Al Franken: Giant of the Senate

At Book Expo this year, I only attended one panel, and that was with Mark Manson and Al Franken in conversation. It was outstanding. Al Franken was advertising his new memoir, but it was one of the most enjoyable panels I have ever been to. Franken is clearly a Senator who is here to serve the people of Minnesota, that comes through loud and clear. His memoir, Giant of the Senate, only makes that more clear. 

If you are of a certain age, you will know Al Franken as a satirist and beloved writer of Saturday Night Live. You may also remember how confused you felt when he announced his entry into politics, particularly if you are not a Minnesotan. If you are younger, you may only know him as the Democratic Senator from Minnesota. Either way, you would be right. 

Al Franken started his career very early as a comedian and has written several satirical books on politics, almost exclusively excoriating the right. One thing he hates more than anything is lying, so you can imagine how much he loves our current POTUS. In this memoir (which contains a fair share of satirical jokes), he covers his early years (albeit briefly), including those on SNL, and then he's into his entry into politics. His friend and senator, the beloved Paul Wellstone, was killed in a plane accident and his successor was, shall we say, a Republican. Having never considered politics before, Franken starts to realize that he could do the job, and he starts slowly mounting his campaign and building his political knowledge early. This memoir covers his campaign, his contentious election, and his time up to present in the US Senate. 

I was worried that at almost 400 pages that I might not get through the book, as I have an infant and it seemed like a daunting task. Have no fear -- this book was so on point, entertaining and funny, that I read it in no time. I found myself giggling out loud more than enough times, and my husband often looked at me quizzically until I read him what I was amused by. The problem with that is that the jokes are smart and require background knowledge, so I often had to back up and read him at least the previous paragraph. Franken is not funny in a one-liner way; he is incredibly intelligent and writes his jokes for those who are willing to hold on with their left and and catch the joke with their right. That's what was so great about this book. It was informative and incredibly amusing. It's hard to find that in a memoir with a tinge of satire. 

Franken also doesn't mince words in his work. He is no fan of certain coworkers (one rhymes with Ned Kruz), and he is strait up with his readers. When I saw him speak at Book Expo, I was quite impressed at his dedication to representing his constituents. Franken is a man of his word, and in our current political climate, where I find some representatives are less concerned with listening to those they represent and more concerned with revenge on the previous administration, he is the one to watch. One thing that has flabbergasted me of late is how unwilling representatives are to recognize that they are voted in by their constituents and their responsibility is to serve them; you don't have a guaranteed job just because you are a politician. Franken not only understands that, he lives by the creed. I wish he were my representative, too. 

I often donate books that I finish, but this one will be staying on my shelf. 

Guest Blogger Charlotte: Carrie Fisher's The Princess Diarist

Since I can remember, Star Wars has been prevalent in my life. It was pretty much part of initiation into my family. I adored Princess Leia and her bravery, so when Carrie Fisher sadly passed late last year, I was devastated. One of the first things I did, other than have a movie marathon, was read The Princess Diarist, one of Carrie’s books of personal stories. I wouldn’t call it an autobiography, as it only covers a few incidents in her life while giving her perspective on some moments in time, but it is autobiographical in nature, and I looked forward to the chance to get to know her a little bit, in her own words. The cover describes it as “a sort-of memoir”, which is exactly right.

 I was extremely excited when I set aside a day to read it. I was grasping for pieces of Princess Leia and Carrie Fisher in any way possible. However, by the time I finished, I was conflicted between my love for an actress and my feeling for the book.

          The book is essentially a recount of stories from Carrie Fisher’s life, mainly focusing on her time filming Star Wars. I was ecstatic about learning more details about behind the scenes; that’s not what this book is. It felt like the entire book had been dictated in an unorganized, stream-of-consciousness style. I had trouble following thoughts and events occurring. Some of the stories dragged on for chapters trying to prove things that didn’t need to be proven, and it felt, overall, like a last effort of someone to set the record straight. It also seemed like she expected the reader to be familiar with the tabloid rumors of her time filming Star Wars, like she thought the world had been sitting around judging her this whole time. Maybe it’s just because I’m young that I wasn’t sure what she was referencing some of the time. I was surprised there wasn’t a little more background information considering how many Star Wars fans were not around during the first wave of Star Wars films.

Although the writing itself was not the greatest, I did get an insight into Carrie Fisher's life, which I greatly appreciated. Stories of her experience on set, interactions with others, and especially her struggle with body image made me glad for reading the book. Being around the same age she was when her adventure began, I was thrilled to learn that we had some things in common. I feel it was also really important that body image kept appearing in the book, as it showed that it isn’t something ‘famous people’ are shielded from and that everyone kind of struggles with body positivity at some point in their life.

At the same time, some of the anecdotes were really boring and didn’t seem to go anywhere. It almost felt like when you’re at a party and someone traps you in a corner telling you a story, and when you don’t laugh they just keep telling it and telling it thinking that once you understand how funny it is, you’ll laugh and you’ll like them. For example, she refers to signing autographs as “lap dances” because you’re selling yourself. That’s the whole joke, but it goes on for pages and pages and pages. It doesn’t get funnier, you just feel bad for her, which seems to be the last thing she wants.

In the end, would I reread this memoir? The answer, to my dismay, is no. It feels like the leftover stories that didn’t make the cut for another book. But I do not regret reading it. Although the writing is not fantastic, we, as an audience, were still given a window into parts of Carrie Fisher life, a choice that was entirely optional. Carrie Fisher is one of the most amazing actresses I have ever watched and Princess Leia has had a lifelong impact on me. She was absolutely brilliant and will be greatly missed and I hope she will rest in peace.

Anna Kendrick's Scrappy Little Nobody

For Christmas my beloved gave me a stack of books (plus Kindle Unlimited!), so you know he loves me. In that stack was Anna Kendrick's Scrappy Little Nobody, and since my roommate also wanted to read it, I decided to pick it up first. 

We all know Anna Kendrick -- in fact, most men you know would give their left but to be with her. She's authentically funny, naturally pretty, and seems like a lot of fun. This memoir traces her years growing up and her early work in the entertainment industry. She has a genuine affection for her family and their sacrifices for her at such a young age to be able to perform on Broadway, and she comes across as a crazy loyal friend as well. It's easy for most people to see themselves as the outcast -- it's a more common self-perception than any of us want to realize -- so her story of feeling out of place in school resonates with a lot of people. 

Her dating life as an adult -- and the bad choices she cops to -- are also incredibly relatable. She strips down and bares her truth about that relationship she kept pushing, and I recognized myself and so many other young women in that moment. How young and naive we were in our 20's, wanting to make a square peg fit into a round hole. How we couldn't recognize that he just wasn't that into us because if we just tried harder we could make him love us. I'm glad we are all past that, Anna included. 

You get the whole shebang with this memoir. Anna tells you about her childhood, her young adulthood, and includes a section on her movie making. It's fun, but the joy of this novel is in her self-deprivation and real humor that comes with her just being herself. She never tries hard; it reads as if she just puts herself and paper and tells you to deal with it. That's my kind of funny girl. 

Dear Mr. You

It's an interesting concept, this Mary-Louise Parker memoir. Dear Mr. You is a series of letters written to the men in her life. I wanted to pick it up, and at a book-oriented Christmas party, there it sat like a gift waiting to be picked up. So I did.

I was discussing this book with a friend who said she didn't want to read it because it came across as pretentious and self-aggrandizing. I thought on that for a while, and realized that once I put this book into the memoir genre, that of course it is, because every memoir is pretentious and self-aggrandizing. It kinda defines the genre. It put the whole thing in a new perspective, and I stopped thinking of this book as a puff piece and more as a way to tell a story.

Here's why I think this is important: Because memoir plays with lives. Mostly your own, but also with others'.  We tell our stories entirely from our own points of view, and that affects other people whether we intend for it to our not. Our truth is our own, and memoir exploits that. So in Parker's memoir, we know that she has dated some famous people, one even leaving her when she was seven months pregnant for a younger actress. I understand Parker's need to tell these stories without naming names, and I loved that each chapter was addressed to a different nicknamed man.

Which leads me to the most profound of the letters, "Dear Cerberus." There has been much written about this all over the interwebs (just Google her name and the chapter title -- no need for me to link to everything here), and the consensus is that the three heads of the mythical dog represent three horrible relationships. I could speculate as to who they are, but really, I don't think it matters. It was the first dog head that punched me in the gut -- the picture of Parker in her new pants, of which she was excited and proud, and being torn down by physically and verbally for it was gut-wrenching. There is no self-pity though; it's a story of what happened and how she reacted to it. We have all had bad relationships, some more abusive than others and in different ways, but it's enough to know that feeling when someone you love turns to you and calls you a name you never envisioned they would.

There were other beautiful letters in here as well. The letter to the cab driver was universal until she turns to him and tells him about why she is in a bad mood -- she's pregnant and alone and she says, "It hurts to even breathe." Oh god, how that hurt to read. Her letter to a former younger lover, who at the time was tremendously younger but now with age she realizes wouldn't be quite so, was ridiculously lovely and so easy to understand. Her letter to her father was moving and gracious. Her letter to the doctor who saved her life was personal to me. To almost leave this mortal coil and to be pulled back to the earth -- there are not enough words on this earth for that gratefulness.

All of this to say that you can find where you fit in with this book if you open it. It doesn't have to be read in order, and these letters are ones you can come back to. Some you can read at a distance with age, and some you can look forward to. It's a lovely little memoir.

Then Again: Diane Keaton

I think Diane Keaton is the cat's pajamas. She is so unabashedly herself, and I admire that in her. This is her memoir that I picked up, Then Again. 

She is best known as Annie Hall, but Diane Keaton, born Diane Hall, has layers upon layers that define who she is. She tells her story in part through her mother, to whom she was close and whose journals she uses to tell her own story. Through relationships with Woody Allen and Warren Beatty, to choosing to adopt two children of her own in her 50's, Diane has always chosen to be exactly who she is. She is a mother, a daughter, an actress, an artist, and always herself.

She is just one hell of a woman, you know? Diane Keaton claims to be nothing other than herself, and it makes her just a general badass. Her candid talk about her relationships with the two film greats above was really fantastic, and in the moment she finally understands that she doesn't want to date Beatty, that she has always wanted to be him, I realized how much like her I feel. It's not a gender thing that she's talking about -- rather, it's the confidence that comes across on screen, the ability to have career choices, and the strong personality that pushes head first into the world. (That's my interpretation, anyway.) She also makes it easy to understand her relationship with Allen and their long-term continuance of their deep and meaningful friendship. They had a connection that can't be forced or planned; rather, it came naturally and it seems to be that those who need to find each other often do.

I also appreciated Keaton's exploration of her family's connection to herself and her success. She clearly loves her mother more than anyone on this earth, other than her two children of course, and the way she talks about her mother is full of reverance and pride. I can only imagine how difficult it was to jet from home at such a young age and take on NYC by storm -- even in my 20's it was something else. With only letters going back and forth, Diane had to make her way, sink or swim. It's a story of success, but it's also a story of grit and a refusal to back up, and there are many lessons to be learned from Keaton's reflections. I would love an update now that it's been several years since she released this book -- after all, I need to know how she is faring in the teenage years with her kids!

For purchase below. 

Along the Way: The Journey of a Father and Son

I have always loved Martin Sheen, but being a woman in my early 30's, I missed several of his big movies. They are all on my list to watch or re-watch during the holiday break, but in the meantime, I indulged in Sheen and his son's, Emilio Estevez's, dual biography, Along the Way: The Journey of a Father and Son. 

Martin Sheen, known to his parents as Ramon Estevez, was born and raised in the Midwest to an Irish immigrant mother and a Spanish immigrant father. He left home as soon as he was able to pursue acting full time, where he met and fell in love with his long-time love, Janet. At age 21 his oldest son, Emilio, was born, and Martin's life changed forever. Three more children, multiple movie sets, and one big move to Malibu later, Emilio follows in his father's footsteps. As they grow together, they will have their differences, but they will always be father and son.

This memoir is told with a throughline of the movie The Way, which I saw in a preview and really adored. It's a father/son story in which a father finishes his son's hike across the Camino de Santiago for him. It's a fitting grounding for Emilio and Martin's story, and I originally picked up this book as a follow-up to the film. It was more than worth it, as I really loved this story. I learned so much about an actor I respect deeply and his son, Emilio, that I now also respect in a way I didn't before.

This book is also an amazing history book for cinephiles. Every major film the two of them participated in is recounted here, from Apocalypse Now, Ghandi, and Badlands, to The Breakfast Club and The Outsiders. These stories are those that don't exist anywhere else, and if a few of them do, you get to read it here from a personal perspective. Particularly the Apocalypse Now stories--those are doozies. It was amazing to read about Sheen's move through addiction and finally choosing sobriety. Everyone has their own journey, be it as an actor or finding sobriety, and hearing two different people tell some of the same stories was really fascinating and eye-opening. 

Ultimately, though, it was the love that these two have for each other that made this book everything that it is. There is no guide to parenting, and everyone learns as they go. When Emilio has children and has to learn how to be a father himself, you see the wisdom dawning in him, and the respect he then has for his own father far exceeds the respect he could have ever had before. It's a strong read, and one that I railroaded through because it was just that interesting.

For purchase below.

Lost in the Meritocracy: The Undereducation of an Overachiever

I read a not-so-friendly review of Walter Kirn's latest release in the New York Review of Books, and in it they mentioned one of his older pieces, Lost in the Meritocracy: The Undereducation of an Overachiever. So instead of his new one, I picked up this one. 

Achieving was never a problem for Walter growing up; in fact, it was a bit of an art for him. His goal was to get Princeton, and to Princeton he got. It took winning a poetry contest (done!), doing well on the SAT's (check!), and heading to college a bit early (no sweat!). Arriving at Princeton's golden doors, however, Kirn discovered that the meritocracy shifts after high school. It's no longer about the highest achiever; it's about the person with the most money laughing last and best. The points come from having rather than having-not. And those books you should have read growing up? They would be great to know. Yesterday.

This book was an interesting take on the classic overachiever, and at times I felt it became a bit self-pitying. That is really my biggest critique, so I will leave that here on the table and move on to why I really did find this book to be an important and interesting read. A recent conversation in my "office" (that being a cubicle that's not really mine in a school lounge) focused on what college is, what it means, and how the system is set up. It was right before I picked up this book, serendipitously, so it came into my life at the right moment. Kirn's story of overachievement until it doesn't work any more is not as incredible as it sounds; in fact, it's a lesson learned the hard way by many in colleges and universities, public and private.

It is a major culture shock to go from a high school where you are a star--you know you will do well and your identity is based upon knowing you are a success--to showing up in a larger environment and suddenly what was once superb is now mediocre. What was once outstanding has suddenly become just fine, and what once made you the smartest kid around is only the tip of the iceberg in the way of being good at things. It rocks your identity and self-concept, especially if you have defined yourself (even unknowingly) as a pawn in the meritocracy--achieve and you will succeed. I think Kirn has written a memoir that touches on the bruise of this identity crisis in a way many can relate to. In fact, I am currently teaching a summer grad class and this was a topic of discussion today. I told the story of how, my first year in college, I scored poorly on an exam in a class I had no business taking (a sophomore-level lit class!) and it dawned on me that I would have to drop the class. It was earth-shattering to me that I would have to drop a class. It felt as though I was conceding defeat. That I wasn't good enough. That I couldn't hack it. A failure--when in reality none of those things were the case. It didn't matter, though. I, too, was lost in the meritocracy. That being said, I could relate to a decent portion of Kirn's narrative.

So what next? Kirn's story is one that many face, and his took place almost two decades ago. It is worth, as educators, ruminating on a story such as this to really face larger, systemic issues in higher education. In the meantime, I'm going to go grab another book.

Hard copy for purchase below.

I Don't Know What You Know Me From: Confessions of a Co-star

I am one of those people who happens to recognize character actors, and I have been a long-time fan of Judy Greer. I swiped her memoir, I Don't Know What You Know Me From: Confessions of a Co-star as fast as I was able to click "request."

You run into her on the street in Los Angeles. You know her! You have seen her in a movie! What movie did you see her in? She is that actress, the one you have seen one million times in all sorts of movies but you can't quite place her--she is the best friend, the sidekick, the co-star. She also happens to be a genius performer. This book of essays covers everything from her ridiculously normal childhood, to her being "discovered" in college, to her days of living in the sketchiest parts of LA, to her eventual trip to the Oscars. The whole ride you will laugh along with her, as she takes her life as seriously you should, but don't.

There were many times I found myself snorting (snort-laughing, if you will) on the subway train or the back of the bus on the way to campus. {If you heard it, sorry about that...no, wait--I'm not. It was worth it.} As I said in the intro to this post, I love catching Judy in everything that she does. She is incredibly morphable (yes, that is a made-up word) and she is just delightful to watch. She can in turn be vulnerable, sassy, and honest. This book is exactly as I imagine she is in real life. That is, if I didn't already feel as though we are besties.

My most favorite part of this book is when she discussed meeting her husband and falling in love with him, and then getting to know his children, her now step children. I love how honest she is in these chapters while still being true to her everyday attitude of humor. If in no other part of this book, she comes across as so truly un-celebrity, especially in light of a certain celebrity's recent comments on how easy it is to be anything other than a movie star. Judy makes it clear how much she loves what she does and how much she doesn't take it for granted, and it makes her all the more down-to-earth and lovely.

The chapter where she attends the Oscars is hilarious. Like, snorting funny. I don't want to tell you too much because there is a little spin at the end that will make it all the funnier, but it is worth the read. I agree, Judy--Spanx are a miserable yet necessary evil. Besties forever?

Kindle version on left, hard copy on right.

Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, & the Prison of Belief

We all know how much I am obsessed with Mormons; well, it's much to your surprise, I'm sure (or not at all), I am equally obsessed with Scientologists. So I picked up Lawrence Wright's Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, & the Prison of Belief . Oh, holy hell.

From early writings of L. Ron Hubbard to the celebrity spokespeople, Scientology has been a presence in American religion. In this expose, Wright traces the evolution of the religion from its inception up through its present day iteration as run by Hubbard’s protégé; this missive explores not just the origin of belief, but the absolute dependence on stars to highlight its PR campaigns in order build membership.

I will keep my opinions on the actual religion quiet (and it has been deemed an actual religion based on the definition of “religion” regardless of my opinion on the matter), as I find the level at which the upper echelon operates to be mindful of  (and vindictive toward) all vocal detractors. Instead, I will focus on Wright’s work, which is absolutely outstanding and worth your time to read.

Wright is a journalist of the highest degree. His research is clearly thorough and transparent, and he often seeks to find both sides of a story to present within each major subject heading. He tells a story that has a through-line with life and vigor, so much so that if this were a fictitious narrative tale of one man’s egotistical desire to create a flock of followers by calling himself the messiah, I would buy it hook, like, and sinker. Wright is a superb non-fiction storyteller and I can’t wait to pick up his other work. He has told an unsettling and goose bump-inducing tale that just happens to be based in reality. [Insert a shiver here.]

Another thing I found interesting about the history of this religion is how closely Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master lined up with what Wright has written as the early beginnings of the religion. I found myself getting super creeped out by the story the more I read, so much so in fact I told my mother on the phone that I had an irrational fear that someone would come to my house without my permission to force me to stop reading more. This book is a superb piece of work and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the subject, or great journalism, or Lawrence Wright.

Kindle copy on left, hard copy on right.

 

Life: A Memoir

I have been wanting to read this for quite a while, so I took the plunge recently and settled in with my favorite Rolling Stone. This Celebrity Memoir Friday is Life by Keith Richards.

What is there to say? This is the Keith Richards story as told by Keith Richards. It's funny and honest, clear and musical. Richards spends part of the time talking about his history and the other part about his craft, both parts of which are positively lovely and fascinating. I loved hearing about how my favorite songs came about; I love that "Wild Horses" was inspired by country music and that the history behind it is so nuanced yet complicated.

I loved hearing about Richards' love life and his adoration toward his children. This book made Richards into more than a caricature that is easily made from his persona, be it the drug-addled hilarity of Gimme Shelter or the inspired Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean that was taken from Richards showing Johnny Depp how he never turned his back to a corner while high. This book made Richards human.

Richards is my favorite Stone and I loved this book. It was delightful, and of course I would recommend it if you love the man. Just be prepared to spend a few extra dollars on the Stones albums you don't already own when you finish--you will want them.

For you. Kindle version on left; hard copy on right.

Ali in Wonderland: And Other Tall Tales

Ali in Wonderland: And Other Tall Tales by Ali Wentworth has been on my list for quite some time. I finally spotted it on the library shelf and snapped it up in a hot second.

Ali Wentworth is the daughter of a former White House social secretary and Washingtonian-insider-like cadre. She stepped out of the box and pursued comedy (and thank goodness she did--she's funny!), starring in In Living Color among others. She married a famed political journalist, but before she did this she lived a wild and crazy life on both coasts that involved boarding school shenanigans, a mugging in LA, and several engagements. She shares them with us for our very own rollicking good time.

I had a blast with this book. It's on the short side and it makes for a great beach read. Ali (yes, we are on a first-name basis in this post) is an absolute riot. She writes for my sense of humor--irreverent, in off-topic binges, and with no regard for bad language restraint. I appreciate that in a humorist.

Her essays are about everything--her thirty (ok, or maybe three) engagements (including the one with the Frenchman that was destined to go wrong when he came to visit her family), the time she called 911 when she was under the impression that a death threat came via a hang-up phone call, and the time she stole an entire bag of cocaine from the Mexican drug cartel by accident. It's like Ali and I are soulmates.

I had such fun with this book on a rainy afternoon. I laughed out loud, enjoyed a cup of tea, and reminded myself to take life with a grain of salt, just like Ali.

This book is yours for the taking. Kindle version on left, hard copy on right:

Clive: A Memoir

The title references to inestimable Clive Davis. Don Silver's Clive grabbed me with its description of Silver's time spend with Clive in the music business. I was hooked!

Don Silver knew he wanted to be in the music since he was a small child. He clawed his way into Arista records to work under Clive Davis, only to discover that all that glitters is not gold. This is his story and his relationship with the big man who holds all the musical power.

This book was short and sweet. Silver tells his story as it is, from the soul-crushing search for a job in a field in which you are dying to work to the stomping of that dream when you finally get where you think you want to be. It's true, I think, for most passion-driven fields: You think it's where you want to be until you get there and all that you love becomes demystified.

I really appreciate Silver's memoir, as it came at a time in my life when I was struggling with these very same things. To stay or not to stay in a job you always thought you wanted but never knew was not for you? Silver finds his way post-Clive but never really gets over the larger than life character. And who would? Not I, said the sheep.

A Stolen Life

A friend bought a copy of Jaycee Dugard's memoir, A Stolen Life, and passed it on to me for weekend reading.

In 1991, Jaycee Dugard was kidnapped off the street on her way to the bus stop one spring morning. For 18 years she was held by a man and his wife as what is equivalent to their concubine. She never felt she had a chance to escape. At age 14, she became a mother to her first child and three years later she had her second child. She was never allowed to say or write her real name--until the day she could reveal herself.

I agree with my dear friend's assessment of the book. While it's not the most fluid prose or eloquent writing, it is truly Jaycee's book. She breaks up her chapters by inserting her present day thoughts into what was happening then; the rest of the chapter is written from Jaycee's perspective as a child. It's fascinating, petrifying, and like a train wreck that you can't stop watching. It's almost unbelievable what Jaycee went through and for 18 years. I absolutely do believe it, though, because truth is (almost) always stranger than fiction (I am thinking along the lines of Stephen King here, one of my ab fabs).

If you love true crime as much as I do, or if you are fascinated by the macabre, or if you just want to figure out why Jaycee didn't try to escape, you should pick this one up. I understand why she couldn't try to escape or why she didn't speak up when she was out in public, but you should try to understand for yourself. It's a crazy ride, and I closed the book thankful that Jaycee could enter back into life with her two girls.

 

The Rest of the Story

It's no secret that I work in theatre, so when I found out Arthur Laurents was coming out with a sequel to his first memoir, Original Story By, I picked up this one.  The Rest of the Story fills in some gaps and tells some new tales.

Arthur Laurents penned many movies (including The Way We Were), plays, and musicals in collaboration with some famous names (Gypsy, anyone?).  In this tale, Laurents picks up where he left off in 2000.  His partner of 52 years died in 2006 leaving him bereft, and he directed the revivals of his two most famous works, Gypsy and West Side Story, since then.  He completed this memoir just weeks before he passed on.

Most of this work is devoted to Laurents waxing nostalgic on his relationship with Tom.  They met when they were both young, beautiful, and carefree, and they spent five glorious decades together.  Even when discussing his political past (he was "informed" on during the HUAC McCarthy hearings) and his work, it all revolves around and relates back to his relationship with Tom.  I understand that he was grieving for his lost love until his dying day. 

If you are a fan of musical theatre and are looking for good dish, I would suggest you hit up Original Story By first, then come to this work.  If you, however, love love and can't get enough of those relatoinships that last a lifetime through good times and bad, come to this memoir first.  Laurents is honest and heartfelt; he lays his love on the table for all to see.  It's heatbreaking and slightly voyeuristic, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Thoughts from God's Favorite Child

Happy Celebrity Memoir Friday!  Today's celebrity is actually one in my world--my sweet friend Kristina Smith published a book of essays titled Thoughts from God's Favorite Child.  I could not be more proud of her and her work!  I feel honored that she sent me her book and I am soooooooo happy to be writing this post on her work.

Kristina refers to herself as "God's Favorite Child", not out of any arrogance or malice but because she has found herself in so many situations where she has heard the call, been spoken to from above, or otherwise been saved from an early demise by a higher calling.  A fourth generation Seventh Day Adventist, Kristina's faith is exploratory and real, and she wears no masks in her essays.  She is tested and she humbly abides.  She discusses everything from faith to family to work to an unabashed love of electronics; she pushes herself and others by questioning, both earnestly and rhetorically.  She is open and honest.

I could not be more proud of this lady for pulling together her writing and publishing this authentic account of her life.  I had the pleasure of spending a few hours with Kristina over breakfast when she came to New York City a couple of months ago and it was one of the most uplifting conversations I have had with a friend in recent time. 

Reading this book was like hearing Kristina in conversation.  This book is so true to her voice that it made me smile reading it.  I admire her steadfast faith and her realistic views on religion.  And come on--look at that baby picture!!!  This book is as genuine as she is, and I am so thankful to have this book on my shelf.  If you want to be friends with Kristina, you too can get her book here or here for the hard copy or here for the Kindle version.

My First Five Husbands...And the Ones Who Got Away

Happy Celebrity Memoir Friday!  Today we have Rue McClanahan's My First Five Husbands...And the Ones Who Got Away. 

Eddi-Rue McClanahan, known as Rue, most famous for playing Blanche on The Golden Girls, is a veteran stage and film actress who has lived quite a life.  This memoir chronicles her life through her childhood in Oklahoma and on through her first five husbands (she is now on her sixth) and her many other engagements and entanglements.  Rue consistently reminds her readers to say, "Let me think about it."  If she had said that, she might have had a few less adventures--and marriages.

This was a truly fun read.  It wasn't heavy or deep, but it certainly was fun.  Rue has lived quite a life and it was a hoot to sit down with her tales of hilarity and misadventure to lighten up my week.  She has no qualms with making her love of men quite clear, and she is a riot on this topic.  She has said yes to more engagements than I have dresses in my closet!  She owns her mistakes and lays it all out on the table for her readers, warts and all. 

I appreciate this and I enjoy her writing style.  It's relaxed and it's fun, and it sounds an awful lot like we are sitting next to each other at a dinner party or in her living room late at night sharing secrets over a glass of wine.  This is what I love about Celebrity Memoir Friday--juicy gossip and a tall glass of wine.  Sit back and enjoy this weekend.

Spark: How Creativity Works

Spark: How Creativity Works by Julie Burstein is a collection of essays put together from radio interviews from the public radio program Studio 360.  It follows such luminaries as Chuck Close, Tony Kushner, Richard Serra, Yo Yo Ma, Alison Krauss, and many others as their stories are grouped into sections that explore such themes as devastation and loss, relationship with family, collaboration, and inspiration.  The common thread through all of these essays is the subtitle of this book--how creativity works in different facets of our lives.

This book was readable in a sitting or two but contained so much power in it's pages.  Reading all these interviews with such incredible artists like those listed above and so many others was inspiring and interesting and eye-opening.  This book ran the gamut from entertaining to moving; reading to a composer's account of taking his mother back to his childhood home in New Orleans for the fist time after the storm was heart-breaking.  On the flip side, Patti Lupone's story about her mother was funny and endearing.  Delving into the musical partnership between Alison Krauss and Robert Plant was educational as well as fun to read.  All of these stories have merit.

If you are interested in this kind of subject--how does creativity work and what kind of information do artists have to pass on to me--this is a great book to pick up.  Hopefully you will find inspiration in these stories as much as I have!

You're Not Doing It Right

I love wishing you guys a happy Celebrity Memoir Friday here on the Sassy Peach!  Today's book is Michael Ian Black's You're Not Doing It Right: Tales of Marriage, Sex, Death, and Other Humiliations.

Black's memoir tells the tale of his meeting, wooing, and marrying his wife Martha.  Interspersed between these love-(and-sometimes-lack-of-it)-story chapters are little ditties that tell us about Black's past as it defines him in the present--stories about his family, about his escapades as a child and in college, about sometimes poor life choices that have been made. We learn about marriage (good and bad), parenthood, and getting old.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, because I dig Michael Ian Black but also because I love other people's stories.  I appreciated his intense love of his girlfriend, now wife, and his desire to make her happy early on in their relationship.  I also deeply appreciated how honest he is about things falling apart as you go on in life, and Black is forthcoming about the decision for him and Martha to attend therapy.  Black is also honest about having kids--he doesn't whitewash the often hellicious first few months with no sleep, no shower, and no sanity.  I can't say it's an undertaking I have any desire to do in the next few years (or ever).

If you are heading to the beach in the next few weeks and you need a good celebrity memoir, check it out.  You will be entertained, that's for doggoned sure.

Let's Pretend This Never Happened

Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson, The Bloggess.  I will put in a disclaimer early on here that Jenny is hero of mine and my group of besties--we read her blog religiously, email about it, and pray that she will come hang out and drink large amounts of wine with us.

 Jenny has lived an interesting life--her father had a love of throwing cougars in the laps of guests and taxidermy for fun.  Her exasperated mother was just used to it.  Her sister was super popular and encouraged Jenny to at least attempt to fit in which only led to her having an arm up a cow's vajayjay.  She falls in love with a man who truly gets her (most of the time), and she has a daughter that is kind of awesome too.

The truth is you can't not love Jenny after reading her blog or her book.  She is honest, authentic, and a true friend for all of us who read her words.  I own very few books in my home compared to other bibliophiles (partially because my studio is approximately 300 square feet regardless of my crazy-ass landlord's insistence that it's 400--I measured), but as soon as this one came out I purchased it.  Like, not at a discount.  For the full price at a bookstore.  [Pause.]  You can pick your jaw up from off the ground now.

What I am saying with all of this is that the book was highly enjoyable.  I appreciate Jenny's note in the front that forewarns you that she will offend you--and I love her for that.  Nothing actually offended me, but I really only get offended by jerks in bars who condescendingly refer to me as "Babe."  So perhaps my offend-o-meter is off.  There are moments where Jenny isn't funny because she actually went through some rough stuff--carrying her child to term was one of the greatest moments in her book.  We laughed, we cried--it was glorious.  The story of how Beyonce the large metal chicken came into being is one that will never get old.  Never ever ever.  If you don't know this story, then stop reading this blog post, go get the book, and come back here later.

So yes, happy Celebrity Memoir Friday, this is a book recommendation.  Happy reading!

Most Talkative: Stories from the Front Lines of Pop Culture

It's Celebrity Memoir Friday!!!  I love CMF.  Today's selection is Andy Cohen's Most Talkative: Stories from the Front Lines of Pop Culture.  Oh, you know how much I love my Housewives.  And I love Andy too.

This book is exactly what you think it is.  Andy explores his life from childhood onward--his acknowledgement and acceptance of his sexual orientation, his addiction to talking, and his mad love of Susan Lucci.  He tells all (well, all he can) about the Real Housewives franchise as well as his time at CBS This Morning and at TRIO, the cable network shut down too soon.

Out of all of the celebrity memoirs I have read in recent years, this one is probably one of my favorites.  One of my most hated memoir-trappings is when a celebrity goes super in-depth into their childhood--look, it's not that I don't care, I'm sure it was meaningful/horrible/noteworthy and all but I am reading your memoir for the juicy bits.  Andy (we are totes on a first name basis) only tells you what you need to know about his childhood, then he gets to the goods.  Thank you, Andy!  (You like how I just gave him a shout out as if he will actually read this???)

I will not lie--I skipped to the Housewives parts first.  However, there was much more to Andy's story.  His time at CBS is fascinating and eye-opening, and I loved hearing about his perspective.  Producing is not easy work, but Andy gets down to business and never feels sorry for himself.  His coming out story is also quite touching.

Seriously, though, folks, this is worth a read if you love pop culture, or Andy Cohen, or celebrity memoirs, or just reading in general.  Now that I have finished the book I will spend the evening catching up on this season's new Real Housewives of New York cast.  Was there any doubt that I wouldn't?