ugly details in many parts.
I'll be honest, this is a well written book that I didn't really care for. And given the personal nature of much that he talks about, I don't want to criticize it - for me it was just hard to read due to the subject matter.
While I wouldn't really recommend it, many others found it much more enjoyable than I did - so maybe chance this one if you are feeling brave.
2 out of 5
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