Mini-Reviews :: Playing Catch Up

Bernice Bobs Her Hair by F. Scott Fitzgerald: 

This short story story by Fitzgerald was originally published in the may 1920 issue of the Saturday Evening Post.  It’s about a young woman (Bernice) who goes to visit her more popular cousin, Marjorie, for a month in the summer. Marjorie is so put out by having to bring her (dorkier) cousin everywhere that she complains to her mother, which Bernice hears (and is incredibly hurt). Marjorie agrees to help Bernice become “cooler,” but when Bernice becomes too cool, what Marjorie does is malevolent. This story, however, is incredibly satisfying and is about as long as a (longish) Vanity Fair article. Read it remembering what time period it was written in and you’ll understand (and love it) all the more!

The Inn at Lake Devine by Elinor Lipman: 

Natalie Marx – an outspoken, smart, Jewish girl who finds out about a summer family camp that doesn’t allow Jews. She finagles an invitation from a friend and the rest of the book is her relationship to the camp and the family that owns it (that’s all I can say without giving more away).  Truly worth reading (especially if you’re already a Lipman fan, which I very much am – see below).

Lipman is one of my favorite authors. She’s got such a way with words and creating characters (I don’t know if she has anything to do with who reads her books for the audio versions, but each one I’ve listened to has been done to perfection), and this is classic Lipman… smart, funny and insightful. The characters are fleshed out, and the story original. Lipman doesn’t ever hold back on the bad parts of life, but she also gives us humor and great pacing.

Correspondence: An Adventure in Letters by N. John Hall: 

This is an incredibly informative epistolary novel. It’s basically a good course on the major Victorian authors. It’s pretty dry, and I recommend it only for those who love this period of literature — you will learn a lot about your beloved authors and some of their works. At times, it can be like reading lecture notes (though in letter form), yet creative ones. I loved the information, but the story was seriously lacking and the Stephen character was so rude, I honestly couldn’t understand why we were supposed to be attached to him at all.