No glory holes in this book. 

Alice Clayton wrote one of the best-worst chic lit books that I've read in a long time.

And by worst I mean there is stuff in there that made me blush in a way that I hadn't since the 50 Shades series.

I feel like this book is The Bachelor meets San Francisco meets delusion. I don't know. I've lived in an apartment complex for a while now, and I haven't heard any wall banging (unless someone is literally drilling a hole to hang up a picture) and I haven't seen any hotties roaming the halls.

Maybe I should move.

Back to the book. There's the main character, Caroline, who moves into this amazing apartment courtesy of her boss. She's in the midst of getting unpacked and settled and ready for bed on her first night there, when she finds herself in an impromptu late night fight with her neighbour, who is a little busy and therefore blissfully unaware that an altercation is taking place at all. Of course there's moaning. Of course there's a wall involved. And banging. Hence the name of the book.

She realizes that the culprit is a hottie mctottie who is wall-banging not one, but three different women folk, all of different shapes and sizes (well done, Alice).

Of course they meet and of course they have a Harry Met Sally Met Ross and Rachel type of introduction. They are oh so witty and oh so hot for eachother. So, naturally, they remain friends, but there's lots of slipping of the Freud. Through this friendship courting, they learn a lot about each other and realize there are things that they like (i.e. she bakes him bread and he protects her after a night of watching scary movies). They end up falling in love and decide to try and make the jump from neighbour to friends to more than friends. He decides he doesn't want to have sister wives anymore (okay, he never did) and she decides that she can tame this bad boy. And of course, as is the case in real life (insert eye roll here), she totally changes his need to be with multiple women.

Despite all the cliches ... in all honesty, I was jealous of this made up story with this made up friendship turned hot and heavy romance. I was 50 Shades of green with envy. If you have a weekend to spare, read the book. It's quite cute and the banter in it is actually very easy to read and very witty.

And, Caroline's cat is named Clive, for God's sake. Also, did you check out that cover? Not that one should EVER judge a book by it's cover, but, um ... damn.

Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock by Sammy Hagar

This autobiography is an easy read, written very clearly in a rock and roll, no-nonsense voice. Hagar takes you on his Journey from his boyhood, early bands, Montrose, Van Halen, Chickenfoot and of course, his large body of work as a solo artist.

In addition to music, you learn of his business ventures, most notably his incredible success in the Tequila business and how he changed the landscape of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

I really enjoyed this book a lot, but I have to say, I've always been a big Sammy Hagar fan. I know most of his music, liked him way better that David Lee Roth as the lead singer of Van Halen and in general, think his work ethic was always pretty admirable.

If you are into rock music and have been a fan, even a little, of Hagar, you will enjoy the book. I read half the book on a flight from Boston to Chicago and the other half on the way back - it fly's by (pun intended, roll with it). There's a love story, maybe even two, rock and roll lifestyles, love gone bad, mental illness, business and finance, record industry tell all and music all wrapped up in a concise yet complete story of what I always considered an underrated and undervalued journeyman in the industry.

Bruce - Peter Ames Carlin

I am a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen so it was with great anticipation that I delved into this biography. This is not a quick nor an easy read and to those who aren't big fans of his, it may not even be considered a good read. For the most part, I really liked the book. The start was a bit confusing as it dug really deep into some of Bruce's family life that seemed at the time to be a mistake on the part of the editor. By the end of the book, I'm still not 100% convinced that it couldn't have been edited a bit tighter but it did add to the storyline that is the complexity of who Bruce Springsteen is.

I think my deepest criticism of this book is that it tried to be two separate things, a biography of Bruce Springsteen and an accounting of his music career. I know that it might seem okay since this is a biography of a musician but really, they are two very separate stories and really should have taken place in two volumes.

As a big fan, it was hard to read about the guy (Bruce) who really wasn't all that good to his love interests, who was often a bit difficult to his friends, and seemed on occasion to be a real pain in the ass. However, somewhere along the way, the obvious hit me. Bruce Springsteen, like all superstars that we idolize and look up to, is a human being. Another sparkling revelation, I know.

Another criticism of this book - The author really got exhaustive about the details of the music and the process behind it. To a point, it was necessary in many cases to further the biography but there came a point where pretty late in the book he wasn't far enough into the career and it seemed the later part of the career didn't get the due amount of space; and I don't just mean physical space but where the book seems to drag through the first 25-30 years of his career, the last 10-15 seem to just be thrown in there in some abridged form.

I think the book has a lot of really interesting information and as a fan, I'm happy to have read it. There are certainly enough Bruce and music fans that will likely make this book a success but I can't help wishing it were done differently.

by Chris Daniele

Favorite Books of 2012

Whoa!  It's been awhile since I posted here!  Blogger sure has changed!  Anyway, thought I'd share my favorite books of 2012!

Last year I started reading like a maniac again.  I took my son to get his library card last Spring and we've gone to the library every 2-3 weeks since!  It was so wonderful to read again - I hadn't really read anything of substance since before he was born.

Some of my favorites were:

The Hunger Games - I read all three in about a week and a half and they blew me away.  And, of course, the movie pales in comparison

Under the Dome - Stephen King really knows how to freak a girl out with real people.  This book shows how a small town reacts when something bad happens to them.  It's crazy.  And good. And scary.  A perfect SK.

11/22/63 - another SK.  This one is about time travel, which is a total mind fuck for me.  I simultaneously love and hate time travel plot lines.  He does a good job with this one, though...even though I kind of saw the ending coming (the whole time-space continuum thing).

The Descendants - Just a beautiful book - funny, sad, heartwarming, poignant.  I just watched the movie last night - since it had been awhile since I read the book, I was pretty happy with the movie adaptation.  Plus, George Clooney wins for me in anything.

Two Kisses for Maddy - this one is by a fellow blogger, Matt Logelin.  Those of you not familiar with Matt and Maddy's story, go take a look at his site.  He has a few quick links to give you background.  I came across Matt's blog right after I found out I was pregnant with my son and right after Matt lost Liz, so I kind of followed him from the beginning of his journey.  The book was a perfect addition to his blog. Warning: have tissues ready.  And if you're offended by the word "fuck" then you may not want to read (or any of the books I'm suggesting, really).

Let's Pretend This Never Happened - Blogger Bloggess writes a hilarious book.  I think I peed my pants twice while reading this book. (see above warning regarding the word "fuck")

A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night - The first two books in a trilogy by Deborah Harkness.  Alone, Discovery of Witches was rough for me - until the vampire came into the picture.  The sequel, Shadow of Night, was awesome (more time travel into the 1500's, one my favorite time periods!).  I'm looking forward to the third book.

And, my most favorite book I read last year:

The Night Circus - Have you ever read a book that you were afraid to put down because you were afraid you were going to miss something?  That's how Erin Morgenstern's debut novel was for me.  It has mixed review on Goodreads, but I absolutely loved it.  I recommended it to pretty much everyone I know who loves to read and I even bought it as gifts for my besties for their birthdays.  In fact, I just went out and bought a copy for myself so I could reread it again.  That's how amazing it was - I'll reread it less than a year after reading it for the first time!  Seriously, though, it was magical.  Truly magical.

What was your favorite book you read last year?

Sons of the Pope

My good friend Dan O'Connor's novel Sons of the Pope is out this week (Kindle version available now, physical version ships 12/12).

I just finished the book today and it's really terrific, I am not just saying that because I've know Dan of more than 35 years, it's the truth. Brief review below:

"In Brooklyn, before the murders, before the miracle, before the 1940s were gone forever, there was a tree. If only they let that tree alone. If that sycamore tree had been allowed to stand, then maybe Biaggio Falcone never would have been the head of the Campigotto crime family. Perhaps little Joey Salerno would not have been born like that. Joey's father, Sal-just home from World War II-probably would never have gotten involved with the New York underworld, and his wife Mary wouldn't have to spend her entire life caring for an eternal child. There may have been no reason, four decades later, for that desperate pilgrimage to Lourdes, France. No need for Pearl Gholston to venture across those tracks, or for anyone to call upon the one known only as The Diabolist. Experience the richness of a story that spans half a century. Love and hatred. Devotion and betrayal. Murder and miracles. If only they let that tree alone."

While some may see the obvious market for this book is the Sopranos  Godfather, and other mob stories type audience. True enough, if that genre appeals to you, this book is a must read but there is more depth to this novel (and some of those other titles/shows/movies). The imagery is vivid and describes a time and place I have familiarity with and it does so with amazing clarity. The characters are well developed and often surprise the reader both with the level of emotional involvement you have with them and by the things they do.

Most interesting is the role of the popular music of the time to weave the story lines, personalities and time frame. O'Connor has proven that story telling in the modern age of hyped up trilogies and over thought, over produced, over sold run of the mill can still come from the heart. I'm certain you will find something special about this book and I for one, can't wait until his next book.

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A Little History of Philosophy by Nigel Warburton

As a student I find, if I attempt to access them, my resources are almost infinite! I have a school library that has too many books to count in. Yet I only read something if it truly interests me.

I have had no prior philosophical education (apart from indenting the first few pages of the works of Plato, and failing on an epic proportion!) So I decided to pick up this introduction and have a very brief flirtation with philosophy. Let me state this book is very accessible but one must be willing to devote time and mental energy or else be willing to give up in the tedious sections. 

It represents the best philosophies and their theories; it is very useful for reference as it is in chronological order from Socrates to Singer. Each philosopher has more or less a chapter with the exception of Kant and a few others claiming more. The ending chapter is devoted to Peter Singer, as a vegetarian I found this particularly interesting as it tells us of animal rights. 

Selling complex ideas to the learned public is a hard job, and despite not doing it with the sexiness of Brain Cox it manages to fit it all in there.

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