I Swear This Is a Happier Post

Since Such a Pretty Fat won't be out for another two weeks (woo-hoo!) here are my suggestions for some good reads.

First, my friend Allison Winn Scotch's The Department of Lost and Found, just released today in paperback!

Here's the description from Allison's website:

It didn’t start out as the worst day of Natalie Miller’s life. At thirty, she is moving up the political ladder, driven by raw ambition and ruthless determination. As the top aide to New York’s powerful female senator, she works hard, stays late, and enjoys every bit of it, even if the bills she’s pushing through do little to improve the lives of the senator’s constituents. And if her boyfriend isn’t the sexiest guy alive, at least he’s a warm body to come home to.

Then he announces he’s leaving. But that news is barely a blip compared to what Natalie’s doctor tells her: She has breast cancer. And she can’t cure it by merely being headstrong. Now the life Natalie must change is her own.

All her energy, what little of it she has left, must go into saving herself from a merciless disease. So when she’s not lying on the sofa recovering from her treatments and indulging in a curious addiction to The Price Is Right, she realizes it’s time to take a hard look at her choices. She begins by tracking down the five loves-of-her-life to assess what went wrong. Along the way, she questions her relationships with her friends, her parents, her colleagues, the one who got away, and, most important, with herself: Why is she so busy moving through life that she never stops to embrace it?

As Natalie sleuths out the answers to these questions, her journey of self-discovery takes her down new paths and to unexplored places. And she learns that sometimes when life is at its most unexpected, it’s not what you lose that makes you who you are . . . it’s what you find.

I loved this book because although it deals with a serious and emotional topic, it's ultimately uplifting and I highly recommend it.

Next up, here's what's on my nightstand:

Technically, this isn't my nightstand.  One of the cats threw up on my nightstand (and pillow) (and HEAD) during the night, so I staged this shot outside of the splatter zone.

First, Candy Girl by Diablo Cody, author of the screenplay Juno.  Haven't started it yet, but the opening line totally sucked me in.  "Nobody comes to Minnesota to take their clothes off, at least as far as I know."  From what I understand, she shitcanned her normal job and began stripping to have an experience to write about.  Sounds crazy, but I totally get this rationale.  As someone who writes non-fiction, I'm always allowing stupid and/or bizarre circumstances to continue, just because I want to see how it might end.  This one should be a lot of fun.

Next, I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley.  This book of essays debuted on the New York Times bestseller list and if I wanted to hate her out of sheer jealousy, I'd be justified.  However... she's just so goddamned charming and clever.  I can't hate her because I'm too busy wanting to be her BFF.  Her writing is subtle and she doesn't go for the huge punchlines.  Her quiet detachment and attention to nuance make these essays dead-on hilarious.

Third, The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffeneger.  I just brought this one home.  I know zip about this book, except that every book club I've visited has read and loved it.  And that's reason enough for me.

Cooking for Mr. Latte by Amanda Hesser is next in the stack.  It's billed as "a totally lovable book, a kind of Bridget Jones for foodies."  Moreover, Stacey says it's adorable, and I believe her.

I've heard rave reviews on I Love You, Beth Cooper just about everywhere.  This is a high school coming-of-age story by Larry Doyle, who also wrote for The Simpsons and Beavis and Butthead.  Say what you will about the cartoon genre, but my guess is the man knows social satire.

Finally, Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time by Valerie Bertinelli.  Honestly?  I felt dirty buying this.  I primarily purchased it in order to mock it.  (I'm sorry - did you not know I was an asshole?  Have you read nothing I've ever written?)  I planned to skim and snicker, but I found myself reading more and more closely.  I'd thought she was being a bit ridiculous about her "weight issues" because 130 pounds in a 5'5 body IS NOT FAT.  I didn't realize the tabloids had been fucking merciless to her ever since her teens, nor I did I know that even thirty years ago, Hollywood had a zero-tolerance policy on weight.  Instead of mocking, I found myself getting a better understanding of her situation.  Not sure I'd read her novel were she to write one, but I'll admit the dive into her life has been pretty damn interesting.

So, that's it for now.  If you've recently read something the rest of the class would dig, post it below!

Comments

[Suzanne]

Thanks for the great suggestions!
I just finished The Department of Lost and Found -- fantastic -- and am now reading Cooking for Mr. Latte which is very entertaining so far.

[Chandra T]

I'm way behind on your latest posts and just got to this one. The Time Traveler's Wife is fantastic. I found it randomly a couple of years ago for a book club. It was my turn to select the book for the month and I waited until the last second to find something and couldn't have been happier with my choice. And to toot my own horn, it's the only book EVERYONE in the group loved out of the 12 we read the year I was in the group.

It's absolutely one of my favorite books (and that's saying something because I read as frequently as most people eat). Unfortunately, they're making a movie of it which has disaster written all over it. Fingers crossed they won't butcher it (but they will...they almost always do). Quick, read it before Hollywood ruins it for you!!

[Mandi]

ummmm I was at my local Boarders buying Bitter is the New Back for my friend (I cannot for the life of me find my copy) and I was surprised to see that Such a Pretty Fat was on the shelf already, I thought it didnt come out until May.......fyi

[stefanie rico]

Amy Cohen's "The Late Bloomer's Revolution." The title says it all. By the way, see you in CA!

[Elizabeth]

Currently passing the time with "Secrets of the Model Dorm" by Amanda Kerlin until Such a Pretty Fat comes out. Great reads! Jen, love your books and hope I can make it to Cincy to see you!!

[PetitMal]

Great suggestions, I have Sloane's book and also Belong to Me, glad to hear they're so enjoyed. As soon as I get offline, I'm starting Jhumpa's new story collection.

But what has been making me go CRAZY is TC Boyle!! I can't believe I've slept on him so long. I plowed through After the Plague (stories) and *immediately* went to the bookstore to get the TC Boyle Stories, which has 68 of them from his first four collections. I have read 14 of them so far. He is bananas.

Slowing it down for a bit with Jhumpa, and then will go right back to him!

[Tesha]

one of my all time favorite books in the whole world is "Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" by Dave Eggers. It's also a memoir. you might enjoy it!! it's hilarious! but also a little bit sad. maybe one day you'll read it and you can tell me what you think??

[Jenny Wells]

I usually just read your site, but I couldn't resist this question. Here is a list of some of my favorite books in no particular order:

The Corrections

Geek Love

I'm Not the New Me

A Girl Named Zippy

She Got Up Off the Couch

Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life

Devil in the Details

[jennjenn]

I read Candy Girl and absolutely loved it. Just a little warning though. I threw up in my mouth a little while reading about the "glass cleaner". Be prepared.

[Jenn]

Anything by Augusten Burroughs or Tom Perrota are awesome. Secret Life of Bees is a classic. I also liked In My Skin by Kate Holden. About her having a college degree but becoming a heroin addict and posititute, but very insightful.

[Jenn]

Anything by Augusten Burroughs or Tom Perrota are awesome. Secret Life of Bees is a classic. I also liked In My Skin by Kate Holden. About her having a college degree but becoming a heroin addict and posititute, but very insightful.

[Kristi]

Into the Wild (the movie) is FAR BETTER than Into the Wild (the book). Sean Penn did an excellent job of telling Chris McCandless' story.

[Jess]

Time Traveler's Wife is fully my favourite book! I think you'll love it, I recommend it to everyone. Thanks for your picks, I will definitely check some of them out.

As for a favourite... It's kind of old coz I got it used...but I just finished the book version of Captain Corelli's Mandolin and loved it. But be careful, it's a tearjerker...

[Jenn]

Candy Girl was pretty funny and a very quick read. It oddly turned me on...even though it was about stripping and the sleazy men at strip clubs I immediately attacked my bf after I finished reading it.

Time Traveler's Wife was also a great book. I guess they're making a movie with rachel mcadams and eric bana. You should definitely read it before the movie comes out. They'll probably end up ruining it.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452694/

[Laura]

A little advice about the Time Traveler's wife (which I read and LOVED!) Don't get all hung up on the bouncing back and forth between past, present and future, if you try to keep it all straight you're going to get a Mr. Misty Brainache. Just let it roll over you and enjoy it.

[Leslie]

Oops, make that Getting Rid of Bradley. Similar idea!

[Leslie]

I enjoyed Candy Girl for the sharp writing. An easy read.

Also recently read Jane Green's Swapping Lives, which sort of echoes another life-swapping story whose title/author I can't remember. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

Jennifer Crusie's Losing Bradley was pretty good, in my opinion. Good writing, cheesy story.

Reading my first Ruth Rendell right now -- very dark, psychologically speaking.

[Caroline]

Cooking for Mr. Latte? Meh. It's good in places, but after a bit, I get tired of how swimmingly everything goes for Ms. Hesser, and she definitely veers into the precious-precious at times. I mean, c'mon, her biggest gripe about her too too fabulous beau is that he drinks a LATTE at the end of dinner instead of ESPRESSO like a real food connoisseur ... please. I can't work up too much sympathy for her.

[Danielle]

I really wish I could read the Time Traveler's Wife again for the first time! What a fantastic book. I cried so hard at the end. Right now I'm loving Into the Wild. The best memoir ever is definitely the Liar's Club. I loved A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters was great. Lighting Up: How I Stopped Smoking, Drinking and Everything Else I Loved in Life Except Sex was great also - but I think that I loved it so much because I have a lot of the same neurotic characteristics as Susan Shapiro. Of course all of the Augusten Burroughs books are fantastic! Name All the Animals and Driving with Dead People are great - but very sad. And of course - The Glass Castle - what a great book. Forgive me for rambling on and on, I am an avid memoir reader & am so excited to let people know of these books. Sickened was good, but also very sad. AND of course I loved Bitter is the New Black, I bought it for all of the females on my Christmas list last year. As an avid reader my boss is always asking me what I'm reading & I have to say holding up the cover of Bright Lights Big Ass was a bit embarrassing, but worth it.

[Jill]

Jen - Completely agree with you about Pledged. I'm in a sorority on one of the campuses she likely visited to gather info...and it's just not that extreme. Drug rooms?? Please. My college sorority experience is a lot more like what you describe in Bitter. I'm the drunken, overbearing Rush Captain who likes to make out with cute frat boys.

Anyway....some other great books...

Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman - It's a collection of essays - his commentary on all sorts of pop-culture topics (The Real World, etc.) Makes me laugh out loud.

The Chosen by Chaim Potok - sort of a "new classic." Some may have had to read it in high school or college. But if you missed it, I highly recommend it.

And my all-time favorite books (besides yours of course) are by Megan McCafferty:

Sloppy Firsts
Second Helpings
Charmed Thirds
Fourth Comings

The first and second are definitely the best. The series follows a girl through high school, college, and the first few years after. They may be stored in the Young Adult section of your local B&N, but trust me anyone can relate to these.

Can't wait to see you in Austin, TX on the 15th!!

[Becca]

The Time Traveler's Wife is one of my all time favorite books (besides yours of course.) It's a book that may be enjoyed even more the second time since it can be a little confusing the first time not knowing what the books entails.

Enjoy!

[Sue]

I was thrilled to see the post for The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific by J. Maarten Troost. I read that a couple of years ago and loved it. His next book (Getting Stoned with Savages: A Trip Through the Islands of Fiji and Vanuatu) is also hilarious.
Another favorite is Don't Stop the Carnival by Herman Wouk. Perhaps because I live in the caribbean and can totally relate to most of the stituations in the book.
I can't wait to get my copy of Such A Pretty Fat!

[Antof9]

Take "Time Traveller's Wife" back to the store and move "Cooking for Mr. Latte" to the top of the list. Or ... read the first half of TTW and then put it down. The end is seriously depressing and bereft of hope. I can tell you *my* book club was disappointed in it.

Cooking makes you want to BFF Amanda Hesser immediately. Rather like you, in fact.

[Heather]

Thank you for reminding me that I want to read "Candy Girl" next. Diablo Cody is right up there in the funny department. I just loved her on the Oscars, too. Hope we both enjoy it! (My friend's are chomping at the bit asking me when "Such a Pretty Fat" comes out-I feel like your bookseller.)

[Penny]

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. I read this book about every 2 years because I LOVE Owen Meany. John Irving is one of my favorite authors, next to you Jen! His tales are so bizarre yet so absorbing and funny. Owen Meany is a character who will stay with you forever. (Ignore the stupid movie based on this book - impossible to do this piece of work any justice in a move as the character development cannot be transferred to the screen.)

[Jackie]

I just got done reading "Good In Bed" by Jennifer Weiner...LOVED IT!
Also, I'm a penguin lover and couldn't help but notice the penguins beside the stack of books! Great taste!

[Paige]

Oh, also, I just read The Hiding Place by Trezza Azzopardi, and Heart Of Stone by Renate Dorrestein. They were both AMAZING. Both of them were pretty short, but really really good. Parts of the story were kinda similar in both though, so it was a little weird that I read them back to back. I would suggest reading something else in between, but they are both so worth it!

[Paige]

Time Traveler's Wife is REALLY good. You won't be dissapointed. By the way, I am about halfway through Bright Lights, Big Ass (I know, I'm a little behind, but I have to chatch up before the new one comes out!) and I can't stop laughing. My sleep is suffering because I don't want to put it down in order to go to bed. LOVE YOU!

Also- I just started reading your blog, I don't know what the hell I've been thinking until now!

[Molly]

1. Cookbooks
2. Educational (drop-out prevention, best-teaching practices, etc.)
3. Books I have heard that other people enjoy. If I don't like it I like to see why they might have enjoyed it.
4. Did I mention cook books?! (Cook's Illustrated, Sara Foster, Dorie Greenspan, Joy!)
5. Current fave are the two most recent Lancaster tomes. Busted at an auction laughing out loud...badly or loudly!

[Tracy]

Candy Girl is on my nightstand, too (along with about 50 other books on the floor next to my bed, but whatever).

I'm about half-way through this book called "Such a Pretty Fat" by the absolutely hysterical Jen Lancaster ;-)

Girl, you just get better and better.... looking forward to seeing you at Borders in a couple weeks!

[Ashley]

My TBR pile is at least 10 high. I have to stop adding books to that pile.

If you haven't read the book "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer, you really should. I know the world is divided on this book but, as a lover of chick lit and books, this book has it all. It's technically YA but, eh, who cares if it's a good book.

Also, "I Love You, Beth Cooper" is genius. We should be BFF's just based on our TBR piles.

[Sally]

After raving about how good The Time Traveler's Wife is, I forgot to mention another fav of mine (which I don't think has been mentioned yet) - The Broke Diaries. It's true stories written by Angela Nissel about being broke while in college. She talks about everything from her crappy apartment to how she would go on dates simply to get a free meal. She wrote another book (Mixed: My Life in Black and White) which I have not read, and she also writes and produces for Scrubs (I think). Anyways, The Broke Diaries is a quick read and too, too funny.

[Erin in Cleveland]

I just read Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner and Certain Girls, sequel by same back to back- Fantastic!!!!

One of my complete favorites is Bet Me by Jennifer Cruisie - another must for any girl of curvy proportions!

Also just re-read Bitter and will Bright Lights- two additional complete favs- I apparently have a thing for Jennifer authors? Maybe I could start the Jennifer Author book club...

And a friend just gave me the Time Traveller's Wife this morning, so can't wait to start that after I finish I Was Told There'd be Cake- I had to buy at lunch based on the title alone because I am a complete cake freak! ( Although cake is,in my opinion, merely a frosting delivery system.)

[the other Moira (who knew?)]

I LOVED Candy Girl (almost as much as I loved Bitter).

I'm in Mpls and my friend's book club read it, and then met at Sex World (one of the places Diablo...er..."performs") to dicuss. too funny!

[Kim]

I just finished reading The Time Traveler's Wife. Awesome book! I loved it. I read it on a plane (I was nervous to fly) and the time just flew by (sorry, bad pun!). Seriously, it is a unique story, well written, and totally engaging. Two thumbs up!

[Dawn H]

The Monty Python Biography
Consuelo and Alva Vanderbilt
A Tale of Two Cities - this one's a little dry.

Yes, I read fun stuff, too (like your books) but apparently not right now.

[ie]

I just finished Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult. I thought it was an amazing book. Highly recommend.

I also just read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. Very moving.

Someone referened Barbara Delinsky. I have loved almost every one of her books. I haven't read them all, and of course some are better than others, but over all I think she's very good.

I loved the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. Cannot wait for the next book!

For fantasy fans and non-fans alike, the whole Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan is awesome.

[Karmen]

I just read Candy Girl on vacation. There were many parts that had me laughing out loud which is my measure of a good book. It was very entertaining and, for me, educational. Being from Mpls, I could totally relate to all the places she referred to in the book.

[Kara]

If you haven't read it, pick up "Colors Insulting to Nature" by Cintra Wilson. It's spectacular!

[Nicole]

Loved Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips and heard they are turning it into a tv series!

But the BEST is The Many Lives and Secrets of Josephine B. by Sandra Gulland - SOOOOO good its part one of three....

[KS]

I recently finished reading Sophie Kinsella's Remember Me? It's my favorite of her books aside from the Shopaholic series. I also read The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond, which seems tailored for book clubs. I didn't like any of the characters. Now I'm reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I read a piece by Sloane Crosley in a travel magazine and wasn't especially impressed, but I will check out her book based on what I've read here. I recommend Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore. Incredible true story.

[Kim]

Looks like no middle ground for Time Traveler's Wife on this blog: loved to hate. I alomost loved it; I'd give it a 9 of 10.

Other 9-10s of mine:

The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific by J. Maarten Troost (excuse the inflamitory title, but it's really funny!)
& all time most funny:
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John irving

not funny but 10s:
Kite Runner & Thousand Spendid Suns
House of Sand & Fog
Ellen Foster
Pillars of the Earth

[Sonja]

I recently read "The Witch of Portobello" by Paulo Coelho...insightful and the perfect book to pick up when trying to figure out "who you are again" after a break-up...

[Liz]

Love, love, love The Time Traveler's Wife

[Jen T]

Thrilled to see that you have new recommendations. I'm still working my way through the previous list you posted, however I must tell you, I'm a bit nervous after last time. I'm a total library geek, and live 1 hour from any decent bookstore, so I put most of the books you mentionned on hold at my local branch. When I went to pick up a couple that had come in, I noticed that Superstud was set off to one side, all alone. I asked the nice librarian if perhaps that book was for me, too. She replied, "Oh, we've been wondering who wanted THAT book" (I guess my info didn't come through with the online request). Nice to feel singled out for my reading choices, although gotta tell you, I laughed myself silly reading it. (I'm a HUGE Freaks & Geeks fan)

I've also just finished Sarah Strohmeyer's Sleeping Beauty Proposal, which was pretty enjoyable, if a bit fluffy.

[katie]

One of my most favorite books ever is Marley and Me. It is the sweetest book ever and I sobbed for hours. If you haven't read it, DO! It is so good...

[elena]

Jen- keep Candy Girl at the top! You won't regret it. Speaking of MN, when are you coming? We have been dying to know.

Looking forward to Such a Pretty Fat!

[Christina G]

Read the new Mary Higgins Clark. Eh. I had it figured out long before the ending, even with the usual red herrings thrown in.
Just started: Belong to Me: A Novel by Marisa De Los Santos, which looks promising.
Also purchased Suddenly by Barbara Delinsky.

I'm going to explode if I don't get my Jen Lancaster fix SOOOOON. This blog is barely able to tide me over. ;) Gonna get the "Cake" book ASAP!

[Frances]

First: I'm NOT crazy, I promise. Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series. 12 books total. It's fantasy, with swords and wizards and so on, and I normally do not do fantasy. But, Oh my goodness MOST AMAZING STORY EVERY TOLD. Philosophy is based on Ayn Rand's Objectivism... I've read the entire seriers 4 times now. Perfect, Perfect, Perfect.

Love You Jen!

[Kristi]

My favorites (besides Jen's books, of course!) are:
Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)...my all-time favorite. I love this book so much that I was sad when the story ended.
Thirteenth Tale (Diane Setterfield)...very interesting plot and great character development.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)...a coming-of-age story of hope amidst overwhelming despair.
Same Kind of Different as Me (Ron Hall and Denver Moore)...a true story of unlikely friendship and love, profound and life-altering.
I'm currently reading Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte) and CAN'T WAIT for SAPF.