bookstarved

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

High on Arrival

Should I be embarrassed for reading this book? I don't even care. If you're looking for a hot mess, you've found it. Poor Mackenzie Phillips. With the way she was raised, she didn't stand a chance. I'm amazed she's still standing. She first stole my heart on Celebrity Rehab (Yes, I watch that show. Don't judge me) when she had to leave the facility to put her old pug Max to sleep. I cried along with her as she fed him his last meal of Haagen Dazs ice cream. Man, that was a tearjerker. I love a good cry.

Anyway, I couldn't resist picking up High On Arrival and let me tell you, it's not uplifting. But it's good. It's well written and the sheer volume of celebrity gossip is staggering. The whole father-daughter sex thing is certainly off-putting, but it pales in comparison to some of the other stuff that was going on in Phillips' life. She's a survivor, that one. If you like tales of love and addiction, this is choice material.

It reminds me a bit of Janice Dickinson's No Lifeguard on Duty: The Accidental Life of the World's First Supermodel. Have I already recommended this one? Again, don't judge me until you've read it. You can snuggle up with both books back to back and have a celebrity rehab extravaganza, then gloat about how your life is truly on track in comparison. What a lovely way to end the year. Merry, merry!

No Lifeguard on Duty: The Accidental Life of the World's First Supermodel

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Last Things

This book is haunting me. I finished it a few days ago and I'm still mulling it over. It's told from the vantage point of an eight year old girl who has an incredibly close bond with a mother who is losing her grip on reality. The mother's decline into madness is slow and insidious. By the time she really starts to spiral, her daughter has become an emotional hostage.

Last Things are described by the protagonist's mother as things that stand the test of time, like stones and oceans and fossils. Unfortunately, in this case, mental illness can be a lasting thing as well. One of the most poignant bits of horror in this book is when the mother announces that Grace will end up just like her. Try as we might, it can be very difficult for an apple to fall very far from its tree. It's only after having children that you start to worry about which of your faulty genes may have filtered through.

Grace is at an impressionable age where she wants to believe equally in her father's scientific logic and her mother's ethereal folk wisdom. She lives in a very confusing world where the people she trusts the most behave in unpredictable ways. Sometimes it's fun, but often times it's frightening.

If you come from a long line of crazy, like me, it's refreshing to hear from someone else who's been through the ropes. It makes you feel a sense of solidarity. I'm not saying that Offil's book is autobiographical, I'm just sayin'.

I like the eight year old's vantage point. Making the transition from a little kid to a big kid is tough, especially when you don't know who or what to believe in. I know I didn't at that age. I'm still trying to figure it out.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Blink

I feel like I'm the last person in America who's read this book. Although it was published five years ago, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking still offers a cutting edge look at the way the mind works, particularly when it comes to making snap judgements. If you're a psychology buff like I am and like to read bizarre case studies and see how they relate to your own life, then look no further. It's pretty fascinating stuff.

According to Malcolm Gladwell, our minds often make astute decisions for us before we've had a chance to consciously weigh any pros and cons. In the heat of the moment, something in our subconscious mind will often lead us in the appropriate direction before we're even aware of the necessity of action. For example, if we're in a terrifying situation, like being held at gunpoint, we'll often lose control of our bladders because the body can instantly suss out the fact that we don't need to use those muscles at the moment. Instead, the body's main muscle groups will steel themselves for potential impact. Crazy, right?

Unfortunately, some of the snap decisions we make may be a little disappointing. You should read about the case studies relating to racism and bigotry. Yikes. There's also evidence that given a bit of training, we're capable of reading people's minds by scrutinizing their facial expressions. But the pivotal point of the book is that there is some kind of primitive, reptilian facet of our brains that operates without our knowledge or consent when it comes to spur of the moment actions. The trick is to try and harness this ability for the greater good. How can we use this skill set to our advantage? I guess we'll have to wait for the next installment. Bring it, Mr. Gladwell.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Keef

I just finished Keith Richards' new biography, Life, and it didn't disappoint. I loved hearing the inside scoop about what was going on behind the scenes during the Stones' formative years. I had no idea Keith was such a prolific writer. He and Mick had a pretty magical dynamic when it came to banging out the hits. I guess I also didn't realize what a tumultuous relationship those two had. I just blithely figured that everything was always hunky dory between them. Not so. It seems Mick let the fame go to his head, while Keith kept his pride in check. However, they obviously did something right if they're still together after all these years.

Keith has been in many a scrape, and while it's entertaining to read about it, I'm happy he's not my child, or my husband. He seems like someone maybe appreciated best from afar. And the drugs he's consumed. Oh, my. It really is a wonder he's still standing. He claims at one point that he's been clean for over thirty years. Apparently he was only referring to his heroin use, since the Jack and coke(aine) seemed to be regular fixtures over his subsequent years. His body has taken a beating, but he's still standing.

It's amazing to go back over their anthology of hits and recognize the sheer breadth of their career. I had forgotten about so many great songs. If nothing else, this book will make you want to go on a downloading frenzy. What talent. Keith speaks of all of his bandmates with such love, despite all of the bumps in the road along the way to stardom. He appreciates their skill and lauds them repeatedly throughout the memoir.

Keith truly loves his music. I was entranced by the way he described the feeling he gets when he and his bandmates hit their stride. He says that when he gets in the zone where their playing is so right and they're complimenting each other so perfectly that he starts to feel like he's levitating. I want to feel that way.

And for those of you who have been wondering what these songs are truly about, or who they're about, or how they were conceived, look no further. This book is like crack for music geeks. If you like the Rolling Stones (and who doesn't, really?), you should definitely check this one out. It's compulsively readable. I'm relieved to have finished it because it was interfering with my ability to accomplish anything else for a few days there. It'd make a great gift for music lovers as well. Tis the season.

Friday, December 3, 2010

David Sedaris

Isn't he great? I just finished Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary and as always, I'm terribly pleased. Sedaris is always a safe bet for me. I'm glad he's so prolific, otherwise I'd be worried. He never disappoints. I was lucky enough to hear him read the title story on NPR, and could hear his odd voice in my head as I read it for myself. Something about Sedaris makes me want to snuggle and protect him.

This book was such a tasty little morsel. It was like reading Aesop's Fables for grown-ups. Each story brought laughs, creature comforts and a healthy dose of morals. And the illustrations by Ian Falconer are fabulous. Such a lovely little collection. It'd make a great holiday gift. My only complaint was that it ended too soon. You can easily read it in one sitting.

If you haven't read anything of Sedaris' yet, then you're in for a real treat. Here are a few of my other favorites: Naked, Holidays on Ice, Barrel Fever and Me Talk Pretty One Day. Enjoy, and you're welcome.

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Half Empty

So where has David Rakoff been all of my life? I love a good misanthrope. In his latest book, Half Empty, he's dark, funny and wickedly smart. He's a bit like a David Sedaris, but with a touch of self-loathing thrown in. As much as I love reading and all of the emotions it invokes in me, it's still very rare that a book actually makes me laugh out loud. This one had me chortling at least a dozen times. That's a good enough reason to recommend Rakofff, but there's more.

Even though he's a beautiful, intelligent and gifted writer, he's still incredibly humble about his talents. He likens his writing process to attempting to cook a gourmet meal with rotten ingredients. He seems to truly believe that he sucks at his job, but boy, is he wrong.

Though his wit can be cutting, there's a certain tenderness to his writing as well. He's been through a lot, and has the battle scars to prove it. But he keeps on plugging away. He's no optimist, but he gets the job done, and manages to keep us in stitches over his tragic endeavors. I like him. A lot. I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of his work.