Books on the Nightstand

In response to a blog a http://www.booksonthenighstand.com/ I am posting the pictures of what is on my night stand and immediately adjacent to it. Now the pictures on the bottom where those on my night stand and adjacent to it last week before I weeded out some books and moved them into the spare bedroom where they completely filled the right side of a double bookcase! I knew, of course I had a lot of books on the nightstand as I couldn't fit anything else on there, barely the lamp and the radio. In fact, the drawer was pulled out and there were books on it too and I was terrified that they were going to break the drawer in half before too long. Thank goodness for a strong all-wood nightstand! But I never believed I had as many in there as I did. You will also note my beloved Kindle on the night stand. That was supposed to completely replace my book-buying obsession. Ha! And I am not even going to count the number of books in the Kindle, let's just say between samples and actual books, it has now gone to 12 pages. I admit it. I am a bookaholic. (You note I am not taking a picture of the actual library, or all the books stores in boxes).

REVIEW: Schooled by Anisha Lakhani

What Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus did for Nannies and Lauren Weisberger did for the fashion industry, Anisha lakhani has now done for the NYC private school teachers and tutors.

Becoming a teacher over her parents’ objections, recent Columbia grad Anna Taggart is thrilled to land a plumb job as a teacher at a posh Manhattan private school. However, her salary is barely going to cover her rent in a cramped 5th floor walkup let alone her other expenses. However Anna feels teaching is her calling and can’t wait to teach the 7th graders Shakespeare and Lord of the Rings in her own fun way. It’s not long before she discovers she can make literally thousands extra a week “tutoring” wealthy students. The word tutor is a bit of a misnomer. Anna soon discovers she’s not tutoring at all but is expected to actually do the students’ homework for them. She at first doesn’t want to sacrifice her principles but when she discovers “tutoring” can not only pay her rent on a luxury apartment but buy her designer clothing and accessories and a lifestyle she’s only dreamed with, she’s clamoring for even more students.

Based on the author’s own experiences, SCHOOLED may shock those who think the road to Ivy League Schools is paved with the brightest and best. Lakhani exposes a portion of society that feels money can buy anything including good grades for students whose vocabulary and comprehension are at primary school level.

Will Anna come to her senses and realize what is really happening here or will she fall victim to the high-living Manhattan lifestyle her tutoring gives her?
Lakhani is a terrific writer and this book was enjoyable from beginning to end. It flows very smoothly and goes by so fast that the reader is sure to be a bit disappointed to find they’ve come to the end. This is a glorious debut from an author readers will be clamoring to hear more from and it can’t come too soon. Highly recommended,