Tag Archives: Laura Dave

‘London is the Best City in America’ by Laura Dave

Posted by Kate W in Fiction and tagged with , , , ,

Fact: I’ve never got back together (even for a moment) with an ex-boyfriend*. My motto is “The only break is a clean break”. This is pretty much my approach to everything – once I make a decision I don’t dwell on it, I forge ahead (for better or worse). Which is why I picked up Laura Dave’s novel, London is the Best City in America, a story about decisions and indecision.

The story begins with Emmy making what I considered a bold and decisive ‘clean break’ – she leaves her fiancée sleeping in a hotel room, the engagement ring on the pillow next to him, the unspoken words – ‘Is this as good as it gets?’ hanging in the air –

“.. Which left me with these constant questions – these awful, often avoidable questions – about what exactly I was willing to live without. In order to keep him. In order to not have to face the impossibility of another kind of life.” Continue reading →

Top Ten Tuesday – Favorite New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2012

Posted by Kate W in Fiction and tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

top-ten-new-to-me-authors

Well, finally a list that can’t possibly contain any John Irving (but see what I did there, slipped the name in… Are you thinking about Owen Meany now?!).

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new ‘top ten’ challenge is posted – anyone can join in. This week’s topic is Top Ten Favorite New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2012.

1. Chad Harbach – The Art of Fielding took Harbach ten years to write. I sincerely hope we don’t have to wait a decade for his next book.

2. Emily Perkins – New Zealand born Perkins thrilled me with her exquisite saga, The Forrests.

3. Laura Dave – for sharp chick-lit. Continue reading →

‘The First Husband’ by Laura Dave

Posted by Kate W in Fiction and tagged with , , , , ,

There’s a lot to say for another author’s testimonial on the jacket of a book. On the strength of Jonathan Tropper’s recommendation (that this book “Positively shines with wisdom and intelligence“), I picked up The First Husband by Laura Dave.

The First Husband is the story of Annie, a travel writer based in Los Angeles and happily ensconced in life with partner Nick, a film director who has just had his first major break. But there’s trouble ahead – Nick reunites with an old flame and dumps Annie. Annie, seemingly on the re-bound meets Griffin. And marries him. No surprises that Nick returns on the scene declaring he made a mistake letting Annie go.

You can probably guess exactly how this book ends (and you’re probably right). However that doesn’t stop The First Husband being a thoroughly enjoyable, light read. Continue reading →