86. Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart

I read about Summer at Tiffany on a couple of other blogs and I was interested immediately. I love all things New York City and have been more and more interested in the decades of the 1940s and 1950s. It was a cute memoir and I was immediately taken to New York City during World War II. I give it a B.

From Amazon:
New York City, 1945. Marjorie Jacobson and her best friend, Marty Garrett, arrive fresh from the Kappa house at the University of Iowa hoping to find summer positions as shopgirls. Turned away from the top department stores, they miraculously find jobs as pages at Tiffany & Co., becoming the first women to ever work on the sales floor, a diamond-filled day job replete with Tiffany-blue shirtwaist dresses from Bonwit Teller's—and the envy of all their friends.
Looking back on that magical time in her life, Marjorie takes us back to when she and Marty rubbed elbows with the rich and famous, pinched pennies to eat at the Automat, experienced nightlife at La Martinique, and danced away their weekends with dashing midshipmen. Between being dazzled by Judy Garland's honeymoon visit to Tiffany, celebrating VJ Day in Times Square, and mingling with CafÉ society, she fell in love, learned unforgettable lessons, made important decisions that would change her future, and created the remarkable memories she now shares with all of us.

This was a charming story and I loved the way it showed how everyone had to deal with the war, focusing on women. It was interesting to learn how things were rationed and why women were suddenly taking positions that men had only held before. I loved the inside peek of Tiffany and the old glamourous New York City and picturing places she was describing when I have been there 50-60 years later. This is a cute, short book and one perfect for mothers and grandmothers and those who are interested in learning about old New York.

72. Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern

I first heard about Justin Halpern while watching Chelsea Lately a few weeks ago. I learned that there is going to be a new television sitcom to be released this fall based on this book as well. I had to check it out and finally picked it up from my library. It was a funny, cute read and I give it a B+.

From Amazon:
After being dumped by his longtime girlfriend, twenty-eight-year-old Justin Halpern found himself living at home with his seventy-three-year-old dad. Sam Halpern, who is "like Socrates, but angrier, and with worse hair," has never minced words, and when Justin moved back home, he began to record all the ridiculous things his dad said to him:
"That woman was sexy. . . . Out of your league? Son, let women figure out why they won't screw you. Don't do it for them."
"Do people your age know how to comb their hair? It looks like two squirrels crawled on their heads and started fucking."
"The worst thing you can be is a liar. . . . Okay, fine, yes, the worst thing you can be is a Nazi, but then number two is liar. Nazi one, liar two."
More than a million people now follow Mr. Halpern's philosophical musings on Twitter, and in this book, his son weaves a brilliantly funny, touching coming-of-age memoir around the best of his quotes. An all-American story that unfolds on the Little League field, in Denny's, during excruciating family road trips, and, most frequently, in the Halperns' kitchen over bowls of Grape-Nuts, Sh*t My Dad Says is a chaotic, hilarious, true portrait of a father-son relationship from a major new comic voice.

While often quite funny, this book was touching as well. I found myself laughing out loud and sharing quotes or stories from the book with my hubby as I was reading. I finished this book in one sitting and it was an enjoyable way to spend the evening. It wasn't crude humor, either, which I enjoyed. If you are looking for a quick and fun read, I would recommend this book.

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!

The Duggars: 20 and Counting!

I stumbled across 18 Kids and Counting a couple of months ago while flipping through the channels and immediately fell in love with the Duggar family. When I heard they had a book being released, I placed a hold on it from my local library and it finally came in. It helped me break out of this reading slump I have been in, and I finished it in a couple of hours this evening. It was a nice book to read and I give it a B+.

Back cover:
The Duggars: 20 and Counting! is a behind-the-scenes look at the surprise family that fascinates millions of television viewers across the world. From Idaho to Istanbul, people want to know how Arkansas parents Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar efficiently and lovingly manage eighteen happy, homeschooled children without going into debt- or losing their minds!
This, the Duggars' first book, is an entertaining and enlightening collection of stories, photos, recipes, tips, traditions, and practical ideas designed to answer the questions of the curious...

I really love the Duggar family and am always encouraged by their patient and loving ways with their children. As a teacher, I am amazed at how calm and patient they are and strive to learn from them. In the days of Jon and Kate and that crazy Octomom, it is comforting to see "normal" people raise a large and loving family. While they are strongly religious, they never come across as preachie... and they provide great tips for anyone, whether you have no children or 18. I learned some great tips on organization and love their budget ideas. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about a wholesome family or get some great recipes and tips.

As I mentioned, I have been in a reading slump and have started a new job that I am not sure I am going to keep. There is a lot to be concerned about, but in this economy, I am not sure I want to walk away from a steady paycheck. I plan on seriously thinking about all of this this weekend and hope to make a good decision. I also need to relax and hope to get in some reading time this weekend. It seems my hours at work are much longer than I was lead to believe, and as I am a salary employee, it is one of the things troubling me. I am not feeling to well right now (another migraine coming on... UGH!), and need to get some sleep, so if you don't mind, please send some good vibes my way. Any and all are appreciated as I try to work through this transistion. Happy Reading everyone!

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!

True Stories of Law and ORder by Kevin Dwyer and Jure Fiorillo

I read about this book on a blog and since I am a huge fan of all three of the Law and Orders, decided to pick it up. Lately, TNT has been running mini-marathons and I have been catching up with a lot of the old ones I haven't seen in awhile which made me even more interested in reading this book. I give it a B.

Back of the book:
True Stories of Law and Order reveals the fascinating and shocking facts behind twenty-five of the hit show's most popular episodes- from the incredible account of how a woman's repressed memory leads to the solving of a thirty-year-old cold case to the high-profile investigation of transvestite millonaire Robert Durst. And just like in every episode, the actual crime is just the beginning. You'll follow these cases from the inital stages of investigation through the trial and up to the often controversial verdicts.

I really loved the premise of this book. I have always known that a lot of their cases were "ripped from the headlines" and have even recgonized a few from my local area. It was definitely interesting how much or how little the show has really changed. As a big crime buff who loves watches documentaries and Court TV, this book was right up my alley. At times the book was a bit dry and I think a bit more can have been done to spice things up. However, overall it was a lot of good information and I found myself sneaking peeks all of the time. The book was broken apart in short chapters with a different case and was perfect for reading when taking a break from cleaning and laundry.

One thing that I found absolutely appalling was the chapter and story about Jack Abbott. A famous Pultizer Prize winning author helps get a murderer released because of his skills and great talent in writing. Soon after his release, Mr. Abbott went on to murder someone else and had he still had these celebrities defending him and calling for him to not be placed in jail. One of these celebrities was Susan Saradon and Tim Robbins. Now I particularly do not care for the extreme liberal views, however, I always like Ms. Saradon's acting. After learning that they actually named their child after this cold-blooded killer and defended him, I don't think I could ever watch another thing either of them are in. I don't understand how someone can think that because someone has a great talent, they should not be held accountable for murdering someone else. I guess it happens, though, what with O.J. Simpson, Phil Spector, and Robert Blake to name a few. That shocked me though.

Up next is another cozy mysteries series. I should have entered in Kris', from Not Enough Books, challenge because it will be the second cozy this month. This book is one of my favorite series by Denise Swanson and is called Murder of a Chocolate Covered Cherry. Each summer I look forward to the next book, but this summer I totally forgot about it until yesterday. I got it from the library and hope to dive in now. 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!

Stop Dressing Your Six Year Old Like a Skank by Celia Rivenbark

I got this book from the library after seeing the title and getting a recommendation from Amazon based on the books that I looked at. I was interested in reading it since I assumed I could relate to a lot of the topics and ended up reading it in a couple of hours. I would rate it a B-.

From Amazon:


Celia Rivenbark is an intrepid explorer and acid commentator on the land south of the Mason-Dixon Line. In this collection of screamingly funny essays, you’ll discover: *How to get your kid into a character breakfast at Disney World (or run the risk of eating chicken out of a bucket with Sneezy)
*Secrets of Celebrity Moms (don’t hate them because they’re beautiful when there are so many other reasons)
*ebay addiction and why “It ain’t worth having if it ain’t on ebay”
*Why today’s children’s clothes make six-year-olds look like Vegas showgirls with an abundance of anger issues
*And so much more!
Celia Rivenbark’s essays about life in today’s South are like caramel popcorn---sweet, salty, and utterly irresistible.

Like I said, I read this pretty quickly. It was a light read and Ms. Rivenbark was dead on in some of her writings. I was often nodding along with her and did enjoy it. I believe part of the reason why I marked it down, however, was because in one paragraph she would be talking about something and then just rattle off in a totally different topic. Part of it could have been me, however, because I am very anxious and nervous. Today was my last day of student teaching and tomorrow morning I have my portfolio presentation which will allow for the college to recommend me for certification. I don't feel prepared enough and I am just so nervous. I have to be there by 8:30 a.m. tomorrow morning and it is in downtown Detroit and of course they are predicting snow right in time for rush hour.

Oops, there I go. I just rattled off into a totally different topic.

I suffered from a pretty bad depression and anxiety problems this summer and got them under control pretty well. However, the past month it has been rearing it's ugly head and I am having a really tough time tonight. I can't sit still and would love to go work some of this energy off on the treadmill, but unfortunetly I have a bad migraine and I don't think that will work. My kids today threw me a party and there were tears shedded, but I am not too upset because I know I will see them when I sub and next week at the Christmas party. Ugh, that's another thing I am stressing about because I am not done with my shopping and have wrapped exactly zero presents.

All right, enough. I know this sucks as a book review, but to sum it up, it was a fun book to read, though I doubt I will go out and look for more by her. Up next is a book by M.J. Rose named The Venus Fix. I have read many of her other books including the Morgan Snow series, and I think this one is the second one. I have already read the third one but am pretty sure it doesn't matter what order I read the books and it has been a long time. Hopefully I will get to read a bit before I attempt to sleep, but I am not sure. I want to study my portfolio and what I am going to discuss and I need to pick out my clothes tomorrow morning.

All right, sorry for putting anyone to sleep. I guess I just needed to vent a bit. 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!