BOOKS I LIKE

I wasn’t the coolest kid growing up (ok… I was kind of a nerd). I wore big glasses, baggy clothes and didn’t talk to many people. I was insecure and trying to find my place in the world. I would spend hours hiding in the pages of a BOOK where my mind could run wild and I could be whomever I wanted to be (One day I was the beautiful princess who snagged the prince and the next a brave and strong warrior who would slay the dragon)!

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to love and be happy with who I am. No longer do I feel the need to hide behind characters in BOOKS (I am that beautiful princess and for sure I have qualities of that brave and strong warrior). I still think it’s FABULOUS to get lost in the pages of a BOOK though. I may not read as often as I used to or as much as I could, but I still love to read! Here are a couple of my favorite BOOKS that I think are FABULOUS! Check them out and READ, READ, READ!

BOOKS THAT TOUCHED MY HEART:

I KNOW WHY THE CAGE BIRD SINGS By Maya Angelo
Maya Angelou is FABULOUS! I love her poetry (Phenomenal Woman, That’s me!) and this, her autobiography is touching, moving and will make you shed more than one tear. The BOOK tells her story of a youth filled with disappointment, frustration, tragedy and finally her hard won independence. Maya Angelou's gift for language makes you feel like you are right there with her through every struggle and triumph of her life. If you haven’t read this BOOK, it is definitely worth the read (the movie ain’t bad either)!

BLACK WHITE AND JEWISH By Rebecca Walker
Rebecca Walker is the bi-racial daughter of African American writer Alice Walker and Jewish lawyer Mel Leventhal. BLACK WHITE AND JEWISH is the story of her struggle to find her identity in a race-obsessed society. She openly explains the prejudice she encountered from her friends, teachers and families, both black and Jewish. As a ballet dancer myself, it hit a cord with me when her white ballet teacher told her she would never be good because her black butt was too big. I also related to the story of how her Jewish relatives treated her like an outcast and of the boyfriend who felt she wasn’t black enough. Her stories of struggle and conflict are relatable and touching to people of all races, genders and ethnicities.

I relate to this BOOK on more than one level (3 in fact). Having grown up BLACK WHITE AND JEWISH myself, I think I have dealt with many of the same issues addressed in the BOOK. Growing up in a predominately white area I was the odd one out (the one with frizzy hair, the one that wasn’t a member of the county club). My father’s parents never accept us because we were not Jewish and I wasn’t black enough in the black community. Even today, I get multiple messages commenting on the fact that I am not “black enough” or asking whether I have black friends. I can only respond that I am me (BLACK WHITE AND JEWISH)! I do not choose my friends by the color of their skin. I spend my time with people of all races and religions that have good hearts, people who love me for me and people who look past the color lines drawn out by society.

NOVELS:

EAT PRAY LOVE By Elizabeth Gilbert
I love a good novel that can sweep you away to another time and place. I tend to be drawn to novels about contemporary women that are written in the first person because they are relatable and thus I get immersed in the pages.

After a nasty divorce, Gilbert set out on a journey of soul searching and self-discovery. The story is like chatting with a friend and learning along the way. First, Gilbert explores PLEASURE by savoring all the delights of Italy (pizza, wine and language... OH MY!) “The appreciation of pleasure can be the anchor of one’s humanity,” she says. If you haven’t noticed I took what I learned in this section of the BOOK to heart. I live life to the fullest for sure and try to seek pleasure at every turn!

Next, she dives into PRAYER by studying at a sacred ashram in India. She learns to meditate and struggles to quite her churning mind (not unlike mine, which never seems to stop racing). She learns from the Bhagavad Gita, the ancient Yogic Text, that “It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else’s life with perfection.” I love this quote. It’s so true. Be yourself! Love yourself!

And finally, in Bali Gilbert tries to bring all she has learned together with the guidance of a medicine man. This is also where she finds that she can love again. “Somewhere within us all, there does exist a supreme Self that is eternally at peace.” I am still looking for mine, but this BOOK helped to lead me in the right direction for sure!

SELF HELP:

SUCCULENT WILD WOMEN By SARK
My mom introduced me to Sark’s BOOKS (I also like Inspiration Sandwich and The Creativity Journal), which are colorful, upbeat and fun with good advice and suggestions to arouse creativity and self-discovery. Get your creative juices flowing with these self help BOOKS. SUCCULENT WILD WOMEN inspires you to be "succulent" (taking in all the juices life has to offer) from sexuality, love and romance to fat, fears and recovery. “Succulence is powerful and so are each of you!”

THE SECRET By Michael Berg
Everyone has read, listened to or watched THE SECRET. I am no different. THE SECRET became a phenomenon a couple years ago and though I don’t think it shares anything wild or new, the ideas and truths filling the pages are important to be reminded of. THE SECRET reveals the essence of life in its most concise and powerful form. ASK, BELIEVE AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE! The wisdom in this book can and will help you discover your true purpose and create a life of lasting joy! READ IT!

HOW TO BECOME A FAMOUS WRITER BEFORE YOU’RE DEAD By Ariel Gore
My friend Pearl gave me this book as a present for my birthday. Though I had already signed my first book deal and wasn’t particularly in need of a writers’ guide, what I found in the pages of this book was FABULOUS! Not only is there great advice for me as a writer, this book inspired me to sit back down and get to work.

Gore’s advice for being a writer and getting your name in lights is simple… Be a writer. “If you have a story to tell, tell it, and once you've told it, promote the hell out of it and most importantly, learn real fast that nobody out there will give a damn about what you have got to say until you make them pay attention.” Inspirational, informative and WAY cheaper than an Masters degree in writing!

OTHER:

CONFESSIONS OF AN HEIRESS By Paris Hilton
Alright, you can hate me because I think this book is great. I used quotes from this book in earlier blogs and got shit for it. I’m sooooooorry, but this book is FUNNY! It’s a tongue and cheek look into the life of Paris Hilton. I do think that everyone (even if you don’t want to admit it) wants a little slice of this girl’s life! She knows how to get what she wants and matter-of-factly explains how anyone can be a glamorous, FABULOUS, tiara-wearing heiress just like her (AND ME)! Her advice to "channel your own inner heiress, create your own image, and project an extreme sense of confidence" is an empowering message for every woman. "Always act like you're wearing an invisible crown." I’m sorry people, but that is FABULOUS advice if I ever heard it!!

CHECK, PLEASE! By Janice Dickinson
OK, now I know better than to take love advice from the outrageous Janice Dickinson, but this book is FABULOUS too! There is a reason why this woman is a bestseller! We want to know what the hell is going on in the beautiful, but absolutely crazy head! In this book Janice shares her dating dos and don'ts learned from her wild life of dating, mating, and extricating. It also includes uncensored stories of her romances with some of America's most eligible bachelors.

Some tips I learned that I think are FABULOUS!
Lesson #2: Wanna Get a Guy's Attention? Ignore Him!
Lesson #13: If He's Got His Eye on the Door, He's Already Halfway Through It
Lesson #28: Don't Do Anyone You Might Regret
Lesson #47: Don't Follow Trends—Start Them

In a BOOK anything is possible (you can be a heiress, a warrior and even realize your wildest dreams) and that is FABULOUS! Free your mind, dive into a book and enjoy!