Book Review- Samantha Irby's Quietly Hostile: Essays

Thank you to Vintage Anchor and Libro FM for the arcs of Samantha Irby’s latest essay collection, Quietly Hostile. For the purposes of this review, I listed to the audio arc read by the author.

Samantha Irby is one of my favorite humor writers. She’s just absolutely hilarious and never holds back from sharing intimate details of her life, especially if they have to do with something embarrassing involving the bathroom. I have to confess that this particular collection should not be read or listened to while you are eating, as it goes to rather gross places and you might spit up some food or liquids from laughter.

As a Sex and the City fan, I enjoyed her chapter on writing for the reboot (And Just Like That) and also her analysis of the original show. She even got threats from rabid fans who were concerned for Carrie Bradshaw’s love life. I’m not exactly team Aidan, but still…Carrie’s not real! C’mon people!

By far, the biggest impression was made during the chapter Body Horror, when Irby describes a former sexual relationship with a man who had certain bodily function related kinks. I’m not going to spoil it, but I was not prepared for the gross-factor or just the violation of it all. I found this so disturbing that I couldn’t stop telling everyone about it, including coworkers at the bookstore where I work. If Irby happens to read this review (highly unlikely), I am so sorry that happened to you.

I just love everything Irby writes and I will read it all. Also, how can you resist her covers? They are my all-time favorite book covers. Quietly Hostile is another win for Irby.

Book Review- Nina Totenberg's Dinners with Ruth

Thank you to Libro FM for the audio galley of Nina Totenberg’s memoir, Dinners with Ruth: A Memoir on the Power of Friendships.

Journalist Nina Totenberg shares intimate details from her decades long friendship with justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In addition to her relationship with Ginsburg, Totenberg shares stories from other important friendships, such as those with fellow NPR correspondents, Cokie Roberts and Linda Wertheimer.

I listed to the audio version of this book, narrated by the author. Totenberg has a warm and engaging voice, making it a pleasure to hear her share her stories. I think it would be easy for some people to dismiss this book as “for liberals” but politics plays a small role. In fact, Totenberg conveys a wistfulness for a time when people of different political ideologies could share a friendship, especially when explaining the deep respect between justices Ginsburg and Scalia, a relationship that pushed beyond political ideology. Totenberg focuses her book on the commonalities and humanity that creates bonds, not the things which separate us.

Totenberg and her friends all began their careers when women were not viewed as equals. Totenberg revealed that woman could not even get a credit card in their name until the 1970’s. As a woman born in 1977, this just put into perspective how different my life has been from that of my mom. I feel like I understood my mom’s generation on a deeper level from reading Dinners with Ruth. The friendships they formed not only fed their souls, but were critical for opportunities in the work place. The women of Totenberg’s generation helped each other move up the ladder; rather than seeing competitors, they took victories in the successes of their friends.

Dinners with Ruth is a fantastic book to gift to a friend. As I’m approaching fifty, it made me take stock of my own friendships and feel grateful. I also appreciate the strength of my mom’s generation, paving the way for better opportunities in my life.

Book Review- Jesse Q. Sutanto's Dial A for Aunties

Meddy Chan feels the burden of not disappointing her family. The love of her life is Nathan, but they break up after college, when she realizes that she cannot pursue a life with him and make her family happy. She moves back to be with her mom and her three aunties as they open a wedding service business. The problem is Meddy never tells her family about Nathan or her choice. She assumes they would not support her, but she doesn’t actually give them the opportunity to prove her otherwise.

The night before working a flashy wedding on a private island in California, Meddy goes on a date with Jake aka Ah Guan, a deceitful jerk who Meddy accidentally kills, when he tries to forces her sexually at the end of their evening. Left with the body and panicking, Meddy calls on her mom and aunties for help. Complications arise as they try to get rid of the body and keep their commitments for the wedding. An additional surprise awaits on the island, when Meddy learns that the owner of the hotel is Nathan and their feelings for each other are still strong.

Dial A for Aunties is a fun read, primarily for Sutanto’s humorous dialogue and family dynamics. I loved aunties. They all have very strong personalities and Sutanto does a great job at explaining the mini alliances and rivalries between the sisters. They squabble, but at the end of the day, they are family.

Meddy’s problem of not wanting to disappoint her family is very relatable. I think many people struggle with this, we make choices based on not wanting to disappoint, rather than actually expressing what we want and giving our loved ones the opportunity to support us.

The plot is a bit absurd and definitely requires a suspension of disbelief. However, the characters are so enjoyable, that I went along for the ride. Sure there’s murder, but at the end of the day, this is a light-hearted comedy-mystery with some good twists. I will definitely read the sequel, Four Aunties and Wedding, and likely seek out Sutanto’s other works. I like her sense of humor and Dial A for Aunties is the perfect vacation read.