104. My Fair Lazy by Jen Lancaster

When I read Ms. Lancaster's first book a couple of years ago, I was hooked. I thought her writing style was unique and funny and I had a good time laughing out loud. My Fair Lazy was a different story though. I give it a B-.

From Amazon:
It's a JENaissance! The New York Times bestselling author of Pretty in Plaid gets her culture on. Readers have followed Jen Lancaster through job loss, sucky city living, weight loss attempts, and 1980s nostalgia. Now Jen chronicles her efforts to achieve cultural enlightenment, with some hilarious missteps and genuine moments of inspiration along the way. And she does so by any means necessary: reading canonical literature, viewing classic films, attending the opera, researching artisan cheeses, and even enrolling in etiquette classes to improve her social graces. In Jen's corner is a crack team of experts, including Page Six socialites, gourmet chefs, an opera aficionado, and a master sommelier. She may discover that well-regarded, high-priced stinky cheese tastes exactly as bad as it smells, and that her love for Kraft American Singles is forever. But one thing's for certain: Eliza Doolittle's got nothing on Jen Lancaster-and failure is an option.

First of all, I am so glad I didn't buy this book and instead waited for it from the library. To me the book was boring and dull. Most of the second half was just a description of the different types of food she was eating and all of the restaurants she went to. I felt like I was reading a menu website or something. I also felt like Ms. Lancaster was kind of dogging herself for watching so many reality shows, which is something I like to do once in awhile to escape from the bad news all of the time. There are still the footnotes and emails with her friends, which I do love, and a touching chapter on her pets that had me tear up. All in all, while I didn't hate the book, it definitely wasn't what I've come to expect from Ms. Lancaster!

103. Retail Hell: How I Sold My Soul to the Store Confessions of a Tortured Sales Associate by Freeman Hall

I read about this book somewhere, though of course I can't remember now. It was a quick, funny read, and whille I wasn't laughing out loud much there were plenty of times I smiled. I give Retail Hell a B+.

From Amazon:
I think you left these behind,? I said, handing them to her. This happens all the time when women try to return bags they?ve used. Tampons, lipstick, coins, Tic Tacs, and condoms are the top treasures found.
?Greasy? let out a sigh, as if I were the problem. ?I was just trying my things in it. I really don?t see what the problem is here. It?s none of your business what I keep in my handbag.?
It is when my commission is at stake! I?m not your Designer Handbag Rental Service! My name is not BagBorrowOrSteal.com!
Enter Freeman Hall, an aspiring screenwriter who sets out to realize his Hollywood dream, but instead plunges into the seventh circle of Retail Hell when the rent comes due, selling animal-hide Hobos and overpriced clutches to Lookie-Loos and Picky Bitches?but always with a sunshiny smile.
Freeman toils in the handbag (that?s handbag, NOT purse) department of the Big Fancy department store, where he sees, hears, smells (and unfortunately, feels) it all! Here, he provides a true?and truly shocking?account of life from the other side of the handbag display. From early-morning RA-RA RALLIES to the craziest crazy-lady customers, Freeman?s horrific and hilarious workday tales redefine Juicy Couture.
As Freeman begins to plots his escape, he realizes that despite the Big Fancy?s lax return policy, for him, there really may be no returns . . . no exchanges . . . no way out.

I couldn't believe some of the things people do and get away with. It was absolutely crazy. I always enjoy getting the inside view of someone's life and Retail Hell allowed me to do just that. Freeman is easy to sympathize with when you read about the way he was treated, and while I am always polite when I am at the store, (unless the associate is a total idiot... then I may get snippy) I think this book may have me being just a bit nicer. If you ever worked retail or are just looking for an easy read to pass a few hours, pick this up.

65. Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler

I love watching Chelsea Handler's show on E!, Chelsea Lately, and have enjoyed her previous books. I picked up Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang from the library and quickly read it. I give it a B.

From Amazon:
WHAT . . . A RIOT! Life doesn't get more hilarious than when Chelsea Handler takes aim with her irreverent wit. Who else would send all-staff emails to smoke out the dumbest people on her show? Now, in this new collection of original essays, the #1 bestselling author of Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea delivers one laugh-out-loud moment after another as she sets her sights on the ridiculous side of childhood, adulthood, and daughterhood. Family moments are fair game, whether it's writing a report on Reaganomics to earn a Cabbage Patch doll, or teaching her father social graces by ordering him to stay indoors. It's open season on her love life, from playing a prank on her boyfriend (using a ravioli, a fake autopsy, and the Santa Monica pier) to adopting a dog so she can snuggle with someone who doesn't talk. And everyone better duck for cover when her beach vacation turns into matchmaking gone wild. Outrageously funny and deliciously wicked, CHELSEA CHELSEA BANG BANG is good good good good!

While certainly crude, there are several laugh out loud moments in the book. I love the stories about her family, and have to question myself several times on whether or not these stories could actually be true they were so out there. Chelsea always makes me laugh, and while I don't agree with her on everything, it's nice to escape for a short time and just laugh. This was a quick read and I finished it in one afternoon. Be forewarned, though, that there is quite a bit of crude and rude humor in this book.

28. We're Just Like You, Only Prettier by Celia Rivenbark

This book was an impulse grab last time I browsed at the library. I was in the mood for something short and sweet and this book fit the bill. I give it an A-.

From Amazon:
Why couldn't the Sopranos survive living down South? Simple. You can't shoot a guy full of holes after eating chicken and pastry, spoon bread, okra, and tomatoes.What does a Southern woman consider grounds for divorce? When daddy takes the kids out in public dressed in their pajama tops and Tweety Bird swim socks. Again.What is the Southern woman's opinion of a new "fat virus" theory? Bring it on! We've got a lot of skinny friends we need to sneeze on. In this wickedly funny follow-up to her bestselling novel Bless Your Heart, Tramp, Celia Rivenbark welcomes you, once again, to the South she loves, the land of "Mama and them," "precious and dahlin'," and mommies who mow. Y'all come back now, you hear?

I thought this book should be geared towards moms more than Southerns/ While there were several references to the way things happen down south, I found a lot of the topics can be related to no matter where you live. There were several laugh out loud moments, and it was a nice break in between the heavy and dark suspense books I have been reading. I would recommend it if you are a mom (Unfortunely, I'm not... yet, but I still enjoyed it!) or are looking for a chuckle!

I have one more mini-review coming up that I hope to get today. Happy Reading everyone!

Happens Every Day by Isabel Gilles

I read about Happens Every Day on someone's blog, and since I am always on the lookout for a good memoir, I decided to place a hold on it from my library. Isabel Gilles is the actress who plays Detective Stabler's wie on one of my favorite tv shows, Law and Order: SVU, so that picqued my curiousity even more. A quick but painful read, I give Happens Every Day a B.

Inside cover:
Isabel Gilles had a wonderful life- a handsome, intelligent, loving husband; two glorious toddlers; a beautiful house; the time and place to express all her ebullience and affection and optimism. Suddenly that life is over. Her husband, Josiah, announced he was leaving her and their two young sons.
When Josiah took a teaching job at a Midwestern college, Isabel and their sons moved with him from New York City to Ohio, where Isabel taught acting, through herself into the college community, and delighted in the less-scheduled lives of toddlers raised away from the city. But within a few months, the marriage was over. The life Isabel had made crumbled. "Happens every day." said a friend.
Far from a self-pitying diatribe, Happens Every Day reads like an intimate conversation between friends. Gillies has written a dizzyingly candid, compulsively readable, ultimately redemptive story about love, marriage, family, heartbreak, and the unexpected turns of a life. One the one hand, reading this book is like watching a train wreck. On the other hand, as Gillies herself says, it is abot trying to light a candle instead of cursing the darkness, and loving your life even if it has slipped away. Hers is a remarkable new voice- instinctive, funny, and irresistible.

I do give Ms. Gillies a ton of credit. While her life is falling apart around her, Ms. Gillies keeps a positive attitude (well as positive as one can have) and keeps it together for her sons. She tries all she can in her power to keep her family and marriage together, and when it becomes apparent that she can't, she tries to stay as civil with her husband as she can for her sons. I hated her husband and wanted to rip through the pages and strangle him myself, so perhaps I am not as a good of a person as Ms. Gillies is. I absolutely love her quote, though, of lighting a candle instead of cursing the darkness, and can definitely use some of that spirit right now when dealing with my job. Her attitude is wonderful and I strongly believe that everyone can take something away from the story, whether you are married, single, widowed, or divorced. While Happens Every Day wasn't the best book or memoir I've read, I believe it is one that is worth the time.

In trying to keep with my promise to rotate reading one of my books with a library book, the next one I read will be one of my own. Which book that is, I'm not sure, but I hope it's a good one. I am exhausted for some reason ( I even napped today, which is something I rarely do) but hope to at least start a new book. Happy Reading everyone!

Bringing Home the Birkin by Michael Tonello

I heard about this book on Bookish NYC during one of her weekly features, Seen on the Subway, where she discusses different books she sees people reading on the subway and adds her comments. She mentioned she read Bringing Home the Birkin and really enjoyed it, and it sounded like something that would break up my usual suspense reads, so I placed it on hold from my library. It was a great read and I give it an A-.

Back cover:
For more than twenty years, the Hermes Birkin bag has been the iconic symbol of fashion, luxury, and wealth. Though the bag is often seen dangling from the arms of celebrities, there is a fabled waiting list of more than two years to buy one from Hermes, and the average fashionista has a better chance of climbing Mount Everest in Prada pumps than of possessing one of these coveted carryalls. Unless, of course, she happens to know Michael Tonello...
Michael's newfound career started with an impulsive move to Barcelona, a vanished job assignment, no work visa, and an Hermes scarf sold on eBay to generate some quick cash. But soon the resourceful Michael discovered the truth about the waiting list and figured out the secret to getting Hermes to part with one of these precious bags. Millions of dollars work of Birkins later, Michael had become one of eBay's most successful entrepreneurs- and a Robin Hood to thousands of desperate rich women.

Bringing Home the Birkin was filled with chuckles and smiles, including one brilliant reference to the Brady Bunch. Michael does a fantastic job explaining how his extremely successful business begins and then, years later, ends. We get to learn the secret on how to buy a Birkin and the real reason why there is a so-called 2 year waiting list. As Michael travels Europe, and later the world, looking for the latest Birkin and other Hermes products, he describes these locations in great details where I can picture myself right there beside him. By reading this fantastic book, I got to travel to Tokyo, France, Capri, and Greece and was even able to "sample" some of the local cuisine. The author also does a fantastic job of accounting for how outrageous these prices are, and how he can't understand how people spend this crazy amount of money ($37,000 for a purse anyone?!?). Bringing Home the Birkin was such a fun read and a great way to spend a dreary, cold Saturday afternoon.

I am not sure what I am going to read next, which seems to be a common theme with me. I do have the latest Lisa Gardiner book to read from the library so it may be that one. I think I am going to run up to the grocery store real quickly but then probably jump into another book. Happy Reading everyone!

Pretty in Plaid by Jen Lancaster

I've loved Jen Lancaster since I discovered her blog and then read her three subsequent books. Her first book, Bright Lights, Big Ass was probably my favorite and I was excited to read her newest which was just released. I got it from my library and finished it this afternoon while enjoying the sunlight and mild temperatures. It was a good read, but not as funny as the others. I give it a B.

From Amazon:
In Pretty in Plaid, Jen Lancaster reveals how she developed her hubris that perpettually gets her in trouble. Using fashion icons of her youth to tell her hilarious and insightful stories, readers will meet the girl she used to be.
Think Jen Lancaster was always "like David Sedaris with pearls and a super cute handbag?" (Jennifer Coburn) Think again. She was a badge hungry Girl Scout with a knack for extortion, an aspiring sorority girl who didn't know her Coach from her Louis Vuitton, and a budding executive who found herself bewildered by her first encounter with a fax machine. In this humorous and touching memoir, Jen Lancaster looks back on her life- and wardrobe- before bitter was the new black and shows us a young woman not so very different than the rest of us.
The author who shows us what it is like to wait in line at the unemployment office with a Prada bag, how living in the city can actually suck, and that losing weight can be fun with a trainer named Barbie and enough Ambien is ready to take you on a hilarious and heartwarming trip down memory lane in her shoes (and very pretty ones at that).

I enjoy reading memoirs, and I believe Jen Lancaster was the one who got me hooked on them. Memoirs are a good way to break up from reading all of the thrillers and dark stories I read sometimes. While Pretty In Plaid was enjoyable, I didn't like it as much as some of Ms. Lancaster's other books. I did like, however, the many different footnotes that she adds to the story but missed some of the emails and other things she used to break apart other stories. I guess because the story is broke apart by decades, specifically the 70s, 80s, and 90s, and email wasn't around then but I wish she had added more letters or something. It just seems like strayed a bit from her previous formats that I loved so much. While I enjoyed the book, I am glad I didn't buy the book, especially since it was in hardcover and that I read it so fast.

As always, I am not sure what I am going to read next. I still have two library books to read, but as I have been looking over them a bit more, they may be going back unread. I feel like maybe reading something off of my own shelves but who knows. Right now I plan on catching up on some tv shows and movies I have recorded and maybe giving my eyes a break. I probably will have tomorrow off from work since teachers do not get paid for the holiday if they call in the day after, so I will have some time tomorrow to get some reading in as well. I am so happy I was able to get so many books in this weekend as my monthly total was looking pretty grim. Well I am off to pay some bills! Happy Reading everyone!

StoriTelling by Tori Spelling

I was a huge fan of 90210 and still love to watch the reruns and also began watching Tori Spelling's reality show, so I was interested to read her book and see what it was like growing up as her. I also do have to admit to enjoy reading People Magazine and the like, so this book seemed to be up my alley. It was a fast read and I rate it a B.

From Amazon:
She was television's most famous virgin--and, as Aaron Spelling's daughter, arguably its most famous case of nepotism. Portraying Donna Martin on Beverly Hills, 90210, Tori Spelling became one of the most recognizable young actresses of her generation, with a not-so-private personal life every bit as fascinating as her character's exploits. Yet years later the name Tori Spelling too often closed--and sometimes slammed--the same doors it had opened.
sTORI Telling is Tori's chance to finally tell her side of the tabloid-worthy life she's led, and she talks about it all: her decadent childhood birthday parties, her nose job, her fairy-tale wedding to the wrong man, her so-called feud with her mother. Tori has already revealed her flair for brilliant, self-effacing satire on her VH1 show So NoTORIous and Oxygen's Tori & Dean: Inn Love, but her memoir goes deeper, into the real life behind the rumors: her complicated relationship with her parents; her struggles as an actress after 90210; her accident-prone love life; and, ultimately, her quest to define herself on her own terms.

The book was not that well written, though you do get a good idea of who the real Tori Spelling is. I have to admit I did not come away with a better impression of her as a person after reading it though I could hardly relate to her problems. I guess I would have had a favorable impression of her if I tried to place myself in her shoes, but some of her problems had me saying "come on... get over it!" However, I couldn't imagine growing up with a mother like hers. I couldn't believe some of the things her mother pulled and how incredibly selfish she was. Tori also comes away selfish as well and I had a hard time sympathizing with her regarding her divorce and second marriage. That being said, the book was enjoyable and a quick escape to see how the other half lives. I am not sure if I would read her next book coming out, but I am glad I got this from the library instead of paying the $25 to buy it.

Up next is a book called The Devil's Closet. I had it on my bookshelf and am in the mood for a good thriller. I hope to finish it before the end of the year, though I do have a lot of work coming up for my online job. I am so glad the hustle and bustle of Christmas is over and do plan on staying home and not venturing out much this next week. Have a great rest of the weekend and Happy Reading!

Are You There Vodka, It's Me Chelsea by Chelsea Handler

I mentioned in my previous post for picking this book up to read and I was not disappointed. The perfect light, easy, comedic read that I finished quite quickly. I give it an A-.

From Amazon:
When Chelsea Handler needs to get a few things off her chest, she appeals to a higher power -- vodka. You would too if you found out that your boyfriend was having an affair with a Peekapoo or if you had to pretend to be honeymooning with your father in order to upgrade to first class. Welcome to Chelsea's world -- a place where absurdity reigns supreme and a quick wit is the best line of defense.
In this hilarious, deliciously skewed collection, Chelsea mines her past for stories about her family, relationships, and career that are at once singular and ridiculous. Whether she's convincing her third-grade class that she has been tapped to play Goldie Hawn's daughter in the sequel to Private Benjamin, deciding to be more egalitarian by dating a redhead, or looking out for a foulmouthed, rum-swilling little person who looks just like her...only smaller, Chelsea has a knack for getting herself into the most outrageous situations. Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea showcases the candor and irresistible turns of phrase that have made her one of the freshest voices in comedy today.

Ms. Handler is very funny and her true voice clearly comes through in the book. The thing that I believe leads to the book being even funnier is the fact that Ms. Handler's stories are not outrageous and funny in a way that is unbelievable. If you ever watch her show, you can hear a lot of the same phrases and expressions that she uses on the show and in her book. The book contained about 14 different essays ranging from boyfriends to getting sucked into dog sitting for a friend when she doesn't even like dogs. At times the book may be offensive to some who do not like graphic language, but I still enjoyed it. I think I am going to check out her previous book.

Up next is The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond. It is the last of my library books and I would love to be able to finish it by tomorrow so I can add it to November's count. I doubt I will have the time, however, because this evening my hubby and I have bowling and tomorrow I have lesson plans to do. However, I was able to get my cleaning and laundry done today so it may all work out. Happy Reading!

I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley

While I was looking up Chelsea Handler's book, Are You There Vodka, It's Me Chelsea?, Amazon provided a link to me saying a lot of people buy this book as well. It sounded interesting, so I placed a hold on my library. It was a pleasant read, but nothing spectacular. I give it a B.

From Amazon:
Wry, hilarious, and profoundly genuine, this debut collection of literary essays is a celebration of fallibility and haplessness in all their glory. From despoiling an exhibit at the Natural History Museum to provoking the ire of her first boss to siccing the cops on her mysterious neighbor, Crosley can do no right despite the best of intentions-or perhaps because of them. Together, these essays create a startlingly funny and revealing portrait of a complex and utterly recognizable character that's aiming for the stars but hits the ceiling, and the inimitable city that has helped shape who she is. I Was Told There'd Be Cake introduces a strikingly original voice, chronicling the struggles and unexpected beauty of modern urban life.

Probably one of my favorite things about this book was the fact that the author is a couple of years older than me and when she wrote about her childhood, I could really relate to a lot of things. I absolutely loved her discussion on Oregon Trail, which she played on one of Apple's computers, which I also did at school. Oregon Trail was such a great game and made computer time so much fun! She also discussed one girl at her camp that had the perfect Caboodle with all of the cool stickers. I loved my Caboodle! So many of her childhood memories reflected mine and I really enjoyed going back and down Memory Lane. However, some of her stories were a bit confusing and I felt a little lost. That totally could have been me, though, because at times I was focusing on other things and not giving the book my total attention.

I have three more books to read from the library. I think I am going to read another John Saul book, as I have two of his checked out. This one is called Black Lightning and it seems to be a promising thriller. I have a busy week this week, what with work and getting settled for my new job and then getting ready to leave for New York on Thursday. However, I do hope to get a lot of good reading in! I hope everyone had a good weekend and Happy Reading!

Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster

I absolutely love Ms. Lancaster's snarky attitude and her outlook on life. She says and does a lot of things that I only think about it, and she always makes me laugh. I was stalking my library waiting for this book to be released and it was worth the wait. While I didn't enjoy this book as much as her others, it was still a fun read. I give it a B+.

From Amazon:
"To whom the fat rolls…I'm tired of books where a self-loathing heroine is teased to the point where she starves herself skinny in hopes of a fabulous new life. And I hate the message that women can't possibly be happy until we all fit into our skinny jeans. I don't find these stories uplifting; they make me want to hug these women and take them out for fizzy champagne drinks and cheesecake and explain to them that until they figure out their insides, their outsides don't matter. Unfortunately, being overweight isn't simply a societal issue that can be fixed with a dose healthy of positive self-esteem. It’s a health matter, and here on the eve of my fortieth year, I've learned I have to make changes so I don't, you know, die. Because what good if finally being able to afford a pedicure if I lose a foot to adult onset diabetes?"

This book tracks Jen as she decides to take on her weight issues and get healthy. She discusses her various ways of attempting to lose weight and become healthy, the reader does get a good idea on what the main thing to do is... eat less and move more (also said by one of my favorite radio hosts). As I don't have weight problems some of it I couldn't relate to but it does allow me to see some of the struggles people go through with dieting. There is also some of daily life sprinkled in and the things that happen to her. It is really inspiring to see how well she has done and the struggles that she has overcome, so I would recommend this to anyone who would like to lose weight or just find motivation to do anything.

Up next is a library book. I went today and picked up two and also went the thrift store and bought books. I believe I got 8 books for $5.00, with three of them hardcovers. I successful trip, I believe. Happy Reading everyone!

Tiny Ladies in Shiny Pants by Jill Soloway

I picked up Tiny Ladies from Borders awhile ago. It was a bargain book and was then reduced an additional 50%, so I thought it would be a fun, quick read. This is a memoir and I always enjoy reading a good memoir in between my suspense books. This one, however, fell flat. The highest I think I can rate this book is a C.

From Amazon:
This hilarious, whip-smart collection of essays from a top writer and producer of Six Feet Under crisscrosses from the highly personal (conflating her own loss of virginity and the Kobe Bryant accusations), to the political (what she has in common with Monica and Chandra), to the outrageously Los Angelean (why women wear huge diamonds and what they must do to get them). Tiny Ladies in Shiny Pants is a genre-defying combination of personal essay and memoir, or a hilarious, unruly and unapologetic evaluation of society, religion, sex, love, and -- best of all -- Jill Soloway.

I just couldn't really get into the book. I thought that Ms. Soloway seemed to really hate men and even came out and said that they don't serve a purpose. I just can't get behind that type of thinking and to tell you the truth, it really gets me mad. Her views are very, very liberal and I tend to not lean that far left. I bought the book thinking that it was more about her own life and not so much man bashing and political. There were a few times when I was laughing out loudand Ms. Soloway does have a very good voice. I doubt I will be looking for anymore books by her.

I am not sure what I am going to read next. I will probably just pick something off of my shelves very quickly. Maybe a John Lutz book... I think I am in the mood for a good thriller and something that will suck me right in. I hope everyone had a great weekend and Happy Reading!

Candy Girl by Diablo Cody

As I said in my previous entry, I became aware of Candy Girl from reading other blogs and hearing about Diablo Cody when there was all of the Juno hype during Oscar time. I placed it on hold from my library and picked it up yesterday and read it today. It was definitely an interesting read, and I give it a B+.

Library Review:
As a college graduate from a stable family, with a boring job at a Minneapolis advertising agency and a supportive boyfriend (now husband), Cody decided to become a stripper. She jumped in on an amateur night at a local bar and then pursued her interest at several different venues, from so-called gentlemen's clubs to peep shows. Cody, now an arts editor with Minneapolis's alternative weekly, City Pages, describes in explicit detail her experiences stripping, lap dancing, and masturbating for clients. She has a fondness for the other strippers, who range from teenagers to thirtysomething mothers, but Cody has only disdain for the clubs, which generally treated the women badly and demanded a large portion of their pay. Cody tries to explain her attraction to stripping, but her descriptions of her encounters and the physical toll the work took on her body leave readers wondering why she kept going back despite the fact that she earned enough to buy a house. Still, a very readable account of life in the sex trade.

I have to admit, I felt dirty at times while reading this. I almost felt like if someone saw me reading it, they would think that I was a stripper or interested in becoming one. I think because of the stigma on stripping and the sex trade it has always been a bit of a taboo to me and I wanted to know what really went on. I had one friend in high school who was a stripper and I wanted to get into the head of one. Candy Girl does that job and puts the reader there. At sometimes graphic with the language and the descriptions, Diablo Cody does an excellent job of putting the reader right there with her during her stage debut. However, where I did think the book lacked a bit was telling my why she chose to become a stripper especially since she doesn't come from the typical background one may think a stripper has. It was a very quick read and was something different from my usual type of books I read.

I am not sure what is next. I think I may either read The Good Liar by Laura Caldwell or use the random number generator to select a book for me. I hope to get in some more quality reading time tonight and keep up my reading mojo. I am not working tomorrow or Tuesday, so I should be able to get some extra time in. I have a dentist and doctor appointment tomorrow and another doctor appointment on Tuesday, so there will be plenty of wait time. Tomorrow night is dedicated to my Wings who will win tomorrow. They will break this mini-slump and prove all of the haters wrong! I hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend and that the weather was nicer where ever you are (54 degree high for today and it is the middle of May!!). Have a great start to the week and Happy Reading!

Her Last Death

After reading a review for this book on someone's blog, I placed a hold on it from my local library. I really enjoy reading memoirs, so this sounded right up my alley. It was really different and at times hard to believe and hard to read. However, I did like it and give it a B.

From Amazon:
Her Last Death begins as the phone rings early one morning in the Montana house where Susanna Sonnenberg lives with her husband and two young sons. Her aunt is calling to tell Susanna her mother is in a coma after a car accident. She might not live. Any daughter would rush the thousands of miles to her mother's bedside. But Susanna cannot bring herself to go. Her courageous memoir explains why.
Glamorous, charismatic and a compulsive liar, Susanna's mother seduced everyone who entered her orbit. With outrageous behavior and judgment tinged by drug use, she taught her child the art of sex and the benefits of lying. Susanna struggled to break out of this compelling world, determined, as many daughters are, not to become her mother.
Sonnenberg mines tender and startling memories as she writes of her fierce resolve to forge her independence, to become a woman capable of trust and to be a good mother to her own children. Her Last Death is riveting, disarming and searingly beautiful.

Parts of this book was so incredibly unbelievable. That a mother could do things that Susanna's mother does is amazing. From giving her 12 year old daughter cocaine, or taking her 9 year old to OB-GYN to get fitted for birth control "just in case" I was appalled but interested. It is somewhat amazing that Susanna turned out as well as she did, though it was a very long process. I felt horrible for a little girl having to go through the things she did, and it almost made me feel bad for reading it. In the beginning of the book, the author rights that this is just her recollection and that some things may be because of a faulty memory, which kind of through me a bit and wonder if the author was adding a bit for shock value.

Keeping up with the dysfunctional family value stories, my next book is The Wentworths which I just picked up from the library. I also got another book from the library that is out of my normal suspense genre, so I suspect when I finish these two, I will run to my gory suspense books on my shelves. Tonight the Wings start their series against the evil Colorado Avalanche with a new rule in place... no octupus swinging. It has been a long-standing tradition in Detroit and because other teams who are jealous started to whine and now one of our Zamboni drivers who always twirls the octipi around his head after picking it up off of the ice will be fined $10,000 if it does it. Unbelievable. Anyways, I could go on and on but I have a dentist appointment to get to and I am sure you guys really don't care so I will bid you goodbye with a Happy Reading!

Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster

I loved Ms. Lancaster's second book, Bright Lights, Big Ass, and had to read her first book. I had it on hold forever at the library and it finally came in. This was another fun read and was a breeze to whip through. I would give it a B+.

From Amazon:
Jen Lancaster was living the sweet life-until real life kicked her to the curb. She had the perfect man, the perfect job-hell, she had the perfect life-and there was no reason to think it wouldn't last. Or maybe there was, but Jen Lancaster was too busy being manicured, pedicured, highlighted, and generally adored to notice. This is the smart-mouthed, soul-searching story of a woman trying to figure out what happens next when she's gone from six figures to unemployment checks and she stops to reconsider some of the less-than-rosy attitudes and values she thought she'd never have to answer for when times were good. Filled with caustic wit and unusual insight, it's a rollicking read as speedy and unpredictable as the trajectory of a burst balloon.

Ms. Lancaster learns a pretty bitter, important lesson throughout this book. She had been living the high life for so long and then everything just crashes. In the wake of 9/11, the jobs dry up and eventually both her and her new husband are unemployed. Jen tries to get jobs everywhere, yet she is either over-qualified or has burned bridges. I somewhat understand what she and her husband, Fletch, went through. Living in Michigan, we have been in a one-state recession (as all of the Republican nominees have been saying the past five days while campagining here... and don't gett me started about how messed up the Democrats who run this state caused for no Democrat people coming here and only having Hillary on the ballot (who I can't stand, though doesn't bother me too much since I tend to lean towards the right)) and with the automotive industry losing money our economy has been in the pooper. My husband is working less and I have little hopes for finding a full time job as a teacher so there are like zero openings. However, Ms. Lancaster lived foolishly and spent outrageous amounts of money on rent and $800 purses. It is an interesting story to see how they are able to make positive things come of it all and eventually turn things around. The story also contains Ms. Lancaster's fun wit and sarcastic remarks which had me laughing out loud. I am looking forward to her newest book which is to be released this spring.

Up next is going to be another library book that I got a recommendation from an old Mystery Scene magazine. It is by Michael Allegretto and is titled Night of Renuion. It was published in 1990 and I have high hopes that it is some what better than Smash Cut. Actually now that I think about, I am not sure how I heard of this book, but here it is. I just read the inside cover again and it still sounds good. I hope I finish this one fast because on Saturday morning I am leaving for a week in Florida. I would really like to limit the amount of library books I bring with me. Hope everyone else is having a good start to the week and Happy Reading!

Hypocrite in a Poufy White Dress by Susan Gilman

Hypocrite in a Poufy White Dress is yet another memoir I picked up at the library. This one was all right, where at times I was loving it, and then questioning why I had even picked it up and kept reading it. I rate it a C+.

From Amazon:

Adult/High School–Gilman has a gift for showing the humor in the ordinary. Her memoir takes readers from her childhood in the late 1960s and early '70s through adulthood and marriage. As the book opens, she is reminiscing about the summer of 1969 when she was four and her parents took her to a commune where one of their friends was filming a documentary. She got to personify innocence by dancing naked on the beach with other children. Other experiences include the challenges of being the only Jewish girl attending a private Presbyterian school, her mother's enthusiasm for transcendental meditation, and her own infatuation (and ultimate meeting) with Mick Jagger. Set against the backdrop of New York's Upper West Side, her descriptions of the insecurities that plagued her as an adolescent ring with truth. Gilman's narrative illustrates how the highs and lows that mark the teen years are remarkably similar among generations, and suggests that perhaps the gap isn't so wide after all. As she shares some of her adult experiences–career choices, the effects of her parents' divorce after she and her brother were grown, a work-related trip to the Polish concentration camps–her refreshing blend of humor and frankness does not trivialize the significance of her observations. Gilman's is not an extraordinary life, but she offers a view of American culture over the past 35 years that is compelling and highly readable.

Some of the things Ms. Gilman discusses seem so absurd, but as I continue to read these memoirs, I have soon discovered that I have lived a fairly sheltered life. At times there were some really laugh out loud moments with her describing finally meeting Mick Jagger and other things going on. I really related to her experience dealing with her parents' divorce when she turned 26. About a month after I got married, I found out my parents were getting a divorce after nearly 30 years of marriage. It really hit me hard, and in some ways, still does today. A lot of what Ms. Gilman had to say about it was so true and I had tears in my eyes while reading it.

I really thought the ending dragged on. There was one point towards the middle where I flew through 100 pages, but the last 40 pages seemed to take about 2 hours for me to read. I also skimmed a lot, especially at the end. The author also discusses so many friends and seems to act like they are all some of her closest friends, though there were so many I couldn't keep them straight. At the end I almost just gave it up, because I was so frustrated it with it. The middle of the book, though, kept me reading and made this one not a DNF.

Up next is one of my books I got yesterday at the book sale. I am going to read the Stephen Collins' book because I am so anxious to see how he writes. It is also a suspense, so sometimes I need to go back to a gritty mystery holding me to the pages. I have a couple more memoirs to read, though I think my best strategy is to alternate between reading those. I hope I am not getting burned out. That would really stink, especially since I am about 4 days away from graduation! Hope everyone had a good, relaxing weekend and Happy Reading!

Autobiography of a Fat Bride by Laurie Notaro

This is my second book by Laurie Notaro and I enjoyed it. I liked it slightly better than the first one I read, especially since this one had some order in the way the story is told. I would give this book a B+.

From Amazon:

Notaro's first book, The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club (2002), achieved cult status and became a surprise best-seller. Returning with another uproarious collection of personal essays from the dating front, Notaro proves that her first-time success wasn't a fluke. Detailing her trip down the bumpy road to matrimony, Notaro outrageously entertains with a sweetly skewed outlook on everything from breaded meats to baby wipes. Having endured boyfriends from hell and survived kamikaze-style dating, Notaro does the unthinkable by getting someone to fall in love with her! This, in Notaro's world, is not the equivalent of the Holy Grail. First, there are in-laws to impress and weddings to plan, both without inflicting bodily harm or doing jail time. Next come the challenges of permanent cohabitation, with its surprise revelations of untoward bodily functions and appearances. Finally, there are the joys of first-time home ownership and joint income-tax filing. Notaro tackles them all with the inimitable, acerbic wit and ruthless, self-deprecating candor that have deservedly earned her legions of loyal fans.

Ms. Notaro really does have a good voice and tells a pretty funny story. Now I don't know if this makes me weird or what, but I really good relate a lot to her and some of her stories. I won't go into too much detail about what I can relate to because that just might be too much information. Her mom and Nana are absolutely hilarious and I loved the chapters that they were involved in. Her and her husband's relationship also reminded me a bit of my and my hubby's relationship, so that brought a few smiles to my face. Again this was a short book and what I really liked about it was it was perfect for me to pick up and read for three minutes while in line at the post office or bank and not be confused when I picked it up again.

While I am loving these memoirs and I have two more from the library by two different authors, I think I am going to read a thriller. I need to switch it up a bit. I looked at my bookshelves and I think I am going to read next The Wrong Man by John Katzenbach. I read about this on one of the blogs I was reading and have it on my shelf, so I think I am going to grab that. I also have been bad lately and bought quite a few books so I really need to pick more books off those shelves instead of constantly reading library books. That is going to be one of my reading goals next year is for every new book I buy or get from the library, I need to read one from my shelves. We'll see how long that will last but is something I really want to focus one.

I don't think I will be leaving the house much today as the weather is crappy. Last night we got snow, then ice, and now it is supposed to rain all day. Perfect day to stay in! Hope everyone else is reading and having an excellent weekend! Happy Reading!

The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club by Laurie Notaro

Continuing on my memoir kick, I picked this book up at the library after getting a recommendation for it while searching for more books by Jen Lancaster. It is a pretty short book, only 225 pages and I was able to finish it quickly. It definitely had some pretty funny points and I could relate to some of the things she talks about. I give this a B.

From Amazon:

I’ve changed a bit since high school. Back then I said no to using and selling drugs. I washed on a normal basis and still had good credit.”Introducing Laurie Notaro, the leader of the Idiot Girls’ Action-Adventure Club. Every day she fearlessly rises from bed to defeat the evil machinations of dolts, dimwits, and creepy boyfriends—and that’s before she even puts on a bra.For the past ten years, Notaro has been entertaining Phoenix newspaper readers with her wildly amusing autobiographical exploits and unique life experiences. She writes about a world of hourly-wage jobs that require absolutely no skills, a mother who hands down judgments more forcefully than anyone seated on the Supreme Court, horrific high school reunions, and hangovers that leave her surprised that she woke up in the first place.The misadventures of Laurie and her fellow Idiot Girls (“too cool to be in the Smart Group”) unfold in a world that everyone will recognize but no one has ever described so hilariously. She delivers the goods: life as we all know it.

Like I mentioned above, this book was very lighthearted and funny. It is an easy book to read in small bits like during commericals or when I wanted to take a quick 5 minute break from working on my portfolio. The wide range of topics from jury duty to when Laurie's mother finally gets email. I had a few chuckles out loud and overall it was a pleasant read. The only downside I had to the book was that it seemed to be completely out of order. In one chapter she is unemployed with no boyfriend, and in the next she is living in a house with a boyfriend. After doing some research on Amazon though I saw that these were all entries from her columns that she wrote for a newspaper in Phoneix. I wish she could have put it in some type of a timeline, though, as I wouldn't have been bouncing around so much. Overall though, I was able to really enjoy it.

Up next is the second of her books, Autobiography of a Fat Bride: True Tales of a Pretend Adulthood. This book is slightly longer, coming in at 258 pages though if I read for another hour tonight, I should have it done by tomorrow. Lately I haven't been able to stay awake later than 10:00 p.m., which is really early for a nightowl like me. However, I am absolutely giddy that I only have a couple of small things left to do on my portfolio which I plan on doing right after school. That is going to be wonderful. I even did my weekly cleaning tonight, so I all I will have to do is laundry this weekend. My husband and I have our bowling night on Saturday and I am meeting my dad Saturday afternoon but besides that it is going to be relaxing, reading, and catching up on my recorded shows. I can't wait! Well I hope everyone else is having a great time reading! Happy reading to all!

Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

I listened to Sellevision on my IPOD and this story had me cracking up. I decided to get Running With Scissors because it is written by the same author and I am on a memoir kick. I wasn't sure of what to expect from this book, but I don't think anything could have prepared me for this. It was an interesting read that I would have to rate a B+.

From Amazon:

This memoir by Burroughs is certainly unique; among other adventures, he recounts how his mother's psychiatrist took her to a motel for therapy, while at home the kids chopped a hole in the roof to make the kitchen brighter. Not all craziness, though, this account reveals the feelings of sadness and dislocation this unusual upbringing brought upon Burroughs and his friends. His early family life was characterized by his parents' break-and-destroy fights, and after his parents separated, his mother practically abandoned Burroughs in hopes of achieving fame as a poet. At 12, he went to live with the family (and a few patients) of his mother's psychiatrist. At the doctor's home, children did as they wished: they skipped school, ate whatever they wanted, engaged in whatever sexual adventures came along, and trashed the house and everything in it, while the mother watched TV and occasionally dusted.

The things that Mr. Burroughs writes about are just totally unbelievable, but sadly believable. After teaching you realize that some parents and the things that they put their children through are absolutely unbelievable. This story had me laughing at times and also feeling like crying. The pure madness and craziness is just so out there and weird. I did enjoy the book though at times felt uncomfortable. Some of the details are so extreme and can be a little bit over the top. It does go into some graphic details and probably not for everyone. I did enjoy it though, and this past weekend bought his other two memoirs from the Borders Outlet store. I know the title of one of them is Dry, though I am not sure what the other is. Another customer there told me they were both excellent so I picked them. I probably won't read them right away, but soon.

Things are finally calming down. I have my last observation tomorrow and I think I am just so tired of it all that I am kind of thinking who cares. I have worked so hard for so long and am getting the recgonition, which I am thankful for, but I have a case of senioritis and I love just relaxing at night. After Thursday I will be able to finish my huge project so that should be put to bed by Sunday. Yay! Anyways, I love getting back into my reading swing and am so happy that I am reading at a relative good pace. My goal that I set for myself for 2007 was to read 100 books and I am at 86 right now. It may be a stretch with only a little bit over a month left, but I am going to try. Considering how busy and little reading I have done since school started in September and my big slump this summer when I was going through depression and anxiety, I am pretty impressed with my reading. Most of the books were not short ones so that makes me feel better.

Up next I am reading another memoir by Laurie Notaro. This one is called The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club. I hope it is as good as the others I have been reading. I hope everyone else is getting a lot of reading done. Happy Reading!

Bright Lights, Big Ass by Jen Lancaster

I am not even sure where I heard of this book but it must have been somewhere out in the blogosphere, but oh my gosh, this was hilarious. I loved the way it was written and it went by way to fast for me. I have to give this book an A.

From Amazon:

Jen Lancaster hates to burst your happy little bubble, but life in the big city isn't all it's cracked up to be. Contrary to what you see on TV and in the movies, most urbanites aren't party-hopping in slinky dresses and strappy stilettos. But lucky for us, Lancaster knows how to make the life of the lower crust mercilessly funny and infinitely entertaining. Whether she's reporting rude neighbors to Homeland Security, harboring a crush on her grocery store clerk, or fighting-and losing-the Battle of the Stairmaster- Lancaster explores how silly, strange, and not-so-fabulous real city living can be. And if anyone doesn't like it, they can kiss her big, fat, pink, puffy down parka.

Totally not my usual type of book but this was such a find. Now I am sure I am missing a whole genre of books that I would probably love but just didn't give a second glance to. I love the way this book is set up with footnotes and emails and the like and Ms. Lancaster has such a wonderful voice. I flew through this and it was perfect for the five minutes here and there that I could steal, though I can tell you I would open this up while sitting at red lights just to read a paragraph. This is Ms. Lancaster's second book and I have her first on hold at the library. I have already talked about this book to my SIL, it was just so funny that I had to gush about it. I never thought that a memoir or an autobiography would be my type of book but this was just wonderful. If anyone else has any more books like this, I would love to hear about them.

I am also listening to Sellevision on my IPOD by Augusten Burroughs. He is the author of his memoir Running With Scissors. I am LOVING Sellevision, and anyone who has any opinion about Home Shopping must read this. The reader is wonderful and I found myself driving around the block to just listen to a bit more. I got Running With Scissors from the library today and will probably read that soon. My SIL told me she heard wonderful things about it so I am hoping it is a good one. Like I said, I would love any and all suggestions for more books like this.

Up next is A House on Sprucewood Lane by Caroline Slate. This book is more of my usual cup of tea and it sounds promising. I haven't heard of this author though so hopefully it is good. I got a ton of work done today, so I think I may just spend the day tomorrow reading and doing laundry. I know I will feel guilty so maybe I will work a bit on my portfolio. I am on a good pace to get it done, but I think I need a day to recharge. Plus after two really good books back to back I have got bitten by the reading bug and that is what I am thinking about. Hope everyone else has a great rest of the weekend and Happy Reading!