# 38 - Killing Monsters - by Gerard Jones
#39 - Babyville - by Jane Green
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read (I started it two nights ago, and read most of it during downtime at rehersals), and kept me turning the pages past my bedtime. She follows three different women through various stages of parenthood, and I found her characterizations of the situations to be really spot-on, touching and funny. She touches on issues of whether or not a baby can "heal" a suffering romantic relationship, the decision women make between career and children, and the unadulterated hell that is the first few months with a new baby. ::grin:: (At least it was for me at times, and for lots of other women I know). One of the women in the book had an experience very much like my own, in that I stayed home with no help, no baby-sitter, no nearby grandparents, so I could especially identify with her character. And even though she talked about some serious stuff, it was all told in Green's typical light-hearted, ironic voice. A good book. (Library book)
#40 - Divine Sarah - Adam Braver
This is the first book I received as an advance copy from the HarperCollins "First Look" program; a novel about a week-long period in the life of actor Sarah Bernhardt. I enjoyed this book, and found myself turning pages even when I should have gotten up to do other things. I enjoyed the author's use of words - rich descriptions which caused the book to affect me at a visceral level at times. I did find myself feeling a bit deflated at the end, but I think this is to be expected because of the subject - it's a look at Bernhardt's life as she was contemplating the end of her youth and perhaps her career. Having grown up in Venice, CA, the setting was particularly of interest to me, as were the historical things added to the novelization. It makes me want to learn more about Bernhardt in her younger years. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Bernhardt, or who enjoys this sort of "historical" fiction. (Received as ARC; have BookCrossed)