Beartown

It took me so much longer than I expected to finish this book. It's not that it wasn't compelling (more on that in a second). It's more because, like everyone in the universe, I was trying to avoid getting hit by this nasty flu. So, over the last two weeks, I've traded hours of reading this heart-wrenching book for sleep. 

But, wow. This book.

That quote spells out so perfectly the irrationality of being a sports fan. If you're not an over-the-top fan of sports on some level, I don't know that this book will resonate as much with you. You won't understand why the people of the factory community of Beartown live their lives through high school kids playing hockey. You'll think that obsession is so irrational, you won't understand why it blinds them to everything else. You won't even begin to relate to why adults put their hopes and dreams - and, the hopes and dreams of their dying town - onto the backs of those boys. 

But, if you do get that way about sports, you may detest a part of yourself, too. Because the people of Beartown are like so many of us. So many who would trust the word of an athlete above all else. Who would be willing to look the other way - away from something terrible - if it meant the dreams of your team would stay alive. You would know that it's wrong and maybe do it anyway. And, if you did, you would be like so many in Beartown.

This is a powerful, heartbreaking, beautifully-written book by the same guy who wrote A Man Called Ove and My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry, two of my favorite books from last year. Once again, he finds a way to appeal to something deep inside of all of us. He finds those universal truths that allow you to relate to an immigrant kid playing hockey in a small town - or the aging coach of that club who finds himself irrelevant. And, the young girls who seek deep solace in each other's friendship, even as their childhood crumbles around them.

Beartown is about hockey. And, community. And, small towns and dying dreams. It's about adolescence and feeling invincible and lies we tell to fit in. It's about the choices we make and the consequences we're willing to accept. And, it's about the reality you learn as you get older: no matter how hard we try, we can't protect our children.

This book first drew me in, then it broke my heart. I had moments of joy and moments of recognition. I read lines, like the one above, that expressed perfectly the reality of every day life. 

Of the three Backman books I've read so far, this was by far the darkest and most powerful. And, was still as beautifully written as the others. I don't know that I could read it again, but I would start it over in a heartbeat.

We're Going to Need More Wine

This was a one day read.

I picked up Gabrielle Union's book at the library at 10:25. At 10:30 pm, I finished the last page.

Did I like it? Duh.

Let me start by saying, I already loved Gabrielle Union. Not just because of Bring It On (because, obviously...) but also because of her strength and the fact she makes no apologies for being herself. It also doesn't hurt that she's married to the greatest Marquette basketball player of all time.

Then, she comes out with this book and the title alone spoke to me. We're Going to Need More Wine. You bet your ass we are.

She starts this book with a very personal note to readers about the stories she's about to share. She acknowledges the fear of laying bare your life for the world to see. Especially when the world wants and expects you to be one person. But, you feel from those very first pages that you're really going to get a sense of what has made her the woman she has become; not Gabrielle Union the celebrity, but Gabrielle Union, the woman. 

I laughed, I cried, I awkwardly remembered my first period and I Googled pictures of what Jason Kidd looked like in high school - and I was only 105 pages in.

She shares so much here that's easy to relate to. She talks about trying to fit in, trying to live up to people's expectations, the breakup of her parents, her early teenage independence and the questionable decisions that come with that. Some of it put me back into early adolescence immediately. Then, she talks about being black in a mostly white community - and, about the discrimination she felt within her own race because she's not considered light-skinned. Obviously, I can't relate specifically to that, but anyone can understand that struggle between what we believe about ourselves and what others see.

She also describes being violently raped while working at a Payless Shoes while she was in college. She talks about the fear that still lives inside of her and the resources she found to get through the months afterwards. Folks, she's been through some things. But, this book doesn't sugar coat the journey to "the other side" of that. She speaks frankly about how that fear never completely goes away.

You follow this journey with her from uncertain teenager with low self-esteem to beautiful, successful, seemingly confident woman. She does not apologize for her sexuality. She does not apologize for her strength. We could all use a little more of that, right?

I'm sure it sounds incredibly corny, but I felt inspired by this book. I felt nostalgic, too (when she talks about a boyfriend singing The Tony Rich Project's "Nobody Knows" to keep her from leaving, it was 1996 all over again.) If you're a woman who read Judy Blume to help understand about puberty, there's something in this book for you.

I read this book so quickly, I feel guilty bringing it back to the library today. They didn't have it at my branch, so I had to request it and that process took about a week. Now, I'm going to bring it back the next day??? Sorry, Moran Prairie Library. I just couldn't put it down.

This One is Mine

This book is something of a juxtaposition.

I love Maria Semple. Where'd You Go Bernadette is one of my favorite books of the last 10 years. And, I love the pace at which she writes and the characters she conjures up. This book began as no exception. It just felt easy and I looked forward to opening up every night this week.

Then, it kind of lost me.

I'll back up.

The book revolves around an extended family living in Los Angeles. We meet Violet, the wife of a hot-shot music agent who is clearly restless in her marriage. And, we meet that music agent's sister Sally, who is desperate for a life free of financial stress.

These ladies are a mess.

Violet quit her job as a TV writer when her husband's career soared. She filled her empty days with projects - first, a home renovation. Then, she found a project disguised as a struggling musician she met in a high-end bathroom. He's impressed with her - enamored with her. And, you can tell she's chasing that high that's clearly missing from her marriage. It's a cliche for a reason and it carries the plot for awhile.

Sally is chasing the financial comfort that Violet is clearly taking for granted. Her desperation shows as she locks down a rising TV star who is clearly not compatible.

Both stories converge and you cover your eyes waiting for the crash.

You can see, the plot is compelling. The characters are fantastically awful, yet somehow relatable. But, I still didn't love it. It was Semple's first novel and it feels like it. I felt like she had some good bones, but maybe tried to do too much. I found myself just wanting it to be done.

Would I recommend this book? Probably not. But, I'd recommend every other Maria Semple book, as you can clearly see the improvement with each one.