These are 3 very different books, about which Francesca often thinks, and to which Francesca often returns.

The Handmaid’s Tale is a futuristic take on what would happen if a male oligarchy took over American society at the same time that fertility rates plummeted. Told from the perspective of a concubine, this story is truly unforgettable – a feminist nightmare, really. Very juicy and compelling.

First published in 1868, The Moonstone is considered the first mystery novel in the English language; it set frameworks such as multiple suspects and red herrings. The story begins when a young British girl receives a large and mysterious diamond, rumored to have been stolen from India, for her birthday. It is stolen that night from her home, and the subsequent investigation is detailed by a few different (often humorous) narrators, such as house servants and guests from the celebration. If you don’t mind 19th-century language, and you like mysteries (as does Francesca!) then this is a satisfying read. (It also works as a literary relic of Imperial England.)

Joy in the Morning is the least-known of Francesca’s favorite books, despite its having been written by the author of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. It is the story of a young, newly-married couple and their conflicts: she is 18 and uneducated, he is in college taking the classes she only dreams of attending; they are poor; their parents are against the marriage; and she gets pregnant (after the wedding). No, this is not an early version of “For Keeps.” It’s a charming and inspiring book, with a heroine who is both naive and plucky.

Happy reading!

xoxo, Francesca

Francesca wishes to celebrate the females with the larger-than-life personalities of superfantasticness!

Here is a comprehensive biography of the inimitable and fascinating “lady reporter,” Nellie Bly. In an age when women journalists were relegated to the “women’s pages,” Nellie Bly convinced her editor to allow her to be admitted into an insane asylum in order to expose conditions there. She traveled around the world by train and boat to see whether it could indeed be done in 80 days or fewer, and became an international celebrity and American hero. This book is about a woman with balls, and a window into the history of journalism, too.

If you can get your hands on a copy of this biography of the late, great stage actress Sarah Bernhardt, you will not be disappointed. Bernhardt was highly eccentric and dramatic and had a tabloid-worthy personal life . . . which leads one to believe that one does not need Hollywood to be a little bit Hollywood.

Of course, we mustn’t forget the intelligent and inspiring Helen Keller. No introductions necessary for this admirable woman and her brave, loyal teacher.

In the realm of fiction, Francesca insists that you read, or re-read, Harriet the Spy. Harriet is one of the great heroines of pre-teen fiction, right up there with Anne of Green Gables for her spunk, verve, and smarts. Like Anne, she makes mistakes from which she must learn hard lessons. Unlike Anne, she lives in Manhattan, is cared for by a Nanny, and enjoys spying on people. Like Francesca, she is a writer. We love Harriet!

And finally, Francesca very much enjoys this cookbook by one of Francesca’s favorite personalities, a confident Big Girl who knows she is beautiful.

Hello, hello my dear readers!

xoxo!

Francesca wishes to share with you the books which have made her laugh out loud.

First and most important is a very useful and wondrously funny book which brought tears of mirth to Francesca’s eyes. It is the superfantastic break-up book by Anita Liberty: How to Heal the Hurt by Hating. In this book, Miss Anita (who is herself the wonderfully funny made-up persona) tells us of her ex-boyfriend Mitchell, who dumped her for a woman named Heather, and now Anita is devoting her entire career as an artist to letting the world know what a jerk he is. Follow Anita as she learns to move on without forgetting or forgiving.

Next is the informational and entertaining It Must’ve Been Something I Ate, by Vogue food editor Jeffrey Steingarten. This is the author of The Man Who Ate Everything, and indeed his quests for the ultimate pizza, the ultimate espresso, the ultimate baguette, the ultimate bluefin tuna, etc — each described in great detail in different essays– are truly astounding. This man will do anything to achieve perfection in food. His wife must be a very patient woman. Be sure to read his essays about lactose intolerance (he insists it does not exist; he also does not believe in food allergies), how to cook your own dog food, what he ate on a camping trip, and the essay about the pizza crust, which made Francesca laugh so hard it hurt.

Finally we have the lighthearted and self-effacing Me Talk Pretty One Day, which was a great comfort to Francesca when she was living in a foreign country and could not speak the language. She, too, talk pretty. This book is by David Sedaris, whose sister Amy is also funny. Look! Here is David in person on the Letterman show!

Happy reading!xoxo, Francesca

Time Travel is an intrinsic component of many of Francesca’s favorite books. Interestingly, most of her favorite Time Travel adventures are not known as science fiction stories. See below, sometimes traveling through time is simply a plot device used to set the stage for a romance story or historical fiction. Francesca just loves an engrossing story!

The Time Traveler’s Wife is one of Francesca’s favorite novels of all time. It is the only book I’ve ever read which inspired me to write to the author to thank her for writing such a great story (and Francesca received a charming note in return!) The Time Traveler’s Wife is the story of a powerfully-drawn couple, Henry and Claire. Henry has a gene mutation which makes him spontaneously travel back and forth in time. He cannot control when or where he goes. After he marries Claire, he starts travelling back to her childhood. Since Claire is travelling through time normally, this means that she has grown up knowing Henry, but when they meet later, he has never seen her before. This is an incredibly moving story of deep love, patience, and togetherness. A real tear-jerker.

Time and Again puts the main character, Si Morley, in a scientific experiment to move him from 1970′s Manhattan to 1880′s Manhattan. There is a mystery element, and a romantic element, and an ethical-dilemna element, but the main joy of this book, for me, is the chance to “live” for a while in the Big Apple of long ago, when it was not so big. One thing I appreciate about Time and Again is that it does not completely romanticize the past: while the 1880′s were simpler and nicer in some ways, the author also demonstrates that much in the world has improved since then.

And, if you have any interest in time travel at all, you must read the classic work by H.G. Wells, The Time Machine! What will the world be like in the year 802,701? Not like this, I hope . . .

Happy reading!

xoxo, Francesca

Large girls of superfantasticness feed their minds as well as their bodies, souls, and closets.

Francesca recently re-read The Great Gatsby, and discovered that the book has improved significantly since Francesca studied it in tenth grade English class. It is much more entertaining at the age of 30-something than at the age of 15! Worth revisiting!

She also recently read this superfantastic novel of the fantasy, after a friend who is a novelist recommended it. The story is very engrossing and there are several intertwined and compelling subplots, and of course plenty of evil wizards and former children of the farm who are working to overcome evil and save the world. What Francesca appreciates about this book is that the entire story is self-contained. It is not part of a series. One can read and enjoy, and when one reaches the end, one can sigh in contentment about the (surprising) denoument without thinking “now I’ll have to wait for volume 2.” There is no volume 2. The end is the quite satisfying end. Thank you, Guy Gavriel Kay.

Finally, have you yet purchased your copy of the memoirs by our super-sized heroine, the indefatigable Camryn Manheim? It is funny and sad and relatable and a great book to read when you go this weekend to the beach! (Especially the chapter about how, as a younger fat girl, she was once lying on her beach towel, tanning, when someone came to talk to her, which meant she could not roll over because rolling over involves moving in front of the other person, and moving in one’s bathing suit causes “unattractive foldage of fat.” So, instead, she suffered severe sunburn. I think she regrets this now.)

Happy reading!

xoxo, Francesca

Oy Vey!

Someone – I don’t remember who—has borrowed my precious copy of Camryn Manheim’s hilarious and inspiring memoir, Wake Up, I’m Fat!

I must purchase a new copy so that I can refer to it and quote from it and share with you, my Big Sisters, the wisdom of this talented and beautiful actress.

I suggest that you, too, purchase a copy. Read it. Learn it. Live it. It is the Fat Girl’s Bible.

And while you are waiting for your very own copy to arrive, you can admire this crochet tunic sweater and Irish Linen skirt, both available in Womens and Womens Petite sizes at Talbots.com at well over 50% off!

Happy shopping and happy reading!

xoxo, Francesca