Mention Eat, Pray, Love and everyone nods their head in recognition.  Introspectively, the journey of a woman is told who, after a divorce at age thirty-one, sojourns first to Rome for pleasure, then Mumbai for spirituality, and last to Bali in hopes to acquire a balance of both. The odyssey is honest and interacts with the reader in a meaningful, relating fashion.  I was left inspired with an urgent need to find a guru of my own.

Aside from Elizabeth Gilbert’s spiritually prompting memoir, she has produced a handful of noteworthy pieces. Published in GQ magazine, her 1997 article “The Muse of the Coyote Ugly Saloon” speaks of a dive bar in Manhattan’s East Village where she worked as a bartender.  It is also the basis for the movie Coyote Ugly.  Gilbert’s collection of short stories, under the title Pilgrims, received the Pushcart Prize in 1997, followed by the novel Stern Men, chosen as a “notable book” by The New York Times. 

Two years have past since the Eat, Pray, Love sensation hit the shelves and it continues to stir up attention. Paramount pictures is now on board, casting Julia Roberts to play Elizabeth Gilbert’s role.

Filed in: Literature
Comments: No Comments »
Tags: bali, books, Coyote Ugly, divorce, east village, Eat, Elizabeth Gilbert, GQ, Julia Roberts, Literature, love, memoir, mumbai, notable book, odyssey, Paramount Pictures, Pray, pushcart prize, reading, rome, spiritual, The New York Times

I confess I picked this book up because I love elephants. It had nothing to do with any prior knowledge as to what the book is about.  Turns out, it is a clever fictional depiction of old school circus life, told from the perspective of a 93 year old man. Sara Gruen does a fantastic job in research. Working through the book you find yourself reading words such as “grifters” and “roustabouts”.  The book takes you behind the scenes of the mysterious circus life during the great depression of the 1930s.  Water for Elephants is extremely moving and is a great way to get a taste of history through a fictional story.

Filed in: Literature
Comments: 2 Comments »
Tags: 1930s, books, circus, elephants, Literature, read, sara gruen, water for elephants

Maria, the protagonist of Joan Didion’s introspective work, has difficulty talking to people with whom she is not sleeping.” The 31 year old actress is unfulfilled personally and professionally.  Besides her 4-year old daughter, who is being treated at a facility for mental and physical issues, Maria feels a lack of purpose for her life. “To look for reasons is beside the point”, she says, “I am what I am.” 

The voices of Play It As It Lays recount the psychological battle of a woman tormented by one regrettable decision. Guilt and misery, anger and fury seep from a single existence. Didion’s 1970 novel is, in the least, “beaucoop fantastic”.

Filed in: Literature
Comments: No Comments »
Tags: 1970, abortion, actress, anger, books, drama, fury, guilt, Joan Didion, Literature, misery, play it as it lays, protagonist, psychological, psychological battle, regret, women

Sarah travels around the country researching the assassinations of US Presidents Lincoln, McKinley, and Garfield.  The book is an interesting read because not only does Sarah Vowell discuss the actual assassinations but she goes into great detail about the men accused, the situations leading up to the day of, and their families.  Assassination Vacation takes the reader to the assassinators houses, the fallen Presidents death beds and any place in between that might seem noteworthy. Sarah Vowell also finds room in this book to include very interesting historical tidbits about NYC and its various parks and statues.  It opened up my eyes to the different things I walk passed every day. The novel’s congested information created a sometimes arduous read, but overall I found it to be a great purchase despite its difficulties.

Filed in: Literature
Comments: 1 Comment »
Tags: assassination, assassination vacation, books, sarah vowell, US Presidents, vacation

In 2003 Middlesex won the Pulizter Prize for Fiction, and rightly so.  The story is told from the perspective of a 41 year old man whose life began as a female.  The book explains the creation of his recessive gene through family history, the struggle for self identity, sexual desire, and a journey for acceptance.  Middlesex is an incredible read and if you have not picked it up I highly recommend it.

Filed in: Literature
Comments: No Comments »
Tags: books, greek, hermaphrodites, jeffrey eugenides, Literature, middlesex, read

The collapse of the Zimbawean government, an indepth look at the regime of Robert Mugabe, a fathers death, and a country struggling to survive are all depicted in vivid details throughout this memoir.  It is a gripping tail of persistance, survival, and a nations turmoil.  This true story truly left me breathless and was, in my opinion, a terrific book.

Filed in: Literature
Comments: No Comments »
Tags: Africa, books, memoir, nonfiction, Peter Godwin, reading

It is common knowledge that this popular author has not had a dull life, and as this book illustrates not an easy one either.  The author of Running with Scissors Augusten Boroughs offers up another peek into his disturbing upbringing.  A wolf at The Table is a soul wrenching piece about his experiences growing up with an alcoholic, abusive, manipulating father.  The story never ceases to hold your every emotion on edge and at times had me calling up my own father just to say thanks for loving me. 

If you have the time to have your mind held tightly by Augusten’s every word then pick up this book and begin.

Planning on road tripping it?  This book is also a killer audiobook complete with some pretty rockin tracks by some of my fav music artists.

Filed in: Literature
Comments: No Comments »
Tags: a wolf at the table, augusten boroughs, books, Literature, read

First, I have to admit that I am a new fan of David Sedaris, I have arrived a little late to this train but at least I am on it!  

You know those creepy people that talk to themselves or laugh at nothing on the subway?  Pick up a David Sedaris book and you suddenly become one of those people, at least in this case you have a book to hide behind.

Naked is named after the last chapter of the book where he goes on vacation at a nudist colony, it is an interesting and provocative  book and I loved it!  Please dont be fooled.  The book doenst just offer side splitting laughter, Sedaris goes into detail about his families struggles and dealing with the death of his mother.  Oddly enough, my favorite quote from this book is during one of those serious moments.

“You can’t brace yourself for famine if you’ve never known hunger; it is foolish to even try.”  If you enjoy well written books, witty humor, and have come from a weird family (lets face it who hasnt?) then David is your man.

Filed in: Literature
Comments: 1 Comment »
Tags: books, David Sedaris, Literature, Naked

Me Talk Pretty One Day is a true Gem.  Published in 2000 it is by far one of David’s funniest works.  What amazes me is just when you think he has just about covered it all he continues to have new, hilarious stories about his family, love life, work experience, etc.  Me Talk Pretty One Day is about his experiences in speech class, his families dynamics including fathers weird quirks, and his love life.  This book, in my opinion, and raises the bar for all of his other works.  

“Stealing wallets was nothing to be proud of, but I like being thought of as cunning and professional.”

Hilarious, captivating, and clever, well worth the $10.

Filed in: Literature
Comments: No Comments »
Tags: books, David Sedaris, Literature, Me Talk Pretty One Day