Book Notes: May and June

An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Audiobook Version: I'll admit it, if this book were not written by Steve Martin I probably would not have picked it up. I saw it all the way through in case there was a magically ending that brought significance to all of the text leading up to the end. That did not happen. This was not the worst book I ever read, but I'm sure his name helped him get published.
The story was about Lacey, a young, charming, ambitious art dealer. Lacey is courted by Patrice, an older Frenchmen, and their romance runs throughout the book. This format of older man, younger woman chased after is the same as his older book, Shopgirl. There's a bit of scandal, and it is interesting to hear a bit about the art world. Otherwise, I didn't find much to sink my teeth into. I'll give Martin a rest for awhile.

----Post Note, When this review appeared on Facebook, several people responded saying they loved the book. Apparently I really missed out with the audio version because the paper version has illustrations. Oh well.

After Visiting Friends: A Son's Story by Michael Hainey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I found this book on the NYT Best Sellers List and it sounded interesting. The author's father dies suddenly, tragically, "after visiting friends," at the age of 35. The author Michael is 6 at the time, his brother, 8, and his mom, 33. Upon his death, no one in the family talks about his father Robert or his death. Michael knew better than to bring it, and didn't want to bring up pain or anger by asking the natural questions of a six year old.
Hainey grew to dread turning 35 for fear of his own sudden death. When he was 18 he looked up the obituaries in the local papers for his father, and found interesting and very blatant contradictions among Chicago's biggest papers. (Robert worked at the papers all of his adult life and was highly regarded.) In his late 30's Michael began his own journalistic-style pursuit of the truth. Hainey does not focus on tender sweet memories of his dad, rather simply, just getting the story.
Michael found that many of his father's comrades were either dead (by 60 no less) or stonewalling him. Men stuck to the phrase, "I don't know anything about that night." Hainey, a reporter himself, knew how to dig deeper and kept digging until he found some unsettling truths. He is then stuck with sharing what he's learned with this family (particularly his mother) or protecting her, as so many in the past had done.
This book is not only a mystery unfolding but it is so personal that it feels like the author is still six years old and wants to know what happen to daddy. Your heard aches for his loss, road blocks, isolation, and discoveries. The ending is tender and left me wanting to give everyone in the Hainey family a hug.

Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality by Jacob Tomsky

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Audiobook Version: This is a super fun book! Everyone has stayed in a hotel at some point, so I think everyone can relate! The author started out his career as a valet, and moved through the hotel ranks to include Housekeeping Manager and Front Desk Clerk. Jacob Tomsky, who goes by Thomas Jacobs in the hotel world, has spent his 10+ year career in New Orleans and New York City. In both cities he was in upscale, very popular hotels. He experiences the all too common company buy-out, take over, and demoralization, feeling abuse from both customers and management alike. Jacob details the camaraderie of the staff and a bit about the day to day lives of a; valet, bellman, doorman, housekeeper and manager. Jacob tells his story with heart and humor and includes useful tips on how avoid charges and get upgrades. Useful, cheeky, heartfelt and applicable to everyone in some way, I highly recommend!



The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is a beautiful novel in which it seems the translation from German did not misplace the poetic nature of the writing. Julia Win's father disappeared 4 year ago and there's only been speculation about what happened to him. Julia's mother has no interest in pursuing the story, as she reports, "You're father left me long ago." Julia is at an impasse; not sure whether to be mad at her father for deserting her, or mourn his death. She finds a love letter from her father addressed to someone named Mi-Mi in Burma and decides to drop everything to find Mi-Mi.
Julia travels alone to Burma and a monk name U-ba finds her and tells the story of her father. Julia learns of her father's first 20 years, a time that has always been kept secret. She receives the information she sought and the book seems to end abruptly, although there will be a sequel released in January 2014. The book is beautifully written and even though the sequel seems a bit irrelevant, I'll probably try to read it anyway (assuming it becomes available in English).



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The Dinner by Herman Koch

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Audiobook Version: This a creepy one. I swear I saw a movie preview with the same plot as this book, but try as I might I now can not find it. This book is about a pair of grown brothers, going out to dinner with their wives. One, Serge, is a potential candidate for prime minister, the other, Paul is a "retired" teacher. Told through Paul, the reader gets a bias version of the evenings events, and all of the drama and relationships leading up to it. As the story unfolds, we learn that the brothers' teenage sons have committed a horrific act, and the parents are gathered to discuss what to do about it. As upsetting as this is in and of itself, what's far more disturbing is how the parents handle it. This book reminded me a bit of Defending Jacob by William Landay, although this one was creepier and less involved. The darkness of the underlying subject is raised with levity from the absurdity of an outrageously priced dinner.



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With or Without You by Domenica Ruta

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


In this memoir, Domenica Ruta writes about her experience with an addict for a mother. Domenica, known as 'Nikki' speaks lovingly and bitterly of her mother, Kathi. I liked that the book is as conflicted as the reality of many relationships; love or hate, rescue or "teach," enable and embrace. On the one hand, Ruta speaks of an easy childhood; she had the support of an extensive extended family, she could skip school whenever she wanted, and mom clearly loved and wanted the best for her daughter by sending her to private schools. At the same time, mom's love was at times misplaced; giving her 10 year old Vicodin for a headache, letting many members of the extended "family" care for Nikki and letting her witness activities, language, and movies that were not age appropriate.
Not surprisingly Nikki began experimenting with drugs and alcohol at a young age and it controlled her life through most of her 20's. At the same time mom was going through her own hard times and the relationship became verbally abusive when Mom wanted/needed Nikki's financial help. It's dysfunctional at its finest. I'm surprised this is on the best seller's list; that said, it was an easy read and a hearty reminder that in life and love things are not always clear.



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