Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Truth & Beauty

Recently I fisnished reading Truth & Beauty by Ann Patchett. This book is one of the best I've read in a long time and I'll tell you why.
For one, it's a story about friendship. It's about two writers who meet back in college, go on to be roommates in grad school, work together, and become the closest of friends, experiencing life, love, illness, etc. together throughout their lives. I was first told about this book by another blogger actually, and was excited to read it, as I had heard such great things about it from her.
Lucy Grealy is the main character in the book, a woman who died before the book was published (I'm not giving away anything, dont flip!). Lucy has a rare form of jaw cancer, and because of such had surgery after surgery through her youth and adult life, and Ann was by her side through all of this. The author adds in little excerpts of letters that were written to her from Lucy over the course of their friendship, and I found this to be a really sweet touch.

I'd say this book is probably more geared towards women. Not than men wouldn't enjoy it, and it's not a "chick lit" type thing either. I think it would be like if I wrote about my friendship with my roommate. How we met in college, that night we drank a bottle of gin and then hid in a coat room at a cocktail party. How I go to family bbq's at her house, how she borrowed my black camisole when we went out for martinis on Wednesday night, and how we stay up for hours talking about men with good heads of hair. Sure, some men might like to read bits of it, but I'd suspect that it's just generally a more woman type thing. But frankly, what do I know? The book just struck me more as something a woman would enjoy. That's all I'm sayin.

Anyway, I really enjoyed this book. So much so, that I then sought out a book by Lucy Grealy, Autobiography of a Face, which she wrote about her struggle with cancer. I havent started that one yet, but I'll be back to report in on that at a later date!

If you're looking for a quick, equally funny and bittersweet read this is a good go to.
**I had this all spaced out nicely, but apparently blogger (my old friend!), isn't cooperating.**

9 comments:

Airam said...

Ha! I love how you put in your first paragraph "and I'll tell you why." Too cute!

This book sounds really good. I'm all about friendship between women type books and especially memoirs. I'll need to keep a look out for this one.

I think I'm definitely going to need to put to use my library card. All these books are going to cost me a small fortune!

armalicious said...

I'm with Airam...but first I need to find my library card and probably pay some fines.

I also love your label.

Ok, about the book...this sounds like something I would absolutely love reading. I love hearing about other people's friendships and stuff. Thanks for telling us about this!

Pam said...

oh wow! Great review. I want to run out and get this book now.

Trish Ryan said...

What a great review! I've been feeling lost for three days now because I'm not in a book - thanks for breaking the funk :)

brandy said...

Wow! Sounds like a good book, and one that I will want to check out. And I know we are supposed to talk only of content, but can I jsut say, I think the cover is quite pretty?? Okay, I'm writing this one down. I have a need to read a tear jerker. Okay, I think "I have a need to read" is the geekiest statement I've ever shared.

Anonymous said...

I absolutely loved Bel Canto and saw this one at Chapters the other day

after reading your thoughts, it sounds right up my alley (at the moment anyway)

thanks!

C said...

Possibly is roughly the same genre (though fiction,) Good Harbor by Anita Diamant (author of The Red Tent) is a great read. :)

C said...

in, not is :-P

MRhé said...

I had to come check out your blog after your comment. Very cool idea! I'm a big reader and I like to write book reviews on my blog (I have a big backlog at the moment) so I will definitely be back!

Cheers,
MRhé

P.S. How close to Boston is Boston-ish?