Yesterday I finished reading This One Is Mine
by Maria Semple
.Hmmm.... where do I begin with this one? I'm having trouble even coming up with a summary here because I feel like anything I say is not going to do it justice.
Violet and David are going through a rocky time in their marriage. Violet, once a television writer is now a stay-at-home mom to Dot. David is a big wig music exec. jetting all over the country to sign the next big band. Both are feeling restless in their relationship, yet neither of them comes right out and says it.
When Violet meets Teddy Reyes, a small-time bass player and retired junkie, her world is turned upside down. Nothing will ever be the same between her and David, or with her sister-in-law Sally after Violet gives in to Teddy's magnetism.
See, that sounds so stupid. I wouldn't even consider picking this book up if I read this somewhere. I'd think, "typical chick-lit. Married rich girl likes to go shopping, meets someone totally out of the box, falls for him, and they live happily-ever-after." Well, that is so not what this book is about!!
This One Is Mine evoked feelings in me that I wasn't expecting. I saw so much of myself in Violet, yet as I was reading, I kept thinking "this chick is nuts." (not saying too much about my own personal ego, huh?)
Anyway, this was the kind of book that when I was done reading, I had to be alone with myself for awhile. I love when that happens! It was like I didn't want to talk to anybody; I didn't want anybody talking to me. I just had to absorb the book and what I'd just read. I had to think about it and just be by myself. It's very hard to explain it right so you can get the right feeling of what I'm trying to say, ya know? It was moving. It was sad. It was exhilarating. It was scary. Yes, scary. Because these are every people. Like, it could be the people who live next door. Or your sister and her husband. And when you see them, they look all happy and rich, and like they can do anything! But what goes on behind closed doors is a whole different ball of wax.
I loved the way the characters all collided with eachother. And, I mean collided! While reading, you think, "how is this all going to come together?", and Maria Semple did not disappoint me.... everything was tied up in a neat little bow. Yet, it wasn't. Which was why I needed the alone time.
Ugh... I knew this was going to happen! I can't seem to get my point across. The whole thing just resonated and struck a chord with me. That's all. Period. End of report.
Not really.....because even though I don't know what to say, I can't stop gushing about this book! I was reading it at my neighbor's pool, and she wanted to know what it was about. I said, "I don't know. It's kind of hard to explain." The funny thing is.... if it were me (and it is me!) I would probably not have given this book a second glance. I thought it would be your typical, over rated chick-lit. Blagh! But the publisher sent it to me to review, so I figured I'd atleast give it a shot. I think it was karma. Kismet. A higher power definitely brought me and this book together. You can't argue when the stars are aligned. And aligned they were......
I apologize for this rambling, rattling review. I just.....
when a book really moves me like this, I really don't have the words. And I realize that others might not be moved at all. There were some Q & A with the author in the back of the book, and she said that when writing it, she asked herself, "If I was reading this in bed, what would keep me from turning off the light?" Mission accomplished.
****this book was graciously sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way and was not required to write a positive review - just an honest one. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
