Mommywood

After reading Tori Spellings first book in April 2011 I was excited to read this second one. With out a doubt I can say I enjoyed the Stori Telling more.
In this book we learn about Tori and Dean your average suburban parents... or maybe not. Their family moved to a small block where block party and 4th of July parties are planned and where people don't like big changes in their little close knit block. Tori tries hard to be the best neighbor and mom possible, but like everyone else she makes mistakes and learns lessons.
Tori speaks frequently about her relationship with her mother and her side of the story. I think that I could have done with that. We learned how 'awful' her mother is in the first book. We also read about Tori's loss of her dear Pug Mimi. I admit it, I cried when she wrote about that.
I would still suggest this book. It is interesting with lots of fun parenting / home stories and Hollywood gossip.
Read July 2011

Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons

 Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons

I read this book for my Book Club. I was very skeptical at first and did not think I would like it at all. I had a hard time getting into the book, but then all of a sudden it just picked up!

The book focus is on 5 women who were wives and mothers living on the same street in the 60's. The women decide to start a book club to give them some adult time and female companionship. The author picked moments out of their lives and narrated it through different characters. The book continued on until the late 90's and the readers were able to learn of so many things in these women’s lives. Religion, politics, gay children, abuse, and adoption to name a few.

I loved the book. It gave such insight to the times the women lived in and what true friendship means. Being in a book clubmyself it really touched home with me. I recommend the book for anyone in a book club or adult women of any age!

Read July 2011



Bossypants

I am a fan of Tina Fey. I don't watch SNL regularly but I do watch 30 Rock all the time and have seen her in many movies. This book had me laughing out loud multiple times. I found felt almost as if I could hear her narrating the book in my head.
This book touches on most of Tina's life so far. We learn about her awkward stage crew geek days in High School through the time when she becomes part of the Second City Improve Comedy troop. After she was able to land that gig along came SNL. It seems like Tina has had a lot of opportunities that were followed up by hard work.
This book delivers on the comedy, one liners, insight to her cast and crew of 30 Rock and SNL. The book touches on her struggles being a Working Mom. It was a fun read. I think anyone who enjoys her work would like this book.
Read July 2011

Little Earthquakes

In this book Weiner looks at 4 married women. All these women have 2 things in common, 1. they are married and 2. they have given birth to a baby. This book bounces back and fourth telling the story of all 4 women.
Lisa (Lia) a Hollywood actress who returns home after her baby dies of SIDS. Lisa left her husband not letting him know where she was going or when / if she was coming back. Lisa is trying to find her way out of depression and learn to live again.
Becky is a plus size chef married to a Doctor. Her mother in law is overbearing and manipulating. Becky struggles with kicking her mother in law out of her life because of her love for her husband.
Ayinde is a TV reporter who marries a Basket Ball player. They move to Philadelphia and he is always on the road... you can guess what happens next. Yup, he cheats and gets someone else pregnant. Ayinde's own mother is more or less un-interested in her child and grandchild. Most of the things she does are just for show.
Kelly thinks her husband is her ticket to a better life. When things don't go as planned she becomes so enraged with her situation and lies to keep face. Kelly struggles going back to work early while her husband stays home and is less than productive.
All in all the book is good. It gives a view on 4 different lives and they come together in an interesting way. I enjoyed the book.
Read June 2011

Queen Of The Big Time

From previous blog post you would know that I am a fan of Adriana Trigiani. This book I picked up almost 7 months ago and never read it. I read it and liked it. It is not a favorite by this author but it is a good read.

Like other books by Trigiani, Queen Of the Big Time follows a young Nella through out her life. We learn from early on Nella has big goals to finish High School and become a School Teacher. But life has other plans. Nella faces struggles with her family and friends, death and hardships and of course love. She has to work instead of going to High School, she falls in love twice in her life time and becomes a business owner and a mother. 

The book ends with Nella's death and all things resolved in her life. It is an open ended story for me that shows that life just continues on. The book is a beautifully written and flows nicely even though it skips over many years at a time. 

Read June 2011

L.A. Candy

I am going to come right out and call this a new guilty pleasure. I did not expect to like it. I was interested in what it was about and picked it up at a garage sale for $1. This book is listed as Young Adult reading was a fast read. I found the book to be a bit slow at the start and then it picked up.
Being that I watched the author original 'reality' show Laguna Beach and some of the spin off The Hills I wondered how much of what was written about instant stardom was real or not. I found the use of the word "sweetie" to be over used. I cringed reading it so many times. The book follows Jane and Scarlett, new to LA and picked to be on a reality series with 2 other girls. Jane is made to seem like a saint through out the book, and it makes me wonder is this how the author sees herself? Scarlett on the other hand seems to have a good head on her shoulders and was not in this book enough in my opinion. Right away there is back stabbing, plotting and romance. The book ends on a cliff hanger and  in my opinion it was a fun read. I plan on reading the next two books.
Read June 2011

Julie & Julia

This book was a disappointment for me. I found it to be repetitive and felt embarrassed for the writer. Who admits to maggots in their apartment?!? Or that they served food that fell in a New York Street?
The reason I read the book was because I liked the movie. I like cooking and cooking shows. The idea of making all of the 524 recipes in Mastering The Art Of French Cooking sounds interesting. Each recipe that was described was drawn out and full of anguish. To me it sounded like she rather not be doing to project. She wouldn't quit because of the blog readers who cheered her on.
Julie herself I found annoying. She stated how much she loathe her job and apartment. She was jealous of the lives of some of her friends and family. Julie wants a baby but doesn't know if she can have one, Eric does not want a baby. So, whats is a girl to do? Get a project and that is what the Julie & Julia Project is; an attempt to get Julies head off her job and biological clock that is ticking away. I was worried that the book was going to end in a divorce being that Julie and Eric (Powell's husband) seemed to have a really rocky - sex less marriage. But nope they made it thru - for now.
There is a second book by Powell called Cleaving. I was interested in that book but I am not so sure that I will be reading it any time soon. From what I read Cleaving is has focus on the affairs of both Eric and Julie after the J&J project and their attempt to save their marriage.
I thought I would be recommending this book to all "foodies", but it just did not do it for me.

Read June 2011