Lit for Chicks

I love my local library. It has saved me many times from both boredom and financial problems- it would be easy for me to max out my credit card at the local bookstore! And while I love almost everything about the library, one thing drives me crazy. Chick Lit is not recognized as its own genre- it is lumped together with romance. I take great issue with this, because I think they are very distinct genres. For starters, chick lit is not about the romantic relationship-though that may play a large role- it is about the personal journey of the female protagonist. She faces struggles and difficulties with which the reader can sympathize, and though many chick lit novels are hysterically funny,  they tend to pull at the heartstrings too. There seems to be more layers to (most) chick-lit novels than to the typical romance novel. The plot involves more than the classic boy meets girl, girl changes boy, boy marries girl scenario. They are usually more realistic and more real-life. And most importantly, I love a good chick lit novel, but I can barely tolerate romance novels!

My favourite chick lit authors are definitely Sophie Kinsella and Helen Fielding, but recently I've discovered another fabulous author- Jennifer Weiner. I first discovered Weiner when I read In her Shoes after seeing the movie. Having experienced my own up and down (but always there for each other) relationship with my own sister, I related to the story of the tumultuous relationship between two completely opposite sisters. Recently, I read Little Earthquakes at the recommendation of a co-worker who, as it turns out, has fabulous taste. This novel tells the story of four very different women and the way their funny, heartwarming and even tragic experiences with their pregnancies and children bring them together. This novel made me laugh and cry- I thought it was great. In Goodnight Nobody, a woman with three kids and an absentee husband moves to a Stepford-like community where she just doesn't fit in. When a seemingly perfect mommy is murdered, she is determined to find out what happened. This is more of a suspenseful read, although thoroughly enjoyable.

I hope to continue to add to my repertoire of fabulous chick lit authors. Happy reading!

Ah, white people!

I went camping with my husband and friends just before the Canada Day weekend. I'm not much of a camper- I feel very out of my element, and I'm sorry to say, my fellow campers usually feel the effects of my discomfort (ie. I can get pretty grumpy). Meanwhile, my husband, brother-in-law, and our friends, were in their element. This got me thinking about a very funny book called Stuff White People Like by Christian Lander.  This book basically makes fun of white people in a good natured way, and it is sooo funny, especially because it's true. Some people (possibly with no sense of humour) have hinted that this book is racist, but I have to disagree. For one thing, it's written by a fellow white person, and for another, it's not racist to make fun of white people. Sorry, that's just how it is. Look at history- I think it's our turn.

Why did camping remind me of this book? Only because the entry on camping is one of my favourites. I am one of the few white people that does not enjoy camping, and this entry made me laugh especially hard. Take a look at this book if you need a laugh. You will not be disappointed!

Check out the book, and you can also check out the blog at http://www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/. Check out my favourites, #128 (Camping), #99 (Grammar), and #62 (Knowing what's best for poor people). Here's the first paragraph of #128:
"If you find yourself trapped in the middle of the woods without electricity, running water, or a car you would likely describe that situation as a “nightmare” or “a worse case scenario like after plane crash or something.” White people refer to it as “camping.”" Christian Lander, http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2009/08/14/128-camping/

So funny!

Oh Merde!

Merde Happens is the third installment in the highly-addictive Merde series by Stephen Clarke (If you're not familiar with the term merde, you may want to look it up so you can appreciate the humourous titles). This clever and funny series narrates the adventures of Paul West, a Briton living in France. As Paul tries to adapt to the French way of life, he finds himself in many strange and hysterical situations.

In my opinion, Merde Happens is the best of the series thus far. In this novel, Paul finds himself in a financial tight spot and, in desperation, he takes on a dubious job. Wearing a kilt and driving a Mini (painted with a Union Jack of course), Paul travels across the United States in an attempt to persuade Americans to visit his homeland. Add a liberalist French girlfriend, sabotageurs and competitors, Britain-haters, outsourcing to India, and certain racy photos of Paul in a mini-kilt, and you've got a very funny book.

Stephen Clarke gives the French a (little) bit of a break in this novel, poking fun at Americans as only non-Americans can do. Fellow Canadians will enjoy the author's commentary as Paul encounters guns, silicone, super-sized meals, freeways, red necks and patriots. Americans who have the ability to laugh at themselves will enjoy this too. I found myself giggling aloud at several scenes in the book.

I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series, as well as Stephen Clarke's non-fiction title: Talk to the Snail: The Ten Commandments for Understanding the French.



 Merde Happens Talk to the Snail: Ten Commandments for Understanding the French