Monday, November 13, 2006

New Books -- mostly fluffy

My father-in-law died the Sunday before last, and we just got back home this weekend. I spent most of my time either in the hospital or the funeral home last week. Because I couldn't sleep, I read; although I couldn't read anything that required much thought.

My Heart May Be Broken, But My Hair Still Looks Great by Dixie Cash: I thought I was going to like this at first -- it looked fluffy enough but not too fluffy plus it had a great title. But the heroine and the hero turned out to be pretty much stock romance characters. There are some things here that I liked; Paige's father and the Domestic Equalizers (they run a hair salon AND they are private detectives) were great, but overall, the book was just too fluffy for me.

Under the Boardwalk by Carly Phillips: I didn't actually buy this book. It was sitting around my in-laws' house and because I needed fluff, I read it. It was less enjoyable and the characters were even more stock than is true of My Heart May Be Broken and the fun side characters weren't there enough; a week later I can barely remember the plot.


The Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby: Like Housekeeping vs. the Dirt, this is a collection of book reviews and it's just as much fun. I'd read a few more of the books reviewed here so that made this book even more interesting.


Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin and read by Richard Thomas. Okay -- two things: one, technically, I didn't read it and two, it's not fluff. My husband got it for us to listen to on the ride back. I was not happy as I wanted fluff, but the book drew me in anyway. How Lincoln assembled his Cabinet and how he got those men to work together even though many of them were strong political rivals was amazing. I can't even get my two kids to get along. My one gripe is that not once do I remember her mentioning Lincoln's suspension of habeas corpus and although it may not be the most important thing he did, I think it at least deserved a mention -- a justification maybe.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm really sorry about your father-in-law. I missed your Friday shuffle and was afraid he'd passed.

Much love to you and your family.

Anonymous said...

I've been thinking of you as well. I wish you and your family much peace during this time.

BabelBabe said...

Am very sorry about your FIL.

Also, been meaning to email you - Seg was THRILLED with his I Love Mimi button -thank you! - and insisted on pinning it to a poster right near his bed where "she can see it."
Lately he's been agitating for clothes for her, so I dug up some old onesies and a little hat and he lugs her around even more now, dragging the onesie buttflap behind her.

Have not read the book; am looking forward to it.

Kathy said...

Thanks, everybody, for the comments about my FIL. I miss him but I'm glad he was the one who was able to make decisions about withdrawing life support.

bb:Seg sprung immediately to mind when I saw that button -- I'm glad he likes it and I hope you like the book when you get time to read it.

Dixie said...

I've been thinking about you too, hon.

That Lincoln books sounds great. I'm a Civil War buff anyway and I'm fascinated by Lincoln.

Kathy said...

rogue librarian: I can't read modern political nonfiction; it drives me crazy!

Dix: I think you would like Team of Rivals -- I'm going to get it and actually read it instead of listen to it.

sari said...

Thinking about you and your family.