Book Review- Sarah Pekkanen's The Perfect Neighbors

Thank You to Atria Books for providing me with an advanced copy of Sarah Pekkanen's novel, The Perfect Neighbors, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT- The suburb of Newport Cove is the perfect place to raise a family. It's a beautiful town with friendly neighbors, that has been named one of the safest communities in America. However, the people of Newport Cove may not be as perfect as they appear.

LIKE- Pekkanen has a knack for character development and through this, she creates a vibrant community that populates her fictional town. I cared about her characters and was compelled to keep turning the page. This is a quick, light read. I liked humor of the town internet message board, that is woven throughout the story. The Perfect Neighbors was much more light-hearted than I anticipated, great for my vacation reading. 

DISLIKE- The original description of the story was misleading, making me think that it would be more of a mystery or suspense novel. In the end, I felt like this was a light version of Desperate Housewives. The twist was more mildly sad, than a surprise. If my expectations had been different, I probably wouldn't have felt a disappointment towards the ending.

RECOMMEND- Maybe. This is a good summer type of read. I'm not a fan of stereotyping books, but The Perfect Neighbors is pure chick-lit. I wouldn't recommend it to any of my male friends. I enjoyed the story and Pekkanen's writing, but I'm not sure that her book will be one that sticks in my memory.

Book Review- Kelly Wilson's Caskets from COSTCO

Thank You to Booktrope for providing me with an advanced copy of Kelly Wilson's memoir, Caskets from COSTCO, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT- In her memoir, Caskets from COSTCO, Kelly Wilson recounts her dysfunctional childhood, sexual abuse, dangerous pregnancies, mental illness, and the death of her beloved father-in-law. Although the content is heavy, Wilson uses humor to diffuse the tension.

LIKE- My biggest like was Wilson. She's open and honest about painful subjects and simply comes across as someone that I would like to know in person. Her likability comes through in her writing, which I think is a rare talent to possess. 

 The title is hilarious. I mean who hasn't wondered about COSTCO selling caskets? I did find moments where I laughed, although I wouldn't consider much of this story funny. It's painful. Wilson has had a painful life and I was relieved that by the end of the memoir, she seemed to have a good sense of perspective regarding her childhood trauma and herself as a person,  surrounding herself with people who truly love her. My favorite part of her story was seeing the bond unfold between Wilson and her father-in-law. Also fascinating, was Wilson's road to motherhood and all of its complications.

DISLIKE- The way the story is arranged was a little odd. Wilson jumps between time frames and occasionally I felt confused. I can't give a specific suggestion, but I think the story could have a stronger arrangement. It doesn't need to be linear, but it does need to be less jumbled.

Wilson spends a lot of time talking about going to various therapists and also becoming a Christian. Neither of these things bothers me, however, I don't relate to either. I respect that many people find help and happiness through psychotherapy and religion, but I tend to loop them together, as things that are not part of my life. To that end, I was fascinated by the revelations that Wilson was making with regard to her therapy and religion, but I also felt the distance. This is personal to me, as I'm sure many people will relate to Wilson. There is enough emphasis on Wilson's Christianity, that I suspect this book will find its way to a Christian bookstore.

RECOMMEND- Maybe. I think Caskets from COSTCO would be of interest to both my Christian friends and those who have experience in highly dysfunctional/abusive families. It would also be of interest to my friends who have experienced difficult pregnancies, again, not something familiar to me. From the title and original description, I thought the book would deal more with the grieving process, and although it does a little, it's much more about a woman beating the odds to live a happy life. There is much to admire in Wilson's perseverance. 

Book Review- Mary Louise Parker's Dear Mr. You

I'm a fan of Mary-Louise Parker and when I saw that she had a memoir available on NetGalley, I immediately requested it. Thank you to Scribner for providing me with an advanced copy of Parker's memoir, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT- Parker's Dear Mr. You is not a conventional memoir. This is not an insiders look at Parker's Hollywood life, in fact, very little of it is mentioned. You could read this entire memoir and have no idea that she is a famous actress, that's how little of it is mentioned. But really, what makes this memoir unconventional, is her device of writing letters to the men in her life to frame the chapters. The men are not even necessarily people she knew well, but those who in some way, maybe without even realizing, have made an impact on her life.

LIKE- Wow. I was blown away, dazzled, and deeply affected by Parker's beautiful memoir. This is truly powerful writing that will run you through a gamut of emotions. Don't say that I didn't warn you!

There is so much to love in Dear Mr. You, but a few moments really shone above the others. One is where Parker mentions the birth of her son and waking up in the hospital to see her brother holding her newborn and singing to him. Parker's boyfriend left her when she was seven months pregnant ( no, she doesn't name drop or belabor the fact), but it sets up the point that she felt overwhelmed seeing her brother step-up when she needed him the most. She lists this as one of the top moments that she would love to relive. 

Another emotional memory is recalled, when she writes to the uncle of her adopted daughter, a man whom she met once and had to speak through a translator, a moment where she used those precious minutes to try to figure out what this man hoped most for his niece, whom he was sending off with a stranger, an unmarried foreign woman. This moment is remembered with such gratitude and compassion. It made me think about and feel grateful for good things in my own life.

The most affecting letter, is the one that Parker writes to an unnamed oyster picker, writing in gratitude for the comfort that the oysters brought to her dying father. Have the kleenex nearby for this one. 

DISLIKE- Not a single word.

RECOMMEND- Must read. Put Dear Mr. You on the top of your TBR pile. As much as I'm a fan of Parker's acting, I'm a much bigger fan of her writing. This memoir is a marvel.