What are YOU Reading?

Tuesday, April 24 2012

Don’t you always want to know what someone is reading? What is on their nightstand, their Kindle or iPad or Nook? And when you see someone reading a book – when you can see the cover (a downside to the e-reader) -- you instantly know so much about them, right? Well, we asked some Womenetics friends to tell us what they are reading, and as you can imagine, they had a lot to say.

Brenda McClain, owner, McClain Communications, Inc., Nashville, Tenn.

Womenetics: What are you reading right now? And are you enjoying it?
Brenda McClain: “The Family Fang” by Kevin Wilson. Let me put it this way – I just had an experience while reading it that I’ve never had. There I was in the Nashville airport, reading and laughing out loud. Continuously. I couldn’t help myself. I got on the airplane and continued reading and continued laughing. So much so, that I grabbed my Delta napkin and dabbed my eyes. Then it occurred to me what was beneath this family’s actions -- the pain they must feel. I began cry. And cry uncontrollably.

Brenda McClain

Womenetics: Why did you select it?
McClain: I heard Kevin read last October at the Southern Festival of Books. That’s when my laughter began.

Womenetics: When do you get most of your reading done? And on what form? (i.e. paper, kindle, nook, etc.)
McClain: Paper – definitely. I likely will be the last woman in America who still reads hardcovers. I love the feel. Oh, and that smell…..

Womenetics: What is your favorite all-time read and why?
McClain: “The Sound and The Fury” by William Faulkner. I read it as a freshman in college and only then did I understand the power of language and voice. All other books I’d read until then all blended together. Second favorite? “Finn” by Jon Clinch. Again, another book by a writer’s writer. Mercy. He made me fall in love with a monster.

Womenetics: Favorite book as a kid? What image do you remember most clearly?
McClain: “Lassie Come Home.” The image is the dog’s heart. Totally unwavering.

Linda Descano, Managing Director and Head, Digital Partnerships, Citibank, N.A.

Womenetics: What are you reading right now?
Linda Descano: I’m reading two books. On the fiction side, “The Technologists” by Matthew Pearl. On the nonfiction side, I’ve just started Chip Conley’s “Emotional Equations.”

Linda Descano

Womenetics: Why did you select it?
Descano: I love literary mysteries, and Matthew Pearl is a great storyteller – his past novels have tackled Dante and Poe, two of my favorite writers, and this current novel weaves history, science and mystery together. As someone who studied English and geophysics, what’s not to love!

I heard about Chip Conley’s book on a podcast, and it intrigued me.

Womenetics: When do you get most of your reading done? And on what form?
Descano: During weekdays, I try and read for 30 minutes before bedtime. On the weekends, I do try and find a solid 2-hour block of time each day to read. Living in a condo, storage for my books – which I treat as I would dear friends – became an issue. So, I now consume all books via an e-reader, switching seamlessly between my Kindle Fire and new iPad.

Womenetics: What is your favorite all-time read and why?
Descano: That is such a hard one! I have so many favorites, but the first three that came to mind were: Wilkie Collins’ “The Moonstone,” Marge Piercy’s “The Longings of Women” and Elyssa East’s “Dogtown.” As to why, (a) Collins is a superb storyteller, and moonstones are my favorite gemstones; (b) Piercy’s novel evoked such a visceral emotional reaction – I literally cried as I was reading it; and (c) I met Elyssa at a wedding. She had me hooked as soon as she told me that her book was about a ghost town in New England. I literally read it over one weekend. I found it mesmerizing and literally could not put it down.

Womenetics: Favorite business book? And why is this your favorite?
Descano: My new favorite business book is Betsy Myers’ “Take the Lead” because it is funny, smart, practical, actionable and applies to all facets of life and work today.

Womenetics: Favorite book as a kid? What image do you remember most clearly?
Descano: The image that came to mind is Heidi and her braids, so I will go with that!

Amy Dordek Dolinsky, Managing Director, Midwest for BPI Group, Chicago, Ill.

Womenetics: What are you reading right now? And are you enjoying it?
Amy Dordek Dolinsky: “Hunger Games” so I can see the movie with my kids. I just started and my two kids and my husband read it, so I know as soon as I start getting into it I won’t be able to put it down – according to them.

Amy Dordek Dolinsky

Womenetics: Why did you select it?
Dordek Dolinsky: See above – I’m the only one in my family that has not read it, and they have all read the entire series. The movie comes out this weekend, and we’re really excited.

Womenetics: What is your favorite all-time read and why?
Dordek Dolinsky: I love the “Joy Luck Club.” It was my favorite book for years. I loved the stories of the mothers and the daughters. The similarities and the differences between them. I also loved the history and the female perspective.

Womenetics: Favorite business book? And why is this your favorite?
Dordek Dolinsky: I love Malcolm Gladwell books – “The Tipping Point” is so interesting. It’s also a subject that I feel connected with and how people are connectors. That’s me.

Womenetics: Favorite book as a kid? What image do you remember most clearly?
Dordek Dolinsky: I loved “James and the Giant Peach.” I loved the story, the fantasy and my mother reading it to us over and over again. I loved the sound of her voice when she did the characters.

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