Mini Reviews: The Lonely Polygamist, Garlic and Sapphires and The Wordy Shipmates
by Jenners • 06/05/2011 • 3 Stars, 3.5 Stars, 4 Stars, Fiction, G Titles, History, L Titles, Memoir, Non-Fiction, R Authors, U Authors, V Authors, W Titles • 61 Comments
I’m slowly but surely whittling down my backlog of reviews to write. A few more sets of mini reviews and I’ll be caught up. Woo hoo!
The Lonely Polygamist by Brady UdallPublisher: W.W. Norton & Company, 2010
Pages: 624
Genre: Fiction
Where I Got It: Bought it for my Kindle
My Rating: 4 stars
Brief Description: Golden Richards has four wives, 28 children and a struggling construction business. If his life isn’t already complicated enough, he is contemplating starting an affair. Trish, one of Golden’s newest wives and unable to conceive any children with him, begins to wonder if polygamy is the right choice for her and her daughter from a previous marriage. Rusty, one of the middle children in a family where almost everyone is a middle child, struggles to stand out in a family where it is easy to get lost. The voices of Golden, Trish and Rusty weave together throughout this book to provide a multi-faceted view of a polygamist lifestyle from the view of the husband, a wife and one of the children.
My Thoughts: This book has the magic combination of elements that I look for in a novel: a sense of humor (often leaning toward the dark side) mixed with tragedy and heartbreak and the ability to illuminate a type of lifestyle that is unfamiliar to me. Although the title of the book sounds like an oxymoron, Brady Udall effectively conveys how the life of a polygamist could be incredibly isolating and lonely. The loneliness that drives Golden to have an affair felt completely believable to me, and I found myself rooting for him! But Udall makes a genius decision to bring in the voices of Trish and Rusty to counterbalance Golden’s perspective. I felt for all of them and was so involved in their lives that, even though the book is 624 pages long, I wasn’t ready to leave at the end. Although many parts of the novel are very funny (particularly one scene with some lost gum), Udall gives his characters real pain and problems too, which keeps them grounded in the real world. This was a wondrous read, and I would highly recommend it. If you are concerned with how it portrays a polygamist lifestyle, I’d have to say that I thought Udall’s depiction felt realistic, complicated, and multi-layered (as I imagine it might be).
Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth ReichlPublisher: Penguin, 2006
Pages: 352
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir
Where I Got It: Bought it
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Brief Description: Ruth Reichl became the restaurant critic for the New York Times in 1993, and this book is an account of her tenure there. Combining her personal account of the job (including the elaborate disguises she created to avoid detection), reprints of some of her reviews, and several of her own recipes for the various dishes and foods discussed in the book, this memoir is a must-have for foodies as well as an interesting read for non-foodies (like myself).
My Thoughts: The only reason I picked up this book was because I needed a “book with a gem in the title” for the What’s In A Name Challenge. As a non-foodie (I confess that I skip almost all cooking and food-related blogging posts), I wasn’t sure if this book was going to resonate with me. However, the chance to learn about the life of a restaurant critic helped me overcome any doubts. I’m glad I gave it a shot because it was an interesting and relatively painless read (yes … I skimmed the recipe parts). It was fun to hear about how she came up with her various disguises to eat undetected in some of New York’s finest restaurants, and how her “radical” approach to restaurant reviews often caused controversy. I thought she was down-to-earth and egalitarian in expecting restaurants to earn their stars by treating celebrities and “unknowns” the same, and it was a kick to hear about her two very different experiences at Le Cirque (once eating as herself and once eating disguised as an old woman). I loved that she wrote about her experiences and then shared the resulting reviews that she wrote; it made the book to come alive and helped me to understand her as a critic. And darn … she even made a non-foodie like me want to try some of these dishes! I think the appeal of this book extends beyond the foodie crowd, and I’d recommend it if you’re looking for a memoir with a different spin.
The Wordy Shipmates written and narrated by Sarah Vowell and othersPublisher: Simon & Schuster Audio, 2008
Length: 7 hours and 15 minutes
Genre: Non-Fiction
Where I Got It: Downloaded it from Audible
My Rating: 3 stars
Brief Description: Sarah Vowell uses her irreverence and considerable intelligence to explore the world and influence of “the Wordy Shipmates” (aka the Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony), some of the wordiest and most influential settlers of the United States. With a particular emphasis on Massachusetts Bay Colony governor John Winthrop (who coined the famous and oft-used “city upon a hill” metaphor), Rhode Island’s founder Roger Williams (whose personality confounded me over and over again) and Anne Hutchinson (a woman just couldn’t keep her mouth shut when she should have), Vowell explores the influence and legacy of the Puritans on the United States.
My Thoughts: Although I realize that I want my history given to me by the likes of Sarah Vowell (irreverent and not afraid to go off to follow interesting tangents), I did not enjoy this book as much as I did Assassination Vacation. It just figures that the Puritans could put a damper on even Vowell’s snarky smart-assedness. I can’t quite figure out if it was the subject matter or Vowell just wasn’t in the groove for this one, but I felt like I was listening to it forever. Part of it was that Vowell played it more straight than usual and there were fewer pop culture references and personal stories to liven things up. Still, I managed to learn a lot and gain a better understanding of U.S. history. I guess I was just expecting more laughs. Harumph.
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I’ve got The Lonely Polygamist on my bookshelf to read, where it’s been since Zibilee gave it such a glowing review. This one puts it high on my list- once I’m back in Ann Arbor, I’ll certainly take it down to read!
I added it to my list after reading Zibilee’s review too! She was totally right about how wonderful it was. Definitely make time for it!!!
The Lonely Polygamist sounds like a great book and I’m definitely going to add it to my list. A book that has humor and a nutty storyline and a character that seems ready to make a bad decision but it makes sense why he’s doing it, is too hard to pass up!
I want to read some of Sarah Vowell’s books but I think I’ll pass on the Wordy Shipmates. Assassination Vacation sounds like a good one though!
Great mini reviews!
I’d highly recommend The Lonely Polygamist. It involved me in this lifestyle I don’t know much about in a way I didn’t expect.
I feel like slapping my hand and saying, “Bad Kel why can’t you read as much as Jenners?” You’re amazing at reading and reviewing!!
I’m really not compared to other book bloggers. There are some who post a review EVERY DAY!
Garlic and Sapphires is one of my favorite books that’s kind of about food (I like the way you describe some of the other things it’s about).
Maybe the first Sarah Vowell book one reads is always the favorite. The Wordy Shipmates was my first, and I didn’t like Assassination Vacation quite as much.
Maybe there is a strange Sarah Vowell Experience in which the first book will always be the best. : )
I have Ruth Reichl’s book on my wishlist after reading The United States of Arugula (a history of the restaurant industry in the U.S. and the evolution of our food choices)…I’m probably a foodie…I enjoy reading that kind of stuff
Have you ever seen Big Love (Showtime or HBO I think series on a polygamist )? I caught a couple of episodes on a business trip a few months ago…Bill Paxton is the polygamist. I can’t decide what I think…while the show was interesting I just couldn’t imagine more than one woman sharing the same man…seems like to me there would be a cat fight every day. ?
I haven’t seen Big Love but reading The Lonely Polygamist made me want to check it out. I thought the book did such a good job of pointing out the good and bad of polygamy and made it seem more “real” and “not weird.” It was fascinating actually.
Nice mini reviews. Now I want to read The Lonely Polygamist. And Garlic and Sapphires sounds like an interesting memoir.
I would say The Lonely Polygamist is a must read. It was so interesting and funny and touching too.
I’m just finishing up The Wordy Shipmates. How much do I love Sarah Vowell? SO MUCH.
I’ll definitely be checking the other two books out. They sound great. Did you read Frank Bruni’s book? It was really engaging.
I do love Sarah Vowell. Did you read Assassination Vacation? I thought that was even better than The Wordy Shipmates.
And I have not even HEARD of Frank Bruni’s book but I’ll have to check it out.
Curse you, new technology!!! And I should have read the small print, as you very clearly stated that there was Kindle and audio book included in your reviews!!!
It does stink that you can’t share Kindle books … but anything over 500 pages automatically goes on the e-reader. My wrists can’t handle it!
I’d definitely recommend The 19th Wife! Brilliant book.
On to the wishlist it goes! Thanks!
I really want to read something by Vowell! Assassination Vacation is at the top of my list, but this one sounds good too.
My book club read The Lonely Polygamist a few months ago, and if I recall correctly, it got a pretty good reception. I liked the dark humor of it.
I personally thought Assassination Vacation was better than this one. But I feel like I might have started with her best book, which always kinds of stinks.
And the dark humor was one of the primary draws of The Lonely Polygamist for me. Gotta love that dark humor!
The Lonely Polygamist…wow what an awesome title. Sounds like an episode of Big Love from HBO. I am quite interested in reading that book, especially if he’s cheating on his already four wives, he has to have some issues going on. The only thing is the 624 pages, I’m reading Shantaram right now with 934 pages and I’m overwhelmed at the lack of progress I’m making.
It amazed me how the author made it so understandable that he is cheating on his wives. You wouldn’t think you could but he does! : )
And it is a long book that doesn’t FEEL like a long book, if that makes any sense. Sounds like your 934-page book feels long! Ugh!
I will definitely plan to read The Lonely Polygamist. I saw about 5 minutes of Sister Wives last night on TLC and was fascinated!
I think polygamy is fascinating and this book made it come alive for me more than anything I’ve ever read. I know it is fictional but I thought it highlighted some of the realities that are probably there … but in a humorous and touching way.
You make The Lonely Polygamist sound so good. I don’t think it would normally tempt me, but then again I have been sucked into watching Sister Wives each week.
I’m also happy to see that you didn’t like Wordy Shipmates as much. It’s the only one of hers I’ve tried and I was bored. I’ll have to give the Assassination Vacation a try if I decide to attempt reading her work again.
The Lonely Polygamist was soooo good. I think you would like it. I personally thought it made polygamy more real to me but in a balanced way.
And I’m afraid I read Sarah Vowell’s best book first. Assassination Vacation was so fun … but Wordy Shipmates was not. Darn Puritans!
Thanks for the review. The first one sounds most interesting. Have you read The 19th Wife?
I haven’t read The 19th Wife but I’ve heard it mentioned on quite a few book blogs. I might have to check it out. Would you recommend it?
The Lonely Polygamist looks really interesting even though I’m not usually a polygamy fiction fan. I think the humor element is what is drawing me. Good stuff!
I must confess that this was my first “polygamy” book (other than Jon Krakauer’s Under the Banner of Heaven, which I don’t really count). It was so well done.
The first sounds oddly interesting, one I think I might enjoy.
The second, while I certainly don’t consider myself a foodie..I do like reading this kind of stuff and I do like what little I know of Ruth Reichl.
The third…well, Puritans have never particularly appealed to me. ahahah!
I think The Lonely Polygamist is a must read actually, and if you like Ruth Reichl, the other one is a no brainer.
I took The Lonely Polygamist out of the library several months ago, but never got around to reading it (so long, such a boring cover!). Having read your review, I’m inspired to give it another try!
The cover is boring. The book is anything but!! Get it out and give it another go!
Thank goodness you enjoyed The Lonely Polygamist – I bought a copy last week.
Whew!!! Hope you like it as much as I did.
The Lonely Polygamist was one of my favorite reads of last year, and I have already bought multiple copies to lend out. I am so glad that you enjoyed it and that it struck the right chord with you. It was a book that I will never forget. Great set of mini-reviews, by the way!
I think your review of The Lonely Polygamist was the one that caused me to actually buy it and read it. So thanks for that!! It was such a good book!
I can’t wait to read The Lonely Polygamist! Also, I agree with you on The Wordy Shipmates – Assassination Vacation was better (Vowell’s best, so far – I still have one or two to go).
I’m actually stunned you haven’t read The Lonely Polygamist yet. You seem to read everything out there. It is good one. And I’ll give Vowell another try but I’m wondering if I read her best one first.
I’m so glad you gave Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl a try. I love all of Reichl’s memoirs — but, then, I’m a foodie.
I thought it was fitting that I read a foodie book for your challenge actually! : )
Thanks for the reviews….if you end up giving these ones away later….I am definitely going to enter the giveaway! While polygamy is fascinating – in a car wreck sort of way – I would really like to see how her disguises determined how she would be treated at different restaurants!
You can expect Garlic and Sapphires but the other one was on my Kindle so no giveaway and the other was an audio.
i loved garlic and sapphires – loved your review!
Thanks. It was such a catchy little title.
Ok then. The Lonely Polygamist is the must have of the trio!
Yes … if you are only going to read one of them, The Lonely Polygamist is it!
Oh shoot! I went book shopping yesterday and forgot to get The Lonely Polygamist! I meant to.. darn it.
Well, it is 624-pages so it might be best to get it for your Kindle.
I really enjoyed Garlic and Sapphires…. I had almost forgot about that book!
Too funny. It wasn’t one of my most “cutting edge” reads. : )
I have a Sarah Vowell but have read some questions about her credentials as a “historian” so I have sort of been avoiding it, even though I have heard she is quite entertaining.
I didn’t really research her credentials too much. Sandy told me she was good so I tried her!
The audio version of Lonely Polygamist was very good. I enjoyed this one more than expected to, which is always a good thing.
I imagine it would be a really good audiobook. I liked it more than expected too.
I’m glad you enjoyed the Lonely Polygamist as much as I did, I love the gum part,I don’t think I’ll ever chew gum in bed again. I too didn’t want the book to end, haven’t started Garlic and Sapphires yet, have a great week.
The gum part was so funny. The fact that he NEVER questions how it got there just killed me. I’ll be curious what you think of Garlic and Sapphires.
All three are books I want to read! Thanks for the reviews …
But, 624 pages for THE LONELY POLYGAMIST?! I may need to take that on vacation!
Trust me … the 624 pages flies by!!!