You know that scene from the Oscars last night? The one where La La Land won, then didn’t win? Well that could have come straight from a Maria Semple novel. The craziness, the cringing, the idea of what NEVER could, NEVER should happen, but then does. That was all very reminiscent of Maria Semple and two of the most entertaining books I have read in the past few years, “Where’d you Go, Bernadette” and her latest novel “Today will be Different”.

“Where’d you Go, Bernadette” was a sleeper. One of those strange novels almost impossible to pigeon hole and with a quirkiness that makes its success so unpredictable and therefore so much more fun.

But while in “Where’d you Go, Bernadette”, one had the feeling that Maria Semple wasn’t quite sure how “different”, quirky and edgy she could allow her main character to be, in “Today will be Different” it is obvious that the success of Bernadette has emboldened her to go all in with her new protagonist Eleanor Flood.

The novel takes place during one “out of control” day in the life of Eleanor Flood, a former (“has been”) tv writer trying to come to terms with a marooned career in a status obsessed world; her son Timby who attends an equally status obsessed Seattle private school and who owes his name to the auto correct function of his mother’s smartphone; and Joe, her hand surgeon husband who seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth.

Into the roller coaster ride of Eleanor’s day Maria Semple inserts Eleanor’s memories of the past, in particular her relationship with her sister Ivy whose life in the exaggerated southern elite culture of New Orleans adds spice as well as bewilderment to the more shaken than stirred cocktail Ms Semple offers up.

“Today will be Different” is a wonderfully funny and satirical, yet at times quite moving and serious novel that will please fans of "Bernadette" and I am sure initiate new members into the Maria Semple fan club.

Janet Maslin of The New York Times put it perfectly when she wrote in her review that “Maria Semple’s Today will be Different serves up screwball with Soul.” Happy Reading!

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Book of the Week - Girl Up by Laura Bates, reviewed by Natalie Kelly-Haigh (one of our young readers). Thanks Natalie for a strong review!

"Girl Up is like a combination of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Chicken Soup for the Soul, except not for the faint hearted.

Girl Up is a perfect, well researched and honest book. It states the facts, mocks the ridiculousness of gender inequality, and unapologetically gives the happiness and confidence that in today’s world, too many teenage girls need. Girl Up made me feel so welcome and at home, reminding me how proud I am to be a feminist.

Girl Up can be enjoyed by everyone, especially feminists who will love the articulate humour and easy relation to the author’s words. It is a needed and comforting voice that should be heard by everyone.

This book is a masterpiece by Laura Bates, who is one of the only people capable of elegantly displaying dancing vaginas, swearing and patriarchy busting. The book is so funny and many times I found myself in hysterics while reading. Laura Bates harnessed the ability to mix humour and seriousness together, in a page turning and delightful book.

Girl Up is a necessary and solid book, filled with stories from girls, experiments from children, real-life facts and Laura Bates’ mature and strong words. Laura Bates managed to juice the simple and important things to do with gender equality, pouring them into pages.

I am still amazed by the book, for it has had a real impact on me, despite how much I felt the same way towards gender equality before reading it. Girl Up is a special and unique book, designed for special and unique people. Plenty are, but I can guarantee that they will be even more so after they read Girl Up."

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When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, reviewed by Alison Walker (of the Books & Company Book Club).

Paul Kalanithi was a 36 year old neurosurgeon on the verge of attaining everything he had worked so hard for over the last ten years, when he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. He decided to write "When Breath Becomes Air" as a two-part memoir. The first part chronicles his life from childhood, through university, medical school and his neurosurgical training, while in the second part he bravely recounts his quest to come to terms with his mortality.

"When Breath Becomes Air" is a fascinating book. Paul was academically a very high achiever and it is interesting to read that he was determined not to become a doctor like his father. He said he knew medicine only by it's absence, because of the long hours his father worked, so instead he initially pursued studies in English literature and human biology. He became interested in the brain because it enabled us to give meaning to our lives, but he never lost his love of literature and in the second part of the book he often returns to literature to help him make sense of his diagnosis and the thought of death.

Paul is an engaging writer and tells many interesting stories about his life as a surgeon, but it is the second part of the book that will remain with me for a long time. Yes, his diagnosis was extremely tragic, but I liked reading about how he coped with becoming the doctor instead of the patient, how he faced his new reality head on, and how he and his wife decided whether or not to start a family during his treatment. Despite the subject matter, it is not a book that is without hope and it is one that I am very glad I took the time to read.

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Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers, reviewed by Sofia (age 9).

What better way to celebrate the back to school month of August than by welcoming our new book reviewer Sofia (age 9)….and what better book to start with than Mary Poppins by P.L.Travers.

“I have read many wonderful books in my lifetime, but none were as interesting as the one I just finished. Mary Poppins by P.L.Travers is a great read. It connected to the Disney film, but it was also very different. Mary Poppins was very strict in the book. After the film was made, many people said that Walt Disney made Mary too sweet. I would agree if I had not watched the film first. When someone says Mary Poppins, I automatically think the sweet Mary Poppins from the film.

P.L. Travers had Jane and Michael as characters but in the book there was also John and Barbara, the younger Banks twins. Mr. Banks was mean, and did not often appear in the book.
The magic in the book was breathe taking. Every chapter took you through a different course of Magic. My favorite chapter was Miss Corry. It was baking magic (and I love love to bake). There was star hanging, sugar cane fingers, and much more. I truly love this book. Go to your neighborhood bookstore, Books and Company and read it yourself.”

Thanks for the lovely review Sofia!

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