All the Ms: Mah to Mahoney

Ann Mah: Ann Mah, author of kitchen chinese and other books, showcases the difference between first-generation immigrants and second-generation immigrants. Although Mah, like Amy Tan, explores her connection to China, the experience and attitude is quite different. For one, Mah's stories seem less fraught with significance–though still more significant than, say, me exploring my “English” roots. In fact, the book refers to Amy Tan, claiming that the main character’s experience is NOT an Amy Tan novel. 

Karan Mahajan: Family Planning presents the relationship between a teenage boy and his father in a very large family in India. The writing is quite good! 

Kerri Maher: The Girl in White Gloves is a fictional retelling of Grace Kelly’s life with the focus on her marriage to Prince Rainier with flashbacks. Since the first chapter convinced me of what I’d heard–that her marriage was somewhat confining–and of what I believe about royal marriages to begin with (they are a fate worse than death), I didn’t read further. 

Naguib Mahfouz: I encountered an entire shelf of novels by Naguib Mahfouz. I then discovered that the author is a Nobel Prize winner. I chose Arabian Nights & Days, which is a “what happens after the fairy tale” story, of which I greatly approve! What happens AFTER Shahrzad tells her stories? And what is happening elsewhere? 

Shanna Mahin: What is it with California novels and short stories? They are full of angsty people on the edge of…something…doing...something. And they think the entire world is about that something. So they write books about discovering what everyone outside of California already knows: the whole world isn't about that. The first chapter of Oh! You Pretty Things nearly hooked me since it introduces a character–not the narrator–who might have a fascinating backstory. And then I realized that the book was about the narrator, who can't figure out how to get a new life without going to work for a celebrity. And I lost interest. 

Dennis Mahoney: Bell Weather, which takes place in an alternative history, starts with a fantastic rescue! It is one of those books I may come back to. 

Kristin Mahoney: Elfie Unperfect is an interesting case of a cover not matching up to the book’s initial tone. The initial tone is of a young Daria (fourth grade) who is more clueless than dry. Not entirely humorous. The humor seems more aimed at her own literal-minded cluelessness except the narrator comes across as too aware to be entirely clueless. I felt mostly nonplussed rather than amused. (For something maybe similar I do recommend, try the hilarious and dry-witted Anastasia Krupnik books by Lois Lowry instead.)