I opened this book with no real expectation as to its contents, and that's probably a good thing. This is Fox's take on his non-traditional path to success - as a high school dropout. Much of what he states in the book is true: It is absolutely possible to educate ourselves through non-traditional means. More specifically, it is critical to remain ever the student as we pass through this life; that we be willing to absorb and to learn at every turn.
Unfortunately, the majority of the book is laced with canned expressions and lighthearted quips, and is a little light on substance. It's not "bad," per se; it's just one of those books that you keep reading in the hopes that you're about to get to the really good part. That is, until the last few pages where he states: "Don't spend a lot of time imagining the worst-case scenario. It rarely goes down as you imagine it will, and if by some fluke it does, you will have lived it twice. When things do go bad, don't run, don't hide. Stick it out, and be scrupulous in facing every part of your fear. Try to be still. It will take time, but you'll find that even the gravest problems are finite - and that your choices are infinite." [Emphasis added.] Huh. Now those, my friends, are words to live by. Simple, sweet, and oh so true.
Try to be still. Or, in the words of a man far more famous, "Be still, and know that I am."
Several months ago, having experienced a year full of ups and downs, I declared to a friend that I want my life to rich. Replace the adjective as you see fit - meaningful, significant, full, purposeful - the possibilities are endless. Regardless of adjective, it all boils down to living life in the moment. Every one of us needs a place to go to restore ourselves, to feel centered and grounded, to escape the pressures and negativity we face on a daily basis. This is what keeps propelling us toward new opportunities and risks. I suspect that conversation led to her picking up this book and passing it my way.
To quote the infamous Zig Ziglar, "People say motivation doesn't last. Neither does bathing; that's why it's recommended daily."
In Live Like Your Nail Color, Foley has linked nail color to motivation. Yes, nail color. She's taken a simple, 4-step process and related it to the process of refueling your inner "me tank." Her theory is to use the time you spend on your nails for self-exploration and refueling. Essentially she encourages you to choose a nail polish color that speaks to you. If the polish name is boring, rename it! Make your newly painted nails speak to you throughout the day. Let them serve as a flash motivation throughout your day of something that makes you feel good about yourself or something you want to do or change in your life.
This book isn't going to win a Pulitzer, but is a gentle reminder to stop and smell the roses along the way. The message Foley clearly communicates is that motivation is all around us; we can choose the most mundane of things to inspire a positive attitude and motivate us throughout our day. And, of course, that it's OKAY to spend an hour every other week on yourself.
Did I mention that the book comes with a complimentary nail polish? Interestingly, mine was named "I'm not really a supermodel." Gee ... whoddathunkit?
Long before she became a household name for her portrayal of Princess Leia in Star Wars, Carrie Fisher was a character. Still is, even in her 50s and post-electric shock therapy. Carrie Fisher is bipolar and has undergone EST to regain her memory. This book is that memory. It's also her comedy routine, based on events from her own life.
Even as a child, Fisher separated her "Hollywood" life from her "real" life. She knew she shared her parents, Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, with the rest of the world. She actually charts what she calls the "Hollywood Inbreeding" that involved her own parents: a pictorial of who married who, who divorced who, and who remarried who. Two full pages.
She tells her stories with sarcasm and hilarity, and an uncanny ability to make fun of herself. We hear about her stint in her mother's chorus line at age 15, the gay friend that died on her couch, Star Wars, her alcohol and drug addictions, her marriage and divorce to Paul Simon, the Princess Leia Pez dispenser, and her daughter.
Fisher has gone from a film career to being the author of four novels and is obviously surviving bipolar disorder with the help of medication, family, and a HUGE dose of humor.
Women at 40, 50, 60 and beyond have been vindicated in Ephron's book about life and aging. We all stand by and watch as the crow's feet multiply, the laugh lines deepen, the waist and hips widen. We fight the process with miracle creams, Botox injections, surgical intervention, diet, exercise, meditation - whatever the craze of the day happens to be, but there's no cure-all for growing older.
I Feel Bad About My Neck is a collection of essays that shed insight and humor on marriage, parenting, and aging in a way both sexes can relate to. In the end, it's all about putting it in perspective and realizing there's so much more to life than our physical appearance.
Unbeknownst to me, Ephron collaborated on such scripts as Bewitched, Hanging Up, You've Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, and When Harry Met Sally (among others). I'll definitely be picking up more of her collections in the future.
Another great chick lit, only this one is actually written by a MAN. Whodda thunkit?
Cassandra French, attorney, is fed up with the dating game. In fact, just about the time she's ready to throw in the towel, she has an extraordinary idea: What if there were a finishing school for boys? You know, something to turn all the mama's boys and die-hard bachelors into marriageable material? Outrageous as it sounds, Cassandra does just that. Yep, she turns her basement into a finishing school for three men she considers promising.
There's just one catch - her "students" are held against their will. You can only imagine the antics that French faces, tutoring the unwilling, and keeping a lid on her secret school.
Don't be deterred by the very pink cover - I guarantee you will be entertained by this one.
This book is going to make one heck of a chick flick some day!
Annie Freeman was quite the woman. Part rebel, part pioneer, she's the kind of person who leaves an imprint on everyone she meets. When Annie dies of ovarian cancer at the age of 56, she leaves one last, over-the-top request of her five dearest friends. She asks that they band together for a 10-day, cross-country trip to scatter her ashes in the six places that meant the most to her during her life. And, to make sure they do, she has her ashes delivered to her oldest friend, stuffed inside her favorite pair of sneakers. She also foots the bill.
Thus begins a journey between five women who know each other only through their mutual friend; a journey filled with tears and laughter, and a great deal of wine, that culminates in a bond of friendship and incredible life lessons. The first of it's kind, the "Traveling Funeral" makes its mark as these women go from place to place, all sporting their own pair of Annie's trademark high-top, red canvass tennis shoes and red bandannas in honor of their friend.
Radish has crafted one of the most touching, thoughtful, and hilarious novels I've read in ages. I'll recommend this one to women from all walks of life. It is insightful and inspiring in ways that only women can appreciate, without being overly sappy. We should all be so lucky as to encounter an Annie in our own lives.
Those of you who know me well can guess exactly why I snagged this book off the shelf. I was looking for a lighthearted, easy read for the plane ride to San Antonio, and this was the perfect fit.
Sarcasm is an art. Some of us use it expertly, others simply can't pull it off. Notaro falls in the expert category. Simply by observing the behaviors of those around her (and, perhaps, mixing in a few of her own irrational fears), this woman churned out 226 pages of comical absurdities.
Half Bridget Jones, half Carrie Bradshaw, with a healthy dose of sarcasm, Notaro showcases the lack of common sense in our world in a manner sure to make you laugh. It's a great rainy-day read and was the perfect diversion as I sat next to Sneezy Man on the first leg of the plane ride.
I opened this book with no real expectation as to its contents, and that's probably a good thing. This is Fox's take on his non-traditional path to success - as a high school dropout. Much of what he states in the book is true: It is absolutely possible to educate ourselves through non-traditional means. More specifically, it is critical to remain ever the student as we pass through this life; that we be willing to absorb and to learn at every turn.
