Comments | rachaeldoss: The Re-Literatation of Rachael

rachaeldoss

The Re-Literatation of Rachael

Jan 29, 2010 14:19

After reading only two books last year, I made a promise to myself at the beginning of January that I would read one book a month this year. I figure I ought to at least be able to manage one 300 or so page book a month for 12 months, or my literacy card should be revoked. Besides, I have what I think constitutes a LITERAL shit ton of books on my ( Read more... )

book review, books, reading

Comments 16

rebl1969 January 30 2010, 01:26:30 UTC

I didn't care for the Chelsea Handler book either. I think something gets lost in the translation from stand-up routine to printed page (although I don't watch her show, so I can't say for sure).

katybean had the book on CD and told me it was way funnier when you were listening to Chelsea read it herself, but I haven't yet tested that theory out.

I also didn't like Jenny McCarthy's book. Only thing I remember from reading it was about how when she was pregnant she peed by the side of the road a lot. I'm sure that's not what I was supposed to actually take away from the reading experience.

rachaeldoss February 1 2010, 01:10:04 UTC

And see - when I was buying it, I thought I remembered you talking about it and saying it wasn't very good, but I wasn't sure, and I was in a high-pressure Costco situation, so I just sucked it up and bought it. I should have known I was in trouble when the clerk at the register said, "That book is ok, but Chelsea Handler is NASTY."

Because I trust the literary criticism of the Costco check girl. :-)

rebl1969 February 1 2010, 01:16:17 UTC

Sounds like it's time for a trip to the used-book store for a trade-in, then!
I gotta do my book post tonight. Thanks for the reminder!

rachaeldoss February 1 2010, 01:17:44 UTC

I do have several that I may can trade for one good one :-D

grosely_clerx January 30 2010, 01:28:59 UTC

Have you read "The Polysyllabic Spree"? It's by Nick Hornby, the guy who wrote "High Fidelity" (the original book, not the movie). It's about, from the cover, "A hilarious and true account of one man's struggle with the monthly tide of the books he's bought and the books he's been meaning to read."

It's actually quite charming, and doesn't spend its best parts in making a clever premise. And yes, I realize I'm "helping" by suggesting yet another book to read, but, well, that's kind of what I do.

rebl1969 January 30 2010, 03:26:09 UTC

Oh yeah, that's a good one.
The only bad thing I found about "The Polysyllabic Spree" is you read about the books he's reading, and then you think, OOH! That one sounds good! And that causes your to-read list to spiral even more out of control than it was previously.

rachaeldoss February 1 2010, 01:05:13 UTC

I'm going to have to wait and get that one next year if it just spurns a bigger reading list. LOL I mean, seriously - I have a biography on Cary Grant that I was very excited to read...3 years ago. I really need to bite the bullet and get through my shelf!

grosely_clerx February 1 2010, 02:42:58 UTC

I can certainly sympathize. My To-Read Shelf has about 13 books on it right now, with no serious dispersal in sight.

I will, at least, say this in favor of The Polysyllabic Spree: it's a quick read, at an eminently manageable 136 pages in paperback.

Thread 5

zarkarella January 30 2010, 06:19:14 UTC

I think her first book was much better. "My Horizontal Life".

rachaeldoss February 1 2010, 01:03:20 UTC

Yeah, she refers to that book at one point in this one. But I don't think I would be able to get into it at this point. I'm very turned off by her :-/ I wish I had read that one first.

vforventure February 1 2010, 00:04:45 UTC

I don't like Chelsea Handler either. I was up late the other night and caught one of her stand up shows on Comedy Central and I didn't find her funny at all. Stories about being single and hooking up with guys, excessive drinking with girlfriends and the like just don't appeal to me. Being a wife and mother just puts me in a different place in life and I have no way to relate ( ... )

rachaeldoss February 1 2010, 00:59:58 UTC

Speaking as a person who does enjoy her adult beverages, there is a time and season in life when Chelsea Handler stories are appropriate - like when you are 18-25 and then they are sort of just sad. In my opinion, no 30+ year old should be bragging about the life she leads ( ... )

vforventure February 2 2010, 19:42:48 UTC

I was never into that whole dating and partying thing to begin with and didn't really have friends who were. (Thanks Oregon!) But I agree that there is a time and a place for that lifestyle and that a person needs to grow up at a certain point ( ... )

rachaeldoss February 2 2010, 20:51:15 UTC

LOL - When Lilah was a few days old, I was telling Ben, "I want TWELVE BABIES! BABIES ARE SO AWESOME!"

HA!

I totally understand the irrational desire for more and more babies.

Thread 5