Hola Felicia, that book looks positively scrumtious. Sounds like the story of all of us. Looking forward to reading it, and maybe passing it on to my kids so they can see what like was like growing up in Mexico. I never seem to have time to read, but I'll make time for this one.

Agree on the overzealous religious parents. Sad because it makes the kids eventually turn away from the whole religion thing if they see they're not allowed to have any fun. My daughter's BF went to a Christian school, they were NOT ALLOWED TO DANCE AT THEIR PROM. Not even to Christian music. You know that kid is going to ditch the church as soon as he gets his own life. When did Jesus say it was forbidden to have a little fun?

I read Mexican High a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed it tremendously. Didn’t really relate to any of the experiences of the main character, but enjoyed her perspective of an American coming to the “international HS” her senior year. I can imagine this would be very difficult. Also, the story line takes place in 1993/ 95 and some of the political issues addressed (kidnappings, assassinations) didn’t occur in the early 1980s. If they did, I must have been in lala land. Much of the story revolves around her experiences at the “international hs” which is peach colored, across the street from the American British hospital, surrounded by a big wall, street vendors outside, kids hanging out next to the pool, you get the picture…. There is a lot of drinking, partying, drugs, smoking, staying out in clubs till the early morning and the kids seem to have unlimited freedom and resources. As Gaby states, it is definitely juicy and I also want my teen daughters to read as well. For one reason, it addresses the “things” that can happen to a young girl if she drinks too much. It was also entertaining to hear her describe the various groups of students attending the school. In particular the Mexican girls that always were dressed to the T. She called those girls “fresas”, an expression I had never heard. We always called them “popies”. So again, I’m not sure if that was the name in the early 90s or if the author herself replaced the term popies.
 
The main storyline is really is about the relationship with her hippie, turned diplomat mom who had a one night stand with a married politician, her father, and her quest to find “the truth”.

As excited as I was to read the book, I’m equally excited to hear feedback from others from our generation who attended ASF. So hurry, buy the book and report back ASAP!

For those of you who are interested, Liza posted the below on our ASF group in facebook:

Liza Monroy (Columbia) wrote
at 4:28pm on June 27th, 2008
Hola a todos! My debut novel MEXICAN HIGH was just published. Oscar Hijuelos said: “Liza Monroy, wise beyond her years, brilliantly portrays the highs and lows and loves of school life, the episodes we’ve all experienced and never forget. Spirited, harrowing, and utterly compelling."

A great review ran in the Coral Gables Gazette:
http://www.cggazette.com/index.cfm?dsp=news.view&nid=270

Also, in the June issue of ELLE magazine! (Scroll down, I'm just after Salman Rushdie)
http://www.elle.com/featurefullstory/13911...iews-june-2008.html

Please check out the book if you get a chance! http://www.amazon.com/Mexican-High-Novel-L...pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8

Gracias!
Liza Monroy (formerly Gennatiempo)
Class of '97
www.lizamonroy.com

Just read a cute little book that I found yesterday on a friend's bookshelf: "A Guide to Elegance" by Genevieve Antoine Dariaux. Originally written/published in 1964 and only very slightly updated for the 2003 edition. Absolutely delightful. You can tell which parts are strictly 1964, but a lot of it is good stuff to keep in mind even today. I am appalled at the lack of decorum displayed by the general public and the slovenly appearance of same. It was nice to take a break and read advice to the total opposite. Lots more reviews at Amazon.

Edited by author 07-27-2008 09:06 AM
"Are Men Necessary?" by Maureen Dowd. I think we already beat this to death on the other chat. Seemed like a bunch of articles/observations kind of grouped together by theme. Didn't seem to really be going anywhere. But I did read it all cuz she is clever.

"The American Plague" all about beating yellow fever. Part One describes the last huge yellow fever epidemic in the US up and down the Mississippi by describing in detail how it got to and spread out in Memphis TN. And describing the course of the disease from infection to death. EEWWWWW. This part made me RUN out and get a yellow fever vaccine, not just put it on the agenda of things to do. Really. Then comes the really interesting Part Two where she writes about the search for the cause of yellow fever and the solution to the problem. Walter Reed et al were sent off to Cuba to investigate and eventually clean up. As an aside I add that when the US took over the construction of the Panama Canal, the first thing they did was apply that knowledge here. They cleaned the place up before putting people to work. Some of the reason for the failure of the French canal was the unbelievable death rate among the workers. (That DeLesseps was a crook, or at least tremendously inept, was also a huge part, but that's another book.)Part Three is about what's happening today, or since the 20s until today. Well, we're not done with yellow fever. Or it's not done with us. As an aside, I just don't get what people are thinking when they say we will destroy the earth. Mother Nature SOOOO has the upper hand.

Has anyone read the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer? I've read the first, am halfway through the 2nd, don't own the 3rd, and the 4th and final comes out this weekend. They're comparing this author to JK Rowling in that there will supposedly be legions of fans in bookstores at midnight awaiting the release of the last book. To my way of thinking, not even close! The books are pretty good, but not nearly as clever or intricate as the Harry Potter books.

Speaking of Harry Potter, check this out!

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809791044/video/9048692

New trailer for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince!

Edited by author 08-08-2008 04:12 PM
American High: definitely a good enjoyable read, particularly for ASF alumni. For those who are interested:

www.lizamonroy.com

I've been in contact with Liza (the author) and she has confirmed that it's "loosely based" (her exact words) on our beloved Alma Mater...

Liza is class of '97... Just a 'tad' younger than us. She's also got a group for American High on Facebook, you can join from her web site above, or directly in Facebook.

Got around to reading!!! "I Feel Bad About My Neck" by Nora Ephron. Tres amusing! I think it's a chick book though. Mostly musings about getting/being older. Even LOL at times, but easy for me, I'm not 60 yet!

Over the break: "The Widow Clicquot". A biography of the woman behind Veuve Clicquot. A lot of guessing, but not wild guesses. Entertaining, learn a few things, easy read. Man, I love fizzy wine! Thank god for the Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin.

Also: "Banana". The story of, guess what?, bananas!! Much better than it sounds from the title. All about the origins, how it grows and how it spread around the world, banana politics, banana diseases, the future of the banana. A much bigger deal than one might imagine. Although living in a "banana republic" a lot was not news to me.

LOVED American High and so did my kids. Cool to have a book like that to give them some perspective about where I came from. True, some things were after our time. They had no Smoking Lounge, WE DID!

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The following book is silly and boring although I must admit I read it all the way to the end, except I did that hoping it would improve and alas, it didn't: THE TIME TRAVELERS WIFE.

I liked the Time Traveler's Wife. I guess I didn't find it silly and boring. Maybe it's a chick book, ultimately?

Did anyone read the Twilight series? I will admit it if you will... (I guess I just did anyway). I liked the first and second well enough, hated the third and wanted to give up, but my friend said the fourth one was the best, and she was right.

One series that I have read recently and really enjoyed is the one that begins with The Mistress of the Art of Death. Sort of a medieval CSI. Intriguing, well-written, and now I can hardly wait for the 4th installment.

I tried reading the 2nd Twilight and couldn't get into it. Too teenagery for me. New word! LOL