Sample Saturday is when I wade through the eleventy billion samples I have downloaded on my Kindle. I’m slowly chipping away and deciding whether it’s buy or bye.
This week, all three samples are from books by Lily Brett. After reading Lola Bensky, I went on a Brett binge.
Summary: Ruth Rothwax is in the business of writing letters (for other people) – condolence letters, thank-you letters, even you-were-great-in-bed letters. But although she’s great at sorting out other people’s feelings, she’s having trouble dealing with her own about her family history (daughter of a Polish Auschwitz survivor).
I’m thinking: Yes.
Summary: Ruth Rothwax branches into a greeting card line. And also thinks about ways women can support each other – until her sisterly solidarity is tested by a woman making a play for Ruth’s father.
I’m thinking: Probably but will read Too Many Men first.
Summary: Brett’s love letter to her adopted home town, New York (and to seeing it on foot).
I’m thinking: Yes – loved the first essays about Grand Central Station and bra shopping.
I have Too Man Men but have not read it yet.My husband did and he enjoyed it. I read Only in New York which I could easily read again. I love her New York Tales. Lola was a good book too. Loved it. I met Lily Brett here in Tasmania, I believe when Lily Brett came out. She signed books and talked about her book Lily Brett if I remember right. Many of her books have the Holocaust guilt in the children of the victims. I like it too when she writes of her childhood in Melbourne, Aus.
She certainly has particular themes but I don’t feel they\re repetitive – she retells her story in many ways. If you get a chance to read Lola Bensky, do – it’s a fantastic book and she’s obviously had a fascinating life.
Yes, I have read Lola Bensky and loved it. So funny in parts too.
I thought it was funny too, but I think that came from her honesty.
In 1980s, I’ve read Just Like That and Too Many Men and they are both good, three-star reads. (I’m uber mean with 5 stars, 4 is for books I really, really like/admire and 3 is for yes, enjoyed it and would recommend it to others but it’s not super-fantastic).
I think there might have been another that I brought home from the library and abandoned. I wasn’t the least bit interested in Lola Bensky and never even opened it to look.
Must admit I had Lola in my TBR stack for ages (I didn’t even buy it, it was given to me). Not sure what prompted me to finally pick it up but so glad I did – I really loved it and although I’m also tight with 4 and 5 stars, I think it will be one of my favourites this year.
They all sound great, I must get my hands on her work! Too Many Men in particular really appeals.
Lots of great bits about London and music in Lola – start there if you can track a copy down.
I have a copy of Too Many Men as well. It had been recommended by a former coworker who was trying to organize a group read. The group project never happened, but I did like the sound of the book!