Mommywood by Tori Spelling

Mommywood by Tori Spelling

(Author)

If you thought Tinseltown was tough . . .Tori Spelling might have grown up with everything a girl could wish for, but these days she’s just another suburban working mom . . . whose toddler regularly recognizes her in the pages of US Weekly. Welcome to Mommywood, where the stars are two feet tall and your neighbors know who you are before you move in. Like most parents, Tori wants her children to have the one thing she didn’t have as a kid—a normal family. On their hit Oxygen reality show, Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood, the starlet and her husband Dean McDermott regularly wrestle dirty diapers, host the neighborhood block party, and tackle temper tantrums on the red carpet. But when the cameras aren’t rolling, Tori’s still having awkward run-ins with a former 90210 costar at a laser tag birthday party, scooping rogue poo out of the kiddie pool on a resort vacation, and racing to win back her pre-baby body before the media starts calling her fat. For all her suburban fantasies, Tori Spelling is no June Cleaver. With the same down-to-earth wit that made her entertaining memoir sTORI telling a #1 New York Times bestseller, Tori tells the hilarious and humbling stories of life as a mom in the limelight, from learning to be the kind of parent her own mother never was to revealing what it’s like to raise a family while everyone is watching. Mommywood is an irresistible snapshot of celebrity parenthood that you won’t get from the paparazzi. (Synopsis from B&N.com)

Yes, I seriously read this book. Yes, I actually liked it! And, no, I don't really make it habit to read celebrity tell-alls. Let alone Tori's first book, sTORI Telling. I know near to nothing about the Tori Spelling nor have I really watched any of her movies. So, why then would I be compelled to read Mommywood. I honestly have no idea. I find Tori and Dean's story to be the anti-Angelina and Brad in that I had no idea that Tori and Dean fell in love while he was still married. It is also something that is talked about in this book, and while I don't love that Dean was married before I can see the love he has for Tori and their children in this book. Tori and Dean talk about thier marriage with honestly and openness that you just don't normally see in mostly Hollywood relationships.

Also, confession time, I had actually watched a couple episodes of Tori and Dean's reality show when Tori was pregnant with Liam...now that Liam is 3 years old, um, I've missed quite a few episodes. However I enjoyed what few episodes I have seen, and I suppose because of that I wanted to read Mommywood. Again, I enjoyed this book for what it was. Tori made fun of herself in that she is a pampered Hollywood child. She isn't used to doing things on her own, and, being an only child, doesn't know what it's like to care for another human being. Her husband, Dean, however has not only had a child with his previous wife, but grew up in entirely different non-Hollywood culture. Tori talks about her insecurities in not only raising her son, but raising her daughter, Stella, and not making the same mistakes that her mother did with her.

I loved Tori's voice in this book. Her ability to make fun of herself and take you almost seemingly into her life made this book relateable. Yes, it was relateable because I think, despite your cultural background, you would be equally scared changing your baby's diaper or raising a daughter without your personal hang-ups. We are all the same deep down, and this book makes Tori so much more human to those who just see her as a Star.

Read this book. Especially if you are going to have a baby. I really think that this book can make you laugh and nod your head in understanding.

The Gardener by S.A. Bodeen

The Gardener by S. A. Bodeen

Source: Uncorrected Proof from Around the World Tours

Will be published 05/25/10.

(Author Website) (Book Page)

Summary:

Mason has never known his father, but longs to. All he has of him is a DVD of a man whose face is never seen, reading a children’s book. One day, on a whim, he plays the DVD for a group of comatose teens at the nursing home where his mother works. One of them, a beautiful girl, responds. Mason learns she is part of a horrible experiment intended to render teenagers into autotrophs—genetically engineered, self-sustaining life-forms who don’t need food or water to survive. And before he knows it, Mason is on the run with the girl, and wanted, dead or alive, by the mysterious mastermind of this gruesome plan, who is simply called the Gardener. Will Mason be forced to destroy the thing he’s longed for most?(Summary from publisher site.)

The Gardener is the second published book by S. A. Bodeen. I haven't read her first book, The Compound, before reading this uncorrected ARC. The Gardener is not an unknown plot to people of my generation. We grew up in the midst of 1980's and early 90's cartoons like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (the original) and Captain Planet. Stories that were meant to make people aware of the effects of pollution and the effect humans have on the planet. The Gardner deals with famine and overpopulation rather then pollution, but the end result is very much the same. The loss of the ability our planet will has to sustain the growing human population.

The premise of this story is very Science Fiction as it deals with using humans as guinea pigs in an interestingly unique plot to solve the problem of famine. Mason has never known his father, and knows that his best ticket to getting a college education is using his brains. When he goes to visit his mother, who works in a nursing home, to confront her Mason meets across a beautiful teenage girl who suddenly wakes from her coma. From the moment Mason meets her he feels an undeniable pull to protect her. This protectiveness leads Mason on a road to learn more about her, why she never drinks or eats, and eventually about his own past.

I felt that this novel was really interesting even for someone, like me, who doesn't read a lot of Science Fiction. It would definitely be a good choice for readers that enjoyed Candor. I also think that, on the note that the novel ended, there could be a lot that can be done in a sequel. I was left with questions, and wonder if Bodeen plans on follow this novel with another. I will say that I agree with other reviews in that there were lags in the novel, but as The Boy says all novels lag once in a while. The lag times in this novel didn't stop my interest in the story.

One thing I will say about the book was seeing a boy be that protective over a girl he just met. I know I complain night and day about how the Twilight series ended up going, and how Bella talks incessantly about Edward's looks and god-like abilities. The difference between that and Mason being protective over a girl he just met and has only known maybe 48 hours is this; he doesn't wax poetic about her looks every other sentence. He knows she's beautiful, and he says it, but he also knows how her looks and ways of making him melt aren't all that's going on in the world. It was very sweet to see a male character have a true affection for a girl rather then obsess about her looks. He knows next to nothing about her, but he wants to. It's that drive that makes him take every step he can to help her. Not in a love sick way, but in a very sweet and noble way. You know from other events in the book it isn't because she's a girl. It's simply Mason's personality.

Definite read for Science Fiction fans.

Other Reviews for The Gardener:

Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books
Book Crazy
So Many Books, So Little Time
Bites

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver (Book One) By Lois Lowry

(Author Site) (Giver Trilogy)

Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community.

When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to recieve special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now it's time for Jonas to recieve the truth. There is no turning back.

Summary from back of a 2002 print book.

The Giver is book one of a trilogy called the Giver Trilogy. The world that Jonas lives in is a completely assimilated one. No one questions the life they are given. After 12 yearly milestones the passage of time no longer matters. You are given a job, are trained for that job, and you continue to on in life until you are considered an Old. In Jonas' world everyone has a place, and if you do not fit into one of those places you are sent away. To be sent away is to go into the unknown.

Jonas is called to become the next Receiver, a job that he has never heard of, and will be the only Receiver once his training is complete. He is told it is one of the hardest, most painful, and solitary jobs for one person to have. But, it is also one of the most important. When Jonas begins to train to be the new Receiver he begins to learn things that he never knew before. Like colors, snow, and sunburns. He also learns about making mistakes.

"Frightening isn't it?" The Giver said.

Jonas chuckled. "Very frightening. I can't even imagine it. We really have to protect people from wrong choices."

"It's safer."

"Yes," Jonas agreed. "Much safer."

But when the conversation turned to other things, Jonas was left, still, with a feeling of frustration that he didn't understand. (pg. 98-99)

The more that Jonas learns from the Giver the quicker he realizes that the world has so much more to offer then what he has been shown in his short life. The more he learn the more he begins to want others to see what he sees. While he's been told his whole life that Sameness is best the memories that the Giver is passing onto him causes conflict within himself.

I really have to say that I can see why The Giver is such a classic. The exaggerated conformity of the world that The Giver is set in doesn't really seem too far off. If no one speaks up for change in the world we could very well find ourselves blindly following others.

"It seems to work pretty well that way, doesn't it? The way we do it in our community?" Jonas asked. "I just didn't realize there was any other way, until I received that memory." (pg. 125)

As simplistic as Jonas' life is the more he learns about other ways to live and of other memories the more he wants to experience what is beyond his community. Jonas comes to understand that happiness can come from variety, experience, and knowledge rather then Sameness. The Giver is beautifully written book. The message that Lowry gives to young readers is loud and clear. I look forward to reading the next two books of the series.

Rin-Ne by Rumiko Takahashi

Rin-Ne by Rumiko Takahashi

(Viz Website)

Ever since a strange encounter when she was a child, Sakura Mamiya has had the power to see ghosts. Now in high school, she just wishes the ghosts would leave her alone! When her mysterious classmate Rinne Rokudo shows up, Sakura finds herself following him into the amazing world between life and death! (Synopsis from publisher site.)

Rumiko Takahashi is one of the most unique voices of manga. Her stories are always infused with humor, love, fantasy, and wacky antics. Her most popular series, and possibly most well known, is Ranma 1/2 where a teenage boy and his father are cursed to change into different bodies when splashed with cold water. Her second most popular would be Inu-Yasha, the story of a school girl who falls down an old well and into feudal Japan meeting upon the half-demon half human Inu-Yasha.

Rumiko comes back with her most recent series titled Rin-Ne about a teenage girl named Sakura whose path crosses with the spirit world. The first two volumes of Rin-Ne are currently published in a traditional paper format. What is really unique is that the series is also being published online by the U.S. publisher VIZ in synchronization with it's Japanese publisher for free online. (Start with Chapter One.)

I picked up Rin-Ne at the book store as soon as I heard about it, which was, of course, late. While I used to be pretty into Japanese graphic novels when I was teenager I've culled my recent readings into just a few authors and series'. Rumiko Takahashi is one of those authors I'll automatically pick up. Her previous works like Inu-Yasha, Maison Ikkuko, and Rumic Theater were and still are pretty high ranking comics for me. Although Rin-Ne is a new and available online I haven't read all 48 current chapters. However, Rin-Ne seems to carry over all the same elements of a Rumiko Takahashi story. A fairly normal girl is thrown into an unrealistic situation she can't quite seem to avoid.

The difference between Sakura and the other girls in Rumiko's stories is that I haven't once seen one of Sakura's family members. Every time Sakura is at home she's in her room. She doesn't talk about brothers or sisters or parents which is usual for Rumiko's stories. Normally there is a full cast of family members that makes the series feel fuller and the world Rumiko is creating rounder. Perhaps it's just too early in the series, but from what I've read on other sites the cast for Rin-Ne is small. When you're used to a creator making such large and diverse worlds I have to wonder why the small cast and what this might mean for the stories.

So far though Rin-Ne is still a funny, wacky, romantic story. It holds all the same qualities that past series by Rumiko has created, and is still a very enjoyable read. If you are a fantasy fan I'd really recommend looking into this series. Especially since the fantasy and culture are so different from my own I really enjoy learning about and seeing Rumiko Takahashi's interpretations of Japanese legends and other-worldly creatures. Rin-Ne also touches on the belief of reincarnation after death, and that we all have many past lives, both as humans and other living creatures. All of it is so interesting to read and makes this story, for me, all the more fun to follow.

The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott

The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott

(Author Page)

Sarah has had a crush on Ryan for years. He's easy to talk to, supersmart, and totally gets her. Lately it even seems like he's paying extra attention to her. Everything would be perfect except for two things: Ryan is Brianna's boyfriend, and Brianna is Sarah's best friend.
Sarah forces herself to avoid Ryan and tries to convince herself not to like him. She feels so guilty for wanting him, and the last thing she wants is to hurt her best friend. But when she's thrown together with Ryan one night, something happens. It's wonderful...and awful.
Sarah is torn apart by guilt, but what she feels is nothing short of addiction, and she can't stop herself from wanting more...(Summary from author page)

This is the first romantic fiction I've read by Elizabeth Scott and my second book overall. The first book being Living Dead Girl which I couldn't put down. Unfortunately I read Living Dead Girl before I started this blog so I didn't write a review entry for it. Still it is one of my top recommended books for teens. It was haunting and sad but one of those books that seemed like it had to be written. Go check it out right now on Scott's site if you've never heard of it.

The Unwritten Rule deals with the lines drawn between girls, guys, and their friendships. I think every girl can pretty much understand Sarah's position when she says she loves her best friend's boyfriend. I think they can understand it even more when she holds herself back and does her best to be there for her best friend even at the cost of her own happiness. Where Sarah is loving and kind outwards she is self-loathing and guilt ridden inside. She knows she shouldn't love her best friends boyfriend. She know she should just forget about him.

But then they kiss. And she can't stop remembering that kiss.

"So are you ready to pay attention to me now?" she says, and kisses him. I stare at my history book and then open it. I'm not on the right page, but it doesn't matter. I'm not looking at it. I'm trying not to think about Brianna and Ryan kissing.

I'm trying not to wonder what he was going to say before she came in.

I'm trying not to think about how I know what his mouth feels like.

Tastes like. (pg. 74)

Sarah is a character I can readily understand. I know what if feels like to think of yourself as plain and unattractive, but while this may be what Sarah thinks of herself it doesn't necessarily make it true. She may be very attractive and Sarah and her best friend can't see it. Brianna is so used to all of the attention she gets and boys fawning over her. It may be hard for her to get that Sarah is attractive as well. I think for most readers Sarah will be easy sell.

Brianna, on the other hand, is really a unique element in this story. You are shown right away that even with all of Brianna's easy beauty and ability to find a date she doesn't have an easy life. She is a child of divorce, and a particularly nasty one at that. Her mother doesn't hesitate to say highly unhelpful things about her appearance, weight, and eating habits that only makes her feel badly about herself. Adversely Brianna treats Sarah in a very similar manner with the assumption that she doesn't see this about herself. And Sarah never tells her about it.

Then there is the relationship between Sarah and Ryan, Brianna's boyfriend and Sarah's love interest. With the unwritten rule of girl friends comes the idea that you betraying a fellow friend for (just) a boy. I think that most people, especially teenagers, only see the betrayal. There is the sense of 'How dare you!' as if, in Sarah's case, she could of helped her feelings. The more you read the book the more you will see that Sarah's supposed betrayal was at the end of a relationship that both Brianna and Ryan saw before that first kiss was ever shared between Ryan and Sarah.

I could completely understand Sarah's need to make it all better. She sees what Brianna is going through everyday and all she wants to do is not be someone in Brianna's life that disappoints her. I thought The Unwritten Rule was a really enjoyable book! I think it dealt with a teenage taboo and friendships really well. Scott didn't seem to try and make Brianna an automatic bad guy or Sarah an automatically horrible friend.

Listen to Elizabeth Scott talk about the book. Then check out other readers reviews of this book.