I have become a HUGE Jen Lancaster fan within the last months. As soon as I finished Bitter is the New Black I immediately started reading her next memoir, Bright Lights, Big Ass. This book is just as bold and hilarious as her first.
I think what I love so much about Jen Lancaster is that a lot of her attitudes and reactions to people are very similar to mine, I just don't have the guts to say the things she says. (I apologize if I already said that in my previous review). I think that makes it all the more funny to me.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
This is another book I've had on my reading list for years and have just finally gotten around to reading.
This was a good book, but at times I had trouble understanding why so many people consider this their favorite. This book wasn't at all what I expected it to be. I did enjoy it, but I think it was too dark for me to consider it a favorite. And Heathcliff was such a hateful character, his only redeeming value was his undying love and devotion to Catherine.
I think I may have to re-read this in a few months before I can really form an opinion on it. Part of the problem is I'm also re-reading Pride and Prejudice right now, which is my favorite novel, and I can't help but compare and contrast the two.
This was a good book, but at times I had trouble understanding why so many people consider this their favorite. This book wasn't at all what I expected it to be. I did enjoy it, but I think it was too dark for me to consider it a favorite. And Heathcliff was such a hateful character, his only redeeming value was his undying love and devotion to Catherine.
I think I may have to re-read this in a few months before I can really form an opinion on it. Part of the problem is I'm also re-reading Pride and Prejudice right now, which is my favorite novel, and I can't help but compare and contrast the two.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster
One of my managers has been trying to get me to read this book forever. She's a big fan of Lancaster's and loves all her books. I never really thought this would be my kind of book. I'm not one for chic lit, and even though this is a memoir, not fiction, I figured it would come pretty close. However, I was in the mood for something funny and sarcastic, so I decided to give it a chance.
I LOVED it. I feel like Jen Lancaster and I would get along very well, because her attitude toward a lot of things is very similar to my own, I just don't have the guts to actually say half of the things she says to people! And I loved her sense of humor, and the way she was able to see the humor of her situation (although it probably wasn't humorous at the time).
Lancaster has several memoirs out at the moment and is working on finishing the fifth one now. Bitter is the New Black tells the story of how she went from a high paying job and being able to afford Prada bags and all the expensive accessories to being unemployed, broke and barely able to make the rent. Anyone who has experienced the chore of mailing resume after resume with no result can appreciate what Lancaster goes through in this book.
If you're frustrated with you're job, are looking for a good laugh or just want something fun to read, this is a perfect book. I'm already looking forward to reading the next book, Bright Lights, Big Ass.
I LOVED it. I feel like Jen Lancaster and I would get along very well, because her attitude toward a lot of things is very similar to my own, I just don't have the guts to actually say half of the things she says to people! And I loved her sense of humor, and the way she was able to see the humor of her situation (although it probably wasn't humorous at the time).
Lancaster has several memoirs out at the moment and is working on finishing the fifth one now. Bitter is the New Black tells the story of how she went from a high paying job and being able to afford Prada bags and all the expensive accessories to being unemployed, broke and barely able to make the rent. Anyone who has experienced the chore of mailing resume after resume with no result can appreciate what Lancaster goes through in this book.
If you're frustrated with you're job, are looking for a good laugh or just want something fun to read, this is a perfect book. I'm already looking forward to reading the next book, Bright Lights, Big Ass.
Heat Wave by Richard Castle
Yes, I know its just a way to make more money on the TV show, but my curiousity was piqued and I could not resist buying my own copy of Castle's book. (I confess, I bought the LOST tie-in novel a few years back as well.)
The surprising this was, it really wasn't bad. At a few points the language and description were a little overkill; it felt like the author (whoever he really is) was trying a little too hard to be dramatic. Overall, though, the story really wasn't bad. It wasn't an edge-of-your-seat-page-turner, but it was a fun, easy read.
The most amusing thing was, all the characters in this book, not just Nikki Heat, were based off characters on the show. There's the duo of detectives who like to goof around and pick on Nikki, the coroner who is also good friends with Nikki, the journalist following her around while researching a piece on the NYPD and the journalist even has an overly dramatic, former actress for a mother. So as I was reading I pretty much just envisioned the cast of the show in my head.
I wouldn't say this novel would be good for really hardcore detective novel fans, but if you're a really big fan of the show then you might enjoy it.
The surprising this was, it really wasn't bad. At a few points the language and description were a little overkill; it felt like the author (whoever he really is) was trying a little too hard to be dramatic. Overall, though, the story really wasn't bad. It wasn't an edge-of-your-seat-page-turner, but it was a fun, easy read.
The most amusing thing was, all the characters in this book, not just Nikki Heat, were based off characters on the show. There's the duo of detectives who like to goof around and pick on Nikki, the coroner who is also good friends with Nikki, the journalist following her around while researching a piece on the NYPD and the journalist even has an overly dramatic, former actress for a mother. So as I was reading I pretty much just envisioned the cast of the show in my head.
I wouldn't say this novel would be good for really hardcore detective novel fans, but if you're a really big fan of the show then you might enjoy it.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
I've been meaning to read this book for years, but never got the chance. I'm glad I finally did because I absolutely loved it. It's definitely being added to my favorite book list, because it's terrific.
Blue Like Jazz is basically Miller's thoughts on God and Christianity and his story on how it has impacted his life. What I loved about this book is that I understood every single word. Everything he has felt or described, I have felt at some point in time. I feel like he was writing this just for me. It was terrific. It wasn't like reading a book where someone is preaching about God and how you should live your life. Miller is open and honest and very down to earth.
I would highly recommend this book to any young Christian, anyone working with young Christians or anyone struggling with their faith. Heck, I recommend this book to anyone who considers themself a Christian. It's a fairly quick and easy read. I'm already planning on going back and re-reading it pretty soon.
Blue Like Jazz is basically Miller's thoughts on God and Christianity and his story on how it has impacted his life. What I loved about this book is that I understood every single word. Everything he has felt or described, I have felt at some point in time. I feel like he was writing this just for me. It was terrific. It wasn't like reading a book where someone is preaching about God and how you should live your life. Miller is open and honest and very down to earth.
I would highly recommend this book to any young Christian, anyone working with young Christians or anyone struggling with their faith. Heck, I recommend this book to anyone who considers themself a Christian. It's a fairly quick and easy read. I'm already planning on going back and re-reading it pretty soon.
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
I know, I know, everyone in the world is reading The Lost Symbol right now. But I just couldn't help my curiosity. I really liked Angels and Demons, and The Da Vinci Code wasn't bad (definitley didn't live up to the hype though; A&D was way better).
It wasn't bad. I'm kind of thinking about re-reading A&D now, to see if it's as good as I remember, because I was a little critical of The Lost Symbol. The writing was pretty good, but at times felt like The Da Vinci Code all over again. Also, I felt like Dan Brown is just too freaking smart for his own good. There is so much information in this book that it can get a little dense. This definitely isn't light reading by any means. It's hard to be riveted to a novel when half the time you feel like the content is way above your head. Sometimes the random explanations and pieces of historical information, etc. were interesting, other times it felt like Brown was just trying to show off how much he knows about all this stuff, and how much research he has done.
However, if you can wade through the copious amounts of historical context, the plot itself was interesting. For first time Robert Langdon finds himself in the middle of an investigation on US soil, right in the heart of the country, in fact. The entire story takes place in the course of 1 night in Washington, DC. The mythology this time is centered around the Masons and all the stories surrounding their history.
For the most part I did enjoy this novel, and it only took me about 2 weeks to read it, so it's not that hard to read. but you have to have patience with it. I never got to the point where I couldn't put it down, even though I was interested. And, I didn't get really interested unil about 100 pages or so into the novel. But if you like Brown's style then you'll probably enjoy this book.
It wasn't bad. I'm kind of thinking about re-reading A&D now, to see if it's as good as I remember, because I was a little critical of The Lost Symbol. The writing was pretty good, but at times felt like The Da Vinci Code all over again. Also, I felt like Dan Brown is just too freaking smart for his own good. There is so much information in this book that it can get a little dense. This definitely isn't light reading by any means. It's hard to be riveted to a novel when half the time you feel like the content is way above your head. Sometimes the random explanations and pieces of historical information, etc. were interesting, other times it felt like Brown was just trying to show off how much he knows about all this stuff, and how much research he has done.
However, if you can wade through the copious amounts of historical context, the plot itself was interesting. For first time Robert Langdon finds himself in the middle of an investigation on US soil, right in the heart of the country, in fact. The entire story takes place in the course of 1 night in Washington, DC. The mythology this time is centered around the Masons and all the stories surrounding their history.
For the most part I did enjoy this novel, and it only took me about 2 weeks to read it, so it's not that hard to read. but you have to have patience with it. I never got to the point where I couldn't put it down, even though I was interested. And, I didn't get really interested unil about 100 pages or so into the novel. But if you like Brown's style then you'll probably enjoy this book.
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