The Week In Books, No. 23

If you’re looking for a beach read, “Angry Housewives Eating Bon-Bons” might be a good choice. It’s a light read about a group of women in a book club. From its formation when they were young moms in the ’70s to later in their lives, the club meetings form a backdrop for the personal sagas of these women, with each member’s chapter beginning with the book she suggested and why she wanted to read it. I thought it was fun that this book club (the title of the book is the name of their club) did food themes based on the month’s book, sort of like the book club I’m in did for the first meeting. Although I think the title is super lame, the book was all right, if you’re looking for a diversion.

I’ve heard “Children of Men” recommended from numerous sources, and I read it all in one day while in the hospital. No fewer than FIVE nurses and other passers-by advised me not to see the movie after reading the book because it would be disappointing. I thought the concept of the book was unique – what would society look like if fertility dropped and dropped to the point of non-existence, and mankind had no children or hope for the future? The book can be a little dark, but ultimately it’s redemptive. I still can’t decide if I want to see the movie…