Cakewalk

Cakewalk (2010) by Kate Moses. Yet another memoir with recipes which, honestly, I'm still not tired of. Moses specializes in sweets -- cakes, pies, brownies, tortes, anything with butter and sugar and flour in it -- and the recipes she offers up are mouth-watering. The memories of her life which she offers us are bittersweet at best. Having been raised by parents who were ill-matched, Moses and her brothers had struggles before and after becoming adults. The family moved multiple times, Moses' mother always a bit crazy, her father always angry. After Moses left home for college, the craziness continued, but she began to build a life for herself and eventually, as luck would have it, triumphed. This memoir is not as compelling as some I've read, but it's a good read. Grade: B+

Save the Deli

Save the Deli (2009) by David Sax. The subtitle of this book is "In Search of Perfect Pastrami, Crusty Rye, and the Heart of Jewish Delicatessen." Sax does indeed embark on a search, traveling all over the U.S. and even overseas in search of good delis. For the most part he is disappointed, but he does find the occasional deli, owned by a dedicated deli man (and they are mostly men), that gives him hope for the survival of this American institution. Sax tastes matzo ball soup, pastrami sandwiches, knishes, kishke and kreplach, among many other delicacies, in his quest. He also provides a food and Yiddish appendix, listing key foods and Yiddish terms, so "you don't sound like a schmuck." In addition, he provides a listing of delis which he visited in his journeys -- useful if you're going to be traveling, or if you happen to live close to a major metro area. A mouth-watering book. Grade: A

Italian Shoes

Italian Shoes (2009) by Henning Mankell. A man -- a doctor -- lives on a small private island in Sweden, with just his dog and his cat to keep him company. Why has he chosen to live this way, with no human contact other than the postman? It seems that years earlier, when he was a practicing surgeon, he made a terrible mistake during and operation that forever altered the life of his patient. He has isolated himself, and seeks no change, when suddenly one day appears on the ice Harriet, the woman he abandoned so many years ago. She has come to make him fulfill a promise he made to her, and they set off together on a journey that will forever alter the doctor's life. It's a well-told story, although it starts rather slowly, it builds toward several climaxes of considerable power. I enjoyed reading it, but all in all I didn't really like the doctor, so had little investment in his eventual redemption. Grade: B+

The Sexy Book of Sexy Sex

The Sexy Book of Sexy Sex (2010) by Kristen Schaal and Rich Blomquist. This book must have sounded like a great idea when Schaal and Blomquist conceived it. What a title! It can't miss! But miss it does, with jokes that frequently fall flat and ill-conceived passages of prose that do nothing but bore. It's a hit-or-miss affair, with the occasional funny bit surrounded by filler that had to be thrown in to pad the book out to a full 192 pages. I found myself often leafing through the less interesting passages, skipping ahead to see if I could find something funny. I was usually disappointed. Too bad, because I think the concept of the book is great. The cover is well done too. Grade: C+

Why Not Say What Happened?

Why Not Say What Happened? (2010) by Ivana Lowell. Born into one of the most celebrated (and rich) Anglo-Irish families, the Guinnesses, Ivana Lowell was raised in extreme privilege tinged with neglect. In other words, she was one of those "poor little rich girls" you hear about. Naturally, she became an alcoholic and got into disastrous relationships. There's a lot of name-dropping in this book, including the Queen Mum and Bob and Harvey Weinstein. Lowell reveals a few secrets, but most of the people she's dishing about are dead. Her story is pretty interesting, confirming what we already know about money not buying happiness, but her writing is pretty pedestrian. And the Who's-your-daddy mystery seems way overblown. Grade: B-

Drinking: A Love Story

Drinking: A Love Story (1996) by Caroline Knapp. Knapp writes openly, honestly and confessionally about her life as an alcoholic, about her struggles before she stopped drinking, and about the challenge of living as a "sober alcoholic" since she quit drinking. It's a compelling narrative, although it does tend to get a little repetitive. Knapp, who since the publication of this book has died, really had a knack for describing emotions and relationships. Her book, though a bit dated, is hard to put down. I finished it wishing I could write her a letter telling her how much I admired it. Grade: A-

Room

Room (2010) by Emma Donoghue. Room is five-year-old Jack's entire world. It's where he was born and where he has grown up. It's also his mother's prison, a small cubicle where she has been kept prisoner by Old Nick, the man who abducted her -- and who fathered Jack. Told in Jack's voice, "Room" is the story of their life together in the small outbuilding, and later of their escape and introduction back into the outside world. It's wonderfully evocative and a beautiful little universe all unto itself. In its own confined way, it's a perfect little book. Grade: A

Corduroy Mansions

Corduroy Mansions (2009) by Alexander McCall Smith. Readers may better recall Smith as the author of "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency," his immensely successful debut novel. Since then he has written many books, of which "Corduroy Mansions" is one of the latest. I found it most enjoyable to read. It features a variety of delightful characters, most of whom have witty things to say, some of whom we can laugh at. It's set in a slightly run-down apartment building in London called Corduroy Mansions. The inhabitants of the building make up the majority of the cast of the book, and they are all a bit quirky, one way or another. It makes for a most entertaining read. Smith has a way with language and dialogue that gives it a natural sound and strikes the reader as funny because it is so true-to-life. This book also features one small, cute dog named Freddie de la Hay. Grade: A-

Just Like Someone Without Mental Illness Only More So

Just Like Someone Without Mental Illness Only More So (2010) by Mark Vonnegut. Vonnegut, the son of the famous writer Kurt Vonnegut Jr., suffers from schizophrenia. He's had four breakdowns, each of which has required hospitalization. Yet in spite of his disease, he managed to get accepted to Harvard Medical School, attend all his classes and become a practicing pediatrician. He also wrote a book, "The Eden Express," about his struggles with mental illness. "Just Like Someone" is a somewhat more light-hearted book covering similar ground, and updating his experiences. It's a good read, although it tends to wander at times off into regions of nebulosity. For those with mental illness, or their loved ones, it's highly recommended. Grade: A-