What Chicks Are Reading

Chick Jana

Being a woman who has gone through a divorce, I found Open House by Elizabeth Berg to be a very true and real book about the feelings a woman goes through during such a tumultuous time her life. However, I don't think it speaks only to women who have gone through a divorce. It's for every woman who finds herself in her life or her marriage not being true to who she is. It speaks to every woman's inner voice that knows she is playing a role, a role of being what you think others think you should be instead of being who you really are. I found parts where I was laughing out loud at many of Berg's point's of view. Very insightful, simply written and a quick read. I recommend it to every woman who would like to get more in touch with themselves.
 

I enjoy books that let me read about experiences that I never had growing up. I especially like reading about racial differences, since I had and have no idea what it's like to be a minority. Mother of Pearl is beautifully written book about a handful of characters in a small town in Alabama in the 1950's. It's an excellent historical perspective about what was going on at the time, along with delving into each character's internal struggle to find peace with oneself and the world. This is Melinda Haynes' first book and it's a doozy. They're comparing her literary style to William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor. It's is a smooth, sweet read. I found myself saving a chapter each night instead of devouring it. I wanted to live with the characters and their small town for as long as I could.  [TOP of PAGE]

Chick Jeanette

I read Tara Road by Maeve Binchy, a good book for women mainly. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It tells the story of two women, one from America and one from Ireland, who switch lives, and in doing that learn so much about each other and themselves. The gal who lives in Ireland is married and has two children and she feels she has a very happy marriage and fulfilling life until her husband comes home and tells her he is leaving her for his young, pregnant girlfriend. The other gal is from New England and has been unable to adjust to her only sons death. A chance call unites them and they make plans to come and live in each other's houses. Their lifestyles, personalities, and activities differ from each other but the story shows how their new lives entwine with each others because of new friends and activities.

It was a 500 plus page book but one that I was always anxious to return to. I sometimes wish that the ending would have been a little different but reflections now show that the ending the way it is is probably best. It is a very moving story that I am sure any of you women will enjoy reading. [TOP of PAGE]

Chick Kristin

Hawaii by James A Michener. Any author who can wisk me away to the beaches of Kauai, through his words, is a saint. I know you're thinking, "Do I really want to read all 1036 pages," to learn how Hawaii came to be the island culture that we know and love? I say, emphatically, "YES."

Read on and learn how the islands formed, how they will continue to change, how people actually arrived to the islands and more. Fall in love with the rich cultural and societal structures that ruled Hawaii, by following a fictional love story of one woman's rise to power. Envision the storms, the gardenial landscapes and the floral and fauna for which Hawaii is famous today. [TOP of PAGE]

Chick Megan

How I Accidentally Joined the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy (And Found Inner Peace) by Harry Stein. If the title of this book didn't raise your eyebrows perhaps the content will. Being someone who studied Communications and was particularly attuned to journalism, I was always aware of the glaring media biases. I often dealt with these biases throughout my college years because my views were often centrist or just right of it; quite atypical in a college setting. Harry Stein was your typical extreme left 60's journalist, out to change the world and eager to spread the liberal word. Any opinions he met that weren't equal to his fell on deaf ears. This candid and heartfelt story describes his gradual transformation to a more conservative lifestyle, and the many obstacles he encountered along the way. A journey, I believe, many can relate to, and after finishing this book might possibly even confess to...   [TOP of PAGE]

Chick Susie

The Sixteenth Round: From Number 1 to #45472, by Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. Having read the more recent Hurricane: The Miraculous Journey of Rubin Carter by James Hirsch and seeing the movie, I was still intrigued, and wanted to read the original autobiography that inspired the motion picture. Somewhat of a daunting task as the book was originally copyrighted and printed in 1974, it is difficult to find. I was a successful bidder on amazon.com's auction site and found this book to be more engrossing than either it's motion picture version or the James Hirsch account. Rubin Carter was the top contender for the world middleweight boxing championship. He and another young man were found guilty of the murder of three white people in a New Jersey bar. The book is his perspective and was written to help force a new trial, however, more importantly, it gives a glimpse of growing up black in America, trashes the American prison system and recounts the 60's. My vote goes to either this rendering or Bob Dylan's song: "Here comes the story of the Hurricane, the man the authorities came to blame, for something that he never done, put in a prison cell, but one time he could have been the champion of the world."
 

Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley. I am not typically a reader of World War II books, but it seemed appropriate now that we are losing that generation of veterans at the rate of 1000 per day. The book tells the story of the six men who raised the American flag, actually re-raised it on Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima during World War II. Beyond that account, the book has a greater, deeper meaning. It was written by the son of one of the flag raisers and serves as a tribute to his Dad. His Dad felt that the real heroes were those men who did not return from WWII. The book gave great insight to the Marine Corps, my Dad was a navy man, so I knew very little about the Marines. It was quite graphic about the horrors and indignities of war. It also gives the reader a look at the life and times postwar, which is intriguing because it represents our parents' living history.
 

Done Deals by Udayan Gupta. A compilation of 35 venture capitalists and their individual stories, actually written by those VC's individually and compiled by the author. Good reading if you are interest in the contrast between the early venture capitalists and those of late, also serves to illustrate the differences between our two geographical coasts in this industry. Most interesting chapter to me written by Michael Volpi of Cisco Systems. In this chapter he discusses the dilemma of innovative high-tech companies, to buy or to build. Prior to reading this book I didn't know that Cisco had a venture investing group. Most will find this book somewhat inconsistent because of the various literary (can I actually call it that) styles of the chapter authors and a lot of what they communicate is repetitive. I thoroughly enjoyed this read.  [TOP of PAGE]