If you’ve ever struggled to understand a complicated text or wanted to throw a piece of classic literature at your wall, you’re not alone. Even those of us who have studied literature for years still run into the same problem! The good news is that reading is a skill, and the more you exercise your abilities and learn techniques, the easier it will get. Keep reading for tips to understand difficult literature–informed by my perspective as both a student and an English teacher.

#1: Read slowly

This seems intuitive, and maybe it is. Often, especially if it’s assigned reading, you want to speed through it. If you’re a student, this makes sense. You have this book to read, on top of homework from several other classes. However, you will save yourself time in the long run by reading slowly the first time. If you really want to understand difficult literature, you need to become acquainted with it. Let the words sink in. Allow yourself to think and react. It will help, especially as you follow the next instructions.

#2: Summarize as you go

One of the most helpful steps to take is summarizing. Often, you understand at least part of what you read. It’s the difficult paragraphs that throw you. When I read, I still like to write myself small summaries at the end of each chapter. If it’s a particularly difficult text or nonfiction, I write short summaries at the end of the paragraph. For poems, I do each stanza. It’s tedious the first time around, but it helps immensely. Especially if you have to write an essay about the book or study it again, you will save yourself so much time and gain understanding.

#3: Write down your questions

As you read, write down any questions you have. This can fall into the following categories:

  • Historical: What was the significance of ______ in the context in which it was written?
  • Comprehension: What happened in this paragraph?
  • Vocabulary: What did “pernicious” mean in that context?
  • Literary terms: Was that an example of alliteration?
  • Extrapolating: What relation did X have to Y, and how might that impact the outcome?

Of course, these are not exhaustive. By writing down your questions, you will leave yourself a record of your thoughts and research, which will double as notes. You also won’t make the mistake of assuming you’ll figure it out later! You’ll likely have a lot of questions in the beginning. However, as you do this more, it will become much easier to understand difficult literature.

#4: Don’t be afraid to annotate

Annotating is the key to getting yourself to the next level.

When you annotate, you interact with the text. You go from being a passive reader to an active reader. Asking questions is the start of this. However, annotation goes beyond this and calls upon you to put your own thoughts into it.

I like to think of annotation as a scavenger hunt. Essentially, the author scatters in clues to their true meaning and methods. It’s up to you to find it. Some strategies include the following:

  • Add notes to any potentially useful headers, titles, or subheadings
  • Write comments in the margins. Note anything that stands out to you! Following your intuition is important, as it is often correct.
  • Highlight/circle/underline anything that stands out to you. Consider this in case of interesting diction, symbolism, or other literary devices.
  • Note wherever you see certain themes or patterns.

Obviously, don’t go too crazy with annotation. When there’s too much writing, it becomes overwhelming. However, this is a great way to leave yourself notes and understand difficult literature more deeply.

#5: Listen to or Watch the text

If you have the opportunity, this is an amazing option. For many of us, it’s easier to understand when we hear things–or better yet, if we’re reading and listening at the same time. Especially for poetry and rhythmic pieces, listening is a fantastic support. When you listen, your brain has to slow down. You hear the words, intonation, and emphasis how the author intended.

If you are not a natural reader, I highly recommend doing this. If you are an English learner (ESL), this is a great website. You can adjust the speed, and it offers several pieces of classic literature.

When your piece of literature is a play, it is incredibly helpful to watch it. Like with listening, this gives you an idea of how the author intended it to be performed. It also puts the stage directions into context. This is my best piece of advice for students reading Shakespeare!

#6: Reread

Each time I read a book, I find something that I didn’t notice before. I’ve read The Catcher in the Rye and The Great Gatsby countless times, yet each time, I find something new. Especially when you’re starting your literature journey, this is a crucial step! Read it the first time around, then take a break. Let the words sink into your brain. Often, especially with poetry, the first time reading is more for comprehension than it is for analysis. After you’ve given it some time to percolate, return. This time, dig a little deeper.

My rule of thumb when I was a student (and what I often do when it’s a new text that I’m teaching) was to read the text three times. This might be unrealistic for some people. However, I recommend doing it at least twice to let the text speak to you!

#7: After you’ve done this, look up a summary/analysis

The keyword is after. You’re not doing yourself any favors if you turn to Sparknotes in place of actually reading the text. With that being said, it is a useful tool! As you’re learning how to read and understand difficult literature, it doesn’t hurt to check your understanding. Additionally, these websites or YouTube channels often model the kind of analysis for you. That is to say, it gives you a starting point and shows you how to analyze. If you’re reading an older text by authors like Shakespeare, Milton, or Dante, this is a crucial step.

#8: Pay attention to background on reading

Often, English teachers do a background on reading or literature in context before reading. This is super important! It places the literature into context, preparing you for some of the following things:

  • Historical, political, or literary influence
  • Author’s life
  • Vocabulary
  • Literary terms you may encounter
  • Difficult topics in the text

Like I tell my students, the best way to understand difficult literature is to understand the author and the time. Once you do that, you’re off to an excellent start!

Conclusion

Learning to read–to really read–is no easy task. However, with practice and strategy, it is certainly achievable. These tips have helped me to read not only in English, but other languages as well. That goes to show that it truly is a skill!

What other tips have you tried? How have these helped you? Let me know!

Image by Dariusz Sankowski from Pixabay

Mr. and Mrs. American Pie--an Arizona sunset

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Introduction to Mr. and Mrs. American Pie

In honor of this book finally becoming an Apple TV series (although it’s called Palm Royale and seems to only be loosely based on the book), I reread this wonderful comedy. And it has remained wonderful over the last six years! If you’re remotely interested in the Nixon era, beauty pageants, found family, and slightly unhinged heroines, Mr. and Mrs. American Pie is a story for you.

Summary

Maxine Simmons lives in Palm Springs with her “cowboy” (read: cheating, distant, and often-gone) husband, Douglas. She is part of the elite group of women there, and she thrives on the snarky, unspoken competition. However, after she finds out that Douglas is leaving her and has a public breakdown, she finds herself exiled to Arizona.

She quickly makes the best of it and devises a plan: to win the Mrs. American Pie contest, a beauty pageant for exceptional housewives. The only problem? She now lacks a husband and children.

Maxine is resourceful, however, and quickly arranges a new makeshift family with two children in her condominium and a new friend. The story is told between 1969 and 1970 as she does her best to force her way toward victory, causing much humor and antics along the way.

Context

Mr. and Mrs. American Pie is a 2018 debut novel from author Juliet McDaniel. Partially inspired by her own grandmother’s beauty queen title growing up, McDaniel writes about another time–one filled with inequality, hidden identities, and a focus on maintaining the perfect image. McDaniel grew up in Arizona and studied writing in Chicago. She has a background in screenwriting, which lends itself well to the comic drama she creates on the page.

Review: Mr. and Mrs. American Pie

What a fun book.

I thought it the first time, and the thought remains. Thus far, the show has not stayed completely true to the series and has more stuck with Maxine’s character. Don’t get me wrong–Maxine is, as some other characters say, a hoot. However, the story is hilarious and heartwarming all at once, and I hope the series redirects soon to mirror the plot more accurately.

McDaniel starts the book strong. She opens with a picturesque setting: Palm Springs in 1969. Socialites squabble over petty disagreements, subtle barbs thrown between them over lunch. Maxine, our heroine, immediately jumps off the page with her snarky inner commentary. She voices what many of us would likely feel in the same situation:

Mrs. Mary Jones is as unremarkable as her own name.

I look to the brass light fixture hanging over the table and wonder if it could hold my weight, should I choose to hang myself by my Hermes scarf.

What’s truly exciting is that exactly three days from today, it will be my well-appointed guest bath in which some poor soul is sobbing!

Mr. and Mrs. American Pie

Even from this, you get a sense of her character: catty, clever, funny, and a bit vapid. Most importantly, she’s a fun character to follow throughout the story, and McDaniel sets her up for a great growth arc. In fact, Maxine’s growth throughout the story is one of the things I love most about it. Well paced, meaningful, and humorous, it reminded me of Linus Barker’s growth in The House in the Cerulean Sea.

After her breakdown and subsequent move to Scottsdale, Maxine searches for meaning. She makes a friend along the way who helps her to assimilate to her new lifestyle. Additionally, she starts taking care of two children whose mother abandons them. These two together feed into her new master plan: the Mrs. American Pie competition.

“There’s nothing ‘real’ about us, Maxine. We’re as fake as they come.” I point to a brochure photo of a family standing arm in arm at Mount Rushmore. “That’s real.”

“Oh bullshit, Robert. You think these people always look this perfect while picnicking in the park…our fake will at least be realistic.”

Mr. and Mrs. American Pie

Throughout the story, we also hear from two other characters: Robert Hogarth (her fake husband) and Charles Bronski (her fake son). McDaniel handles these different perspectives very well. I wrote about the dangers of this in my review of Family Lore. However, all three characters in this book have their own distinct personalities, voices, and objectives. Nobody ever blends with anyone else, which is the mark of great characterization. She also utilizes them to complement each other and propel the story forward. Maxine was the main character, and that much was clear, but the other perspectives were balanced and moved it forward in a logical and clear way.

As you can tell, this story is hilarious, and there’s a mix of both peak snark and clever satire. It gets funnier once you realize that Robert is gay and Charles is half-convinced that Maxine is a spy from the USSR.

“You wear loafers?” I ask.

Robert quickly points to his shoes, which are indeed loafers. “I bought them at JCPenney–like everyone does.”

“Would you say you stand lightly in those loafers?”

Mr. and Mrs. American Pie

McDaniel does a wonderful job of keeping the satire light while still looking at critical topics of the time: blatant and covert racism, LGBTQ issues, women’s equality, and the radically changing society in those years. Additionally, one thing that I love is that, amidst the pageant antics (reminiscent of Insatiable, a show I truly hope will be brought back), there’s female comradery. Maxine might not be the most saintly of protagonists, but McDaniel does an excellent job of allowing her to connect with the one Black contestant, Mrs. Illinois, in a touching (yet realistic for Maxine) way. It reminded me a little of The Golden Bachelor or The Selection.

That’s another thing that I loved about this book–McDaniel’s ability to keep the story both buoyant and grounded. Even though the story deals with serious topics, there’s never an overly serious or pushy focus on them. Instead, everything works well together. She doesn’t overly prioritize the characters over the plot or vice versa. Nor does she go overboard with the setting. She very naturally uses details to make the period feel relevant and accurate. Everything works cleanly together to create a fun, sweet story about found family and the glory of revenge.

The only thing–and this is very picky–that I didn’t love was that it could be wordy at times. However, this didn’t really detract, so overall, I can’t complain at all!

Recommendations A La Carte

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a book that’s both funny and heartwarming, Mr. and Mrs. American Pie is for you. Full of 60s-70s fun and sassy characters, it’s sure to keep your attention. I can only hope that the TV series lives up to the book itself!

The Little Book of Lykke: white text in front of a wheat field background

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Introduction to The Little Book of Lykke

If you’re looking for a book about happiness, The Little Book of Lykke is exactly what you need! Short, sweet, and filled with cheerful stories and pictures, it’s the perfect antidote to the blues. I recently wrote about The Little Book of Hygge, a similar book by the same author (Meik Wiking). This is the perfect companion, as it extends the idea of hygge and asks the questions: how can we become happier? And what can we learn from different cultures and initiatives? I promise it’s well worth your time.

Summary

The Little Book of Lykke dives deeper into some of the topics in The Little Book of Hygge. Specifically, it examines how we can improve our wellbeing and happiness no matter where we are.

The book is structured in nine different chapters and broken up by photos and illustrations. The main chapters of the book center around six facets of happiness: togetherness, money, health, freedom, trust, and kindness. There are also chapters reviewing his methodology, some helpful background information, and a summary of ideas. Wiking then dives deep into each of these aspects, dissecting them and providing concrete examples along the way. Told with his charm, charisma, and humor, the book is an easy and useful ready about a topic that is difficult for so many to obtain.

Context

Meik Wiking is a Danish scientist and the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute. He has dedicated a significant portion of his life toward figuring out how to increase humanity’s happiness globally. As a researcher and scientist, he has gotten to travel around the world, pursuing various studies and interviewing people about this topic. This book represents a compilation of that work, also informed by Danish people’s own practices that keep them at the top of the happiness charts.

As a side note, I have (obviously) become very interested in Wiking’s work. It’s worth your time to read some of the research compiled by the Happiness Research Institute. Wiking also posts some of their publications on LinkedIn. Just the other day, there was a very interesting paper about work satisfaction. Funnily enough, I read that not too long after finishing The Burnout. Some great food for thought!

Review: The Little Book of Lykke

Just like The Little Book of Hygge, this book was a perfect embodiment of what it aimed to teach. It was cheerful, direct, and colorfully illustrated. It reviews several statistics and global case studies on happiness, but never once does it feel too academic for the average reader. Overall, I found The Little Book of Lykke to not only be a wonderful read, but also very informative and easy to apply.

As aforementioned, Wiking breaks Lykke down into six parts: togetherness, money, health, freedom, trust, and kindness. I found it to be incredibly insightful. Yes, it goes over some ideas that are obvious: you’re less happy if you’re lonely, money doesn’t mean everything, etc. However, it explores these ideas in a thought-provoking way.

One thing that I really liked about this book was that it countered the consumerist perception of the previous book (The Little Book of Hygge). I wasn’t sure why some people thought that the message of that one was that you need to buy various things to be happy. However, The Little Book of Lykke reinforces the message that it’s not about things; it’s about the ideas surrounding them and the culture you build.

When we discover that our happiness does not rest on the foundation of money, we have found true treasure.

Meik Wiking, The Little Book of Lykke

The idea of hygge is still very much present with ideas like food and fire rituals, being together, having a routine, and living in a safe and supportive environment. What stood out to me the most was how Wiking built in the idea of culture, society, mindset, and how all of these affect us.

For me, the chapter on money was perhaps the most interesting. I’m from the US and Wiking is from Denmark. The ideas about taxes, money, healthcare, savings, etc. are so different. This isn’t to debate what’s right and what’s wrong–or to simplify the beliefs of all people in a nation–but it was interesting to read about the differences between those two nations, as well as many others, and the corresponding science.

For me, his (seemingly obvious) statement that it’s not about money but rather about the lack of money was mindblowing. It’s a glass half empty/full situation. Most of us aren’t necessarily worried about having the money. We’re more worried about not having it and not being okay. That’s why we make so many of our decisions based on desperation, security, and fear, even if they lead us away from happiness. Yes, a lot of it is rooted in what we need to do to survive and to provide for ourselves and/or others. Yet it was interesting to see how that differed between countries and how it correlated with happiness.

Wealth consists not in having great possessions but in having few wants.

Epictetus, quoted by Meik Wiking in The Little Book of Lykke

This leads into Wiking’s discussion on the idea of freedom. Freedom, at least in the US, is often correlated with money to a degree. The more money you have, the more choices you (usually) have. Wiking poses the following question to his readers:

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your freedom to choose what you do with your life? What is certain is that having the freedom to choose what we do with our lives–feeling that we are the captain of our destiny–is linked to happiness.

Meik Wiking, The Little Book of Lykke

And isn’t he right? How many of us are stuck in a job or living situation or economic situation that we wish was different? Again, this is based partially in culture and the opportunities that we have. Whether it’s perceived or realistic “stuckness,” it explains a lot about why so many of us feel unhappy. As I read, I felt that he hit the nail right on the head.

No people can be truly happy if they do not feel that they are choosing the course of their own life.

The 2012 World Happiness Report, as quoted by Meik Wiking

Finally, Wiking transitions into the areas of trust and social connection. You’ve probably heard a million times about how loneliness kills. However, it was interesting to read about how cultures (and individuals) encourage or discourage social connection, as well as the impact that it has. Like with choice, knowing that you’ll be supported if you deviate from the “approved” path is critical to your happiness–as are equity and knowing that we belong.

After discussing this, Wiking ties it back to work culture: how does this help or hinder us? How are we going to feel if we have a micromanaging, oppressive boss? And what effect does that lack of trust have on employees? How do they carry that into their personal lives? Most importantly, how can we move ourselves to feel more empowered, more connected, and happier? He shares an example of one man who did just that:

I just got to this point where I was doing things that didn’t seem to have any kind of meaning. Commuting, working, and struggling with it. Just feeling a bit lost. I imagined myself five years down the line, doing the same thing, and had that feeling that somehow it didn’t feel right. So I quit.

The Free Help Guy, quotes by Meik Wiking

I end with that quote because I feel it summarizes the book well. So many of us are searching for something more. There’s a reason that Positive Psychology and talk about wellbeing and solutions for growing issues (here’s an article with some stats about mental health in the US) are increasing. The Little Book of Lykke describes research and a philosophy that are simple, yes, but profound at the same time. For that, I would recommend it to anyone.

Recommendations A La Carte

Conclusion

If you are remotely interested in happiness and the science behind it, I highly recommend The Little Book of Lykke. It is undoubtedly an appealing book for a bookshelf or coffee table, but what’s inside is far more valuable than the cover. If you want a pick-me-up or something to remind you to smile, this is your book. Have you read it? Let me know your thoughts!

The Burnout banner: white text in front of a faded background of matches, sand and surfboards in the front

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Introduction: The Burnout

The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella was one of those books that hit at the perfect moment. Obviously Sophie Kinsella wrote it with her trademark fun and witty style, but the subject matter is something that so many Gen Z and millennial workers relate to. Life is hard, and there’s so much to worry about! Kinsella captures this perfectly, adding in some humor and romance along the way. I was on a waiting list for this for a few months at the library, and I almost broke down and bought it in an airport. It was well worth the wait, and I finished it in one sitting, enjoying it immensely.

Summary

Sasha is burnt out. She’s lost interest in everything: food, friends, sex, TV…you name it, and she doesn’t care. After finally being pushed too far by a forced positivity program, she has a breakdown and takes some time off work. Her goal? To go to her childhood seaside resort and find wellness by becoming a smoothie-drinking, yoga-doing paragon of health.

She immediately encounters a few major problems. First, the hotel is an almost entirely abandoned mess. Second, she immediately butts heads with Finn, another guest who’s just as high-strung as her. As time moves on, however, Sasha must learn how to process her feelings–and figure out who’s leaving them mysterious notes on the beach.

Filled with humor, memorable characters, and warmth, this is a read you won’t want to miss this year.

Context

Published in late 2023, Kinsella really summarized our generation(s) in a nutshell: exhausted, overwhelmed, and tired of toxic positivity/boundary-less work environments. She writes about this inspiration–both personal and worldwide–in her introduction to the book here.

Kinsella has been a bestselling author since 2000. She’s most famous for her Shopaholic series (remember the movie with Isla Fisher?), although she has published several other award winning books as well. She’s written in several different genres, spanning from young readers to adults. A fascinating fact about her is that she actually started her career as a financial journalist. She lives in London with her family.

Review of The Burnout

If you couldn’t already tell, I loved The Burnout. Even more than the Shopaholic series.

Why?

Like any successful book, it resonated. Boy, did it resonate. From the first few pages, I was hooked, and I felt a bit of myself there. As Kinsella eases us into the opening pages, Sasha says something that really stuck with me:

I’ve got precisely one entry in my bullet journal, which I made a year ago. It reads, Task: work. And it’s never ticked off.

The Burnout

Honestly, the book demanded some reflection. It was uncomfortably close, and while it was wonderful to feel seen, it also made me think. How many of us are in the same routine as Sasha? Where everything feels like a giant checklist, and work takes priority over life?

Every night, Sasha does the same thing. She goes to the same restaurant, orders the same meal, has the same wine, watched Legally Blonde, and responds to more emails. I mean, seriously, how relatable is this? I hope for your sake that it’s not, but for many of us, it is. Going back to the same things for comfort, and not wanting to quit your job simply because of the torturous effort it takes to look for a new job…Kinsella really had her finger on the pulse with this one.

Here’s another wonderful quote that summarized how so many of us feel or have felt:

I can’t do life. The stark truth lands in my brain with a thud. I can’t do life anymore. If I just acknowledged this one fact, everything would be easier. Life is too hard. I want to give up…what, exactly? Working? Being? No, not being. I like being alive. I think. I just can’t be alive like this.

The Burnout

This is what I love most about Kinsella’s writing, especially in The Burnout. She manages to tackle these difficult concepts with the right balance of bubbly humor and respect. Obviously her writing is fantastic otherwise–great character development, good use of detail, wonderful setting building, etc.–but this is what stands out to me, because many authors can’t handle the balance with this skill. Again, she really felt like she had her ear to the ground and voiced a generation’s stress.

Sasha’s breakdown–running away from work to become a nun and literally hitting a brick wall–should feel hilariously impossible, but it doesn’t. That’s what makes it so funny! Her subsequent wellness journey, filled with every possible thing you could imagine on a lifestyle influencer’s Instagram, also feels so realistic. How often have you seen someone desperately grasping at the most random things to escape the pit they’re in? Sasha’s focus on this ideal, supported by the hilarious hotel staff, honestly feels so plausible that that itself is funny.

And all of the other elements worked, too!

Speaking of the hotel–great setting choice! It was a wonderful mental picture, and I loved the idea of the wellness setup contrasted with the crumbling hotel. The beach was also scenic in a very mentally cinematographic way. Kinsella did a wonderful job of capturing the nostalgia of youth with the difficulties of becoming a full-fledged adult.

I also enjoyed the relationship between Sasha and Finn. They bond over their mutual burnout, and this feels so true to life. How many times have you struck up a friendship over your mutual misery? Their banter and dynamic are both fun as well, and I found myself rooting for them. Even though they had two separate (but similar paths), I enjoyed exploring both personalities.

The supporting cast and beach mystery were also wonderful. They kept my attention and made me laugh several times as a read the book. Overall, I didn’t have any complaints, and I found it to be a wonderful (and recommendable) book that I will certainly return to.

Recommendation A La Carte

Conclusion

The Burnout was one of my favorite books that I’ve read this year. Sasha’s struggle is one that many of us feel, and even if we might not be able to follow her trajectory, it provides some food for thought. How can we address the burnout in our own lives? And furthermore, how can we re-examine where we’re at as a society, as it’s such a common occurrence?

If you’re in the mood for a relatable laugh out loud comedy, this is for you. It’ll strike the perfect balance between covering an important mental health topic and warming your heart. What did you think??? Let me know!

Banner for "The Little Book of Hygge: An Honest Review." Siena lettering against a background with the northern lights and an orange cabin.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Introduction to The Little Book of Hygge

 

I found The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living in a bookstore one day. I was drawn in by the cover–an aesthetically cozy mix of cool and warm colors, and one of those books that made you feel happy just looking at it.

Before this, I’d only heard of hygge in passing; after all, it had had its phase a few years ago. I ultimately ended up putting the book back and rediscovered it months later in the library. After reading, I wish I’d picked it up the first time! It was a short, fantastic read filled with so much useful and interesting information to apply to your life. It’s been my favorite read of 2024 so far, and here’s why.

 

Context

 

Hygge, for those unfamiliar with it, is a Danish term for a warm, cozy atmosphere in which you feel content. Essentially. I say essentially because, as Meik Wiking describes, it’s a little more complex than that. Wiking, the author of The Little Book of Hygge, is well-credentialed to write it. He is the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, and he is involved in several other research foundations and associations regarding happiness and living well. Beyond studying happiness for a living, he was also born and raised in one of the happiest countries in the world, Denmark, and is thus well-posed to discuss their philosophy and what contributes to their success.

 

Review

 

In all honesty, I expected this book to primarily be about interior design. I was interested in the concept of hygge, but I didn’t anticipate everything this book would hold: interior design, scientific research, social advice, gorgeous illustrations, recipes, holiday activities…the list goes on. With his warm, personable writing style, Wiking managed to embody the very idea of hygge in his writing. This was something that I found incredible.

We start out with an introduction to hygge and what it looks like. He explains how there’s a focus on design elements like lighting and room arrangement, yes, but it’s so far beyond that. It’s how you prioritize your friends. How you dress. How you prepare food. Much of the advice was so simple that I found myself awestruck at the fact that I was awestruck. To be fair, it hit at a particularly hectic, busy, and stressful time, but this was exactly the book I needed to remind me of how the simple things in life can affect us.

 

Room Design

 

Wiking charmingly reviews what hygge means in terms of interior design. Why is Scandinavian design so popular? What hold does it have on people? And how does lighting play into it? I don’t think I’ve ever read so much about candles, but I enjoyed the science and sociology behind it. They’re simple luxuries, but it truly does impact mood–as does any other lighting. Between this, cozy furniture, and a layout set up to socialize, The Little Book of Hygge gives you an easy-to-use guide to hygge.

 

The Personal Principles of Hygge

 

Hygge, as Wiking explains, goes so far beyond interior design. He explains how your friendships, outings, work-life balance, and connection to nature influence your happiness and overall sense of wellbeing. Especially in the US, where it feels harder and harder to genuinely connect with people and find time for ourselves, this was refreshing to read.

As you read, you can’t help but wonder what small changes you can make to add more warmth to your own life. You might not be able to recreate a cabin in the midst of a snowstorm exactly, but what kind of hygge can you recreate? Maybe a potluck with friends, or your favorite sweater, or a walk in an orchard. It’s personal, and it’s not as intimidating as it might seem.

Most importantly, Wiking explains how hygge is not necessarily defined by consumerist thought and things. It is an attitude and a feeling, and at the center of it all is the knowledge that you belong and will be supported by others. This is beautiful. It might not be rocket science, but it is a wonderful reminder.

 

Seasonal and Holiday Hygge

 

Hygge is most closely connected to Christmas, as anyone who’s been to Solvang can tell you. Wiking explains all the hygge-related words and recipes in the book, and I did love this insight into Danish culture. Even if it’s not time to drink mulled wine in front of the fireplace with your advent calendar near, there are several things you can still do to capture the hygge. Again, this isn’t the most novel idea in the world, but I loved Wiking’s way of delivering it. He did a great job of incorporating different media and ideas (pictures, recipes, lists) and giving specific examples. Because of that, the book felt more like a lovely guide than a pleasant passing of time.

 

My Connections

 

As I mentioned, this story made me think back to my trip to Solvang. I have not yet made it to Denmark, so this little Danish town in California was the closest I could relate. Yet all of Wiking’s story rang true. I contemplated why so many people love Solvang–why I loved it–and why they’ll go out of their way to visit.

Of course there’s the obvious escape from our regular cities, but there’s also the feeling that comes with it. Just like the book suggests, it’s cozy. It’s the type of town that you want to enjoy with your friends or family as you sip wine and eat good food outside. You’re surrounded by charming buildings and delicious bakeries, and there’s this sense of comfort. You get to experience the coziness of Christmas year round, and though it’s expensive, it’s a place to rejoice in the small joys of life. The Little Book of Hygge definitely moved Denmark higher on my list of places to visit.

This sounds nerdy, but I don’t think I’ve enjoyed a nonfiction book so much since I finished my intercultural communication textbook in college. This one was even better, because it had adorable pictures that made me smile each time I saw them. I enjoyed every page of The Little Book of Hygge, partly because I was anticipating the next illustrations. This simple anticipation would be hygge, too.

 

Recommendations A La Carte

 

 

Conclusion

 

The Little Book of Hygge was wonderful. If you’re a little down, want to explore a new culture, or simply want to read more about happiness, this is the perfect book for you. Get a hot drink, get comfortable under your blankets, and enjoy the read. It’s well worth your time.

Banner for Family Lore: tropical leaves with pink lettering and a hibiscus flower

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Introduction to Family Lore

When I saw that Elizabeth Acevedo had written a magical realism book for adults, I was over the moon. She is one of my favorite poets, and I’ve used The Poet X and Clap When You Land in the classroom multiple times. My expectations for Family Lore were high from the start! However, I found myself surprisingly disappointed–although there certainly were many bright spots. Below, I’ll tell you what I enjoyed and what I didn’t love so much about the book.

I want to add that this is just my opinion! If you haven’t read anything by Elizabeth Acevedo yet, add The Poet X and Clap When You Land to your reading list ASAP. They are in my top 10 YA books, and they got me to appreciate novels in verse.

Summary of Family Lore

Welcome to the Marte family. Told through two generations women, we are introduced to Acevedo’s modern magical realism. We have the older generation, who emigrated from the Dominican Republic: Flor, Matilde, Pastora, and Camila. Then we have the younger generation, composed of Ona and Yadi. Each woman has their own unique magic, and each tells their own story throughout the book. Flor’s gift, perhaps most central to this novel, is the ability to predict someone’s death. After foreseeing her own death, she announces that she’s throwing a living wake for herself, bringing the family together for one last salute. Love, secrets, scandal, and sisterhood prevail throughout this story about one magical family.

Context

Elizabeth Acevedo is a Dominican American writer and poet who has previously focused on YA novels in verse. She grew up in the Bronx and started her career in slam poetry, ultimately studying writing. She also taught English for a time. These experiences helped her to narrow her vision, which we can see across her body of literature. She focuses on themes of identity, particularly Dominican-American identity, womanhood, and youth. This interesting NPR article reviews her motivation behind writing her first novel for adults: to tell the complicated and rich story of a Dominican-American family and give a layered introduction to her female protagonists.

Family Lore Review

As I mentioned, this didn’t end up being one of my favorite reads. I’ll preface with the fact that I do generally enjoy books with an organized, methodical chaos. It sounds like an oxymoron. I know. But you know those books where it’s fun and crazy and colorful and messy, but it still leads to a point and everything feels carefully considered on the author’s part? That’s what I love, and that’s what I’ve seen from Acevedo before. For me–and this could just be personal–Family Lore strayed away from that and ventured into more “messy” territory. Again, this is just personal preference, and I do think others may enjoy it more! I’ll review the positive aspects first.

What worked well in Family Lore

While I still prefer her books written in verse, Acevedo has an feel for words. I would say that she is one of the strongest masters of rhythm and description in modern literature. Even though this book isn’t in verse, she still maintains her flow. The writing style is indisputably beautiful.

Additionally, she had a great concept. From the blurb–and on paper–I loved the ideas. This was what made me so surprised that I didn’t end up loving it. She has all the keys to success: a magical family, multiple generations, a focus on womanhood, an emphasis on culture…but it just didn’t come together for me in the end. I did like parts of it, however, especially the realistic and tight bonds between the women.

Finally, I liked Ant’s (Yadi’s love interest/childhood friend) character. He had a very interesting backstory, and I would have loved to read more about him or dive deeper into that. Like I’ll explain later, he really was the only character that stood out for me.

As a side note, I loved the cover. I thought it was the perfect representation of the book with the wicker chair, flowers, and colors. That artist is awesome!

What didn’t work as well for me

I would like to re-emphasize that this is the only book I haven’t loved by Elizabeth Acevedo. It feels like a sin to not love this book. However, I do still think that there is a group of people who would love Family Lore.

Acevedo’s main problem was that there was too much and nothing going on at the same time. She had so many main characters, all while focusing on the past and present and going between two countries. It’s too much. Somewhere along the way, the story got stuck and started to feel incoherent and discombobulated. There are several books where a focus on character growth over plot works, including others within the magical realism genre. However, most of them still drive toward a satisfying theme or a clear point. Here, I felt like the author wanted to spread me thin over 5.5 people’s perspectives and throw in whatever memories/ideas she wanted without having to commit to a point. There was the overarching wake, yes, but not much happening beyond that, and it felt very unorganized and not strung together well.

For example, the book is technically told from six women’s perspectives. For 75% of the book, I kept wondering, where’s the sixth person? I’ll spoil it: she came in late in the book. Was there a reason? Was there a secret or a plot device critical to this? No. Did she become a critical character? No–she got 1.5 chapters and then faded into the background. It was decisions like this that made me feel frustrated as a reader, because it felt illogical and poorly planned. How could I be expected to care about any of the characters when even the author seemed to view some as excess?

Now there’s the formatting. It could have been my digital version that made it more confusing. However, I felt that we were constantly being thrown back into memories that didn’t always tie in well with the present storyline. In some cases, they did, and I think that worked well. In most, however, it felt frustrating, because it felt relatively random.

Additionally, the writing style felt inconsistent and overly vulgar. It felt like Acevedo struggled to find her voice, and not just because there were six characters. She struggled to decide whether she wanted to be the hip, young narrator or the sage voice. Ultimately, she ended up somewhere between the two.

The vulgarity isn’t unique to Family Lore. I’ve found that a lot of modern magical realism is unnecessarily sexual. This book was no exception. One character’s magic was an “alpha vagina” (still didn’t love this, but it might be someone else’s cup of tea) and she is very sexual. As such, it felt like the author took any chance she found to say “titties” or “wet wet” or whatever nickname you want for it. Again, not my cup of tea, and I felt it went beyond diction or characterization because this wasn’t just Ona’s perspective–this also carried over to the other women’s perspectives.

I understand that Ona is the one interviewing the women in her family, so the other perspectives are interspersed with her viewpoint. However, it still felt strange to hear “titties” in a seventy year old woman’s perspective when she’s also talking about “babes” (as in babies). It felt like Acevedo gave a half effort to trying to sound mature, then gave up. I’m not sure if this is because she wanted to make it clear that Family Lore was not YA, but I personally didn’t love it, and I found that it detracted from the story.

Then she’d drop random words or phrases in Spanish into the middle of sentences. Personally, I found it annoying because it didn’t feel like it served a purpose (i.e., characterization or style). I understood what she was saying, and I didn’t have to look anything up, but it did still disrupt my reading multiple times, mostly because I was wondering why she was doing it. If she’d only done it in the dialogue, it would have worked. However, she put a lot of Spanish in the beginning, trailed off a bit, then added some more toward the end. Again, it felt messy and inconsistent.

This brings me to my other main complaint: the characters. Apart from Ant, I didn’t like any of the characters. Why? They all felt and sounded like the same person. In Acevedo’s defense, I have never seen anyone balance six people’s perspectives well. It’s hard enough to create one compelling character–now try to make six different, memorable characters, each with their own goals, histories, and identities. It’s borderline impossible.

And that’s why it didn’t work. None of the characters truly stood out. They definitely felt realistic and fleshed out, and I do believe she was very careful in her creation, but none of them were unique, and their voices blurred together. This made it hard to root for any of them, although their issues were sympathetic. You know when you go out with someone for a few hours and still like you don’t actually know anything about them by the end? That’s how it felt for me.

Finally, the ending felt a bit rushed. There was all the buildup to the living wake, and all the diving into backstories, then it felt like it just…ended. I didn’t hate this, to be clear. I think Acevedo did a good job leaving things open, and it did feel poignant. It just felt like there was still some things to be addressed. But again, it would be difficult to do that with how much she was juggling.

Recommendations A La Carte

Takeaways/Conclusion

This wasn’t the book for me. However, I’ve seen many other people love it, so maybe it will be different for you. I’d say that you likely won’t like it if you can’t do messy structure. If you can, you might love it. I will absolutely read what Elizabeth Acevedo comes out with next. I just hope that it’s more similar to The Poet X than Family Lore.

Banner for The House of Eve: An Honest Review. Vintage letters in the background, white lettering, and a sunflower.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Introduction to The House of Eve

If you follow Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club, you’ve probably seen The House of Eve. With an enticing cover and an interesting description, it’s likely grabbed your attention. While it wasn’t my favorite book, it certainly was a good one that captured my attention. Here’s my review and honest thoughts about it.

Summary

Told between the perspectives of two Black women in the late 1940s and 1950s, The House of Eve handles themes of class, race, motherhood, and ambition. We have Ruby, a teenager in Philadelphia who yearns to go to college and enter the medical field. She embarks on a forbidden love affair that will change her life’s trajectory. Additionally, we follow Eleanor, a hardworking young woman who is the first in her family to attend college. Her path takes an interesting turn once she meets William, with whom she eventually faces challenges regarding having a baby. The two women’s paths cross unexpectedly, which results in lifechanging outcomes for both of them.

Context

This novel came out early last year (2023), and it quickly won much recognition. Besides being selected by Reese’s Book Club, it was also a Goodreads Choice Award recipient. The author, Sadeqa Johnson, has four other novels and multiple other awards and honors behind her name. This story was, quite interestingly, inspired partly by her own grandmother’s experience as an unwed young mother. Johnson discusses this both in the afterword and this interview here. I won’t go too far into it so as not to spoil the book, but it adds a fascinating layer of depth to the story.

Review

The House of Eve surprised me. I wasn’t sure exactly what I expected, but I think I expected it to be more similar to Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere from the description. While it did remind me of this book throughout the story, it still very much stood on its own. The characters were memorable and unique, the plot flowed, and it covered substantial topics in a very approachable way.

I’ve been reading a lot of philosophy (specifically Stoicism) lately. In a book on Aristotle’s teachings, the author stated that Aristotle claimed that entertainment should both inform and entertain us. Essentially, it should have value to us beyond simply passing the time. I read this book in one day, and though I read it quickly, I truly felt that I gained something from it. It exposed me to nuances within a community and part of a historical period that I had never read about before. After reading it, I felt intellectually fulfilled and curious, which doesn’t always happen after reading fiction. I believe that this will be the case for most readers.

What worked well in The House of Eve

Set in the late 1940s and early 1950s, the book covers a lot of concepts thoroughly. From class and race issues to relationships between women to identity as a mother, Johnson really left no stone unturned. She did a fantastic job of balancing the weight of these issues with the storytelling, and it never felt too heavy.

Throughout the entire story, all of the characters felt very authentic to me (save for maybe William, but only because he didn’t seem as fleshed out as he possibly could have been). The plot wasn’t forced, the relationships unfolded naturally, and nothing about the book felt inauthentic. Instead, I found it increasingly interesting the more that I read.

I’ve never read a story about wealthy Black families during this time, so it was totally novel to me. The majority of the stories that I’ve read have been more similar to Ruby’s story—working their way up against conditions not in their favor, battling racism, proving themselves, etc. Eleanor’s perspective was fascinating to me for this reason. I love the author’s attention to detail and the feeling of historical authenticity that she provided throughout. It was very clear that she did her research.

The concept of The House of Eve was also very interesting to me. I can’t discuss it without spoiling the book, but it revolves around Ruby’s location in the third part of the book. Beyond that, however, the focus on class was revealing. The way that Eleanor feels within William’s side of the Black community because of her skin color and the value that they place on whiteness was something I don’t often see in literature. The author did a great job exploring this.

She also gave two different women very well-rounded backgrounds and aspirations. Never once did I get frustrated that Ruby and Eleanor were too simplistic. Both women had their challenges and their realistic reactions to difficult situations. They felt like real people. For this alone, I would say that Johnson completely succeeds in her storytelling.

Regarding the voice, Johnson did a wonderful job of balancing old and new, as well as the two different perspectives. She wrote in the afterword about her inspirations, and it made me smile, as I could completely hear the influence of authors like Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou. Especially in the beginning, in Ruby’s part, it gave me Maya Angelou vibes. Part of this was probably the subject matter in the first chapter, but it was also the way that she utilized detail to set the scene. Right off the bat, this gave the story a grounded feeling of familiarity, but Johnson ensured the narrative was her own.

One thing that truly impressed me was how well she kept the perspectives separated. Not once did I confuse Ruby and Eleanor. I believe that even if they had been written in the same POV, this would remain true. This doesn’t always happen, so I was happy to see it.

I’ve seen reviews that The House of Eve is predictable, and I would agree with that. However, as I said in this post, I don’t think a story necessarily needs to be 100% unique to work. The plot may have been easy to guess, but the way the author went about it was interesting. She certainly added her own touch, and the tie to her own family’s story made it feel even more authentic.

What could have been improved in The House of Eve

One thing that I didn’t love was the choice of point of view. Ruby’s perspective is told in first person and Eleanor’s is in third person. For me, this was a bit distracting throughout, and I wasn’t 100% sure as to why the author made this choice. I’m not sure if it was to allow us closer emotional and cultural intimacy to Ruby and to reinforce the idea of Eleanor as a woman striving for poise and elegance. If it was, I still think it would have been better to stick with one POV. First person probably would have been best to capture the different perspectives and sentiments throughout, but third person would have worked, too.

My only other complaint was the pacing in the final part of the story. The book is broken into four parts. The first part was (or at least felt) the longest, which made sense to introduce the characters and set the stage. The second part was pretty long, which, again, made sense. The third and fourth parts, however, seemed to almost disappear. At the end, it felt like there was almost a rush to wrap it up. Part of it makes sense with the plot, but I did expect a bit more from the third and fourth parts, especially around the climax.

Again, this is the nature of the plot, but it did leave me wanting more. The epilogue was nice, and I do think it tied it together well, but part of me wished that that could have happened at another point in the plot as well. While the two women’s story obviously intertwined, it did often feel like I was reading two completely separate stories. A little more unity would have made the story even stronger.

Recommendations A La Carte

Conclusion

The House of Eve was a great story that covered a period and an issue in history that isn’t always covered. Johnson had a unique take and a personal tie to the story that truly drew the reader in. Although the last half of the book left me wanting more, I overall truly enjoyed this story and would recommend it. If you read it, let me know what you think!

Banner: fireflies in a dark background, "A Flicker in the Dark" written in white lettering

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Introduction to A Flicker in the Dark

A Flicker in the Dark is a wonderful new suspense/mystery novel. I heard about it through my library and downloaded it for the cover, but I ended up loving it. It was one of the most enthralling suspense stories that I’ve read in a while. Read below for my honest review!

Summary

Twenty years after Chloe Davis’s father was locked away for killing young girls, the same thing starts happening again. Chloe is now a psychologist in her 30s, newly engaged, and trying to keep her life separate from her past. However, as more and more girls disappear, it quickly becomes evident that she won’t be able to keep herself separated from it. Chloe not only has to reckon with the murders that are happening, but with her own past and present as well.

Context

A Flicker in the Dark is author Stacy Willingham’s debut novel. Before writing, Willingham worked in marketing and copywriting. She attended school in the South and currently lives there (which makes sense with the setting). This interview discusses some of her influences, which include Stephen King, Alfred Hitchcock, and The Twilight Zone. According to Goodreads, it has already been optioned for a limited TV series.

Review of A Flicker in the Dark

I loved this book. It was engaging and still felt novel. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. Save for a few minor critiques, it’s one of my favorite books that I’ve read recently!

What worked well:

The premise was so interesting. I feel like the marketplace is fairly saturated with serial killer books, podcasts, and TV shows. However, I’ve never seen one that takes place from the perspective of the serial killer’s daughter. A Flicker in the Dark did a fantastic job of exploring what kind of psychological and social repercussions that will have on someone. Throughout the novel, everything felt very well-planned, and I appreciate the fact that it was so character focused.

I found the psychological aspect of the book to be very interesting. Sometimes, psychological thrillers tend to go a little overboard. This novel didn’t do that. Making Chloe a psychologist was fantastic for a few reasons, but it primarily gave us an avenue to explore her perspective and get her closer to the murders. We were also able to see the effects that her father’s deeds took on her and her family, which, as I said before, was really interesting to think about.

The setting really worked for me too. I can count the number of books (and movies, honestly) that I’ve read that have been set in Louisiana on one hand. This gave it a strange sort of exotic appeal to me. I could not tell you why, but it definitely made me more intrigued, and somehow it felt like the perfect place to set a serial killer story. The author did a good job of weaving it in to influence the mood as well.

Most of the characters were interesting and well fleshed out. None of them blended together, and each had a unique voice. Often, I find that thriller writers force certain characters into the story for the sake of a red herring, and I did not feel that here. Every character served a purpose, and Willingham did an excellent job of bringing characters in both the present and the past to life.

With that being said, I appreciated the dual timelines and didn’t feel that she leaned too heavily on one or the other. The two worked well to complement each other and tell a fully formed story. Overall, I was impressed with Willingham’s writing and found it easy to read.

What didn’t work so well:

The pacing was a little off. It was a bit too slow at the beginning, but toward the middle/end, I couldn’t put the book down. I stayed up the night before an early flight to finish it, and while the ending wasn’t a HUGE shocker, it was still satisfying enough where I was very pleased.

I’ve heard some other people complain that it was predictable or had too many stereotypes, but this didn’t bother me. For me, it fell somewhere between Gone Girl and a cozy mystery. It wasn’t the biggest reveal I’ve seen in my life, nor was it the most predictable. I was engaged throughout, found Chloe relatively likeable, and felt satisfied with the ending.

My only other complaint was that there was one sex scene toward the end of the book that I didn’t feel was super necessary to the plot. It didn’t detract from the plot, I guess, but it didn’t add anything either. It felt a little bit like a page filler. All things considered, it was a great book that I would recommend!

Recommendations A La Carte

Conclusion

Despite some critiques, A Flicker in the Dark has received overwhelmingly positive feedback. I fully enjoyed it and read it in about a day. Toward the end, I could hardly put it down! If you like flawed female protagonists, interesting perspectives, and psychological thrillers, this is the book for you.

Photo by Tony Phan on Unsplash

A globe with a blurry background

Why Learning a Language by Reading a Book Helps

If you’ve ever tried to learn a language, you know it’s difficult. Sometimes, the more you try, the more frustrated you feel. Especially at the beginning, it’s difficult to put the language in context, and it just feels like words on a page. That’s where my language tip for today comes in. Learning a language by reading a book will take your language journey to the next level. Here’s why.

 

#1: It puts the language in context

 

When you work in a language textbook or take a language class, you learn the concept. You become familiar with language structure and rules. However, you don’t always truly understand what this looks like in practice until you find yourself in a situation.

In teaching another language, we use two general types of materials: materials made for language learners and real-world materials. Most often, you will probably interact with a material made for language learners. This might look like a video for Spanish comprehension, a short story in French with vocabulary assistance, or an audio practice in English. These are great to help you get started.

However, you can take it to the next level by finding a book in your target language. Here, you won’t have the additional supports that the first category offers you. You’ll see your language in context: all the grammar rules, slang, and punctuation included. This will also teach you so much more about culture and underlying values than you could learn in a class.

Learning a language by reading a book might not be easy. It’s a jump from materials meant for language learners. But it will be worth it in the long run.

 

#2: It ties language learning to your interests

 

Even if you love learning a language, it can be draining to always work on workbooks and grammar practices.

Think about it–you do your grammar exercises. You practice your speaking. You read the selections provided to you. All of it is helpful, yes, but it’s not necessarily something that you’re interested in.

Reading allows you choice. Choice provides buy-in. Buy-in leads to more progress.

Why? Because you’re interested! You get to read about what you already enjoy, and you feel like you’re knocking out two things at the same time. Not only do you get to practice your language learning, but you also get to keep learning about something you enjoy. This prevents it from being too laborious or dry, and it helps to encourage your progress.

 

#3: You learn more vocabulary–naturally

 

The fastest way to attain vocabulary is by reading.

Think about it–how did you learn most of your native language? You read and you listened to others speak.

Now, as a language student, you want to do the same thing. Learning a language by reading a book works by almost overwhelming you with content and new words. As you sift through the avalanche of words and figure out a meaning, things start to click in your brain. Whereas you might otherwise remember vocabulary by memorizing it from a list, you will now determine it based off of context. This allows the word to stick in your brain so much easier, and you also automatically assign it meaning.

So, although it might be intimidating and frustrating at first, you will ultimately save yourself time in the long run. Reading is also an excellent place to start because it doesn’t have the same stress that speaking and listening do. You can review what was written as many times as you want, and you don’t have to adjust for accents. You also can pause to search a word if necessary, which makes it a great foundational block.

 

#4: It allows you to get familiar with grammar

 

Similar to vocabulary acquisition, reading lets you see grammar in context.

You’ll see it in your workbooks and exercises. No doubt about it. But it can be difficult to assign meaning to these things when they’re not relevant to you. This ultimately results in you not mastering them all the way.

If you’ve ever been to a country that speaks your target language, you’ll know what I mean. You do your grammar exercises, practice speaking, and feel confident in your language abilities. Then you get there, and it’s like everything flies out the window. You forget basic grammatical structure, and when you hear someone else say a sentence, sometimes you forget the simplest of things!

That’s why learning a language by reading helps. It’s a low-stress way to let the grammatical patterns sink in naturally. You see the same structures over and over again, which ingrains them in your brain. Before you know it, you’re able to transfer your knowledge to other areas like writing and speaking.

 

#5: It builds your confidence

 

Finally, learning a language by reading a book can greatly boost your confidence. Language learning can be incredibly frustrating. It’s totally normal to plateau and have dips and rises. However, reading a book in your target language will be so satisfying. As you finish that last page, you’ll be so proud that you made it through an entire book in a different language. Yes, it was difficult, and yes, you got frustrated. But you persevered, and you learned so much along the way.

Conclusion

Learning a language by reading a book is just what you need to take your language learning journey to the next level. Once you feel confident enough, find a book. It can be anything, from picture books to novels. Then, take a deep breath and start reading. It will be difficult at first, yes, but as you start to naturally acquire vocabulary and grammar while delving deeper into your interests, you will build confidence. Now, the question is: what book will you start out with? Let me know in the comments.

Photo Credit: Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash

A banner for Romantic Comedy: a pink background with hearts and a picture of the book

Rating: 2 out of 5.

Introduction

Romantic Comedy is a 2023 novel by Curtis Sittenfeld. I’ll be honest: it wasn’t my favorite novel. I definitely went in with some high expectations, which could have influenced my outcome. However, there’s always an audience for something, and it may just not have been my cup of tea. Below is my honest review of what worked well and didn’t work so well so that you can decide for yourself.

Summary of Romantic Comedy

Sally is a writer at The Night Owls, aka SNL in a parallel universe. She loves her job and the people she works with. Enter Noah Brewster, the guest for the week. He’s both the main and musical guest, and Sally automatically detests him because she thinks his pop music is sappy and meaningless, and that he must only date models, etc. However, as they work together to come up with material for the show, some chemistry is sparked. Told in three parts over about three years, this book traces the relationship between the two in a world that focuses on fame and beauty.

Context

Romantic Comedy is a book by Curtis Sittenfeld, an American author who tends to focus on women and their stories. Sittenfeld has been a published author since 2005, and many of her stories have taken place at the intersection of feminism and politics or cultural events (i.e., Rodham). Romantic Comedy is her seventh novel. According to this article, Sittenfeld was inspired to write this novel while her family watched SNL during the pandemic, which is pretty clearly reflected in the story. I’d actually highly recommend this Variety article, as it gives some interesting insight into her inspiration and gives you an idea of how the characters came to be.

Romantic Comedy Review

Like I said, this wasn’t my favorite book. Honestly, I found it pretty hard to keep going, and I only finished because 1) I wanted to see if it was going somewhere, and 2) I was committed to finishing what I started. By the end, I was wondering what was up with the title, as I didn’t find much romance or comedy. Instead, I felt like I was dragging through to the end. Again, could just be me!

I’ll start with what worked.

I think that my main problem was that I loved the premise, but found the execution to fall flat.

I could tell that Sittenfeld was very educated and very passionate. Even if the book was a little overly pedantic at times, I appreciated the attention that she took in adhering to proper grammar rules. It did read a bit like an English teacher wrote it (spoken by an English teacher), but I never got frustrated about bad writing. If the characters had had more life and been more likeable, the book would have had a lot more promise for me.

Additionally, she is clearly a great researcher. If she were to write a book about the making of SNL, I think she would be super successful. Her effort was very clear. She also tied in the pop culture trend of average SNL guys dating beautiful celebrities, which I could appreciate. Once more, it was the execution that was lacking for me.

Finally, I like that she tried to make mature characters. Noah reads very much like Rafael Solano after the midseason hiatus of Jane the Virgin season three: Zen, mature, not problematic—almost to an annoying degree. I did appreciate that the book didn’t have some explosive, dramatic fight that was the result of a simple miscommunication (i.e., the general rom com plot). The characters (overall) communicated like adults, even if I think it became stilted and exaggerated, as I will explain below.

Now here’s what didn’t work.

I think my problem started at the exposition and continued with the structure. Romantic Comedy is told in three parts: 2018, some emails in 2020, and then another section in 2020. By three parts, I do literally mean three chapters of 70-100 pages each. For me, this was a questionable structure choice, and it made it difficult for me to keep reading. Without the chance to breathe, reflect, and build suspense at the end of each chapter, it felt like it dragged along. I usually have a good attention span, but I struggled to read this over several sittings.

The first part contributed to this the most. While it did pick up during the second half of the book, half of the first section (35-50 pages) explained Sally’s job, her day to day, and things like salaries and daily schedules for her coworkers. “Show, don’t tell” felt like it was thrown out the window, and I felt more like I was reading a behind-the-scenes of SNL than a romcom. Sittenfeld obviously did a fantastic job researching, and I did learn a lot about SNL. However, it felt more like a flex of how much she’d read than actual plot building at times.

The Characters

After we learn all about the show, we start to learn more about Sally herself, aka alternate-universe Amy Schumer. She is in her late 30s, writes jokes about bodily functions, and despises relationships. After a failed “starter marriage” and a guy who she thought was her soulmate rejected her, she has sworn off dating and stuck to friends-with-benefits situations. Her insecurity is very clear, as she goes on many times about how she is plain and funny and not a model. Throughout the 300 or so pages of the book, she does not really develop.

The entire premise of the Romantic Comedy is that Sally’s friend, aka alternate-universe Pete Davidson, dates a starlet who is prettier and more successful than him. This has happened often in TNO, and Sally is frustrated that attractive and successful women go for average men (and not the other way around), so she tries to make a skit about this. Noah (the guest) disagrees with this concept, and thus begins the plot.

As far as characters go, I can’t really say that there was one that I truly loved. Jerry, Sally’s stepdad, was the most likeable, and their relationship was nice, but it didn’t go very deep. I suppose the female friendship aspect was nice too. I would have to re-read to tell you if it passes the Bechdel test.

Our two main characters, however, fell very flat. Sally is a pick-me girl. The main problem with this is that she’s not an insecure 14-year-old, but is instead an insecure almost 40-year- old. Don’t get me wrong—everyone has their moments of insecurity, and it would be fictitious to make her without flaws. However, there wasn’t enough depth or likeability to her character to make her believable or enjoyable. Her constant complaining and self-pity about how she’s not hot enough for Noah and how he must not like her felt very high school.

Then it felt like overcompensation. Noah sounds like he is a dream prototype man written by a late Gen X or millennial. He is “sensitive” and “mature” and “conscious about the world.” All of these are, of course, good things.

However, all of them together made him feel like a Ken doll in a girl’s Barbie game. He was written to be the perfect man, and even his (obligatory) vices are meant to make him more likeable and perfect. He had a drinking problem, then he fixed it. Now, he meditates, abstains from alcohol, thinks about social consciousness, and writes songs. For no discernable reason, he is crazy about Sally. This could theoretically be plausible, but it felt more like a fantasy to me.

Honestly, all of their conversations reminded me of when I had to create conflict resolution role-plays to teach kids how to react in various situations. It was healthy, yes, but nothing about the way that Noah and Sally talked felt organic. There was no real conflict or chemistry. I will be the first to tell you that a romantic comedy doesn’t need to follow the typical structure (meet cute, fall in love, misunderstanding and separate, back together for HEA) to be a true romantic comedy. However, this one essentially had no conflict, and it left me confused what the whole point was.

This brings me to what it did feel like the point of Romantic Comedy was.

I’m not a very political person, but I found myself annoyed throughout Romantic Comedy. The author makes no secret about hiding her (or Sally’s) political views. Sally is your quintessential millennial Hillary Clinton sycophant. There’s nothing wrong with putting your political views into a book if it’s relevant to the plot. What annoyed me was that this felt irrelevant, exaggerated, and preachy. If you’re like me and you don’t love political views being pushed at you, even if you agree with some of them, you’ll probably be similarly frustrated.

For example, during the 2020 email section (Section 2), Sally and Noah have a conversation that drags out about BLM and Karens and white feminist women who miss the mark. First, this did very little to advance the plot. Second, Sally is exactly the type of person she’s talking about. She is nothing but judgmental, both with this and with everything else. However, for reasons beyond me, Noah is into it, and she is quickly driving across the country to be with him and advance their relationship. From there, it’s history.

Naturally, because it’s written in 2020, there is also talk about masks, restrictions, and the climate of the time. Personally, I don’t know why anyone would want to remember that year. However, the author made such a point about the masks and following the restrictions to the point where it is confusingly unnecessary. It felt more like a pedantic user guide of how you should act–published three years late. From detailed descriptions of masks to the protocol the characters were following to talking about pods (“we’re in a pod now, so I think it’s okay to take off the mask”), it was too much.

Mostly, I didn’t understand the reason why. The plot sort of revolved around the pandemic, but loosely so. The main influence the pandemic seemed to have was them wearing masks, Sally moving, Noah getting Covid and contemplating his life, and another character getting it and (very briefly) struggling with it. Most of this honestly wasn’t pandemic-dependent and could have occurred closer to when the book was published.

As I finished, it felt very full circle. Just like at the start, I was confused by the pacing. I had to look at the page count toward the end, because I genuinely could not believe that it was ending. I won’t spoil it, but essentially what happens is that most of the drama occurs within the last 15 or so pages.

Again, I’m sure that there’s an audience for this book, and my high expectations may have influenced my final perception of the book. I think that with more interesting, lively characters and a less pedantic tone, this book would have gone much further for me.

Recommendations A La Carte

Takeaways/Conclusion

It’s clear that Romantic Comedy was not the book for me. I’ve seen other reviews that have heralded the author’s breakaway from genre stereotypes, loved the chemistry, and appreciated the dialogue, so it really depends on what your cup of tea was. Personally, I believe that the general idea was awesome, but the execution wasn’t for me. I wouldn’t recommend this book, but I do definitely think that it has an audience that will love it.

Scroll to Top