Images from Goodreads

[51] Open Book by Jessica Simpson
Biography & Autobiography / Entertainment & Performing Arts, heard about EVERYWHERE

Synopsis: Singer, actress, fashion designer, and (now!) writer Jessica Simpson shares the behind the scenes of her life in this tell-almost-all memoir – how she was sexually abused as a child, rejected from the Mickey Mouse Club, struggled in her first marriage to Nick Lachey, was in an emotionally abusive relationship with John Mayer, found herself, married Eric Johnson, and faced her alcoholism. Whoa, that’s a lot.

Review: I like memoirs. I like juicy memoirs. I like juicy memoirs that are easy and quick to read. Open Book fit the bill on all of those! The title is apt – Jessica Simpson really is an open book with her storytelling. This story is all about Simpson learning who she is, to love herself, and to find the people that love her for who she is. A lot (but not all) of her hardship is trying to be who someone else wants her to be. I enjoyed reading her journey and this book made me like her more (she’s not someone I was very familiar with before reading). She seems kind and down to earth. The lessons in this book weren’t incredibly insightful/useful to me, but it wasn’t structured solely as if I was supposed to learn something from it – it was structured like a good friend telling her life story.

Recommend? Yes

[52] Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn
Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy, recommended on Sarah’s Bookshelves Live episode 56

Synopsis: Meg Mackworth is a hand lettering artist getting over a bad habit – putting signs in her work about her clients. She never thought anyone would notice the clues she put in Reid Sutherland’s wedding program, but he does and tracks her down a year later to ask how she knew his wedding was doomed. Meg is going though a creative block and invites Reid to join her on walks across Manhattan and Brooklyn to look for lettering signs for inspiration.

Review: I was excited when I started this book because Meg is FUNNY and some of her commentary made me legit laugh out loud! I thought I’d be super in to all the lettering talk, because I find that work interesting, but it felt cheesy – how she talks about seeing and feeling letters and how she connects to Reid because he is that way with numbers. Snooze. I wonder if the actual lettering was represented better in print form? Overall, the story was mostly cute and entertaining, but not something I loved.

Recommend? Nah

[53] Lottery by Patricia Wood
Fiction / Literary, Monday Night Book Club pick

I’m using the language below that’s used in the book to describe Perry. This is not the language I’d choose.

Synopsis: Perry L. Crandall is slow, not retarded (never call him that!) and lives with his grandmother, Gram, who taught him how to remember things (make a list!), to read the dictionary each day, who to trust, to play the lottery, and much more. When Gram dies, none of his family is supportive, although they become much more interested in him after he wins $12 million in the state lottery. Perry learns who his real “family” is.

Review: I really enjoyed this book! Perry narrates, and I loved his explanations of what words mean – either from his dictionary work or from experience. I loved the family he creates with his coworkers but hated, HATED how his real family only wanted to take advantage of him. Those parts of the books made me so angry. But overall, this is an uplifting book I’d recommend!

Recommend? Yes!