Book Review- Rachel Kushner's The Hard Crowd: Essays 2000-2020

Thank you to LibroFM and Simon & Schuster Audio for a copy of Rachel Kushner’s The Hard Crowd: Essays 2000-2020.

Last summer, I was at a bookstore in Los Angeles, where the cover of Kushner’s novel, The Mars Room, caught my eye. The Mars Room is a women’s prison story, a bit akin to following a character from Orange is the New Black. A fantastic read that I raced through in a single afternoon. I had been looking forward to reading more Kushner, but as with most book lovers, I got distracted by my enormous TBR bookcase. Yes, a bookcase, not just a pile. I was happy to see The Hard Crowd as an option for an audio book arc, reminding me of Kushner.

The Hard Crowd is difficult to explain. Kusher’s essays cover a range of topics, from her participation in a risky, yet thrilling motorcycle race in Mexico to critiques of foreign films and literature. I have to confess that many of Kusher’s topics were unfamiliar to me, however, even without previous knowledge, Kushner deftly sets the stage for readers of all backgrounds to engage with her thoughts. Some of her topics seemed esoteric, yet, I was always intrigued and I finished the collection thinking about new ideas and subjects.

Kushner is a fabulous writer. She kept this reader engaged and curious, even when the topic was unfamiliar or something that wouldn't normal interest me. For example, motorcycles. I have zero interest in motorcycles, but Kushner’s riviting description of the Baja race extended my interest beyond her essay and into a deep dive internet search.

If you’re looking for something a bit different and off-beat, I recommend The Hard Crowd.

Book Review- Laurie Zaleski's Funny Farm

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of Laurie Zaleski’s memoir, Funny Farm.

Running from an abusive marriage, Laurie Zaleski’s mom fled from her husband, taking a small amount of belongings and her three young children. Money was tight, but they managed to find a rental property in a rural area. The house was small and run down, a place that had been used for squatters and teenagers, but with her determination and upbeat attitude, Zaleski’s mom turned the place into a home where she would raise her children. The property was big enough that they started to amass an assortment of rescue animals, including a beloved horse whose broken leg they healed.

They were not able to move far from Zaleski’s father, who despite continuing to terrorize Zaleski’s mother, was granted partial custody of his children. Zaleski witnessed acts of cruelty inflicted by her father, who was wealthy and prominent in their local community.

Healing and comfort was found in their animal community. Animals, who like Zaleski’s family, were learning to regain trust after trauma. In her adult years, Zaleski would be pulled in two directions; leaving the farm to pursue city life or continue her mother’s work. It isn’t a spoiler to share that she chose a life on the farm and not only took on her mother’s animals, but bought a bigger property. Her rescue is thriving with volunteers and a large social media presence. Her instagram page for the Funny Farm Animal Sanctuary is absolutely delightful, a must-follow for animal lovers.

Funny Farm is a tough read. The rampant abuse; spousal, child, and animal, is hard. Trigger warning is an apt caution. That said, the love and compassion overshadow the abuse, ultimately allowing those abused to triumph. I connected with Zaleski’s pull towards different paths in her adult life, but ultimately following in her mother’s footsteps. Zaleski’s caregiving during her mother’s cancer, took me back to 2008, when I was in a similar position. I may not have a whole farm of rescue animals (just two spoiled cats) or have survived an abusive childhood, but I could relate to much of this memoir.

Funny Farm is a great choice for animal lovers who can stomach the difficult parts. Either way, make sure to visit the Funny Farm social media pages for adorable animal antics. If you’re in New Jersey, you can even visit the rescue and meet Zaleski!

Book Review- Tom Perrotta's Tracy Flick Can't win

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for a copy of Tom Perrotta’s Tracy Flick Can’t Win.

Perrotta returns to one of his most memorable characters, Tracy Flick, in this sequel to his best-selling novel, Election. In Tracy Flick Can’t Win, we find Flick in her forties, a divorced single-mother working as a high school vice-principal. When the long-time principal announces his upcoming retirement, Flick starts the interview process for the promotion. Her strong work-ethic, high morals, and innovative ideas still can’t manage to eclipse her inability to connect on a social level. Just like in high school, Flick sees her dreams slipping away as more popular/less qualified candidates take center stage.

Perrotta is one of my favorite authors and Election is one of my favorite books. I was thrilled that Perrotta was bringing back Tracy Flick. You do not have to read Election to enjoy Tracy Flick Can’t Win, however, I highly recommend it. This sequel was really written for fans and having the context of Flick’s struggles in her teen years, makes the sequel more poignant. Flick becomes an everyone woman in her struggles, as she faces many micro aggressions and flat-out dismissals from the men in the story. As a woman, reading this felt like a jab from a sharp needle and it make me recall times in my life where I suffered similar treatment. Flick isn’t a likable character. If I met her in real life, I’d find her to be very grating. However, she is also a person who suffers a lot of misfortune and who tries to do the right thing, only to see that she really can’t win. This makes me root for her to succeed.

Tracy Flick Can’t Win is not Perrotta’s finest work, but it is certainly a book that I wanted to read. It was the 2022 new book release that I was most excited to read. Fans are going to be thrilled and if you’re a fan, you must read it. It did not disappoint. I’d love a third Flick sequel or maybe a follow-up to another character from Election.