Time to Catch Up - Adult Reviews

I traveled to San Diego over Thanksgiving break which afforded me plenty of time to read. Twelve hours in an airplane and a little bit of insomnia work wonders when you have a list of books to get through.

The Crowd Sounds Happy by Nicholas Dawidoff is a memoir. We learn early on that Dawidoff's father suffers from mental illness and his mother leaves with the kids, settling in New Haven. Despite not having access to TV or a daily newspaper (limited money meant cutting corners where they could); Dawidoff develops a love for baseball, in particular the Boston Red Sox. This isn't a quick read but if you know someone who grew up with a transistor radio under their pillow, it may be a worthwhile purchase.

Speed Shrinking by Susan Shapiro would qualify as chick lit. Julia, an expert on sugar cravings, is left to fend for herself as her best friend moves away, her husband goes out to California to pursue an acting job and her long-time shrink relocates to Arizona. Is it great literature. Nope but I will say it brings up some interesting issues about food (not to mention the mental health profession).