Review: Faking It

Faking It by Jennifer Crusie

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Faking It is a fun summer read. From Gwen, the bored matriarch, to Nadine, the career shopping granddaughter, the Goodnights all have their quirks. Tilda is the daughter that keeps everything pulled together at her own expense. Her exploits range from painting murals styled on the old masters to keep the family afloat to stealing faked art work that was accidentally sold to keep the family name out of the newspapers. Her adventures are hilarious and keep you turning the pages with delight. This enjoyable summer read is mired in the art world and keeps you laughing with all the antics of the Goodnight family. This story may be fluffy but is well written and keeps you enthralled with all the twists and turns of a light suspenseful mystery. Enjoy! (And let's hope for a sequel!)Jennifer Crusie



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Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern

Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book is laugh out loud funny! I know that sounds a little trite but I don't usually laugh out loud while reading. I thought I had trouble taking my husband out in public but he isn't a match to Justin's dad. Justin's dad constantly embarrasses him with his salty language and vivid descriptions of bodily functions. You can tell how much his dad loves him but Justin never knows what is going to come out of his dad's mouth. Quick read. Very enjoyable. Don't miss it!



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A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon

A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Mark Haddon has a talent for writing about topics from an unusual point of view. In A Spot of Bother, Haddon takes a rather difficult topic - mental health - and discusses how it affects an entire family with empathy and humor.

George Hall is going crazy and trying to do it with dignity. George really does not want to be much of a bother to anyone. When a small spot appears on his hip, he goes off to visit the doctor without telling his wife. The doctor diagnosis is eczema but George obsesses about the spot and is convinced that he has cancer and the cancer is rapidly spreading to other parts of his body. George is polite to a fault and really doesn't want to worry anyone. George begins to have trouble coping and his family slowly realizes that there is something not quite right about George lately.

Throw in George's daughter's upcoming marriage to an unsuitable bridegroom, his son's homosexuality, and his wife's affair - George handles it all by avoiding the issues at hand. Things soon tumble into a mess and are sorted out again with humor and aplomb.

Mark Haddon writes about topics that touch all of our families and does it with humor and kindness without losing sight of the seriousness of the subject matter. Hats off to Haddon for a great story.

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"Dead" Series by Charlaine Harris

I was not prepared to like this series, which lead to the HBO True Blood series on television. A friend got me started on them and, once I started, I couldn't put them down. I have read eight of the nine in the series and each one makes you jump right into the next. I don't believe I have ever seen humor, mystery, romance, vampire fiction, and a southern setting thrown in together in such a successful way. (Southern Bible Belt Baptists might want to steer clear.)

Of course, the mystery involves an awful lot of murders. I fact so many people meet their deaths, it does make you remember that this is definitely fiction. I think about half the people in Sookie's little Southern town have been either murdered or accused of murder by now.

This series is light reading and good fun.