A difficult woman

Brian Morton's new novel Florence Gordon, is a portrait of a difficult woman. Florence is blunt, unafraid, and brilliant. A lifelong New Yorker, she is a writer, mostly essays and feminist thought. She was involved in the feminist movement and now, in her seventies she is writing her memoir. An article on the front page of the New York Times Book section praises her and she goes from being a minor writer to an icon of the feminist movement to celebrity. Morton also explores, with multiple points of view, relationships with her son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter and how things change between them after the article comes out. The novel never stoops to false sentimentality. The dialog and inner thoughts of the characters are witty and honest. I loved this book. ML

Younger

Who doesn't want to look younger these days?  If you're looking for radiant skin be sure to check out Harold Lancer's book Younger: The Breakthrough Anti-Aging Method for Radiant Skin.  Dr. Lancer is a Fellow of the american Academy of Dermatology and his book is full of great advice, especially helpful if you have Rosacea, acne prone or sensitive skin.  Tips include brand names for cleansers and moisturizers, natural active ingredient recommendations and diet and exercise tips. SG

A Life Well-Lived

A Simple Life is a spare and gorgeously filmed movie that explores the end of life and who we consider to be our "family" when it really comes down to it. Maid Ah Tao has served a single household for four generations, culminating with the last bachelor son, Roger.  After suffering a stroke, Ah Tao decides to retire to an assisted-living facility where she comes to terms with her own mortality and where she and Roger begin to realize that their bond goes much deeper than as merely servant and employer.  HM

Read, Repeat

Still Alice by Lisa Genova is another World Book Night (WBN) selection for book givers.  I’m trying to work my way through the entire 30 title list from WBN as they all look like great titles.  I’ve actually read quite a few on the list and after I got half way through Still Alice I realized I had in fact read it already, probably when it was first published in 2007.  It’s the 2008 winner of the Bronte Prize and was a New York Times bestseller so you know it’s going to be a good read and I fully enjoyed it the second time around.  It’s the story of Alice, a fifty-something Harvard psychology professor, who develops early onset Alzheimer’s disease.  As the disease progresses you see how it affects her life and touches her friends and family.  What could be a sad and depressing book is actually very compelling and moving.  This would make an excellent book discussion selection and it certainly gives you a lot to think about. SG