I Read: Troublemaker

Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini

I've been meaning to read this for a while, but it just never made it to the top of the pile. So when I started re-watching King of Queens I figured it was the right time. 

I'd watched the A&E series about Scientology with Leah Remini and Mike Rinder and found myself more and more intrigued by the hold this "church" has on its "parishioners."  Having read the book, and watched the series, I'm not going to say anything other than it is amazing. And not in a good way. 

I Read: The Paris Library

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

I don't really know what made me pick this up - I'm not generally particularly interested in historical, or war-based books. I'm also not usually into the current popular thing. This book is both. 

Having read it, I can now understand why it's a currently popular title. The book is good. I like the way it's written, to ground us into the not-quite modern-day Montana while also making us feel what it was like during the second world war in Paris - two time periods that don't seem to jibe at first glance, but Charles makes it work and work well. 

The parallels of the two time periods and the cross-over between them make this dramatic and poignant. There are lessons learned between both lead characters and they can only be taught through their interaction. There are touching and traumatic moments for both and while they may be on completely different levels, they match in the ways that count. 

I'm so glad I read this. 

#74-2021

I Read: A Beautifully Foolish Endeavour

A Beautifully Foolish Endeavour by Hank Green

(sequel to An Absolutely Remarkable Thing)

What a beautifully foolish way to continue this story. I read the first one late, so I already knew it had a sequel, but this was the perfect completion of the story. I liked the way this was written because it very effectively pointed out how separate the characters became.

Anything else I say would give away parts of the story, and I think it's important in this book that the reader doesn't know what's coming. It just feels important. 

#73-2021

I Read: Hindsight & All the Things I Can't See In Front of Me

Hindsight & All the Things I Can't See In Front of Me by Justin Timberlake

I didn't get the perspective I had hoped by picking up this book. Based on the title, I was expecting some brilliance, achieved through experience. But really, it's just a short form re-telling of information that is fairly easily found through past interviews with Justin. The photography in this is, however, awesome.  So not a total loss. 

I guess I may have just had high expectations based on biographies and memoirs that I've read and seen lately. 

#72-2021

I Read: An Absolutely Remarkable Thing

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

I didn't know what to expect when I picked up this book. So in fact, I had essentially no expectations at all. But I am truly blown away. 

As noted when I talk about John Green's books, I started following Vlogbrothers and enjoyed the engagement between John and Hank and the community they created through nerdfighteria and DFTBA. They've created and contributed to some pretty awesome stuff, so of course, when Hank wrote a book I was going to read it. 

It's such a great book. The thought and planning that's in here are awesome; getting the reader to think about different perspectives and viewpoints. The story is breathtakingly possible, and at the same time unimaginable. The title really nailed it - it's an absolutely remarkable thing. 

#71-2021

I Read: The Best of Archie Comics Book 4 Deluxe Edition

The Best of Archie Comics Book 4 Deluxe Edition

Not much to review here - I pick these Best of collections up randomly because I had a huge collection of Archie comics as a kid.  Mostly Digests and Double Digests.  Somewhere along the way, I decided I didn't want them anymore and they've gone to the wind.  I guess I can take heart in the fact that someone else may have enjoyed them as much as I did.  I do still enjoy the fluffy comic-book stories of the Archie-verse whenever I get a chance to find them. 

#70-2021

I Read: Her Heart for a Compass

Her Heart for a Compass by Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York 

A historical fiction/romance novel written by an actual Duchess? Yes, please. 

I was super excited to read this when I got it because I had read that its inspiration came from Fergie's own family history. For me, that makes it so much more authentic.  And that she's actually a part of the world that she's written about, be it a century or more later, adds something to it as well. 

I Read: The Anthropocene Reviewed

The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green

How do you "review" a book that's about reviewing the world we live in?  Super great question. The book's whole premise is what I'm doing here; it's entirely made up of John Green's perceptions, connections, and impressions of things in our current world.  Sometimes it's quirky, sometimes it's random. Sometimes you can't help but see where it's coming from and agree completely. 

I Read: Open Book

Open Book  by Jessica Simpson

I've never really been a fan of Jessica Simpson - I admit to buying her first couple of albums because there were super catchy songs on them - but I always felt there was something unlikeable about her. She seemed vapid, or vacuous but it wasn't really the case. It was lack of experience and a generally sheltered upbringing that made her seem "dumb." 

It made me think about a lot of people who live a particular persona and that gets repeated in the media, and even within their fans. That means that we're probably underestimating a lot of people. It also expands the point that everyone has a back story, and generally, we don't know what that is. Everyone's life is not as simple as we may perceive it to be. People are not black and white because their life story doesn't allow them to be.