Rita
People on the Autism spectrum are not homogeneous, yet so much of Jenifer Cook O'Toole's story rang true for me. For many women born before 1990, we were never diagnosed or even considered for a diagnosis until we had children who are on the spectrum and saw ourselves in them. Life has been a struggle of always feeling weird or somehow left out until the light of diagnosis showed us that we are not flawed, just different, and Autism in Heels does a great job explaining what undiagnosed life was like. Audiobook was great as I got to hear Jennifer's voice tell her own story, but I'm sure the printed editions are just as good. Recommended for any woman who is or might be on the spectrum, or anyone who knows or loves one.
"The Break-Up Diet" by Annette Fix was one of the best books I've read in a while. In this memoir, Fix describes the phenomenon of the weight loss that happens following a break up. More than that, she draws the reader in with her humor and by the end of the book you feel like she is someone you know and want to root for. There are portions of the book that are laugh out loud funny, and others that made me slightly teary-eyed. I was going through my own break-up diet when I read this and this book is a must read for anyone who is going through or has ever been through a rough break-up. Highly recommended.
Cursed Child? More like cursed book. I hated everything about it. Gave it a full star instead of a half only because I love the world so much and it was nice to see some of my favorite characters again after so long.
As a former theatre kid, the play format didn't bother me at all, but the story itself was terrible. I've seen people call it a well-written fan-fiction and honestly that's an insult to many of the amazing fan-fictions out there.
The beginning of this book had me thinking that I would enjoy it very much. As it went on however, it lost steam for me. I tried reading something else and then going back to it a few times, but I could never really get into it enough to finish it.
This was a very quick read and I was very engaged in the story. However, I think Kerry spends the majority of the book telling the story of what she did, and not as much time was spent on how she healed. In the end, which was rather abrupt, I am not sure she even learned anything or came away with any self-reflection. Neither a lesson learned nor an in independent defense of behavior in the name of sexual independence. I just kind of...ended, and that makes the book seem like a bit of a waste of time to me.
The book Anna's Heaven is a gorgeously illustrated book with a story that is just as lovely. Although marketed as a Children's book I think this book could find an audience in anyone who is going through loss and asking the tough questions about what happens next.
The book If Jack's In Love was a great read. I read the whole book in just under three hours and literally did not put it down from the time I started it to the time I finished it. The title character, Jack, weaves a narrative that is at times hilarious and at times heartbreaking. I truly would recommend it.
I really enjoyed this book. Although I am not one of the women who wears high heels all the time, the book helped me to understand why I sometimes feel guilty that I don't wear high heels all of the time. The book was not only about the shoes that women wear, it was about the historical events that lead to the reasons that women choose to wear the shoes that do such damage to their feet. I will pass this book on to my sister, who wears high heels on a daily basis, in the hopes that it can help her to overcome the shoe addiction and perhaps even save her feet.
Unabrow is one of the funniest books I heave read in a long time. And when I say funny, I mean laugh out loud in the break room at work, and then get self-conscious because people heard you, funny. Una tells her life story in a series of essays, charts, and lists that are as insightful as they are humorous. As a woman who also grew up in the 80s and 90s and is now dealing with the craziness of marriage and motherhood, I felt like I was reading the journal of a very funny friend. Highly recommended.
Losing Clementine is about an artist who decides she is going to kill herself in 30 days. The subject, in the hand of another writer, could have been heavy and sappy, but Ashley Ream concocted a story that made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion, and cry only once. Clementine is a wonderfully written character and taking the 30 day journey with her was a truly satisfying reading experience. Highly recommended.
This is the book I always say when people ask me what my favorite book is. I read it and when I finished it, I immediately read it again. I love Daniel Handler's way with words as Lemony Snickett and he is just as fun here.