1. Committed

A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage
by Elizabeth Gilbert

With her last book, Eat, Pray, Love, being such a huge bestseller, I was expecting this one to be a letdown.  Normally, follow ups to books like that are extremely disappointing, with the author usually trying to replicate the formula that made them such a success.  Not the case here. Committed is a wonderful read that picks up Gilbert's story with her boyfriend "Felipe" - kind of.

Having settled into a comfortable life together in the States, the couple is soon faced with a threat to their relationship.  "Felipe" (Gilbert chooses not to reveal his real name) is an Australian citizen and must leave the country periodically to maintain  his temporary visa.  In the beginning, this works out well for the couple because as a gemstone trader, Felipe's work takes him all around the world.  So he is able to time his business trips to coincide with the expiration of his 90 day visa.  However, in this post-9/11 America, all that perfect timing and stamps on his passport soon draw attention from the Department of Homeland Security.  Felipe is arrested and returned to Australia and it becomes apparent that the only way that he can come back to the US is as Gilbert's husband.

This sounds simple to most folks, but these folks are both veterans of really bad divorces and had already decided that they didn't need (or want) the institution of marriage in their relationship. But now there is no way around it. While they waited for the bureaucracy of the governments involved to ready the necessary paperwork, the couple travel for several months in Southeast Asia. And Gilbert did what any journalist would do - she used the time to study up on the institution of marriage.

Part memoir, part history, part sociological study,  Committed is the journey that Gilbert went on as she made peace with her impending appearance at the altar. It blends effortlessly, the history & evolution of marriage as well as the evolution of Gilbert's relationship as they live through the uncertainty of their future while coming to terms with it.

Closing Out 2009

As you can see from the lack of activity on my blog, December pretty much shuts me down!  Work is so crazy during that time that I come home exhausted from running around a two story bookstore the size of a small department store.  When I get home I just veg out and watch tv.

So here's the last of what I read in 2009:

56. More by Austin Clarke


Austin Clarke is a Canadian author of Caribbean descent who received acclaim for his book, The Polished Hoe (which I haven't read). In More, Clarke weaves a tale about Idora Morrision a Caribbean immigrant living in Canada who receives the news that her son BJ may be involved in gang activity. Abandoned years before by her husband who went to America to find work, Idora has had to raise BJ alone in a land foreign to her. The book takes place over the course of 5 days as Idora sort of has a breakdown and doesn't leave her apartment. During that time she reflects on her life in Canada and the circumstances that brought her and BJ to this point. The entire book sort of takes place in her head and is written to well, that at times I questioned whether I was even smart enough to be reading this. It was beautiful, though, but the ending left me scratching my head. If you read it let me know what you think happened.

57. Autobiography of a Wardrobe: A Memoir by Elizabeth Kendall


Told in the voice of the author's wardrobe (which really annoyed me), this book is exactly what the title promises.  Beginning with the author's (who her wardrobe refers to as "B") childhood in the Midwest, this book follows the wardrobe's evolution to Harvard, New York, the Bay area and Europe. While I didn't love this book (mainly because I didn't care for B), what it does brilliantly is showcase B.'s insecurities & awkwardness through her clothing choices. She moved to different locations throughout her life and adjusted her clothing to her environment, rather than discovering what she really liked to wear and what clothes resonated for her. Her lack of a fashion identity directly reflects her lack of a personal & professional identity.  Quick, interesting read.


58. through 63. - Just some quick romance reads. I don't even feel like writing a synopsis for them. They were all good, especially the Brenda Jackson ones.

Safe in His Embrace - Candice Poarch

Wrapped in Pleasure by Brenda Jackson
This is really 2 books in 1: Delany's Desert Sheikh &  Seduced by a Stranger

Vote for Love by Anita Bunkley

Irresistible Forces  by Brenda Jackson

Prize of a Lifetime by Donna Hill

RSVP with Love by Sandra Kitt







So, in 2009 I read 63 books. That's four more than in 2008. I don't really set a goal, but reading more books is always good!