It’s official: I’m now a bookworm. And I have the cool-nerdy glasses to prove it.
I am smashing through books so fast lately that I’m doing about 2 books per week. I am pretty impressed with myself.
I have a little bit of a reading routine happening. During my morning coffee enema I read a business or non-fiction book to get my brain pumping for the day. Then late afternoon enema is either non-fiction or fiction, whatever book I’m more into. Before bed I read an hour (sometimes more if I go to bed earlier) of fiction, whatever I want. Currently reading 4-Hour Workweek (for the 4th time) and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
We’ve being going to this awesome RSPCA Op-Shop (do they call them op shops in the US? Maybe thrift store?) and just sitting for an hour going through their shelves of books and leaving with a big box of books. We’ve made some really cool finds, and I now have a huge pile of books ready to get though. It’s really cool, and so cheap too, $1 – $4 per book.
It’s surprising to me that most of this list is fiction, as I haven’t ready fiction books since I was about 14. I’m getting back into it. And it’s opening me up to a whole new world. I feel like I have a few centuries worth of books to catch up on. Expect to see many more of these posts.
Anyway, let’s start with a cookbook for some familiar ground…
1. Rawsome Vegan Baking by Emily Von Euw
I actually don’t buy many physical cookbooks these days because I never end up making recipes from them, I love coming up with recipes of my own.
But I love Emily’s blog This Rawsome Vegan Life, and her whole style of food, meals and desserts (oh man, her Instagram). So I bought her book, and it’s gorgeous and creative and chocolate-y just like I thought her beautiful blog. I can’t make any of the recipes right now doing the Gerson Therapy, but I can’t wait to put this book to good use very soon!
2. Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
I was SO sceptical of this book.
That it was going to be some corn-ball hollywood “look at me I’m so spiritual” eye-roll-fest. I was super wrong.
Theres a reason everyone can’t shut up about this book (or couldn’t 4 years ago, sorry I’m a little slow to the game). It’s amazing. It’s like reading Eckhart Tolle, but you read the struggle that goes into achievisng the higher consciousness that he talks about, and from an easily relatable female perspective. Every word she wrote I was like YES, that’s how I have felt!
A MUST-READ. Non-negotiable.
3. Dangerous Angels: The Weetzie Bat Books by Fancesca Lia Block
This book completely suprised me. I bought it on a recommendation from Gala Darling, not knowing what to expect. It’s 5 books combined into a series.
It took me a little bit to understand the writers style, because it’s so unique. But with each page I loved this book more. Her way of describing the world she creates is just magical and beautiful.
Theres only one word to describe it: magical.
I loved this book SO much by the end. It will definitely become a beloved and regularly re-read book for me.
4. Veronica Mars: The Thousand Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas
I hope you love Veronica Mars, because that mean’s we are instant friends. Kristen Bell is amazing. I try not to get caught up in the celebrity/fame thing, but I really do love Kristen Bell. And Dax Shepard (have you seen Parenthood?). And them as a couple. I’ll try harder I promise.
Blonde, sassy, intelligent, tough and a private investigator. I just need my PI license and we could be twins (The one word I use to describe myself: sassy. Also I’m blonde now so I should new photos taken for the site!). And this book is just like watching a season of the TV show. Awesome. Check it out.
5. Someday, Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham
So after watching 8 seasons of Gilmore Girls, I kind of fell in love with Lauren Graham (and her sassyness – I’m seeing a pattern here) and had to buy her book. GG (that’s what us Gilmore Girls fans abbreviate it to) is also kind of what got me into reading again, books are one of the biggest themes of the show – check out Rory Gilmore’s reading list challenge. Whoa. Someday.
Luckily, girl can write. Lauren that is. It’s kind of a semi-auto-biography of her stuggles becoming an actress. The book follows Franny as she tries to become an actress in New York. It’s just a funny, warm, good read. Recommended.
6. Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple
The point that sold me on buying this book was that Maria was a writer on the show Arrested Development (my #2 favourite show of all-time. Ah, yeah I have a list, and a bit of a TV addiction is seems.). This book definitely has that same complicated, interwoven, different-perspectives-revealing-things storytelling devices that AD uses.
To me this was like a mystery/thriller but in a light-hearted, not-murdery tone (just finished reading Gone Girl, can ya tell?). Bernadette Fox goes missing, and the story slowly puts the pieces together of what happened and where she went. The mixed media format was really clever, using letters, emails, FBI documents, hospital bills etc to tell the story and reveal more elements of the story.
7. The Tapping Solution by Nick Ortner
I love EFT (aka tapping). It’s something I’ve wanted to talk about on this blog for awhile but just never seem to get around to it. I’ve been using tapping for the last year, actually I’ve been seeing a tapping practitioner/psychologist, which has been the best thing I’ve ever done for myself.
After having depression my whole life, dealing with my illness, and just generally what I call “trying to get my happy back” this past year, tapping has really helped me work through every emotional and health problem that I’ve had, especially my anxiety. It’s an amazing, amazing tool and I plan on going much more into it in another post.
Okay so what is tapping? It’s a technique that uses principles of ancient accupressure and modern psychology, tapping on specific meridian endpoints while focusing on negative emotions or physical sensations (like pain). It’s super easy, doesn’t take long and you’ve got nothing to lose by trying it. This book goes over ever thing you need to know and takes you through all the steps, as well as giving real life examples of tapping healing people. You can also check out their site with tons of free videos.
8. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
The book of the moment: Gone Girl. I don’t know why but it actually annoys me when books get this hyped, so much so that it makes me not want to read it.
I don’t know what happened here cause I bought it and read it. And dang, it is really as good as everyone says.
I think this is the first thriller I have ever read – and I loved it! You read the first half and you think you know whats happening and then BAM. So many crazy twists. I couldn’t put it down. And I couldn’t stop imaging the guy as Ben Affleck. Now I gotta go see the movie. Ugh I hate it when popular opinion is right.
9. Choose Yourself by James Altucher
This is like Eckhart Tolle for the super-rich business class with ADD (I know I compare everything to Eckhart Tolle, but it’s the benchmark of spiritual guidance). I got one great thing out of this book: complete failure is not as bad as it seems in your head.
The world has changed. Things aren’t the way they used to be. Life isn’t about going to college then sitting in a cubicle the rest of your life anymore. You gotta create opportunities for youself, do your own thing, whatever makes you happy.
Sitting in a cubicle under florescent lighting all day is not a recipe for happiness. I was reminded that some people actually do still do this yesterday when I went to get my tax return done. There is a choice.
No one else is going to create opportunities for you, you have to do it for yourself.
10. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
A code to live your life by: Be impeccable with your word. Don’t take anything personally. Don’t make assumptions. Always do your best.
Perfection.
A few honourable mentions:
Some other fun reads: Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares, Confessions of a Wild Child, Shopgirl