Tag Archives: Book Review

Review: The Nest

The Nest
The Nest
By Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney
Ecco Press, Hardcover, 9780062414212, March 2016, 368pp.

The Short of It:

One sibling’s poor decision ends up jeopardizing the nest egg that his other siblings have come to rely on.

The Rest of It:

Family secrets and money. The two seem to go hand in hand and that is most definitely the case here. The Plumb family is dysfunctional but also somewhat typical in that they all have their own unique issues to deal with.

When Leo’s drunk driving results in the injury of a young woman, a woman who is not his wife, the nest egg that all of this siblings expected to receive when the youngest turned forty, is instead used to keep things quiet. This upsets them and they react to the news in different ways.Threatened by their predicament, they turn towards each other for support.

This was a pretty good read. At first, it felt a little superficial but it quickly turned into something much more complex. Whenever people are thrown into a difficult situation, how they recover and what they do next says a lot about them. These siblings are forced to “make it work” and although there is worry and stress and plenty of resentment, there is also a family bond that can’t be ignored.

Overall, a very good read.

Source: Borrowed
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

Review: Sweetbitter

Sweetbitter

Sweetbitter
By Stephanie Danler
Knopf Publishing Group, Hardcover, 9781101875940, May 2016, 368pp.

The Short of It:

An apt title for a story that pushes you away as much as it pulls you in.

The Rest of It:

Youth. Remember it? Maybe it’s been awhile since you’ve felt that elusive, fleeting happiness that percolates ever so gently when it comes to love. Well, this story captures it beautifully.

New York City is the backdrop for this novel and it’s dizzying in its perfection. Even with the bug infestations and the rats running through the street, Tess finds it to be magical in its own way.

“It’s ludicrous for anyone to live here,” she thinks, at the same time, she thinks, “I can never leave.” ~Sweetbitter

Tess moves to the city with the hopes to reinvent herself. In her twenties, it’s as if the world is there for the taking so when she lands a job at a well-known restaurant, she quickly falls into the routine of the place which includes many players, much drama and Jake, the bartender she’s completely obsessed with.

Tess is a work-in-progress. She’s green when it comes to love and war and she takes a beating both professionally and personally. Her eagerness to learn and her willingness to take it all in makes her vulnerable and somewhat innocent. Often times I found myself wanting to shake her a little but as I approached the final pages, I realized just how masterful the writing was.

There’s so much to love about this book. There’s food and wine and plenty of flawed, interesting people and Danler absolutely nailed the restaurant industry. I suppose it’s a coming-of-age story but it’s sophisticated, gritty and brutal in its honesty. I highly recommend it.

Source: Borrowed
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.