Five on Friday (6)

I'm back linking up with Five on Friday to share a few recent happenings!

1. This weekend the boy and I are planning our first real date night since becoming parents. Or really date afternoon, since I'm not quite ready to leave Elley overnight yet. But my in-laws are planning on watching her tomorrow afternoon while we go see The Avengers, the first movie we'll see together since November or so. Definitely a change from a year ago when we went to the movies together almost every weekend.
2. Speaking of Elley, we decided to start her on real food this past week. She seemed kind of indifferent to the whole thing. I really think her favorite part was chewing on the spoon, but overall it seemed successful. We did start her a little early, especially since the boy so was excited to start making food for her. For her first meal, we went with green beans, but this does open up quite the world of possibilities.
3. Elley has a number of outfits that my mom made for me when I was a baby like these purple overalls. Even more fun, my dad sent me a picture of me as a baby wearing the same thing. In the picture below I'm on the left, while the one on the right is my daughter, 30 years later.
4. We had some crazy bad weather earlier this week, with not only thunderstorms but some tornadoes. It was so bad that we all took shelter at work. Thankfully I'm not aware on anyone who was really injured. But we did have a tree fall on our front fence and a tree fell on the driveway at our daycare. Definitely a scary experience, but one that could have been a lot worse.
5. On a brighter note, the Re-Read Challenge at at So Obsessed With has been inspiring me to re-read more often lately. I've slowly been posting my reviews of the Little House books which I last read in college. But also, I recently reread Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg. I'm not posting a full review of it since I posted one when I read it a little over a year ago. I do think I enjoyed it more this time. I think because the information wasn't as new I was able to absorb it a little more and pick up things I missed the first time through. I know I rated it a 4.5/5 before, but now I'd probably go with a 5/5.

Mailbox Monday (82)

Another surprising week of books, with yes, more goodreads wins. What can I say, I'm lucky. As always, linking up with Mailbox Monday.
From Paperback Swap
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
I've yet to read anything by either one of these authors, yet I've heard such good things about Neil Gaiman. In fact I loved both Stardust and Coraline, movies based on his books. I even believe my mom read this once and really enjoyed it. So needless to say I'm really excited that this is our book club book next month!

From Goodreads
Birdmen by Lawrence Goldstone
Taken from the subtitle this is about "The Wright Brothers, Glenn Curtiss, and the Battle to Control the Skies." While I obviously know of the Wright Brothers, I haven't heard of Glenn Curtiss before. And what I do know about the Wright Brothers is pretty limited, so I'm hoping to learn a lot with this.

Steve Jobs' Life By Design by George Beahm
This is about the commencement address Steve Jobs gave at Stanford in 1995. While I'm sure the address is in here, it looks to go deeper than that and explores some of the history and life events that contributed towards writing it. Definitely sounds like one that will be inspirational.

What did you find in your mailbox this week? And have you seen any movies based on Neil Gaiman's work?

The Best Man I Can Be

How to Get Out of Your Own Way by Tyrese Gibson
Published: January 1, 2011 by Grand Central Publishing
I'm pretty sure that I'm not the intended audience for this book. I did guess that going it, but I figured I'd at least give it a chance. Who knows, they may have been pieces I could connect with. And while there were items that made sense, overall I think if I was a teenager living in the ghetto or one without a lot going for me, I would have appreciated this a lot more.

For me, I think the worst parts were the chapters on cheating. Basically Tyrese's viewpoint is that all men cheat and it's pretty rare that they don't. And for the one that's don't there's normally a specific reason, something like the fear of HIV or G-d's wrath. It's never just enough to expect to remain loyal on principle. While I definitely don't agree here, I can at least imagine why he'd think this way. After all, I would imagine in the world of R&B singers, male models, and movie stars, most men cheat. And if those are the people Tyrese spends time with I could see how he'd get such an opinion. Still, it's a little hard to read.

The book isn't completely awful though. I did appreciate the first chapter on Tyrese's childhood, and thought it was the best of them all. It is a little heartbreaking to hear what he had to go through growing up, but even more so to think about that fact that this is what so many other children deal with and without the chance of escape.

Normally at the end of a review, even if I dislike a book I can at least say I'm glad I read this. Except I'm not quite sure I can say that here. I have read books I disliked more, and it was fairly easy to read, but in some ways I do think my time could have been better spent.

2.5/5

Today I'm linking up with Blonde Undercover Blonde for Book Club Friday!

Mailbox Monday (76)

Yes, it's Sunday, and yes, I'm linking up with Mailbox Monday once again.
Purchased
How to Get Out of Your Own Way by Tyrese Gibson
This may not be the type of book I'd normally pick up, but it's our book club pick for the month. And there's something about book clubs that force you to take a step out of your comfort zone. I can't say I'm necessarily looking forward to it, but I am hoping that it surprises me.

What did you find in your mailbox this week? And when was the last time you read a book outside of your comfort zone?

Top 10 Books of 2013

As much as I loved coming up with my list of my favorite books of the year, I also hated it. Each one if a favorite for a different reason, and there's a few others that came close that I can't believe I'm not including. Also I think that your feelings change on books after you read it, so if I were to write this post a year from now my favorites could be completely different based on how they still resonate with me. But here are my favorites from 2013, at least based on how I feel at this exact moment.

1. The Promise of Stardust by Priscille SibleyThis book still brings up emotion thinking about it. It's a really thought provoking post, but the center of it all is a love story. Plus one of the characters was an astronaut which I think is one of the coolest jobs ever.

2. Paris was the Place by Susan ConleyI know I said this in my review, but I really do feel like this book was written specifically for me. It really spoke to the period of my life I'm currently in, and while I think I would have loved it if I read it for years ago (or 5 years from now) it's just the book I needed right now.

3. The Fault in Our Stars by John GreenDo I really need to explain why this one is here? I'm sure it's on everyone's top 10 list the year they read it. I recently saw the movie poster, and just that gets me excited for the idea that they might be able to do it justice.

4. Together Tea by Marjan KamaliAnother book that's perfect for the period of life that I'm currently in. Like a lot of the others on my list it does focus on a mother/daughter relationship, which is one of the reason I loved it and why it made me cry.

5. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra ClareLike every other book I've posted so far, this one again made me cry. I do have my complaints about Cassandra Clare, but I do think this was a perfect end to the trilogy.

6. The Gods of Heavenly Punishment by Jennifer Cody EppsteinI've actually yet to post my review of this book since it's not scheduled till January. But get ready, because I loved it. Part of it was because it's related to my own family's history. But even without that link, I still think I would have fallen in love with it.

7. The Virgin Cure by Ami McKayFinally, I think I'm posting a book that didn't bring me to tears! Although there were moments that could have, so don't go in expecting a happy book. One aspect I enjoyed about this one was that it was so different from most anything else I've read. But still had the same type of feel I look for in a book.

8. A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley CashIn some ways I'm not sure why I have this book here, but for whatever reason it is one I really enjoyed. I feel like in some way it's a modern day To Kill a Mockingbird, and know there' certain scenes in it I'm not going to be able to forget.

9. The Ward by Jordana FrankelMaybe it's somewhat cheating to have this here since the author was my college roommate and one of my bridesmaids, but I still really loved this book. I can't wait to read the sequel, if only she'd actually finish writing it, but once she does I will again be running out to buy it.

10. Survival Lessons by Alice HoffmanThis is the second book I've read by Alice Hoffman and the second year in a row she's made my top 10 list. This isn't the type of book I normally read, but with such a beautiful message it's hard to pass up.

What books would make up your top 10 reads of 2012? And have you read any of the books on my list?

If you're curious, these are my top 10 books from 2012.

I'm linking this post with The Broke and the Bookish for Top 10 Tuesday

Mailbox Monday (54)

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists. Each month a new bloggers hosts, and for the month of November our host is I Totally Paused!
From Paperback Swap
Sugar and Spice by Lauren Conrad
I really enjoyed Lauren Conrad's first two L.A. Candy books and now I'm finally getting to the third. Having loved The Hills back in college, I think these are such a fun nostalgic flashback.

For Review
Survival Lessons by Alice Hoffman
I've already read, reviewed, and loved this books. It's somewhat of a self-help book that feels like you're hearing from a good friend some of the best things to focus on and ways live your life when everything doesn't seem to go your way.

What did you find in your mailbox this week? And what were some of your favorite shows back in college?

Choose to Make Things Beautiful

Survival Lessons by Alice Hoffman
Published: October 1, 2013 by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
I was so excited when I received a request to review this book. I absolutely LOVED Hoffman's The Dovekeepers, and ever since then have wanted to read more by her. And while these two books are about two completely different subjects, both have a similar poetic beauty about them.

Survival Lessons is somewhat of a self-help book that Hoffman was inspired to write from her struggles cancer. It's the type of advice she received, would have loved to receive, or would later give herself. And while the advice was written for someone who many facing the end of their life, all of it is so universal for anyone going through any type of struggle or life in general. Each section contains a goal that sounds simple and almost intuitive, but is still nice to be reminded off, things like "Choose to Enjoy Yourself," "Choose to Dream," and the source of my post title, "Choose to Make Things Beautiful."

It is short, so much so that I read it over my lunch hour. But once finished it felt like I had just had a lunch date with a longtime friend, instead of one where I was sitting alone reading. It's almost like a book of poems or inspirational quotes that you know you're going want to refer back to. Speaking of quotes, there were so many I bookmarked that I wanted to share, but if I shared all of them I'd practically writing the book again. So I'll leave you with not necessary my favorite quote, since I don't feel that would be fair to others I enjoyed as well, but one quote that did speak to me,.

"I know why my grandmother always told me to bring along a sweater on cold nights. She was telling me I had to take care of myself, to watch out for chills and pneumonia. But she was also telling me that life if worth fighting for. I have every blanket she ever made for me even though they are heavy as armor. My grandmother's spirit is in every stitch, and her love for me is there as well."

5/5

Disclosure: I was provided this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Women, Work, and the Will to Lead

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
Published: March 11, 2013
I feel like this book has been everywhere lately, although given the response on my Mailbox Monday post, maybe that isn't actually the case. I've heard some great things about this book, but maybe as expected with a book this big, a lot of backlash too, which made me was curious how I'd feel.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time with this. It's funny because a lot of it feels like common sense, except it's still something I hadn't actually though of that specific way. Everything seems to click, to the point where you wonder why you hadn't told yourself that first.

If I had any complaint about this book it's how much it made me think. By that I mean I'd read a section and think how well this related to my life currently, and keep thinking about how I could apply her advice and what changes I would make. Except I'd realize that through all this thinking I had continued to read 3 more pages and had no idea what I was actually reading. But honestly, if the biggest complaint is that it starts you thinking, is that the worst to have?

I think this book has a message that matters, that women should be able to succeed in the workplace if they want to, but they should also be able to succeed if they decide to stay at home instead. Or instead that men should have that same choice and be supported, and that we haven't truly reached equality among genders until things are actually equal. But as I wrote in a reply to a comment, it may not be a life changing book, but for me, where I am in my life right now, it definitely gave me a lot to think about.

4.5/5

Don't forget to enter my giveaway to win a copy of The Hourglass by Sharon Struth!

Today I'm linking up with Blonde Undercover Blonde for Book Club Friday!

Mailbox Monday (51)

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists. Mailbox Monday travels to a new host each month and for the month of October our host is Book Dragon's Lair.
Purchased
Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
I'm sure you've probably heard of this one before, but if not... where have you been? It's written by COO of Facebook and is somewhat of a self-help/memoir/career advice/feminist manifesto all rolled into one. I'm about halfway through with it already, and am really enjoying myself. It's our book club pick this month, and already I know we're going to have a ton of things to say about it.

For Review from Virtual Author Book Tours
Head Games Erika Rummel
This takes place in Argentina in 1979, and I believe is part mystery part romance. I'm really not too sure what this one's about, but I guess I'll be finding out soon.

What's did you find in your mailbox this week?

Living to Talk About it

Facing the Music by Nick Carter
Published: September 17, 2013 by Bird Street Books
I'll never forget when I heard about Leslie Carter's death. Not necessarily because it made a huge impact on my life, but because of what was happening in my life at the time. In November of 2011, my mom passed away. Two months later, in January 2012, a good friend of mine for college died in a car accident. Then later that month, Leslie Carter died of a prescription drug overdose. I remember thinking how things come in threes, and now with the death of 3 people who were important in my life (obviously of varying degrees), I was finished dealing with death for the time being.

Obviously I don't know what Nick or the Carter family went through during the time, but I have my own experiences to draw on. Reading Nick's book it seems like he feels somewhat guilty for his sister's death. He had spent his early 20s parting, but had started cleaning up his act. Maybe if he had talked to Leslie about where he met success, the past could have been different. I think this book is in some way his way of healing. It's his attempt at telling his friends and family his path to healing in hopes they can join him on his journey.

Except, it almost feels like the publisher went, "Who would want to read a self-help book from a Backstreet Boy?" and so for that reason, it's also part memoir. Each chapter starts with an antidote of a hard time in Nick's life (whether from his childhood, his DUI, his relationship with Paris Hilton, or being diagnosed with cardiomyopathy), and from there explains different strategies that he had success with. My favorite parts were the memoir pieces, and while I wish they had been longer, I understand that they weren't really the point.

As a Backstreet, and more specifically, Nick Carter fan, I loved being able to recount where I was when I read about certain referenced instances. I also thought it was interesting remembering back to his mother's book on him and how they remember certain moments so differently.

As silly as it may sound, my biggest complaint was the childhood pictures used. Not that they weren't cute, but they were the exact same ones in his mom's book. I guess it could be that he didn't want new pictures to surface, or maybe there weren't that many photos of him growing up. But still... I would have loved to see a larger selection.

The is likely a book I probably wouldn't have pick up if I wasn't already a Backstreet fan. But I do think if you're a fan of celebrity memoirs you'd enjoy this as well. I think it's inspiring reading Nick's journey from his lows to where his is now, and I can't wait to see what's to come from him.

4/5

Today I'm linking up with Blonde Undercover Blonde for Book Club Friday!

Mailbox Monday (48)

Another fabulous week for books! Although if you been at From L.A. to LA for any length of time you probably have a good idea which ones of these I'm most excited for. I'm linking up with Mailbox Monday which for September Beauty in the Ruins has stepped up to host.
Purchased
Facing the Music by Nick Carter
As I'm writing this I'm almost finished with it, and I'm guessing by the time you read this I'll be finished. In a way it's different than I expected it to be, but I'm having a lot of fun with it.

For Review from the author
Adder in the Path by William Jensen
This is a historical fiction of the Mormon War, something I know nothing about, but hopefully will by the novel's end.

For Review from TLC Book Tours
Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon
I remember being curious about this one when it was first published, so I'm excited to be one its paperback tour. The book is huge though, so I'm guessing I have some late nights of reading ahead of me.

For Review from the publisher
Secret Storms by Julie Mannix von Zerneck and Kathy Hatfield
This is a memior of a woman who put her daughter up for adoption telling her story as well as her daughter's. It reminds me of a real life version of Emily Giffin's last book, so I'm curious to see how it compares.

What did you find in your mailbox this week? And when you read a similar story both in non-fiction and fiction, which do you tend to prefer?

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

After last week's Backstreet Boys concert, while looking up information on their new documentary, I discovered the fact that Nick Carter has a book coming out. How I didn't know this earlier given my Backstreet obsession and the amount of time I spend on book blogs is a little unbelievable. Since I know you must be curious, here is the cover and description.

Facing the Music And Living To Talk About It by Nick Carter
Expected Publication: September 17, 2013
Publisher Bird Street BooksSynopsis via Goodreads: This book is Nick Carter’s autobiography and self-help hybrid in which he chronicles his struggles with a dysfunctional family and the unimaginable rigors of becoming an internationally successful pop-star at the age of 12. From his battle with addiction to serious health complications and the pain of his younger sister’s tragic death, Nick leaves nothing to the imagination and offers true and heartfelt advice to help readers overcome obstacles in their own lives.

Since I obviously can't wait for this to come out, I'm linking up with Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday. Thankfully though I don't to wait that long for this since it comes out one week from today!

To my faithful readers, thanks for putting up with my obsession these past few weeks, I can promise this will be my last post on them for a while. Or at least until I read and review this book!

What books are you currently waiting on to be published?

Mailbox Monday (39)

I may have missed linking up with Mailbox Monday last week, but am back strong this week. I clearly I must have whatever the goodreads algorithm in looking for, because my winning streak has continued. I'm not necessarily complaining, but I do feel a tiny bit guilt when I know some people have never won. But before the books, wanted to make sure you know that July's host is Book Obsessed.
From Goodreads
Ostrich by Matt Greene
This one's supposed to be similar to The Curious Incident of the Dog in Night-time, which is one I've never read although have heard heard good things about. Hopefully this is one people will be talking about as well.

The Distraction Addiction by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
This looks to be somewhat of a self-help book on being less distracted by all the media devices we now seemed to be surrounded by.

The Village by Nikita Lalwani
I actually didn't realize till after I won this, but I had read the author's first book Gifted. It's actually one I wasn't a huge fan of, so hopefully I like this one more.

Fact of Life by Denise Vega
This one look like a cute YA/chick lit type. Plus it's signed and they included a bookmark.

Purchased
Someday My Prince Will Come by Jerramy Fine
I LOVED this book when I first read it. So much that I started loaning it out and wanted all my friends to read it. Except I lost touch with the friend who last had it, and never saw my copy again. I told myself if I ever say it on clearance again, I would buy it. Which is why while in Florida when stopping at Barnes & Nobles to pick up a board game (since we were getting restless trapped in a condo with rain everyday), I picked this up as well. Completely normal to buy a book you've already read while on vacation just to add to your collection, right?

What did you find in your mailbox this week? And what's the last book you just had to purchase even though it was one you had read before?