Brenna
One sentence synopsis... The misadventures of 33-year old lawyer Andrea Tang as she navigates her family's wishes, cultural expectations, and her personal happiness.
Read it if you like... the diary style of 'Bridget Jones Diary' - fast, witty, hilarious. Set against the wealthy world of Singapore's elite, ‘Crazy Rich Asians' vibes. Contemporary Asian stories, like ‘Always Be My Maybe'.
Dream casting... Brenda Song could pull off the comic timing needed to play Andrea Tang.
One sentence synopsis... Told in alternating chapters, between a group of gay men in Chicago in the 1980s and a mother searching for her daughter in Paris in 2015, this books tells the story of the AIDS epidemic from the initial outbreak to present day. .
Read it if you liked... ‘The Normal Heart', ‘Dallas Buyers Club', or other thoughtful and heartbreaking chronicles of the AIDS crisis. Also, the series ‘Looking' for the complicated male friendships. .
Dream casting... Kate Hudson as the flighty but loyal mother Fiona. Jonathan Groff as Yale. Also, this would need to be a miniseries instead of a movie. Production companies take note. To make this layered, decade-crossing story a 2hr movie would be to rob it of so much depth.
One sentence synopsis... Casey is a struggling writer whose life is a series of deaths, tragedies, and grief... yet somehow every man she meets falls over his feet to ask her out. .
Read it if you like... navel gazing writers writing about wrought writing. The main character is like if “Girls” was only about Hannah being a self-centered, obnoxious artist but with Adam Driver as her boyfriend. .
Dream casting... the only person who could redeem Casey on film is the magnetic Merritt Wever. Matthew Gray Gubler as Silas, one third of the love triangle.
One sentence synopsis... After oil deposits were found under their land, several Osage Native Americans mysteriously started dying and the newly formed FBI took the case.
Read it if you like... real-life murder mysteries like ‘I'll Be Gone in the Dark' or ‘The Devil in the White City'. The true story is captivating but Grann's writing is more dry journalism than sensational storytelling.
Dream casting... Scorsese is adapting with De Niro (presumably as the mastermind behind the murders) and DiCaprio (as Agent White, the FBI investigator).
One sentence synopsis... Written in three parts (with each new part upending the “reality” of the former) this experimental novel examines forms of trust - between students and teachers, lovers, parents and children, but especially the delicate trust required for readers to suspend their disbelief and let an author take them through a story. .
Read it if you like... the first part of this book is reminiscent of a poor man's Sally Rooney (which we later realize has been written poorly on purpose) but the twist is for fans of books that make the readers a participant in the story (think ‘Ship of Theseus' by JJ Abrams). .
Dream casting... I pictured Peter Gallagher as the charismatic theatre teacher Mr. Kingsley/Robert Lord (apologies to Sandy Cohen).
One sentence synopsis... When the bride and groom get food poisoning at the wedding, the maid of honor and best man take their place for a week long, all-expenses-paid Hawaiian honeymoon.
Read it if you like... romantic comedies, the enemies-to-lovers trope, light beach reads.
Dream casting... Gina Rodriquez as unlucky Olive and Sebastian Stan as her sparring partner Ethan.
One sentence synopsis... A Japanese schoolgirl's diary washes ashore in Western Canada - thus begins an exploration of zen principles, biculturalism, suicide, fetish cafes, quantum mechanics, and ecological collapse... to name only a few of this book's many themes. .
Read it if you like... dark comedy, metafiction, or if you feel like dipping your toe into magical realism.
Dream casting... Aoi Okuyama (from Netflix's ‘Giri/Haji', which I also highly recommend) as the young, decisive, diarist Nao. Sandra Oh as Ruth, the writer who finds herself obsessed with the washed up diary.
One sentence synopsis... A suburban divorcée discovers new possibilities after her if-toxic-masculinity-were-a-person son leaves for college. .
Read it if you liked... I picked up ‘Mrs. Fletcher' because i just finished watching ‘The Leftovers' and wanted more Tom Perrotta... this is nothing like that. But it is great for fans of suburban stories with familiar characters and comic relief like ‘Goodbye Vitamin'. .
Dream casting... I saw the trailer for the HBO show before reading the book and therefore can not picture anyone but Kathryn Hahn as Eve Fletcher - and I wouldn't have it any other way.
One sentence synopsis... A literary whodunnit, set in a desolate Polish village, examining the line between sanity and madness, humans and animals. .
Read it if you like... deep readings of astrology, examining the poetry of William Blake, or truly strange, wacky ensembles of characters. .
Dream casting... Stellan Skarsgard as Oddball, a future older version of Renée Zellweger as Janina.
One sentence synopsis... A deep, detailed, and personal exploration of the twelve month long bombing campaign known as the Battle of Britain and Churchill's leadership throughout. .
Read it if you like... Larson's other books, ‘The Devil in the White City' and ‘In the Garden of Beasts' to name a few. He writes nonfiction history better than anyone, using only real documents and quotes to craft a cinematic story. It's refreshing to take a break from today's political mess and read about true leadership. .
Further reading... see next slide (this isn't even a comprehensive stack of all our Churchill books).
One sentence synopsis... Lovable loser Rob Fleming (Gordon in the movie and Brooks in the TV show) recounts his desert-island, all-time, top five most memorable heartbreaks - and predictably learns life lessons along the way. .
Read it if you like... Hornby has a knack for making not-so-standup guys likable (see his other novel's main characters in ‘About a Boy', ‘A Log Way Down', ‘Fever Pitch', ‘Slam', need I go on...) so if you're looking for a clever, charming, but irresponsible man child these books are for you. Always funny but also the same formula again and again. .
Dream casting... honestly the movie (staring John Cusack) and the new Hulu shoe (staring Zoe Kravitz) nailed it. This is the rare case of the film/show being better than the book. Mostly because they scrap the last few chapters which slog down the rest of the novel.
One sentence synopsis... What begins as a very ‘Black Mirror' premise- what if there was a DNA test that could find your perfect match- goes off the rails for five strangers. .
Read it if you like... page-turning, fun thrillers. I read it in one sitting thanks to the super short, character jumping chapters. The original premise is ‘Black Mirror' but the insane twists are straight out of ‘Riverdale'. .
Dream casting... The book was picked up and production was set to begin this summer... but since that's likely delayed I'll offer my casting advice to Netflix free of charge. John Boyega as Nick, a young man who just got engaged to the woman of his dreams.. but before they walk down the aisle his fiancé wants to get tested and confirm their Match. Shailene Woodley as Ellie, a workaholic who has push aside her emotions for years until her Match shows up. Jessica Barden as Jade, a young woman in crisis who travels across the globe to meet her Match.
One sentence synopsis... Barker's retelling of the Iliad imagines how the war would be remembered today if women's stories weren't marginalized, denied credibility, or wholly dismissed. .
Read it if you liked... historical reimaginings like Madeline Miller's ‘Circe' or ‘Song of Achilles'.
Dream casting... Rose Byrne played the role of Briseis (this novel's protagonist) in the 2004 ‘Troy' but for this story's version of her I'd pick someone younger like Eliza Scanlen.
One sentence synopsis... Private investigator and well-intentioned hippie, ‘Doc' Sportello, cruises through LA amidst a creeping fog of paranoia... and marijuana. .
Read it if you like... the preeminent atoned mystery, ‘The Big Lebowski'. Pynchon has a lot more to say about capitalism and inequality, but both stories are full of likable weirdos. .
Dream casting... watched the PTA movie version post-reading and probably enjoyed it more than the book. The movie trims a lot of the fat, including a rather exasperating detour to Vegas I was thankful got cut.
One sentence synopsis... England 1930-50: writer Anna Wulf attempts to record and compartmentalize her life in four contradicting and overlapping notebooks. .
Read it if you like... there's really something for everyone in here but the main themes of interest are the disillusionment with communism, women's liberation, and mental illness. If you're a fan of unreliable narrators this is one of the best. .
Dream casting... due to the nature of the novel - experimental, reflective of the narrator's inner turmoil and eventual mental breakdown - I don't think this could be adapted in a show/film... that being said Winona Ryder would crush it.
One sentence synopsis... The sentimental, superficial story of a precious diamond, a gifted German boy, and a blind French girl caught in the violence of WWII. .
Read it if you like... formulaic bookclub bait. It's not poorly written or excruciatingly boring but it is bland. The two main characters are both deeply (tediously) sympathetic, the villain is a caricature, everything is so closely plotted that it's impossible to not see the author's work. .
Further reading... any of the other book-by-numbers, light, enjoyable but violently meh bookclub favs, ie. ‘The Help', ‘The Kite Runner', or for another WWII one ‘The Nightingale'.
One sentence synopsis... Part memoir, part guidebook this is a page-turning compilation of stories and tips from the mind of one of the most humorous, intelligent writers in American history. .
Read it if you like... learning about the lives of great artists. Looking behind the curtain to get an idea of how much hard work actually went into producing such classics as ‘Slaughterhouse Five' and ‘Breakfast of Champions'. .
Further reading... this book is full of great behind the scene stories about the writing process behind all of Kurt's novels and short stories. The next dozen book reviews will probably be all Vonnegut.
One sentence synopsis... A old man looks back and reflects upon his ultimately tragic affair with the wife of his mentor. .
Read it if you like... quick reads (it's more of a novella). If you enjoy psychology, sociology-historical references and philosophy packed into fiction. Or if you want something reminiscent of Fitzgerald. .
Dream casting... Hugh Laurie as the crotchety quantum physics professor/genius Dr. Maartens. Florence Pugh as his much younger, “Valkyrie-beauty” wife. Adam Driver as John Rivers the sheltered landscape assistant who ingratiates himself with their family.
One sentence synopsis... In this sensitive and witty memoir, a playwright weaves together the threads of his life - growing up in a Syrian Jewish family, his life as a gay man, facing challenges in graduate school - which led him to creating his art.
Read it if you like... vulnerable, powerful memoirs, like ‘Abandon Me' by Melissa Febos. Coming-of-age stories that tackle the theme of identity with self-awareness and humor, like ‘It's Kind of a Funny Story' by Ned Vizzini. If you've ever found yourself playing musical theatre soundtracks on repeat (there's a particularly hilarious description of the emotions elicited when Adjmi watches Sweeney Todd for the first time) then this memoir is for you.
Dream casting... I would totally watch a semi-autobiographical comedy-drama (think ‘Ramy' tone) with a young Wentworth Miller in the lead role.
One sentence synopsis... An insightful, energetic, and thorough dissection of 43 of the greatest (sometimes shocking) poems in Western history. .
Read it if you liked... Anyone from Shakespeare to Joni Mitchell. Paglia has a knack for making high art relatable to modern readers. .
Further reading... This book is the gateway drug to all kinds of other poetry. Highly recommend.
One sentence synopsis... A hilarious story about a rich Connecticut divorcée, her undergraduate daughter, and the man-child novelist who seduces them both.
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Read it if you liked... the movie ‘A Bigger Splash' or other stories of horrible people doing questionable things in beautiful settings.
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Dream casting... Dev Patel as Professor Zahid, Bel Powley as student Rachel Klein, and Julianne Moore as her mother, Becca.
One sentence synopsis... Cultural critic Mithu Sanyal leads the reader through the history of rape - exploring changing ideas about violence, boundaries, and consent. .
Read it if you like... history. This book offers a really remarkably consistent understanding of sexual violence throughout history, regardless of the larger political and social changes. .
Further reading... Stephen Donaldson's writing or Roxanne Gay's writing, particularly ‘Not That Bad'. Neither are easy reads but both are worth it.
One sentence synopsis... A familiar set-up - charismatic leader assembled a gang of misfits to pull off a heist against impossible odds - well executed, closely plotted, and snappily written. .
Read it if you like... ‘Ocean's Eleven''s crew of exceptional criminals, meets ‘Avengers' unlikely groupings and humor, plus Brandon Sanderson's ‘Mistborn' series sprinkling of fantasy. .
Dream casting... Bill Skarsgård as criminal mastermind Kaz Brekker, Barbie Ferreira as the resourceful Nina Zenik, and Alfred Enoch as sharpshooter Jesper Fahey.
One sentence synopsis... The obsessions and rivalries of two friends growing up in post-war Naples as they mature from violent, underprivileged children to competitive adolescents. .
Read it if you liked... Little Women or other immersive epics of female relationships gleaned from the most destitute of circumstances. .
Dream casting... HBO already did a great job casting it. No notes.
One sentence synopsis... This book follows two half-sisters separated from birth in 18th century Ghana, alternating each chapter to tell the story of a different descendant of each sister. .
Read it If you like... short stories. Despite continuing themes of colonialism and slavery, read all together they felt like a collection of short stories rather than a wholly realized plot. Still enjoyable but about halfway through the stories lose their momentum and become a series of emotionally distressing vingnettes. .
Further reading... for a better version of the many-alternating-narrators book: try ‘There, There'. For a better version of the American-racism-shaping-families: try ‘An American Marriage'. For a better version of family-followed-across-generations: try ‘Pachinko'. It's not that ‘Homegoing' is bad, it's just not as good as other books about the same ideas.