Review: Two Kisses For Maddy by Matthew Logelin

Title: Two Kisses For Maddy: A Memoir of Loss and Love
Author: Matthew Logelin
Genre/Audience: Memoir, non-fiction, adult
Publication: 2011
Source: Library

On March 24, 2008, Matt and Liz welcomed their first child, Madeline, into the world. Just 27 hours later, Liz died of a pulmonary embolism in the hosptial without ever holding her baby, who was premature and in an incubator.

Matt fell apart. Liz was his high school sweetheart, and they had been together for over 12 years. He didn't know what to do without Liz. Neither did he have any idea how to raise a baby, let alone a tiny preemie. But, having no other choice, he learned - both how to cope without the love of his life, and how to raise his new "best girl."

This memoir covers the first year of Maddy's life and life without Liz. We see Matt become a fumbling wreck to a competent daddy with the support of his family, friends, blog community he encounters, and the memory of Liz (by the way, I really liked the blog aspect. Matt created a blog to write about his experiences and made a lot of supportive friends through it. It reminds me of all the friends I've made via this here blog!). He thinks of her every day, and tries to infuse as much of her as possible into Maddy's life. For instance, he purchases Maddy fancy outfits at an expensive boutique just because he knows Liz would have.

This book was obviously sad. Matt often burst into tears at random moments just thinking about Liz. He couldn't let go of her personal effects at their house, and struggled just to sell her car. I can't even imagine what he was going through and it was heartbreaking to read about. At the same time, it was also hopeful. As he wrote, Maddy was now his reason for living, and without her, he would have nothing.

I enjoyed watching Matt progress from clueless to father. It was really cute and endearing. It's amazing to see the kinds of things people can endure when they have no other option. I also really liked how he focused a lot on keeping Liz's memory alive for their daughter. Even though she is too little to understand, he talks to her about her mother, and often takes her to all of Liz's favorite places including Mexico! He is far too overprepared on airplane rides though, bringing 11 diapers and 6 extra outfits or so... too funny. One thing I noticed was that this book was actually more about Liz and his grief than Maddy. While she is, of course, a central part of the story, I was expecting a bit more about her. Oh well.

Be warned, there is A LOT of swearing in this book - mostly F bombs. Matt's personality really shines through in this book, and he is quite crass and foul mouthed. I had no problem with this - in fact, I liked Matt a bit more because of his cynical and slightly rude personality - but I know that some people get quite offended by swearing. This made the book a little less sweet and touching than I had anticipated it being, but it certainly did not ruin it for me and I didn't really mind.

If you read this book, yes, you'll be a little sad, but the good thing is, you probably won't be depressed, because Matt manages to make the most out of things, and turn his situation around, and in a way, Liz is still always around them. I'd recommend this one to those interested in memoirs, particularly those about parenting or loss and the grieving process.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Review: Just Friends With Benefits by Meredith Schorr

Title: Just Friends With Benefits
Author: Meredith Schorr
Genre/Age: Chick-lit, romance, adult

Publication: 2010

Source: For review, CLP Tours

Just Friends With Benefits follows the dating trials and tribulations of 32 year old paralegal, Stephanie. Back in college, she had a huge crush on Craig Hille, but wound up dating his friend, Paul, instead. Now, ten years later, and still friends with Craig, Paul, and the gang, she realizes she still has feelings for Craig. She attempts to start up a relationship with the infamous "one that got away," but realizes it may not be enough when Craig describes what they have as just "friends with benefits." So now the question is, does she continue trying to pursue him, or does she find someone else? Better hope she finds out quick, too, so maybe her mom will get off her back about not being married yet and giving her more grandchildren!

I loved the camaraderie in this book. After college ended, Stephanie stayed in close contact with her group of friends, which included Craig, and even traveled to other states to celebrate holidays and birthdays with her friends. Together, they celebrate, drink, and sing karaoke, amongst other things. I delight in my close friendships, and enjoy reading about others in stories such as this one.

Aaand of course, I also love stories about dating and looking for love. I never tire of these kinds of books. It's so much fun to read about. It makes me both happy and sad that I don't need to date anymore (no, I am not married, but am in a 5 year relationship). I could understand Stephanie's frustrations, but also her moments of elation that you experience at the start of a new relationship... or whatever the heck you wanna call her and Craig!

So overall, I thought this was a super fun story. I would have liked having a better sense of Stephanie, though. For some reason, I didn't feel like I "knew" her as well as I have other characters in the past.

If you're looking for a light, fun, humorous read, this one is definitely for you! I look forward to reading more from Meredith Schorr in the future! This was the perfect read for me after having just read several dark/sad memoirs. It put me in a fun mood!

My Rating: 4/5

Review: Tiger, Tiger by Margaux Fragoso

Title: Tiger, Tiger
Author: Margaux Fragoso
Genre/Age: Memoir, non-fiction, adult
Publication: 2011
Source: Library

When Margaux is 7 years old, she meets 51 year old Peter one day at the neighborhood swimming pool. They become fast friends, and Margaux's mentally ill mother is delighted that Margaux has found a friend and father figure, as Margaux's own father is verbally abusive. When Peter brings them to his home, they are delighted to find many animals from guinea pigs to alligators, and together, Margaux and Peter create imaginary story worlds in which Margaux is often a tiger. It seems like a child's dream, but soon, Peter's manipulation and mental illness become apparent, as he begins to sexually abuse Margaux in secret, and claims to be in love with her. He hangs photos of her in his room and has numerous photo albums of her. He soon becomes Margaux's whole world too - her best friend, her father, and worst of all, her lover. He remains the biggest figure in her life until she is 22 years old and he commits suicide. For 15 years, he had a hold on Margaux's life, and stole away her childhood for his own twisted wants and "needs."

This memoir is very disturbing, as you may have gathered, but it was beautifully written and hard to put down or stop thinking about. While the book centers on the twisted relationship between Peter and Margaux, it is also the story of Margaux's childhood and horrible family life. Margaux was already on the verge of losing her childhood when she meets Peter, and he is the one who finally whisks it away from her. Prior to meeting Peter, and during their relationship, we see the sad dynamics between her parents. Her mother is in and out of mental hospitals, and her father, an alcoholic, is constantly berating both Margaux and her mom. It seems logical that Margaux would welcome another adult into her life, as she desperately needs a parental figure. Peter seems to sense this need. To Margaux, he really seems to care about her, and she relishes in that, but his true nature is quickly revealed. Margaux, naive and only 7 years old, is easily manipulated by the conniving Peter. Somehow, he keeps her in his life until she is 22 years old. Even as a young woman, she feels a desperate need to be with Peter who has completely brainwashed her and stolen her innocence.

It is just disturbing to think that a grown man could shatter a child's life like this, because he knows he has the power, control, and influence to do so. Are there really people like this in the world? Yes, there are, and Margaux's memoir is the first I've read of its kind, in which she reveals so much about her attacker without ever attacking him. I wonder if, even in death, he still has some sort of twisted hold on her. Sometimes, while reading, I just wished that she would start spewing hatred for him, but she never did, except when they were fighting (and their fights would often get very violent).

I can't really say I recommend this book to anyone because it is highly disturbing and repulsive. At the same time, I do think this is an important issue to talk about in our society and something that happens all too often. There are many forms of child abuse, and this is one of them. I admire Margaux's bravery in sharing her story, but often wondered how she could remember such exact details from when she was only a child. As you can see, this book is very difficult to review and talk about, but sometimes, those are the exact things we need to talk about and recognize before anything can ever get better. If you enjoy memoirs, are not too "faint of heart," and want to take a glimpse into something that is a huge problem in our world, then read this memoir. If you've read other memoirs of child abuse, then this is an important one for you to read.

How do I rate this book? I really don't know. If we're going on writing and readability, I'd give this a 4/5.

Review: Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness

Title: Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness

Author: Alexandra Fuller
Genre/Age: Non-fiction, memoir, adult
Publication: 2011
Source: For review, TLC

Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness is the second memoir by English born Alexandra Fuller, who grew up in Africa. This second book chronicles the life of her mother, Nicola Fuller of Central Africa. It discusses her childhood in Scotland and Africa, and her adulthood, enduring war in Africa.

I'm really sad to say, this wasn't the book for me. I thought I would enjoy it more since I am a huge fan of memoirs, and have a good friend from Africa (Sudan), but it just didn't click with me.

I have her first memoir, Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight, but have not had the chance to read it yet. I still plan on reading it though, and hope I like it better than this one. I have high hopes for it because her writing is eloquent and witty, which is one part of the story that I did enjoy.

The reason I didn't click with the story that well was because it was extremely historical based, and I am not into history at all. The fact that it was the history of some places I had never even heard of made it quite hard for me to connect and very confusing as well. There was also an over abundance of "characters" if you will, (I hesitate to say characters in non-fiction, but what else can I say?) and that left me feeling confused too, not to mention frustrated.

I did enjoy some of the anecdotes... the ones that were more focused on her mom and the family rather than history, and found some parts to be pretty funny too, such as Alexandra and her sisters being dressed up in crazy costumes for a party. Her mother was really quirky and her antics did make me smile and laugh... I just wish the story would have been more focused on her instead of the places she lived. She was interesting and funny enough that, to me, it didn't really matter where she lived, I just would have liked to hear her story, not the story of the places she occupied. I would have loved to hear more funny things about the crazy (but in a good way) Nicola Fuller of Central Africa (love that name).

Gotta love the cover though, right? It's her mother, and her first best friend, Stephen, the chimpanzee! Fun fact: I have been obsessed with monkeys since I was a little kid. In kindergarten, I learned about Koko the signing gorilla, so my mom bought me a stuffed animal of Koko and I have been smitten ever since... with all monkeys, but Koko has a special place in my heart. :)

Anyways, I believe that fans of both memoirs and history will really enjoy this book. Just because my rating is low does not mean it was bad. It really was a well written book and quite funny (those parts of which I enjoyed a lot), but as a whole, it just wasn't for me. I hope you'll give it a try if it piques your interest!

My Rating: 2/5

Review: Blow Me by Lennie Ross

Title: Blow Me

Author: Lennie Ross
Genre/Age: Chick lit, adult
Publication: 2011
Source: For review, Chick Lit Plus Tours

Summary: Blow Me follows the lives of three single women friends living in LA. They are all close to forty and unfulfilled in their lives. Skylar, or Skye, just lost her job and accidentally set fire to her apartment. Now she's living out of her car, showering at the gym, eating free snacks at hotel bars, and getting money from guys when she's lucky. Dawn works as a matchmaker at a company for rich older men, has just been set up by her pushy mother with a great guy, and has been talked into freezing embryos by her doctor, since time keeps on ticking and she's not getting any younger. Chloe is an aspiring actress and real estate agent with a French Canadian accent who falls in love with every other guy, and has yet to sell a house, or land any real acting gigs. None of the women are truly satisfied or fulfilled with their lives in any aspect - career, love, children. Together, they will manuever through LA's dating scene and try to find happiness in their lives.

My Thoughts: There's something oh so appealing about reading chick lit in which single women are searching for love. I love reading about the crazy dates and antics experienced by women on their quest for the perfect man. And wow, were these girls and their antics CRAZY! Skye goes on a $5,000 shopping spree with Brent, then sleeps with him, only to find out he's married. Chloe vies for attention from a man who loves his dogs more than her. And Dawn, well... her man just may be the one. I thought it was a lot of fun reading about life in LA, and just how unglamorous it really can be to those who are living on the opposite side of rich.

I was slightly disappointed by the friendship between the three women in this novel, though. It seemed quite superficial and I did not see a true friendship "chemistry." A lot of the story itself is actually superficial as well, and the women were pretty out of control and immature. I felt like I was reading about 20-somethings instead of 40-somethings a lot of the time. Who knows, though? There probably really are women like this, especially living in LA.

I thought this book was fun and light, though I would have enjoyed it better if the friendships were developed into something more real, and the superficiality was down played a bit more too. While the story isn't something memorable, it's pretty entertaining. I will definitely NOT hesitate to read future books by Lennie Ross.

Please note, some parts of the story were a bit raunchy or more mature, though not overly graphic, so I would recommend this to readers 17 and up.

My Rating: 3/5

Review: Stiltsville by Susanna Daniel

Title: Stiltsville
Author: Susanna Daniel
Genre/Age: Women's fiction, literary, adult
Publication: 2010
Source: For review, TLC

Stiltsville is a stunning portrait of a marriage from its inception all the way to its tragic demise.

Frances meets Dennis on a trip to Miami in the late 60's, while visiting Stiltsville, a community of stilt homes in Biscayne Bay. Their romance takes off, and soon they are married. Frances moves to Miami, and starts a life with the young lawyer. Together, they raise an exceptional daughter, deal with miscarriages, live through riots, hurricanes, and face illness.

The book is broken into sections with each section being a different year in their lives, and covers almost 30 years of their marriage. It does not cover every year, but skips ahead quite often - however, you never feel like you're losing anything, and get a sense of what their lives were like during the years that aren't covered.

A great aspect of this novel is that it is infused with real life events that occurred in Miami from the 1960's through 1990's, with these historical events running parallel to the marriage. We see how Frances and her small family deal with such events as the race riots, Hurricane Andrew, and University of Florida murders. I looked each of these events up while I was reading the novel, and thought it was fascinating that Daniel's combined these real life events with her fiction. It enhanced the reading experience for me.

I loved this book so much and will consider it a new favorite. Since I got to peer into almost 30 years of Frances' life and marriage, I felt like I truly knew her. My heart broke with her and soared with her. I experienced her marriage with her, her ups, her downs, her heartbreak, her joy. I loved having an intimate look into a realistic marriage as well as seeing them raise their daughter from birth to her own marriage.

This story is breathtakingly beautiful. It moves at a slower pace, but is elegantly written, and full of heart. The first 100 pages didn't hook me immediately, but was setting up the story. After that, I couldn't stop reading. Really. I stayed up until 1:00 AM to finish this book, and I am almost always in bed by 10:00 or so (yeah, yeah, I'm an old lady, so what?). I felt a true connection to Frances and feel that she is one of the best developed characters I have ever read.

This book will stay on my bookshelf for years to come, and will be treasured for a lifetime. I know I will re-read it when I get married myself and find comfort in the story, even through the sadness. Highly, highly recommended! I want everyone I know to read this book!

My Rating: 5/5

Review: Repairing Rainbows by Lynda Fishman

Title: Repairing Rainbows: A True Story of Family, Tragedy and Choices
Author: Lynda Fishman
Genre/Age: Memoir, non-fiction, adult
Publication: 2010
Source: For review, Tribute Books

Repairing Rainbows is a heartbreaking, beautiful, and ultimately, inspirational story of love, loss, life, and family. At 13 years old, Lynda's mother and two younger sisters were killed in a tragic plane accident. Her large and close-knit Jewish family come together in mourning, but her father, now left alone to raise his one remaining daughter, falls into a state of shock and depression.

Though Lynda was devastated and alone, she made her own choices in life, and decided to keep on living, despite the hurt and loss. The early memories of her childhood living with her two very different, but equally lovable sisters, are touching and sweet, showing the power of sisterhood and family. Her mother was devoted and doting, coming into the girls bedrooms every single evening to say good night to her girls. And in an instant, Lynda's life changed, as did the lives of the rest of her family members who were crushed by this great loss.

I liked this story for the hope it offered in light of tragedy. I felt so much pain for the lives lost and for Lynda, a young woman losing her mother at one of the hardest stages in life. We all need hope sometimes, don't we? Lynda's story offers hope that you can turn life around, you can keep on living, and you can determine your own life story with just a little hope. Lynda is an admirable woman full of strength.

I also loved how this story shed light on the importance of family. It showed me that we should never, ever take those that we love for granted.

I recommend this book to those who love memoirs, and also those who have experienced tragedy, or need a little hope in their lives.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Review: In Her Wake by Nancy Rappaport

Title: In Her Wake: A Child Psychiatrist Explores the Mystery of Her Mother's Suicide

Author: Nancy Rappaport
Genre/Age: Memoir, mental health, non-fiction, adult
Publication: 2009
Source: For review, TLC

Suicide is "a permanent answer to a temporary setback" (page 216). When Nancy was four years old, her mother, (also) Nancy, a wife and mother of six children, committed suicide. In this memoir, Nancy searches to uncover the answers and reason for her mother's suicide. Through extensive interviews with family and friends, as well as in depth reading of her mother's own writings as well as newspaper articles, Nancy tries to unravel the past.

This book came to me at just the right time and for that I am grateful. Last week, my family and I got the horrible news that a childhood friend (my brother's best friend as a kid) had committed suicide. Though I hadn't spoken to him in years, as children we hung out a lot and had so much fun making movies, playing video games, etc. He was always funny and so full of life... so we couldn't understand why he had done this. We were all shaken and terribly saddened by the news, even though it'd been awhile since we'd known him. We feel sad for his family and loved ones and sad for him most of all, because for reasons unknown to us, he must have been so sad, so desperate, that he felt this was his only option.

I don't think that people who take their own lives realize how big of an effect it has on everyone. I've learned that suicide has long arms - probably a lot longer than the victim can imagine. Our friend's death reached out to so many people and shook them up, people that were friends with him many years ago that he probably didn't even know still cared. But they did. I know that for the rest of my life, I will be left wondering why, and even more so for those that were close with him. I will always remember him as the 12 year old boy who made my family and I laugh non-stop, running around in the backyard as "The Galloper," our version of a scary movie. I'll miss the boy I once knew, and I know even more people will miss the man he had become, who I was not fortunate enough to know.

Because of these recent events, I found myself very invested in this book, and wanted desperately to know why Nancy's mother killed herself. Though on the outset, the suicide appeared to be an effect of a long custody battle which she lost, I know it had to have been more. Someone needs to feel so desperate, so alone in this world, to take their own life. Nancy was a very disturbed woman with a lot of emotional problems, despite her outer appearance to the world - that of a successful, beautiful politician and loving mother.

This memoir was both excellently researched and beautifully written. While it had the merits and intelligence of a scientific and well-researched book, it also had the heart of a memoir from a loving and desperately curious daughter. Much of the book was a run through of the family history, and not entirely about her mother and the suicide. The family was very large, boisterous, and dysfunctional - very fascinating to read about. Nancy's father remarried a young, overwhelmed woman and eventually the family had 11 children (including step-siblings and half siblings), with her mother living separately from her children.

I really enjoyed this memoir. Despite the tragic topic, it manages to be beautiful, brave, and bold. Nancy's story shows the lasting effects of suicide and the never-ending questions revolving around such a tragedy. When people leave this earth unexpectedly, the mystery, guilt, and pain never goes away, though Nancy tries to answer the tough questions.

I'd recommend this book to fans of memoirs, and those interested in mental health topics, not just suicide. I am grateful to Nancy for sharing her (and her mother's) story.

If you or someone you know has ever considered suicide, please reach out for help. Realize you are not alone in this world and you never will be. Realize that there are people that love you, need you, and want you. Think about the effects of your actions. Please visit this site for more information and help: http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

My Rating: 4/5

Review: Lessons From a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles

Title: Lessons From a Dead Girl

Author: Jo Knowles
Genre/Age: Young Adult
Publication: 2007
Source: Library

Lessons From a Dead Girl has a very interesting - and disturbing - premise. When Laine was a child, the popular and beautiful, Leah, befriended her. Soon, she discovered that Leah was manipulative and disturbed, frequently abusing Laine in her doll closet - what she called "practice" for when they were older. Laine never knew how to stop her, but she knew it was wrong.

When the story opens up, we discover that Leah, now 17, has just died, and Laine has very mixed feelings about it. She feels both relief and guilt. As the story progresses, we learn of how their relationship evolved, and that Leah herself was abused as a child. As the girls enter high school, they drift apart, and Leah relentlessly harasses Laine about their shared past, resulting in Laine's hatred for Leah.

I didn't love this book, but I thought it was still a decent read. Each chapter is a different "lesson" that Laine learned from Leah throughout her life. Each chapter is sort of like a vignette of its own. Because of that, I felt like the story wasn't as strong or as developed as it could have been. It was still a very fascinating and unique topic, just not as good as I had hoped. I feel it could have been expanded upon too, as it was a very short novel.

My Rating: 3/5