There are a million characters in this book.  It's hard to follow in the beginning.  Like walking down a street in Cairo, a person can not take it all in at once.  At first you find bits that catch your interest.  And then suddenly you're caught up in the city and the characters.  There are such a limited number of paths a woman can take in Egypt, I do not fault any of these women for doing what they can to find their way to comfort.

The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy is a book which is young, ridiculous and a joy to read.  There's just enough tawdry to overcome the desperate silliness of the character.  She's adorable, selfish and wonderful while finding herself in Paris.
Quote from page 25 "A rowdy bunch on the whole, they were most of them so violently individualistic as to be practically interchangeable."

Tragic and Lovely book review

I got a sample of The History of Love by Nicole Krauss and after reading the sample I did not feel any inclination to read the book.  I did not feel any inclination to throw the Kindle off the balcony and onto the cobblestone street so I guess I can say it was 'meh'.  At least the sample was.  Perhaps choosing a book because you liked a book by the author's husband is not such a good book-choosing method after all.

Meanwhile, her husband can WRITE, I finished Incredibly Loud and Extremely Close and I loved every minute of it.  It was hilarious and sad and so very insightful and full of imagery and I just loved the writing and the characters and the quirkiness.  If I could marry a book this would be it.  Tragic and lovely all at once.