February Reads

As you can see, I may have had a bit too much time on my hands this month.  There are times when I can go months without reading a whole book, but then are times when I can plow through 9 in a month (sometimes 2 in a 24 hour period.)  Obviously this was one of those months.

"Death Wears a Beauty Mask" by Mary Higgins Clark: If you're a fan of hers, then you'll probably not enjoy this one as much as her others.  The short story collection was started in the 70s and then she put it aside to write "Where are the Children?" Then last year she decided to compile the stories and publish them. The short stories are just so odd - nothing like what she usually writes.  One even has some weird little sci-fi twist. Strange and definitely not my favorite!

"Don't Dress for Dinner" and "Boeing, Boeing" by Marc Camoletti: I Loved both of these plays and plowed right through them.  So very funny!

"It's Only a Play" by Terrence McNally: I usually love everything Terrence McNally writes, but this one didn't really hold my attention.  It was funny and clever, but it didn't seem to go anywhere.  I'm sure I would have enjoyed it more had I seen it live.

"Someday, Someday Maybe" by Lauren Graham: My second favorite of the month.  I bought the book 2 years ago and for some reason had never read it.  I'm so glad I pulled it off the shelf. It worked perfectly for my current NYC addiction.  It's funny, and smart and such a sweet story.

"Goodbye to All That": I should have known a book about writers leaving NY would be fairly depressing, but for some reason I chose to ignore the nagging feeling.  The book wasn't all bad, but only a few authors really managed to get my attention.  Also, I know these are all true stories, but the happenstance lives of pretty much all of these authors, makes me wonder what the heck I'm doing wrong in my life that I can't just happen into a great apartment on the Upper West Side and a full blown book deal just by hoping for it.

"The Rise and Fall of a Theater Geek" by Seth Rudetsky: The real reason I'm sharing what I read this month.  I LOVE this book!  I have what you might call a long distance love affair with Seth Rudetsky, in that he doesn't know I exist and I want him to be my gay bestie.  More than any other book I've ever read, I can hear his voice in every page.  It's so funny, and sarcastic and different.  I finished it in less than 24 hours and then I pouted because it was over.  So good!

"Chinglish" by David Henry Hwang: I bought this play because I had seen a few clips online that made it look like something I might like.  I won't say it was terrible, but it's a terribly hard play to read since most is in Mandarin. I should have noticed that before purchasing I suppose.  Anyway, good but not great.