I'm Thinking About a Book...

Today, the Very Short List featured this book: American Adulterer by Jed Mercurio. Here's what VSL has to say in its write-up:

"John F. Kennedy reportedly once remarked that if he didn't 'have a woman' for three days, he'd suffer terrible headaches. In the mesmerizing new novel American Adulterer... those insatiable urges have inspired a fascinating—if fictionalized—profile of our 35th president.

"Mercurio adopts a clinical tone—referring to the president throughout as 'the subject'—painstakingly detailing Kennedy's chronic back pain and stomach ailments alongside his almost pathological philandering. But the book never descends into the sordid; in fact, what emerges is a poignant and empathetic portrait of a hero with a particular tragic flaw. Marilyn, Frank, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and Kennedy's feelings about his country and children are all accounted for. But, considering its detached tone, the novel surprises in being both darkly funny and incredibly moving—particularly when it comes to the first lady, the only woman, among the (very) many, who can lay claim to the president's heart."

I'm thinking that this is something that might be right up my ally because I loved (loved, loved, loved) American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld, which was a fictionalized account of the life of Laura Bush (and by association of marriage, some related presidents and former presidents and first ladies). Also, I recently read and loved (loved, loved) Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield which has a chapter dedicated to Jackie O. (nee Bouvier, nee Kennedy) about her life immediately after JFK's death that was really interesting and made me want to read some more about her life.

But, that's the rub. I think I liked American President so much because I'm an adult in the Bush era, but I was born well after Kennedy died, and (frankly) don't know very much about him as a person. Will that affect my reading of American Adulterer? Will that be a negative effect or postive effect? Should I try it anyway?

Please share your thoughts on my reading-related dilemma in the comments.

More Press for Murnighan

I posted a couple of weeks ago about this book, Beowulf on the Beach by Jack Murnighan, because I'm participating in the Books on the Nightstand's summer reading challenge.

Since then I've picked up the book and read the sections on the Old and New Testament of the Bible--to give a frame of reference because those happen to be "books" that I've read many, many times for personal reasons, and I wanted to get his take on them.

He definitely is irreverent and sees literature as something that should touch all parts of the body. It was a good exercise, after having read the introduction, because it allowed me to see that, although he and I may approach the same piece of literature differently because we're coming to the literature for different reasons, every piece of literature can be approached. Nothing is too esoteric. That being said, I read his chapter on Middlemarch (my first summer reading book), and I'm looking forward to diving into that book with a feminist's eye.

So, color me surprised when I saw that his book was featured on The Very Short List yesterday. I think they sum it up well when they say, "Many of Murnighan’s conclusions are off-base (see, for instance, his chapter on Balzac’s Père Goriot). But as with the collected writings of Pauline Kael, disagreeing with the critic can be more fun than turning to the work itself."

I think I'm going to enjoy my reading, reviewing, thinking, and disagreeing this summer. Thanks, Professor Murnighan, and congratulations on the press coverage (VSL is a big deal).

Books Coming Out Of My Ears

I probably just need to stop reading emails and looking at my Page-a-Day Calendar because I'm getting way too many recommendations for great books. Like this one: Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Dooland and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion, and Jewelry by Leanne Shapton. Check out what Very Short List wrote about it:

"Important Artifacts . . . from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris may look like an everyday auction catalog. But the auction itself is a literary conceit: What this book-type object really does is show us the trajectory of a failed four-year relationship — by showing us the physical detritus that two (fictional) lovers leave in their wake.

"Conceived and executed by the director of the New York Times Op-Ed page, Leanne Shapton, the story concerns Lenore Doolan (a food writer for the Times) and Hal Morris (a photographer). Doolan appears to have been a clever and adoring girlfriend, who showered the often-absent Morris with confetti-packed envelopes (LOT 1126) and lavender pajamas (LOT 1061). Morris, who had commitment issues and a drinking problem, expressed himself via mixtapes (LOTS 1276 and 1044). What finally drove them apart? Each of the 331 lots provides another piece of the puzzle. Yes, breaking up is hard to do, but reading about it has never been so pleasurable."

Doesn't that sound like a fantastic premise? Looking at the "pieces of a relationship" that are left behind. Plus, judging the book based on the VSL summary, it sounds like I'll be in for good snarky reading with this one. Yeah!

They Said It

Have you ever read this book? (Looking for Alaska by John Green)

If so, and if you're like Pudge who likes to remember famous last words, then you'll like this book, The Book of Dead Philosophers, which has the last words of famous dead people.

This recommendation was brought to you by Very Short List.