Seriously … I’m Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres

Seriously … I’m Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres
Published by Hachette Audio

In this collection of short, humerus essays, Ellen shares with the listener her trademark witty commentary on a wide range of topics.

I love Ellen DeGeneres, I really do. She never fails to make me laugh and this audiobook was no different. She narrates herself which makes it all the better because she really performs to her audience. The subjects she chooses to talk about sometimes have a serious note, but she always goes back to making the essays funny. So the book is about 80% humor and 20% actual commentary on life.

There’s not much to say about this one. It’s short, which is great for those little spurts of time you can either read the print or listen to the audio. I think the audio is somewhere around three hours and it goes very fast.

If you are a fan of Ellen, like I am, Seriously … I’m Kidding is a must read. It is everything you’d expect from Ellen and I loved it.

Skinnydipping by Bethenny Frankel

Skinnydipping by Bethenny Frankel
Published by Touchstone, an imprint of Simon and Schuster

Faith Brightstone is determined to make it  as an actress, which is why immediately after college she packs her bags and moves to LA from her hometown of New York City. After spending time working in various jobs, none of which involve acting, and realizing her love interest is actually a married man, Faith lays her dreams of an acting career to rest and heads back to New York. Five years later, Faith’s landed a spot on a new reality TV show – a competition for employment with the legendary businesswoman and “domestic goddess” Sybil Hunter, Faith’s idol. As the crazy months of the show wind down, Faith realizes she may have found love in pursuit of success, and she may be forced to make a choice between her dream career and the love of her life.

It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of Bethenny Frankel. I’ve watched her on TV for years and I think she is hysterical, smart, and an extremely savvy businesswoman. So when I heard that she was planning on writing a novel, I knew for sure I’d read it as soon as I could get my hands on a copy.

Skinnydipping is a work of fiction, but anyone familiar with Bethenny’s own story will recognize much of it within these pages. It felt to me like a way for Bethenny to tell her story without having to write a memoir. And maybe she was able to add some fun details in and exaggerate others for effect. In fact, I watched Bethenny when she was on Martha Stewart’s Apprentice, which is obviously what she modeled the reality TV show in this novel after. This is not to say I didn’t enjoy the book – in fact, I liked it even more because I knew a lot of the stuff in it had to be based on reality – but it is to say that  anyone who believes that this is true fiction is kidding themselves.

I did enjoy the book, though. It wasn’t written incredibly well and parts of it just seemed like a way to tell the reader how messed-up Hollywood is, but overall it held my attention. I liked Faith and (especially since I could only see her as Bethenny) I wanted success for her. I found myself caring about what happened to her and raced through the last third of the book. In the end, I was satisfied with it overall and it was a nice way to pass a lazy Sunday by the pool.

I definitely wouldn’t have picked this book up if it were written by anyone other than Bethenny Frankel. I would recommend this one for Bethenny fans as well as those who enjoy chick-lit. While not my usual fare, I did enjoy Skinnydipping.

Happy Accidents by Jane Lynch

Happy Accidents by Jane Lynch
Published by Voice, an imprint of Hyperion

As a child growing up in a south suburb of Chicago, Jane Lynch dreamed of being an actress. Although her early attempts at breaking into Hollywood were not successful (such as writing letters to every casting director she could think of), through a series of happy accidents, her dreams came true. And now that she is a successful actress, married to the perfect woman for her, and about a million times more confident in herself than she ever has been in her life, Lynch decided to tell the reader the story of how she got to where she is today.

I am a huge fan of Glee, in which Jane Lynch stars as Sue Sylvester, the laughably manipulative and cunning cheerleading coach who is out to get the kids of the Glee Club and especially their teacher, Mr. Schuster. In fact, Sue Sylvester is possibly my favorite character on the show – her scenes always make me crack up but what I love even more is Lynch’s ability to turn Sylvester into an actual human being despite her completely over-the-top personality. It was for this reason that I chose to read this book, and I’m so glad I did. I loved learning more about the incredibly talented actress (and it turns out, interesting person) that is Jane Lynch.

I would probably say that Happy Accidents is best suited for those readers who are already fans of Jane Lynch, and as I am firmly in that category, I absolutely loved this book. I loved getting to know the real Jane Lynch, the person behind the character I’ve come to love so much on a TV show, and she has a life story that is actually quite fascinating. My heart broke for her when she talked about how difficult it was for her to come out to her family (and first, to admit that she is gay to herself) but the fact that she eventually found real love made me want to cheer out loud for her.

I chose to listen to the audiobook of Happy Accidents, and that was an excellent choice because Lynch narrates herself. I love when celebrities narrate their own audiobooks and this was no exception. Lynch was the perfect choice to tell her own story, as I felt like I was listening to her talk to me personally the entire time. It was a delightful experience.

If you at all a fan of Jane Lynch and interested in learning more about her, you must read Happy Accidents. And I would highly encourage you to experience the audio version. Her narration is perfect. Loved this one!

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio
Review copy provided by the publisher

I am not an Apple person. I have an iPod Nano and that’s it. I think their products are great, but I’ve just never been super into them for whatever reason. However, I knew that Steve Jobs had a fascinating life and his ideas and creations have been hugely impactful in the technology industry. So when I was offered this book for review, on audio no less, I happily accepted.

I knew Jobs had a fascinating life, but I honestly knew next to nothing about him before listening to this book. I’m glad I did read it, because I learned a ton about this man, a genius of our time. After reading about how major of a force he has been in the technology industry over the years, I truly believe he will be remembered forever, an Einstein of our time. This entire book was incredibly interesting to me and I cherished the time I spent with it.

Now admittedly, I’m not a tech person so there were a few parts of the book that dragged a bit for me. Learning about how all of Jobs’ products were created and developed was quite interesting, but I could only take so much of tech-speak before I would get a little bit bored. However, the book was written in such a way that just when I felt like I couldn’t handle any more of this, Isaacson would switch to more of Jobs’ personal life and relationship-type stuff, which held my interest better. For this reason, Steve Jobs has something for everyone. Those who are most interested in the Apple/technology part of Jobs’ legacy will be fascinated and interested, as will those who are more concerned with his personal life and family history. Isaacson does a great job balancing both aspects of Jobs’ life.

The audio version of Steve Jobs was great and I would definitely recommend it. Dylan Baker does an excellent job with the narration – he is never dry and he keeps the right inflections in his voice throughout. I tend to enjoy nonfiction in audio better than in print – I guess it’s because I am forced to listen while driving or whatever – and I don’t know that I would have made it all the way through Steve Jobs if I had attempted the print version. So I definitely recommend this fascinating biography, and my advice would be to pick up the audio version.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling
Published by Crown Archetype, an imprint of Random House

Mindy Kaling, best known for her role as Kelly Kapoor on The Office, is more than what meets the eye. She is not only a head writer for the same television show in which she is an actress, but she also has experience writing and starring in an Off-Broadway show. In this hilarious memoir, Mindy gives her take on boys, shopping, fame, comedy, and what it’s really like to work at The Office. 

I’ve seen Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? Compared to Bossypants, Tina Fey’s memoir, and in fact Kaling actually addresses that in the book, but I have to tell you that the books aren’t much alike. Besides both being memoirs of female comedy writers and actresses, they don’t have anything else in common. Kaling has a personality and writing style that is all her own, and the subjects she covers in her book are completely different from what Fey discusses in hers.

However, they are both good in different ways! Kaling has the kind of humor that I highly enjoy – she is hilarious and self-deprecating and not afraid to laugh at her own expense, while still having the confidence that a person must need to be successful in her industry. She is a regular person who grew up with regular immigrant parents and a big brother. She endured bullying to a degree as a kid because she was always, as she calls it, “chubby”. Her confidence in herself and belief in what she truly wanted to do led her to become a comedy writer for The Office, and it was fun for me to read about the journey she took to get there.

I really liked this one. I think you will enjoy it even if you aren’t a fan of The Office, although familiarity with Kaling in that respect certainly helps. If you enjoy funny, sarcastic, self-deprecating humor, Kaling is your girl. Give her memoir a try.

Gunn’s Golden Rules by Tim Gunn

Gunn’s Golden Rules: Life’s Little Lessons for Making It Work by Tim Gunn
Published by Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster

As the mentor on the TV show Project Runway, Tim Gunn has won over the show’s contestants as well as millions of fans with his charming personality and favorite advice, “make it work!” In this memoir, Gunn gives his advice on making it work, not just in fashion, but in work, love, and other aspects of life. He also goes behind the scenes of some of fashion’s biggest icons and dishes about celebrities, as well as his own personal life – details he’s never before been so public about. All the while, he keeps his hysterical voice intact, while the advice he gives is actually quite wise and incredibly useful.

I’ve been a fan of Project Runway since its second season (when my friend who was in fashion design school at the time turned me on to it – now she is an actual fashion designer in New York City – okay, sidenote over). While I’ve always loved Tim Gunn and thought him absolutely adorable and incredibly wise, I had no idea that he had published a few books. When I saw this at the library, it was totally an impulse grab, but it actually turned out to be quite enjoyable. It turns out that Gunn is just as fantastic in print as he is on television!

What I liked best about Gunn’s Golden Rules is the nice balance between funny and serious. Gunn does quite a bit of gossiping about his fellow celebrities, giving the reader insights on Project Runway secrets, and making fun of fashion faux pas, but he also gets honest about his personal life and offers some real tokens of advice that the reader can actually use. I laughed at the funny parts, and paid attention at the serious ones, and I have to say that rarely do I find a celebrity memoir as balanced as this one. I know Gunn intended to have a lighter tone with this book than many other celebrity memoirs have, and it definitely worked. The lighter tone just served to make the important parts stand out even more clearly.

I honestly can’t find anything negative about Gunn’s Golden Rules. It may not be the book for everyone, and you certainly would have to be a fan of Tim Gunn to genuinely “get” everything here, but I personally enjoyed it immensely.

Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe

Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe
Published by Henry Holt and Co., an imprint of Macmillan

Rob Lowe has spent basically his entire life in the Hollywood spotlight. At fifteen, he was a teen idol and by twenty, he was entrenched in the group of famous teens nicknamed the Brat Pack. As an adult, he enjoyed continued success with roles such as Sam Seaborne on The West Wing, thriving in both his career and personal life despite his struggles with addiction and other issues. In this memoir, Lowe goes beyond the obvious facts of his life to share with the reader details he literally would previously only tell his friends.

I am a huge fan of Rob Lowe, always have been, so when I saw him discussing his new memoir on the Oprah show, I knew I had to read it. And when I realized he narrates the audiobook himself, I was certain that the audio was the way to go with this one.

I enjoyed this memoir immensely. I loved getting a peek into Lowe’s past – the dynamics of his family, his experiences growing up in Hollywood, and how he first got into acting as a child. I have to say that there is quite a bit of name-dropping in the book, as Lowe was friends at a young age with some of America’s most famous celebrities, but it’s never off-putting. The way Lowe weaves these famous names into his stories is done perfectly, and really helped me see what a well-liked guy Rob Lowe is. I loved the opportunity to learn about Lowe’s journey toward sobriety, as he struggled quite a bit with his addiction before entering rehab. It was quite inspiring to hear his story since he is one of the very few celebrities who has remained sober over the years. I can only imagine the kinds of temptation those in recovery face while living and working in Hollywood, and Lowe gave the reader a pretty detailed look into this side of the business.

I have to say that if you plan to read Stories I Only Tell My Friends, do yourself a favor and get the audiobook. As Lowe narrates it himself, it’s a great listening experience – it feels like he is telling you this story personally, as though you are two friends just chatting about his past. Plus, since he wrote the book himself, his enunciation and delivery are completely spot-on. He knew exactly how he wanted this story told, so who better to tell it than Rob Lowe himself? It was absolutely perfect.

Stories I Only Tell My Friends is a must-read for any fans of Rob Lowe. Even if you only have a mild interest in this actor’s life, I would still recommend the book as it is highly entertaining and surprisingly insightful. I enjoyed it all around.

Bossypants by Tina Fey

Bossypants by Tina Fey
Published by Hachette Audio, an imprint of Hachette

Even as a little girl, Tina Fey always dreamed of being a comedian. Now that her dreams have come true, the creator of 30 Rock and long time Saturday Night Live writer is ready to tell her story. Fey takes the reader on a journey through her childhood and through her career as she details the ups and downs of being a woman in a man’s world. Along with this is her signature witty commentary on motherhood, Hollywood beauty standards, being Sarah Palin, and more.

I loved watching Tina Fey when she was on SNL and I’ve been a fan of the show 30 Rock since its inception, so I was really looking forward to reading Bossypants when I first heard about it. When I heard from another blogger that Fey narrates the audio herself, I was sold on the audiobook. I popped it in my car during a recent mini road trip, and that was the perfect choice because the book kept me laughing out loud for the entirety of my boring drive. Tina Fey is completely awesome and I loved listening to her read Bossypants.

So much of what Fey said in this book was not only entertaining, but insightful as well. She discussed being a woman in comedy (traditionally a man’s world), being a working mother, and what it was like to impersonate Sarah Palin, as well as many more hilariously funny stories from her life. While I have to admit that I would have been happy with a little more depth to what Fey was discussing, I still enjoyed the balance between honesty and humor. Her stories were funny while at the same time actually meaning something. It was a nice balance.

I definitely would recommend getting Bossypants in audio if you are planning to read it because the transcript from her skit with Amy Poehler on SNL (with Fey playing Palin and Poehler playing Hillary Clinton) is on the audio in its entirety. So funny! I really loved listening to it, even though I watched it on TV at the time, it reminded me of how hilarious these two women were together.

Bossypants is a fabulous book by the amazingly intelligent and hysterical Tina Fey, and I highly recommend it.

Weekend Cooking: Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain

Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain
Published by Random House Audio

Anthony Bourdain is not afraid to tell it like it is, and in Kitchen Confidential he takes the reader behind the scenes into the restaurant industry, showing the gritty, shocking aspects of life in a restaurant kitchen. Using his trademark sarcasm and deadpan hilariousness, Bourdain details his twenty-five years of life in the culinary world.

I find Anthony Bourdain absolutely hysterical and I love his dry, witty sense of humor, so when I saw that this book was available on audio (narrated by Bourdain himself) I couldn’t resist. The book was exactly what I was expecting and I’m glad that I read it, although I do need to caution you because the things he has to say really can be shocking and disgusting. I worked in the restaurant industry for years, and although I didn’t spend a ton of time in the kitchen (I was a server and later a bartender) I can tell you for sure that some of the things he describes I personally saw with my own eyes. So, unfortunately, he’s not lying here.

Besides the restaurant stuff, I enjoyed getting a peek into the way Bourdain’s mind works. There was one chapter where he literally runs through an entire average day, in excruciating detail, down to what he’s thinking about at each particular moment, and while this might be boring or annoying to some, I found it quite fascinating. It’s amazing how much detail, effort, and precision goes into running a restaurant kitchen and Bourdain illuminated that very well for the reader. Also, he’s just a touch crazy – in a good, entertaining way – so that made this section especially fun to listen to.

If you’re looking for a funny, truthful look at what really goes on in restaurant kitchens across America, look no further than Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential. Anthony Bourdain is sarcastic, witty, and scarily truthful as he details his life in the business and the things he’s experienced over his twenty-five years of experience. This audio was very enjoyable for me and I would definitely recommend it.

A Place of Yes by Bethenny Frankel

A Place of Yes: 10 Rules for Getting Everything You Want Out of Life by Bethenny Frankel
Published by Touchstone, an imprint of Simon & Schuster

Bethenny Frankel has been through countless struggles and hardships in both her personal life and her professional life, and from these challenges she has learned many important lessons. In this book, she illustrates the 10 rules she followed which led her to have a fabulous marriage, a beautiful daughter, great friends, and an amazing career, all at once. Along with each rule are funny and sometimes bittersweet stories of the trials and tribulations that she had to go through in order to fully understand and live out the principles outlined in the book. Accompanied by Frankel’s trademark sarcasm and wit, A Place of Yes is laugh-out-loud funny while also being a valuable resource.

I make no bones about the fact that I am a huge fan of Bethenny Frankel. I think she is absolutely hysterical and could probably read from the phone book and make me crack up laughing. As Frankel was filming her TV show, Bethenny Getting Married?, she was writing this book, so I’ve been anticipating reading A Place of Yes ever since watching that show. And I have to tell you, I was not disappointed with this book one bit.

There were two things I loved about this book the most: first, Frankel’s sarcastic style shines through in her writing and I was hanging on to every word, laughing and loving it, and second, I loved getting a glimpse into her past when she talked about her family, exes, business failures, etc. The 10 rules, for me, were really secondary to the act of learning more about this personality who I have come to respect and enjoy. However, the 10 rules actually were helpful, although I hesitate to cause a reader to think of this book as a self-help book. I think it’s more like a book about what has worked for Frankel in finding success and happiness in her life, and she turned it into a succinct 10 rules in order to share her stories with her fans and readers.

As far as the rules themselves, I do agree with many of them and would suggest that A Place of Yes is a helpful tool if you are in pursuit of letting go of whatever is holding you back and grabbing the reins of a happy and successful life. I personally am pretty happy with both my personal and professional life right now, but I did find some good tips on how to even enhance what I’m currently doing. For example, the rule “Everything’s Your Business” encourages readers to treat every interaction, conversation, and introduction as if it could help one’s goals at some point during the future. Don’t make a poor first impression because you don’t think the person you are meeting will be important to you – you never know! So always act professional, always put your best self out there as if you were running your own business and every single conversation can help you be more successful. Obviously Frankel explains it way better than I just did, but you get the point. I like this rule because I do tend to brush off conversations and interactions I have no interest in, and it made me think that maybe I should be more careful in these situations, I should treat every person like they could mean something to me down the road. This rule in particular really made me think.

Anyway, I loved A Place of Yes and would definitely recommend it. Especially if you are already a fan of Bethenny Frankel. And if you’re not, this book just might cause you to become one!