Play Book Tag discussion

Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple
3 stars

While ultimately awarding this the same number of stars as Where'd You Go, Bernadette, I enjoyed Today Will Be Different a bit more mainly because I thought it was more evenly paced.

Hmmm, how to describe this book? Eleanor is a former graphic designer/art director for a TV show who now lives in Seattle with her high-profile sports doctor husband Joe and their some Timby. And Eleanor is quirky crazy. In a fun-but-if-she-gets-any-closer-to-the-edge-we-will-lose-her kind of way. Eleanor spends the book dragging her son around town (he is out of school sick) trying to figure out where her husband has been spending his days when he says he is going to work but tells work he is on vacation. There are flashbacks to Eleanor's childhood, her relationship with her sister, and she and Joe's relationship beginnings.

I found myself chuckling several times during this book. Semple really has a way with witty, sarcastic banter and I completely appreciate that. Eleanor was this dramatic, over-the-top character who built everything up in her mind to crazy proportions: maybe her husband was being held by the mob because there was a glitter explosion during an unsanctioned surgery on a yacht with gorgeous, foreign model/nurses?!? Honestly, I can appreciate that. But the true one-liner award goes to Timby, who responded to his mom's craziness in a manner that you could almost hear the eye rolls.

Ultimately though, it lacked substance. It was cute and light even though it tried to deal with heavier topics and sometimes it bounced around so much that I had to rewind and figure out what was what.

Eh, if you need a short, light, amusing but not life changing audio this winter and you appreciate over-the-top crazy and sarcastic wit, then give this one a whirl. But, if you skip it, no huge loss.

I felt so similarly. I liked it less than Bernadette and also gave it three stars. It was a wacky ride with a central character whose extremely hard to follow. Enjoyed it enough, but not a bit to be missed.

I really enjoyed Where'd You Go, Bernadette and was hoping for this to be equally as appealing. It seems like the reviews have been more lukewarm, but I think I'm still going to give it a chance soon. Plus I'm a sucker for books set in the Pacific NW!