Recently Read: Here I Go Again by Jen Lancaster

The most recent BlogHer Book Club pick - Here I Go Again, by Jen Lancaster - was like delicious candy. Wait... it was also cheesy. Can candy be cheesy? If it can - this book is it.

Here I Go Again starts off with 30-something Lissy Ryder, teenager of the 90's, prepping for her High School reunion. Lissy was the “Mean Girl” in her high school, and when her life falls apart, she realizes she should have done a few things differently.

I had high hopes for this novel - that it might go off in a Young Adult - type direction (the recent indie film), with the main character driven to therapy by her social instability in adult life. Unfortunately, it doesn’t get dark, but it does get campily fun and paranormal, which is a-ok by me. 

As Lissy travels back to high school, thanks to what is basically a mystical potion, she gets to revisit her past sins, her cheerleading uniform, and past boyfriends. She learns a few lessons, and her’s is a pretty general high school story. But some of the peripheral characters are more colorful, and change throughout the book, making for an engaging and relatable read. I couldn’t stop thinking about the characters I went to high school with, and where they might be today. 

What really makes this book different than others is the goofy tone. The parentheticals! Who knew you could pile one on top of the other? But it just added to the light, conversational tone of the book, and made for an easy read. I think I breezed through it in about three days. If you’re in the mood for a light, fun novel, this is it. 

This post is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club, but the opinions expressed are my own. Past book reviews are here. 

Recently Read: The Willpower Instinct

I think the Blogher Book Club has officially changed my mind about self-help books. The most recent book up for review, The Willpower Instinct, by Dr. Kelly McGonigal, was not only an interesting read, but one I found quite helpful.

You may remember that one of my New Years resolutions is to “Lose 30lbs before I turn 30,” so when the chance came to review a book about willpower, I knew it could be useful. Although I’m always skeptical about non-fiction (what can I say, I love me some fiction!), McGonigal’s book immediately drew me in. She has a easy, chatty tone with interesting stories about her students and their willpower challenges, and a great sense of humor. 

McGonigal’s writing style combines a scientific discussion of willpower with strategies to overcome nature’s pitfalls in your own life. Chapter 4, which focused on Moral Licensing, really spoke to me. How often have I told myself “I deserve this treat,” when it’s counter-productive to my overall goal? No longer! 

The book is designed to be used like her class - at the end of each chapter there are lessons and rules to put into practice, along with a chapter summary, and you’re supposed to conquer one a week. Of course I had to read the whole book in one go for reviewing purposes, but I think I’ll go back and reference McGonigal’s rules and ideas for weekly improvement throughout the next few months. This format makes it easy and accessible to really use the book for it’s intended purpose - giving you the willpower to overcome your challenge. Hopefully it’ll help me with mine! 

This post is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club, but the opinions expressed are my own. Past book reviews are here. 

Recently Read: Matched by Ally Condie

I was pretty excited when Blogher offered Matched by Ally Condie as a Blogher Book Club book. I’m a huge fan of distopian futuristic fiction and YA fiction, so this one has been on my list since it’s launch. 

The novel follows Cassia Reyes, a member of “The Society” in the future. It reminded me a lot of the setting of the Giver, which is, unsurprisingly, one of my favorite childhood books. It’s a scrubbed-clean society where everyone carries anti-anxiety medication; people are cited for things like running in the street; and everyone is assigned to their spouse and job at age 17. It’s with Cassia’s Matching that throws everything else off in Cassia’s world. When she’s shown her match, she also sees another boy, and things spiral from there. 

Although most of the book centers on the love triangle and feelings, toward the end it does take a more interesting political turn. The book clearly draws inspiration from the latest YA bestsellers (The Hunger Games and Twilight), and Condie is following suit with two sequels. 

In fact, in reviewing this book, it’s hard not to draw comparisons between Matched and those two. While not being as well-crafted as The Hunger Games, Condie has written a promising first book. Cassia Reyes seems to be an accurately portrayed 17-year-old: she’s sweet, kind, frustrated and doesn’t know what she wants. Overall it’s fluffy, fun and enjoyable for a SciFi geek like me, and I hope the  other two books continue to explore the corners of “The Society,” while further developing Cassia’s character. 

This review is compensated as part of Blogher Book Reviews, but all opinions expressed are my own. 

Recently Read: Daring Greatly by Brene Brown

Ok, I’ll admit it: Sometimes I sign up for these book reviews before I actually read through the book summary. The sign up sheets fill up so fast! And I love reading and doing reviews! 

This book - Daring Greatly by Brene Brown - was completely unexpected. After I realized what I had signed up for, a “self-help,” type book, I was dreading the reading. I’m not really a self help-y person. 

But Daring Greatly is about so much more than self-help. Brown writes a funny, insightful manual on shame and vulnerability, and offers personal stories and tips on how to deal with your own shame and build personal relationships by being vulnerable. I was riveted from the first chapter. 

Her work is profound for everyone, but I found many of the examples in the book apply directly to confidence in art and specifically, acting. Sharing yourself with another person is difficult enough in everyday life - sharing yourself at an audition is a whole other ball of wax. Try being vulnerable when everyone else in the room is blonder, skinnier, and has a longer resume!

Brown offers a few specific examples in the book, but one of her personal mantras stuck out to me. I immediately wrote it on a post it note and have been carrying it around in my planner. “Give me the courage to show up and let myself be seen.” Sounds like a good plan to me. 

This review is compensated as part of Blogher Book Reviews, but all opinions expressed are my own. I really do think this book is fabulous, and have already recommended it to friends! 

Book Review - The Underside of Joy

I was crying by the 18th page. The Underside of Joy by Sere Prince Halverson takes off at a run from the first chapter, immediately drawing you into the vivd world of Elbow, CA, a small town on the coast of Northern California.

The plot is not terribly unique - after the death of Ella's husband, Joe, Ella is enveloped in a custody battle over her two step-children, Zach and Annie. It's the compelling language and beautiful setting that sets this book apart, and makes you feel as if you're living the story. We're thrilled with descriptions of beach and Redwood forests that make it seem like Elbow is something out of a fairy tale. As Prince Halverson describes Ella's love for it, you can't help but love it yourself.  

Ella becomes as close to you as your best friend. The friends and family surrounding her are full of life, down to the smallest town "character." Even her dog, Callie, comes to life as she comforts Ella through her trials. Who hasn't had a pet that stuck their nose under the covers at just the right time?

And her children - Zach & Annie - are completely real. They are bubbly and emotional, saying the wrong things at just the wrong time, and sometimes the right things, too. The whole family in Elbow comes to life and fill the pages with an idyllic small town scene - albeit filled with tragedy.

The second chapter wasn't the only time I cried - after taking this emotional roller coaster with Ella, you're bound to get a bit verklepmt over the outcome - but there are lots of lovely, warm moments in the book as well, and you won't be able to put it down.

Sometimes I do paid reviews for BlogHer Book Club, because I love reading, but the opinions expressed are my own. I promise, the next post will be about crafts. 

Book Review - Lunch Wars by Amy Kalafa

I started watching Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution last year because, let’s face it, Jamie is cute, and food is delicious. After seeing him make “chicken nuggets” from leftover chicken pieces, including pureed bones and blood, and having kids enthusiastically raise their hands to sample one, I knew something was wrong with America. These kids couldn’t even identify a raw potato!

Ever since that fateful day, I’ve taken an interest in food education, and food in the school systems. So when the chance to review Lunch Wars by Amy Kalafa for the Blogher Book Club came along, I thought it would be a good read. I love books on food and the science of food. However, not having kids or being involved in any sort of school system, I completely underestimated this book.

What I thought would be the telling of Kalafa’s struggles with her child’s school and the sub sequential movie she made, Two Angry Moms, turned out to be a step-by-step guide to starting your own food revolution. Kalafa goes through each hurdle - from starting a blog  to gain support, to creating a wellness committee at your school, to taking on the USDA - and does so in minute detail. She provides suggestions for everything from getting kids to try a new veggie to how to build a community garden. Kalafa is thorough with a capital T. 

Because of this thoroughness, and because I am not the intended audience for this book, I was totally bored. I skimmed through the second half, stopping fully only to read the chapter on international lunches (lunch time in France is awesome). So it wasn’t for me - but if you’re the parent of kids in school, I highly recommend it. 

This is a paid review for Blogher.com, but the opinions expressed are my own - see the part where I say "I was totally bored." 

New Blogher Book Club Review - The Kid

My new review for Blogher's Book Club is up, here. The Kid by Sapphire, is the sequel to Push, and is not  for the faint of heart. My feelings toward this one were a bit complicated, and the other reviews are worth reading. Find them all here. 

My first Blogher Book Club review

I mentioned awhile ago that I am now part of the BlogHer advertising hub, and that includes reviewing books for their Book Club.

My first review - an >ahem< honest and constructive criticism of What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen - is up on the BlogHer site now. Click over to read!