My Thoughts On "Bitter Is The New Black"

Last July I started a feature called "Ten Books I Thought I'd Never Read".  In trying to broaden my reading horizons I decided to read at least one book from ten genres that I normally do not read...romance, western, military, horror, celebrity memoir, true crime, sports fiction, sci-fi, mystery, and chic-lit.

I had originally thought I'd read  Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella for my chic-lit selection, but then my friend, Lisa, from the blog Parenting, Politics, and Religion, suggested I read Bitter Is the New Black by Jen Lancaster.  It's taken me a while to get around to it, but since this month is Chic-Lit for the Cupcakes War Reading Challenge...I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone.

Source:  Goodreads

Goodread's Summary

Jen Lancaster was living the sweet-life until real life kicked her to the curb.  She had the perfect man, the perfect job--hell, she had the perfect life, and there was no reason to think it wouldn't last.  Or maybe there was, but Jen Lancaster was too busy being manicured, pedicured, highlighted, and generally adored to notice...

I just have to say...this book is HILARIOUS!  Jen Lancaster is honest about herself and others too.  She says what you might be thinking, but would never say...such a guilty pleasure.  I laughed out loud several times.

I do have to warn that there is some strong language, but if you can overlook that this is a really funny book! I'm so glad Lisa recommended it.  I would have never read it otherwise, but now I've found a great new author to enjoy.  I'm sure I'll be reading more of Jen Lancaster.

My Thoughts On The Glass Castle

Source:  Goodreads

From Goodreads...
In the tradition of Mary Karr's, "The Liar's Club" and Rick Bragg's, "All Over But the Shoutin", Walls has written a stunning and life affirming memoir about surviving a willfully impoverished, eccentric, and severely misguided family.

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That summary doesn't do this book justice.  This is an awesome book.  It's disturbing yet fascinating.  I couldn't put it down because it is an absolutely amazing story.  It is a testament to the strength of the human spirit, and how if you work hard, have hope, and never give up, you can accomplish anything.  It illustrates how we all come to a point in our lives when we can choose to be different.  We may be a product of our childhoods, but we don't have to be a prisoner to it.

I think Jeannette Walls and her brother and sisters are an inspiration.  I cannot imagine a child growing up this way, yet I know it happens every day.  The most surprising thing about this book for me was the lack of bitterness on Jeannette Wall's part.  And believe me if anyone has a right to be angry and bitter about her childhood it's Walls, but she's just not.  She seems to be at peace with it, and she even says in the book that she's thankful for her childhood because it made her who she is today.  Amazing!  This is a book worth reading.

Shocked...

I started The Glass Castle last night.  It's a memoir by Jeannette Walls, and I have to say I am shocked by what  I'm reading.  I'm about a quarter of the way through, and this book has been a page turner for me.  I can't imagine a childhood like this.

I was also reading today that Jennifer Lawrence from The Hunger Games movie may be set to star in the upcoming movie version of The Glass Castle.  I think this book will make a very interesting movie.

Now off to do some reading...