Ella Quent

Marry Him - Revisng Romance

I found Lori Gottlieb's book, Marry Him, when scanning the new arrival shelf at the local library. The jacket was attractive, the title was odd and I added it to a collection of other books selected for further perusal.

I have to admit being a little halfhearted about the subject material. After all, having been married in my early 20's and later having an eight year relationship, I didn't feel I particularly fit Lori's audience. Nevertheless, the opening chapters detailing Lori's own journey and struggle to reconcile what she wants, with what she can now get, are so raw and vulnerable that I found myself completely drawn into Lori's quest and rooting for her.

This initial spark carried me through until I realized this book was a landmark, almost scientific, treatise on a subject matter that had not been examined, or presented like this before. The subject being human's tendency to make judgments and assumptions based on inaccurate or limited information, especially in the arena of romantic relationships.

Lori's often humorous revelations force her, and us the reader, to consider then reconsider not only how we make decisions in life, but if our perspectives are realistic enough for us to ever reach our goals.

If I had one question about Lori's argument it would be, 'what about those to do get married to Mr. Good enough early on, and then get divorced anyway, ending up in the same dating site as their never-married single friends. Were they still ahead of the game?

This is must read for anyone, not just single women. It is a funny, sad, insightful, brilliantly written book. It will make you laugh, but more than that, it will make you think!

Ella Quent 2010

Emotional Freedom - Judith Orloff

Powerful Medicine for the Soul......

Honest, insightful, powerful, thought provoking and inspiring. Reading this book was like taking a vacation for the spirit. In a busy life of lists, laundry, and lethargy, Dr.Orloff's book brought me back to laughter, life, and love.

Filled with practical tips on how to live more compassionately and authentically, this book is a reminder to live from the heart, and discover ways to exist peacefully in a often emotionally charged world. Stories from Dr. Orloff''s own life serve to illustrate the journey of emotional freedom, along with all it's twists and turns. One gets the feeling of sitting in an armchair, sipping tea with a friend who is sharing her own hard earned wisdom.

Ella Quent November 2009

Private Lives of Pippa Lee - Rebecca Miller

I think my first feeling after reading just a few pages of this book was envy. Envy that I had not created this witty, acerbic, insightful, and naughty book. This was quickly followed by utter relief and awe that someone as brilliant and talented as Rebecca Miller created this amazing story. Rececca Miller, thank you!

Pippa Lee is such a character funny, flawed, and fascinating. I want to meet Pippa Lee, hang out with her, laugh about our mutually colorful and bohemian lives, and be her friend. Of course it will never happen as Pippa Lee exists only in the imagination of Rececca Miller and now, me.

Pippa's life has not been easy, but instead a whirlwind of events with her at the eye of the storm. Herb, her handsome, wealthy, publisher husband, thirty years her senior, has signed them up for a Marigold Village, a retirement community. But Pippa is only fifty! As Pippa dutifully takes on yet another mantle of conformity we witness the slow disintegration of her social facade.

The story of Pippa's crazy 'life before Herb' is expertly woven and contrasted against her present day step-ford wife existence. As as we learn more about Pippa, she unravels before our eyes. We can only hope that from this cocoon will emerge a butterfly.

The young Pippa is a avowed adventuress and old habits die hard, or perhaps they never die at all but just lay hidden. In one of her many witty lines Pippa comments how she is filled with anxiety around good people, because they would one day find out what a destructive little shit she really is. Don't we all judge ourselves like that at times, harshly and unnecessarily through the eyes of others.

Miller describes Sam, one of Herb's clients, as a self-obsessed vampire writer type. Sam explains to Pippa that "all writers are vampires because they live off other people, that they observe life rather than live it" and that was his burden as well as his destiny. I was intrigued by this, and almost thought I knew what he meant

Not that I am attempting to categorize myself as some kind of writer of course. God forbid I should be so bold and self-aggrandizing to make such an outrageous claim. But, certainly Miller's clever way of describing this tendency of artists to observe behavior and life, to see it all as some kind of material  which  could be crafted into a painting, story, film, sculpture, or a play, struck a chord. I got it.  And finally, I felt I had company. It was a good feeling.

Ella Quent 2010

First Family - David Baldacci

I like a man who can keep me up all night. David Baldacci used to do that.
When I first discovered Baldacci I feel in love with his mind. His labyrinthine plots, and end of book surprises always left me guessing as well as gasping for more. It was a true love affair.

With First Family, I sense a change in our relationship. Instead of the constantly surprised can do no wrong awe of the newly-in-love I feel like a couple who know each other just a wee bit too well. There are no more surprises, only the comfort and pleasure of spending time with someone you adore. The book is enjoyable and well written, the story is good, and the plot is as clever as ever.

However, it may be that I now know Baldacci too well, because although the twists are there I expect them. So, in some way my thriller has become predictable. Not to say I didn't enjoy it, or enjoy that I guessed  the next move, I did. It's just that the thrill is gone, or at least in this book. Still, obviously I was not smart or dedicated enough to write this best-selling book as the accomplished Baldacci did. So, he still wins! I remain a lover of Baldacci and I will read his next book. I hope next time, however, that he will keep me up all night!

Ella Quent May 2010