The Best of Friends: Martha and Me is written by Mariana Pasternak who grew up in Romania and immigrated to the United States as a political refugee. The author tells the story of her friendship with the rich and famous Martha Stewart, starting when Martha wasn’t that rich or famous yet.
Their once blooming friendship was irrevocably shattered when Ms. Pasternak gave a courtroom testimony that would help send Ms. Stewart to prison.
Set in a world of luxury and power, this is the story of two remarkable women and a friendship that changed both their lives forever.
For more than two decades, Mariana Pasternak and Martha Stewart were nearly inseparable. They first met over a garden gate in Westport, Connecticut, two suburban wives wedded to successful men but with grand aspirations of their own. Their bond only deepened after their marriages ended in divorce. Struggling as a single mother, but drawn into a seductive world of privilege and adventure, Pasternak watched with admiration as her friend built an empire that would make her one of the richest women in America.
I had mixed emotions about this book that it took me some time to even start. The idea that Martha Stewart’s (used to be) best friend testified against her in court and went on to write a memoir about their friendship struck me as a form of betrayal. I have friends of my own, with some people I have known since I was 10. Friendship among women sometimes tend to be complicated and I was curious to know what went wrong between the author and Martha Stewart. What drove the author to write a tell all book and reveal how Ms. Stewart is in real life. Talk about written cat fight but a one sided one (unless Martha comes up with a book about Mariana Pasternak).
I won’t go into much details about the book but if asked to rate it, I would rate it 2 out of 5 stars because the book is full of little stories, mostly Martha bashing that end up nowhere and then it happens again.
Reading about their friendship that spanned for more than twenty years, I could easily say, I wouldn’t wish neither of them to be my friend.
Giveaway!!
Harper Collins will send one (1) copy of Mariana Pasternak’s novel, The Best of Friends to one lucky reader of this review. Just leave me a comment, answering this question:
What would you do if a best friend betrays you – either by talking behind your back or (gasp) writing a tell all book about you?
I’ll close the comments in a week and draw a winner by random. US and Canada only please.
Disclosure: This post was written for Harper Collins who provided the item for review and will provide one copy to giveaway. I was not compensated in any way.
It’s been a while since I did Thursday Thirteen – a list of thirteen things of just about anything. There’s a local forum I frequently read so I thought after seeing the recent discussion titles, I’d give a Thursday Thirteen spin again.
These are titles of actual discussions at the expat forum site:
1. How to house train hubby in 5 days?
2. Saudi Arabia living for ’single’ guy
3. He went into my drawers!
4. Power wash my villa
5. How often should I service my car?
6. Would you leave your child alone in the car whilst you go shopping?
Hell I hope no one answered yes!
7. Help with monthly cost Pls
8. Getting kids out of the country
9. How often do you feed your kids?
Is this even a question…how about starting with 3 times a day…
10. Do you leave your kids in play areas and go shopping?
11. Are children too sensitive these days?
12. could you be a cougar
13. Desperate for Hally Hansen tan!
Who is Hally Hansen, I certainly don’t have any idea!
My father in-law rushed through the sliding door, to the corridor leading to the low lying Japanese table where we were. The creaking sound of the 50 year old wooden floor followed his every step. “Akari will be in the omikoshi parade!”
An omikoshi is a portable Shinto shrine carried around the neighborhood in a spirit of excitement and revelry. However this was a small town and the omikoshi is carried by children (pre-selected by drawing lots). Believing that children who are inside the decorated cart would be blessed with good health the whole year through, my in-laws prayed that their only grandchild be selected as we only visit Japan once a year now. We have left when she was barely three and now at nearly seven, it seems that everything Japan related is only but a faint memory to her. She even forgot most of the language already.
I was worried. How will she interact with the local children? Will she even understand or enjoy the event?
The children carrying the omikoshi regularly stopped to dance merrily, tossing the omikoshi up and down, timed at the beat of a taiko (Japanese drum) and whistles of the children.
I underestimated my daughter. She was a natural. In her blazing red festival coat, she had the biggest smile, the loudest whistle and the biggest voice chanting, “Wasshoi! Wasshoi!”
She embraced Japan and everything about it as if we never left at all.
*****
This post has been entered into the Grantourismo and HomeAway Holiday-Rentals travel blogging competition. (The theme for July is Local Festival)
As if parallel parking isn’t enough of a challenge, I saw another nightmare come to life:
My car is the small white one in the middle. Normally I don’t (won’t) park this way as much as possible as there is another diagonal parking nearby. But this location is so right in front of the office building entrance and with the weather being so hot lately, I wanted to minimize walking.
When I came and parked in the morning, the black big car in front of me wasn’t there. Park anywhere you can people, but this kind of parking?
So I stood there, horrified on how I might be able to get my car out. I wanted to go home early but had to wait because there is NO way I could ever get my car out unless any of the two cars go away. Both of them only gave very little space to wiggle out!
From the back (there are metal posts on the right side, adding to the very limited wiggle room):
And the bad ass car in front of mine:
Even the world’s most skillful driver would scratch his head. I ended up waiting for almost 30 minutes until the driver behind my car came and drove away.
Sarah Woodruff, on death row in Oregon for murdering her lover, John Finley, has appealed her case to the Supreme Court just when a prominent justice resigns, leaving a vacancy.
Then, for no apparent reason, another justice is mysteriously attacked. Dana Cutler—one of the heroes from Margolin’s bestselling Executive Privilege—is quietly called in to investigate. She looks for links between the Woodruff appeal and the ominous incidents in the justices’ chambers, which eventually lead her to a shoot-out that took place years ago on a small freighter docked upriver in Shelby, Oregon, containing a dead crew and illegal drugs. The only survivor on board? John Finley.
I’ve always loved suspense novels, starting from the days when I read my first Sidney Sheldon novel so I was excited to read this book. It has a good plot and it started with an exciting chapter like some political or espionage thriller but somewhere along the way, I lost my interest.
The difficult part of the book is I think, would be, remembering all the characters. There are plenty and I found myself turning back pages to see who’s who and what he/she is up to. Or you could blame it to the late night reading – I read in bed in the wee hours of the night so that could be the reason. Also, this book is a sequel to Margolin’s book, Executive Privilege so it was a challenge for me to understand the innuendos and references to the previous work to be able to fully understand and appreciate the current one.
In short, it did serve my quench for a suspense novel, something I didn’t have for quite a while now but it didn’t leave me wanting for more. I’d like to know how you think of it!
Giveaway!!
Harper Collins will send one (1) copy of Phillip Margolin’s novel, Supreme Justice to one lucky reader of this review. Just leave me a comment answering this question:
What’s your favorite action/suspense book or movie?
I’ll close the comments in a week and draw a winner by random. US only please.
Disclosure: This post was written for Harper Collins who provided the item for review and will provide one copy to giveaway. I was not compensated in any way.
I interrupt all your regular programming with this post. Stop. Look. Read! Orient Watch USA has contacted me to giveaway an Orient Ladies watch to one of my blog’s lucky readers!!
Did I get your attention now?
Orient Watch has been making watches for the past 60 years. They’re widely cherished in Asia, Europe, and South America and now, Japan’s largest producer of automatic watches is finally available in the United States. With more than 50 years of history and an annual production of over 2 million timepieces, Orient could quite possibly be the largest watch company you never knew existed.
Have you checked out their lines? I like CEVAD003W. I think it’s perfect for my husband who likes leather straps. And this CFHAA001W shouldn’t be missed for that executive look!
Watches – they must be the only piece of jewelry of accessory that I couldn’t get out of the house without. I have been wearing a watch since I was 6 years old and feel that it is a part of my body already, that I’d go half crazy looking at my empty wrist if I forgot to put it. If I told you the first thing that will catch my attention in a guy, you might not believe me. Yes, it’s the watch. I’d prefer someone who’s wearing a watch! Oh, don’t look at me like that!
WHAT’S UP FOR GRABS:
One lucky winner will get this Pink face Orient automatic watch!
Some of the watch’s features are the following:
Day-Date Functions
Orient 3-Star
Stainless Steel Case
Screw Caseback
Water Resistant 50m
Fully AutomaticBand is adjustable with a fold over buckle
HOW TO WIN:
Browse the entire Orient watch collection available and pick a favorite. Mention it in the comment section and you’re in!
NOTE: If your comment does not come up immediately, it might have gone to my spam folder. Don’t post a duplicate comment – I will take care of that.
Taken at a chocolate shop in Dubai.This took me by surprise. Does it mean that those who overeat chocolates will end up looking like this? Be scared. Be very scared.
You can now add your Wordless Wednesday link here! Please do so I can visit your blog!
I’ve spent some time looking at the classifieds section lately to help out someone looking for a job and I’ve come across some weird ads.
*****
Looking to hire housemaid/nanny for a small family of 8.
Whoa, I wonder what a big family means for this advertiser!
*****
Wanted maid to take care of a 3 year old toddler while we both work. Must know: cleaning, ironing, car washing and cooking. No boyfriends, NO SRI LANKANS!
Wow madame, you must have your reasons but that just doesn’t sound right!
****
Dear Sir/Madame, if you are looking for a hardener/house boy, please call this number: xx-xxxx-xxx.
Speechless.
*****
Housemaid/nanny wanted
We will provide visa, accommodation in your own bedroom with private bathroom in a brand new apartment with beautiful pool and gym.
As if the maid will have time to frolic in the pool and gym!
*****
Expat moving back to own country. Looking to sell a 2 year old bedroom set immediately. Original price at 3,000 dhs, selling for 2,000dhs. No time wasters! No offers! No discounts!
Boo, no buyers for you!
*****
Hi…………. I am 29 years old sri Lankan lady. Excelent English. looking for full time job with visa & accomadation. i have 6 years experense in dubai I can cleaning, ironing, washing, baby care, pet care and eny other flaxyble job
I have passed high school & followed by MS OFFICE course. I can reading ,writing,speaking English & speaking Arabic.
It’s summer vacation for kids here in the UAE and my daughter is home for at least the next 8 long weeks. Dubai is so hot in the summer that outdoor life just won’t have a place in our daily itinerary. No chance of outdoor life while the sun is up (but even then it is still hot at nearly 40C in the evenings) means very limited activities for children in the summer.
No, we don’t have channels installed in our TV (but she can watch DVD’s).
Pristine had been looking forward to do modelling again jut like last year, an annual program for Dubai Summer Surprises. It would be a great activity for her and it would kill 3 of those 8 weeks at home. Even if that is still an indoor activity, at least it would keep her busy. We registered and were selected for interview. There were more than 200 children vying for 24 spots (ONLY 12 boys and 12 girl models will be selected) so the competition is stiff.
Unfortunately, Pristine wasn’t selected to model this year, citing reason that she already had the chance last year, blah, blah, blah. Fine. I mean, that was fine for me…but what about for her? I know she’ll understand but man, she had been practicing this for a year!
However, I wasn’t too afraid to tell her the news, after all, she isn’t that kid who’ll throw tantrums or wail like there’s no tomorrow just because she didn’t get what she wanted. She knows that obviously, a child can’t go on throwing a fit or a tantrum when something doesn’t go her way. We have taught her that. She took the news gracefully though it doesn’t mean she wasn’t disappointed because she spent the next hour not talking and kept on writing and writing. As a parent, we want our children to sail through childhood free from disappointments, ever. But we all know that it isn’t possible and not a very good preparation when disappointments definitely come their way later in life.
Giving chances
I talked to my daughter calmly and told her the life is all about giving chances. When she got selected last year, it was because someone wasn’t accepted so she’ll have her chance. Now, it’s the other way around. She wasn’t accepted so someone can have the same experience she had. It would’ve been nice if all were given chances but sometimes there are limits. She was given the chance before, it was time to give back.
Parent’s acknowledgement
No matter big or small the disappointment is, we parents can help our children by letting them know that we are willing to be there to listen and help with the resolution. Lastly, as with many aspects of parenting, we parents are the mirrors of our children. Children learn to respond to disappointment by what they witness their parents doing so I try hard to keep hysterical reactions to a minimum.
