I'm not one to read new releases. Most of the time I don't have time or I don't like to wait for the book to be released; however, in the past two weeks I have read two new releases, The Engagements and The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story and I'm currently reading Sisterland. I'm definitely enjoying my summer deep in a book, so here are two book reviews since I've been slacking lately on the book reviews.
The Engagements
J. Courtney Sullivan
J.Courtney Sullivan is one of my favorite authors and her first two novels, Commencement and Maine I consider some of my favorite books. The Engagements, however, may be my favorite of the three. At my suggestion, my book club recently read Maine and much to my dismay did not like the book. Our meeting was the day The Engagements was released, so I in turn was quite hesitant to read the latest Sullivan work though. My gut reaction and previous excitement about her upcoming novel were right, I absolutely loved it!
The Engagements has an almost nonfiction feel to some of the segments since it is actually based on true facts about the diamond industry and the woman that created the slogan, "A Diamond Is Forever." The book opens with Francis, a writer at a large advertising firm in Philadelphia. From her point of view we see the historical value of the diamond ring throughout the course of more than five decades.
Intertwined with Francis' story are different perspectives of marriage from four couples. One couple is married following the untimely death of the wife's first husband, who just happens to be the second husband's best friend. Their story begins in the 1940s and the two believe that marriage does mean to death do us part, which is why they are having such a hard time understanding why their son is willing to leave his wife and family. The second couple is a struggling to get by in the late 1980s. The husband wants to prove himself to his wife and her family,who still after 10 years believe he is not worthy of her love. The third story follows a French woman who marries her business partner for comfort and companionship, only to leave him later for a much younger American. Finally, the last couple is not married but have been together for 10 years. They do not believe in the fuss surrounding a wedding and although they live and have a child together, they have no desire to ever wed.
Through these four couples, as well as the story of Frances, readers are taken through various aspects of marriage and what the diamond actually symbolizes and how it brings all four of these couples together in the end.
I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Sullivan's other books. It's a relatively quick read and I was sad when it ended.
The Engagements has an almost nonfiction feel to some of the segments since it is actually based on true facts about the diamond industry and the woman that created the slogan, "A Diamond Is Forever." The book opens with Francis, a writer at a large advertising firm in Philadelphia. From her point of view we see the historical value of the diamond ring throughout the course of more than five decades.
Intertwined with Francis' story are different perspectives of marriage from four couples. One couple is married following the untimely death of the wife's first husband, who just happens to be the second husband's best friend. Their story begins in the 1940s and the two believe that marriage does mean to death do us part, which is why they are having such a hard time understanding why their son is willing to leave his wife and family. The second couple is a struggling to get by in the late 1980s. The husband wants to prove himself to his wife and her family,who still after 10 years believe he is not worthy of her love. The third story follows a French woman who marries her business partner for comfort and companionship, only to leave him later for a much younger American. Finally, the last couple is not married but have been together for 10 years. They do not believe in the fuss surrounding a wedding and although they live and have a child together, they have no desire to ever wed.
Through these four couples, as well as the story of Frances, readers are taken through various aspects of marriage and what the diamond actually symbolizes and how it brings all four of these couples together in the end.
I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Sullivan's other books. It's a relatively quick read and I was sad when it ended.
The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story
Lily Koppel
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We all know I love anything about space...all because of that wonderful movie, Apollo 13. I read the book by the same title that the movie is based on a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Apollo 13 was hard to read at times with all the space jargon. The Astronaut Wives Club is a much easier read. It still explains the space race but not in as much detail and all from the perspective of the wives. After reading this book, I can actually say I learned much more about the initial start of the space program, the programs leading up to the famous moon walk and what happened to he astronauts and their families following. Upon entering the program, the astronauts were required to be married. The United States wanted to present the perfect picture of the American family. Gordo Cooper of the Original Seven recruited for the Gemini missions actually asked his estranged wife and children to give him another chance just so he could enter the program. NASA didn't offer much support throughout the time that the astronauts were employed by them to their wives and children. Many of the astronauts had "Cape Cookies" as the wives referred to them at Cape Kennedy and since most of their week was spent their in training while their families were in Houston it was seen as OK. I found it ironic then that by the end of the book out of the 40 some astronauts from the Gemini, Mercury and Apollo programs, only seven of the marriages survived. To me that is ridiculous and NASA should be ashamed that they played such a role in breaking up marriages and families. It was definitely a great read and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the space program!
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