Get a Life That Doesn't Suck: 10 Surefire Ways to Live Life and Love the Ride by Michelle DeAngelis


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A refreshing take on a self help book that, while it doesn't necessarily teach anything new and noteworthy, it teaches all the things we should know in a way that's refreshingly digestible and immediately applicable.

The summary from the book cover, which explains it pretty well (although the claims *may* be a little over generous for what it delivers...):
Life can really suck. But it doesn't have to. This book offers a better way to live every day.

Engaging and encouraging, Get a Life That Doesn't Suck: 10 Surefire Ways to Live Life and Love the Ride explains how ill-equipped most people are to deal with the challenges in life and then introduces foundational tools and effective techniques to take you from crappy to happy. By providing the specific "mechanics" to joy, Michelle shows that joy is a repeatable by-product of living your life in integrity and of making conscious choices every day that kick misery, worry and guilt to the curb.

For anyone who is bored, disenchanted, or in despair, this book serves up a combination of street-smart wisdom and cheerful irreverence and shows you how to enjoy the "ride of your life," regardless of the roadblocks along the way.

With this book you can:

•Close the gap between your dreams and your real life
•Learn very specific techniques to make the best of every situation
•Get the importance of saying what you mean and doing what you say
•Learn how to thoughtfully respond instead of react to tricky situations
•Master the 10 Life-Changing Ahas - daily actions that improve your life
•Get the tools you need to manage yourself and make life easier
•Um, get a life that doesn't suck!

Check out another synopsis of the content here:

http://www.michelleinc.com/the_10_life_c...

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Sex, love and Vichyssoise

Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
What a cute book. This book is a must for anyone who is a blogger and knows about the challenges of daily posting and the exhilaration of reading encouraging words from Internet strangers. The way Julie's story develops and intertwines with Julia Child's life, and the evolution of a basic cook that everyone can relate to who ends the book being able to make a nearly perfect pastry is a nice wrap up to the whole story.

It's also a great book about obsessions and symbolism. Julie compares her thrill in reading Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French cooking to her sneaking and reading The Joy of Sex behind closed doors when she was a younger girl, before she knew what sex was.

And in a way, she's right: French cooking is somehow mysterious and seems seductive in a way that makes the simplest dishes into gourmet meals. Take,for example, Vichyssoise. The English translation is cold potato leek soup. Yet the simplistic deliciousness makes it something I don't hesitate to share with the pickiest company. Also, it rolls off your tongue much better. Isn't it sexier to say "Vichyssoise" than "cold potato leek soup". (Plus it's really, really, REALLY good).

I'm looking forward to seeing the movie and will post an update to the review then. Until then, try the Vichyssoise. You won't be disappointed.

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The Year of Magical Thinking (sans magical writing)

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

My review

rating: 2 of 5 stars
So many people have raved about this book, and it won awards so though memoirs are not my usual genre, I thought I would really enjoy it. Boy, was I wrong.



The author is a writer and so was her husband of 40 years. Her writing is excellent, well researched points of view, etc. But as far as being engaged in the story or caring about the characters? Nada.



Perhaps if I had been touched by tragedy and death I would be able to understand and appreciate the authors POV. Until then, I'll stick to fiction.




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