BlogaBook

The Abingdon branch book discussion group (of Harford County Public Library) meets generally on the third Monday of each month. The group came into existence with the title Ladies Lite – Books with a Touch of Humor, then became Lite at Night. The readers who attend this group have decided that they prefer books on the lighter side, that the world is full of troubling news, that many of us are busy mothers and/or busy with careers and that discussion of books in a lighter or humorous vein offers us a lift and a laugh. We welcome new readers and can offer a fun and relaxed environment for a chat.

Our chosen book for May was Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella, published in 2006. The author has written a number of books and her most popular are those in the Shopaholic series.

Here is what Publisher’s Weekly had to say about the book.

From Publishers Weekly. Samantha Sweeting, the 29-year-old heroine of Kinsella's latest confection (after Shopaholic Sister), is on the verge of partnership at the prestigious London law firm Carter Spink—the Holy Grail of her entire workaholic life. But when she finds she has made a terrible, costly mistake just before the partnership decision, she's terrified of being fired. In a fog, she stumbles out of the building and onto the nearest train, which drops her in the countryside, where she wanders to a stately home. The nouveau riche lady of the house mistakes her for the new housekeeper—and Samantha is too astonished to correct her. Numb and unable to face returning to London, Samantha tries to master the finer points of laundry, cooking and cleaning. She discovers that the slow life, her pompous but good-hearted employers and the attentions of the handsome gardener, Nathaniel, suit her just fine. But her past is hard to escape, and when she discovers a terrible secret about her firm—and when the media learns that the former legal star is scrubbing toilets for a living—her life becomes more complicated than ever. If readers can swallow the implausible scenario, then Kinsella's genuine charm and sweet wit may continue to win her fans. (July)

The group came up with these words to apply to the book – fluff, fun, love, romance. We thought it a modern day fairytale with aspects of the unbelievable. In general we enjoyed reading it, thinking it was good for beach or air travel reading.

Despite the fact that this was light reading, it did have some elements that provoked intense discussion. The humor in the novel stems from the fact that Samantha, the main character cannot cook or clean or even sew on a button. Yet, through a misunderstanding, she ends up becoming a housekeeper. Our discussion turned on the fact that many women today cannot do any of these things either. We talked about changes in priorities and changes in women’s lives.

When you read this book, here are some questions you might ask:
How have women’s domestic lives changed since the fifties?
How many women do you know who work and raise a family?
How many do you know who cannot or do not like to cook?
What changes have taken place in family meal times?
Can you have a high-powered career and raise a family? What might you have to sacrifice?

We hope you enjoy this novel for its easy reading and yet consider that even light reading can spur discussion.

Here are some other titles you might consider.
1. Every Boy's Got One by Meg Cabot
2. Mr. Maybe by Jane Green
3. Sushi for Beginners by Marian Keyes
4. Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella
5. Goodnight Nobody : a novel by Jennifer Weiner
6. The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

April 16th the group will be reading Baby Proof by Emily Giffin
To have a baby or not to have a baby – that is the question.

May 21st will be The Good Good Pig by Sy Montgomery (non-fiction)
Delightful and cheerful book about how a pig affects its family.