YOU SAY TOMATO and I SAY SHUT-UP A Real Cut Up of a Couple's Marriage/Gurwitch vs Kahn

Annabelle Gurwitch is an actress, activist, author, TV personality, single mother, i.e., a regular Renaissance woman for the 21st C. She is the co-author (with her ex, Jeff Kahn) of "You Say Tomato and I Say Shut Up".  For those who don't recognize a Gershwin tune (shame on you), the title is a clever play on a song about the myriad ways love can go wrong.  Oh, let me count the ways...  or better, read about the fray in the troubled courtship and tumultuous marriage between Annabelle and Jeff.  Jeff is successful TV writer.  He received a Primetime Emmy for ("The Ben Stiller Show") 1993.  This memoir is told by the talented and successful duo, Annable and Jeff about when they met, fell in lust, parted, reunited, fell in love, got married, had a son and after more than a decade of marital banter, parted ways.  Annable and Jeff take us down memory lane from their first meeting at a party.  Jeff was immediately smitten upon seeing Annabelle frying-up latkahs in a LA kitchen for a holiday party.  Annabelle, a self-proclaimed flirt was married at the time to her first husband. Jeff was crushed when he learned this tidbit which wasn't shared by Annabelle. They do tell share intimate details of the same sequence of events in chronological order from their perspective.  Told candidly, with dollops of hilarity flavoring their antics; feelings of jealousy, animosity and mainly, an unflappable amorous attachment. At least that was the slant I eschewed from the dynamic two who seemed fated, dated, married and mated.  Of course their bickering evokes stress and resentment in their relationship.  The relationship is not embattled in direct combat. They're not directly engaged in an escalation of accusations.  Rather, as the reader one hears both sides separately and comparatively.  A lot of their complaints are relatable and oftentimes comical.  Their son was born with severe health issues requiring multiple surgeries. Their alliance was steadfast with one another in support of their son, Ezra (now a healthy teen),  And throughout the stress of their son's health, there was still a sense of humor that was ubiquitous and uplifting. What hope is there if two such like minded, dynamic people can't make it last till "death do us part".  Between the chapters are amusing anecdotal breaks wherein marriage facts are given.  These facts will make you wonder how any couple would ever chose to get married in the first place.  I say, pick up "You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up" and enjoy this rib-tickling, light hearted inside/out look at love and romance.  "I won't dance, don't ask me. And so what, you''re lovely.  But oh, what you do to me."  (J. Kern/O. Hammerstein)  

THE CORRESPONDENT-An Epistolary novel that's Appealing and Character Revealing

I've read two previous, epistolary works, the 1970 epistolary memoir, "84, Charing Cross Road" by Helene Hanff and the novel "A Woman of Independent Means" (1978) by Elizabeth Hailey.  Both these books were more engaging than Virginia Evan's 2025 novel; all three written in an epistolatory format.  At issue with with Evan's use of solely written correspondences, is it become laden and gimmicky.  The central character, Sybil Van Antwerp, is a divorced mother of two adult children; a second son died at a young age.  Sybil prefers communication free of direct dialogue; i.e., in written format.  The name Sybil' Van Twerp is meant as a seemingly quick-witted play on anti-twerp.  Sybil confirms her outsider nature, superior intelligence and a vastly-held favorite pastime; letter writing. "Perhaps I ought to call you, but I am better with the pen and the paper. It gives me time to consider things as they come onto the page rather than simply prattling on and on without tripping over my spoken words." she reiterates often in her letters.  Therein lies a foible making the story less enjoyable,  Sybil's  hubris is off-putting to the point you need  to push her letters aside.  Liking the main character isn't au rigor fir a story to be engaging, but the written format's focus puts too much exertion into presenting precisely into Sybil's mindset that it feels  burdensome.  "It has always been my. nature to see things in black and white, as you well know. I like rules. I relish living in a world that runs on laws and systems that are quite clear and declared."  In ("84, Charing...) there are only two correspondents, one seeking arcane info on books.  A warm friendship  builds organically crafting a straightforward and enchanting tale.  "Correspondent" imprints so many characters and storylines the emotional core becomes blurred.  "A Woman of..." life unfolds over an extended period of time and we empathize with our heroine as she matures and reckons with life.  Sybil's past is uncovered but the focus is on Sybil in her 70 and going blind is clearly set with obdurate, insufferable traits.  A chastising letter received by Sybil from her longtime friend read, "You are a wonderful, interesting woman,...but you are also damn stubborn and determined you know exactly what is right in every situation."  It's apparent Sybil is a bibliophile as well as an epistolist. A majority of the letters make mention books and authors.  Evans' novel makes a legitimate case for a resurgence into the lost art of letter writing.  Sybil finds strength and solace in letter, "...to think that a story of one's life is preserved in some way, that this very letter may one day mean something, even if it is a very small thing, to someone." {Furthermore} "I believe one ought to be precious with communication. Remember: words, especially those written, are immortal."  Scrutinizing Sybil's letters intimately depict her,  but ultimately left me in the dark.      

Rufi Thorpe's Priceless Novel "Margo's Got Money Troubles"

Rufi Thorpe's latest novel,  "Margo's Got Money Problems," (2024)  was picked up by multi-Emmy winning TV writer/producer, David E. Kelley ("Big Little Lies") for a mini-series now airing on AppleTV. This indicates Thorpe's novel is alluring enough to garner Kelley's interest and get put expediently into production.  The clever, contemporary writing depicts life and colorful, captivating characters vividly.  Margo is college coed at Fullerton Univ. with a fascinating family history and an adroit proclivity for creativity in her writing.  Her lecherous literature Prof. recognizes her gift and gives her high marks and marks her for an easy tryst outside marriage. The tryst takes a sharp turn when Margo discovers she's pregnant. (How a bright college kid wouldn't be taking precaution to prevent pregnancy or an STD beats me.) This is not the only outlandish scenario but it lays the foundation for a befuddling and beguiling plot. Margo was raised by a beautiful single mom, Shyann, who became pregnant by a married, professional wrestler, Jinx.  Jinx was only intermittently involved in Margo's life.  It was mainly Margo and her mom growing up.  Margo's mom and best friend adamantly recommend terminating the pregnancy.  Heedless,  Margo is determined to keep her baby. Her prof. (a.k.a. baby daddy) wanted nothing to do with the situation outside an abortion.  Margo discovers the cold reality of having a kid without enough cold cash and the harsh reality of trying to earn a living and pay for childcare.  Margo understood her powerless situation, "...every single dollar was power. Power to hire a lawyer, power to control how she spent her time, power to change her appearance, power to command respect. Power to be who she wanted to be." It's Margo's fortitude, intelligence and indefatigable drive the gives the novel its unique contemplation of  media addiction, drug addiction and self invention.  Just released from rehab, Jinx turns up unexpectedly at Margo's door just as she and her steadfast roommate are in need of someone to help cover rent as two others bailed after constant baby wailing.  Margo finds surprising support in her corner that comes in handy as she pummeled by the prof. who wants to fight her for custody. And, with postings on an adult website, Margo's videos are eXtra tantalizing thanks to her crafty scripts. Margo's innate sense to see different perspectives kept things real and really worth reading.  "Real people were both good and bad, all mixed up together, only the screen made everyone into basic silhouettes. The resulting images could appear either way... Even when it came to herself, Margo cold see it both ways: home town girl makes good, defies capitalist patriarchy or teen whore sells nudes while using, too lazy to work." 

J Kenny's "I SEE YOU CALLED in DEAD-An Obit Writer's Woes-Well Worth Reading

Obituary writers have become a dying breed.  Newspapers no longer pay staff to write obits.  Instead papers rely on public submissions which editors will select for print.  The NYTIMES is one of the last prominent news outlets that maintains a minimal staff to cover the passing of celebrities, accomplished individuals in their fields or the notorious for their noxious deeds. I suggest screening the entertaining documentary, OBITS* which interviews NYTIME's obituary writers. Capturing an entire life in a few paragraphs is a challenging and serious matter. John Kenny's offbeat, comical and quite moving novel, "I See You Called in Dead" follows our sad sack hero, Bud Stanley, an obituary writer until he's fired for numerous blunders.  In an inebriated self-pitying state, Bud inadvertently submits the obit  he wrote about his himself (not intending to hit send).  The hilarious fallout for his premature obituary parodies office politics and our litigious society.  Author Kenny has crafted a clever novel that handles painful issues concerning depression, death, the death of a young child and grief in a lighthearted and life-affirming manner.  Kenny, a decades long "New Yorker" contributor and winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor for previous novels, depicted a unique character in Bud Stanley.  Bud connects with other fully drawn characters that are engaging and empathetic.  Despite somber topics there's a pervasive humanity and resiliency in Bud and others within his orbit.  At age 44, Stanley finds himself recently divorced, unemployed and in need of a new place to live.  He serendipitously finds himself fortunate in subletting the top floor of a high end town house from the elderly, distinguished owner.  The owner/landlord, Tim, leases the expansive top floor at a bargain rate.  Soon, Stanley and Tim enjoy having a ritual glass of fine wine together upon Bud's return home in the evenings. These tete-a-tete are reminiscent of the endearing endings on TV's "Boston Legal".  James Spader and William Shatner would put their feet up and relax together with a good cigar and whiskey in hand.  The symbiotic friendship between Bud and Tim is charming as is the dawning relationship Bud develops with Tim's caregiver and the young boy across the street. Bud's self-deprecating, unassuming demeanor doesn't over shadowed his sensitive and gracious nature. The NYTimes' obit writers should be preparing in advance a laudatory eulogy for author John Kenny.  I'd commit he captured the best of humanity within the delightful and meaningful novel, "I See You Called in Dead."

*https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4465356231317340474/8559200069860935357

Check out my blog review of OBITS on Melinda's Malarky Around the Vine

WEDDING PEOPLE - Party Crasher Tries to Die Puts a Plug in Wedding People's Plans

Alison Espach's rom/com novel, WEDDING PEOPLE starts off with major bummers for its heroine, Phoebe.  Phoebe's husband leaves her for the wife of their close friends, she miscarried, her unfinished novel is going nowhere, she's unmoored at work and her beloved cat died.  Life pretty much sucked for Phoebe who decides the thing to do is take herself for a last hurrah  to a four star hotel to live it up on her last dime and then commit suicide. Phoebe arrives at the posh hotel dressed in her silky green best, no. luggage in tow; ready to throw in the towel.  Fortunately or unfortunately for Phoebe, her plan for a permanent solution rubs Lila, the bride-to-be planning to hold her wedding at this elite establishment. Lila's perfectly hatched plans would simply be ruined by a corpse crashing on the property. Mistakenly, Phoebe obtained a hotel room in what Lila thought was reserved or her and her entire wedding party.  Despite being depressed, Phoebe's pugnacious attitude towards Lila who believes she's in charge of everything and everyone, gets us to root for Phoebe to push back at Lila and stick around a little longer as a thorn in the side of the consummate Godzilla bride. WEDDING PEOPLE is for people on vacation, on a plane or at a beach. This is light fluff with funny moments and gratifying comeuppances for the bride and also a snide sister-in-law to be.  But, the predictable plot outcomes are obvious and cloying.  Depression never overshadows the light at the end of the tunnel. WEDDING PEOPLE doesn't belong on the same literary bookshelves mentioned at the fancy hotel or referenced by Phoebe as an adjunct English Professor.   Spoiler alert: Phoebe doesn't kill herself and the intended nuptials are put asunder. WEDDING PEOPLE falls under the category of a palette cleanser between the pages of a Eng. Lit.  course syllabus.

Ed Asner's Autobio Son of Junkman-Not Junk but Not Glitz

Ed Asner passed away at 91 in 2021 having won the hearts of millions of TV viewers as Lou Grant on the mega-hit "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (1970-77) in the role of Lou Grant; the crusty news editor with a heart of gold.  Asner's portrayal of Grant was so beloved and heralded (earning 3 Emmys), CBS created a spinoff show with the titular name "Lou Grant." This new show took a new trajectory as a serious news drama about the inner workings of a fictional LA newspaper.  Again, Asner played a news editor.  Asner's  depiction of his comical role on earned him two additional Emmys. The focus of "Lou Grant" was on journalism as well as controversial topics such as gay rights, mental health, child abuse and nuclear proliferation.  Interestingly, Asner's political convictions regarding Central America became enmeshed in the cross hairs of his real life role as President of the Actors Union.  Asner's writes with candor about his political positions.  This proved admirable  a fascinating and provided an inside look into this tumultuous time period. Asner's stark honesty addresses his own failings particularly in his marriages due to his numerous affairs. In large part, this book reads as an unabashed apology to his first wife; mother of two of his sons and a daughter.  However, this abruptly short bio didn't contain a lot to satiate my curiosity about his fascinating career.  He speaks about his Jewish upbringing within a loving family. Asner's ascent into acting came about circuitously not wanting to follow into the family scrap metal business and he delved into his serendipitous acting career that got its genesis in college in Chicago. The full title of Asner's biography is "Son of a Junkman:  My Life from the West Bottoms of Kansas City to the Bright Lights of Hollywood." Asner spoke of his fondness for his "Marty Tyler Moore family" although there was an underlining pin of disassociation between him and Moore that piqued my interest but wasn't elaborated upon. I got the sense of Asner as a man of integrity (apart from his infidelities) and as a kind, thoughtful person.  A significant portion of "Son of a Junkman" which comes at the end is an interview Samuel Warren Joseph which is written out verbatim.  Joseph contributed to TV shows in the 90s but his relevance or connection to Asner was ambiguous. The interview does asked detailed questions asking Asner about his working relationship with various actors and celebrities and about his specific roles and performances. While the questions drew more insight into Asner's career, personality and relationships, it felt like a requisite expansion to Asner's account. Perhaps, this was a blatant representation of utilizing a ghost writer.  Moreover, Asner's life story felt written on behalf of his family.  Asner shared his life without a lot of bunk but all the refuse in his life felt like clutter without much glitter.  I think it could have used more spunk!

LAKE AFFECTS Swimming in Family Squabbles in the 70's by C D Sweeney

LAKE AFFECTS  is particularly affecting when delving into the family dysfunctional dynamics despite falling short in the various endings for its main characters.  C D Sweeny's novel set in Rochester, NY during the 1970s commences enticingly with the discovery of the actual guide book, "The Joy of Sex" (1972).  "The Joy of Sex" was a revelatory sexual manual and became a bedside table staple across America. The two Larkin sisters, both in their teens, stumble upon the "Joy of Sex". While the younger sibling is gratified by the attention bestowed from her big sis, Clara, it's Clara who appreciates the value this uncovered treasure contains.  Clara intends to utilize this sex manual with her hearthrob who happens to live across the street.  Little do the sisters or the boyfriend his sis across the street realize their parents have embarked on an illicit affair that is about to shatter both their families. The girl's mother, Nina Larkin has been in a sexless marriage to Sam for years due to Sam's repressed homosexuality.  Nina's neighbor, father of the unbeknownst boyfriend of Clara, runs a successful, local grocery chain. He's more than game to engage in a fling in part due to his wife non-existent sex drive.  The fling becomes more than a mere dalliance.  Nina hesitantly agrees to flee with him for a quickie divorce and re-marriage. The sexual revolution of the 70s is an exhilirating platform to spring forth a novel of sexual awakenings across generational divides. While Sweeny's skillful writing draws credible characters it's not engrossing enough especially when more could've been made regarding their lusting libidos.  Furthermore, too much time is paid to resentments built-up between the young, star crossed lovers and the hostilities directed towards their parents for their selfish actions.  Not enough ground was covered describing what the neighbors thought of the first rebels who broke free from their marital bonds and found new partners after leaving  their exes. The homosexual yearning of Sam Larkin could have been explored further. And, less time spent amongst the spoils germinating at the local grocers causing havoc. The consummate payoff at the end where Clara's younger sis finds true love with the neighbor boy Clara first kissed and wished to bed along with Nina's swan song made the novel far less than satisfying leaving a rather rancid taste in my mouth.