Poor Little Holly Madison: A Disgruntled Bunny Explains Why Her Time at the Playboy Mansion Sucked

Dear Holly Madison,

I was so excited to read your newly-released tell all memoir, Down The Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny, about life at the Playboy Mansion. I used to binge watch episodes of The Girls Next Door while I was pregnant and I couldn't wait to get an even more intimate glimpse into all the hijinks and shenanigans, the glamor and of course the drama that pervaded life at the Mansion.

Well you got the drama right. LOTS of drama. Between all the cattiness with you and the "Mean Girls" to all the backhanded comments you make alongside the name-dropping, I had to double check the cover to make sure I was reading the right book! This book read more like an attempt at explaining why everything bad or unfavorable that ever happened to you at the Mansion wasn't your fault. I mean the whole "I was there for a chance at making something bigger for myself" story got old fast.

A lot of people claim you are a gold digger and I didn't get that vibe after reading this book. However, I did walk away feeling bad for you. Instead of walking away when you could have salvaged relationships and saved face you proceeded to stick it out for seven years and then seemingly burn a lot of bridges when you left and with this book. I feel like this was your revenge to Hef and yourself for not having used Playboy as the stepping stone for what you wanted.

I wanted more juiciness! More celebrity encounters! More tales of how fairytale princess you felt while rocking the iconic bunny costume! I don't know what I was looking for exactly, but I walked away from this book feeling sad for you. Clearly your time affiliated with Playboy wasn't what I imagined it was like. That makes me wonder what else in life isn't all it's cracked up to be? Sigh.

I am glad your story has a happy ending and that you have the family you have always desired. I am sorry that you had to suffer through seven years of unhappiness to get there.

Sincerely,

a bummed out reader

Spinster, In Praise of Women who Crave Their Solitude

Quick! What do you think when you hear the word spinster? Chances are good that you think of a never-married woman living with an apartment full of cats. Whatever image your mind immediately conjures up,  it's likely to have a negative connotation.

Spinster: Making a Life of One's Own by Kate Bolick takes a refreshing look at what it means to be a single woman by choice. It's less of a memoir and more of a history lesson on the kinds of women who have stood up throughout history to defy traditional female roles and stereotypes of Mother/Wife.

Spinster by Kate Bolick. Crown Publishing

Bolick presents the book as her own enlightening of sorts, she introduces us to the five women in history whom she relates most to because of their quest to define themselves first as individuals and then as women. These women are her five awakeners (whom are all writers of some variety and notoriety had either sworn off marriage or done so on their own, nontraditional terms). It's interesting for me, as a woman in her mid-thirties, to ponder what it was like to lack a choice in one's future. My generation grew up as the offspring of divorce, wedlock and normalized feminism and were probably the first group of women who honestly believed that they can tread any path that they choose, whether that means marrying and having children, staying single and focusing on one's career or any combination of both.

This book mingles the feminist historical context of what it is to be a single woman by choice as well as trace the author's own quest for self-discovery through re-examining the lives of her awakeners. She coins the term "spinster's wish" as her private desire "for the pleasures of being alone". And really what woman doesn't desire solitude from time to time? Whether that means a break from the kids/husband or the ability to fully immerse oneself in the things that fill one's life with passion?
Bolick encourages women of all states of coupling to take back the term spinster and make it into something positive.

Blogger note: I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. This review is entirely based on my opinion and contains my honest evaluation.

Ruby Paints a Bleak Yet Redemptive Love Story

Ruby by Cynthia Bond is as unconventional as a love story comes. Though Bond manages to flourish every page with her beautiful writing and the reader can easily loose themselves in it. Imagine the African-American town of Liberty in Texas in the 1950s and all the societal upheavals and discord. It's the story of Ruby and Ephram, two childhood acquaintances who grow up against different backdrops and have different experiences, but come together again despite the town and Epham's sister's disapproval.

It's a multilayered story: first of Ephram branching out from the protective wings of his sister (whom he refers to as Mamma) and becoming a man on his own terms, then Ruby reclaiming her own life and identity after a life of trauma and a dark past. The two characters manage to grow separately and ultimately together under the veil of dark magic, nosy neighbors and a town not yet ready to see them as anything other than who they used to be.

Ruby by Cynthia Bond

Don't be turned off by the Oprah's Book Club sticker on the front of this one. While it does have all the fixings of the quintessential Oprah's Book Club pick, it is also a book you don't want to miss out on.

I should mention that this book is not pleasant in a lot of subject matter. It touches on a dark part of history that has it's roots planted in racism and misogyny. Consider this the warning I didn't get, before picking up this book. However, don't let it deter you from reading the tale of Ruby and Ephram.

Blogger note: I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. This review is entirely based on my opinion and contains my honest evaluation.

Leave Your Mark by Aliza Licht: DKNY PR Girl's Career Advice Book MakesUs All Shine

There is something incredibly empowering about reading a book by someone you admire. If it's good, it has the power to inspire you to chase your dreams. Not only do you walk away from a book like that with confidence, but you also feel as if the book spoke to you and fed you the exact information and encouragement you needed at that time in your life.

That's a lot to ask for in two hundred and fifty (give or take) pages but that's exactly what I got from Aliza Licht's much-anticipated book, Leave Your Mark: Land Your Dream Job. Kill it in Your Career. Rock Social Media. If you are at all familiar with Twitter, Social Media rock stars and/or fashion you most definitely know Ms. Licht better by her Twitter handle DKNY PR Girl. Who better to write a career advice book than the woman who practically made social media a thing for fashion and spearheaded the social media revolution?



This book is divided into four sections: How to get the job of your dreams, How to have a killer career, How to utilize social media effectively and Everything you need to know about personal branding. Each of these sections has tools, helpful advice and some of Aliza's own personal stories that illustrate each point. There is a lot of information and all of it is useful to anyone in any field and in any stage of their career. Though if this book happens to get into the hands of a college-aged reader, it would certainly put them well ahead of the crowd when it comes to interning and ultimately snagging their first out-of-school job. Also worth noting is that this book is the ultimate affirmation for those looking to change careers, as Aliza notably went from Pre Med to PR. She encourages young people to follow their natural paths and gravitate to what they love doing and a career will bloom out of that.

Aliza hits on a lot of important points such as how to cultivate a reputation that precedes you, how to network even when it's uncomfortable, and the importance of being confident (but never cocky). Many good take-aways, so read with a pen handy for note taking.

Licht, Twitter maven extraordinaire, comes across strongly as the ideal mentor, the perfect mix of personable/approachable/savvy/passionate while still maintaining the aura of superiority that comes from being an innovative leader. You can't help but want to grab a cup of coffee with her and pick her brain for a little while. Her knowledge is indispensable and well worth the price of this book.

Blogger note: I received this book from the publisher as a review copy, however I was in no way compensated for my opinion in the above review.

Ongoingness: The End of a Diary is a Must Read for Anyone Who Has Ever Kept a Diary

We keep diaries for many reasons, but at the core is the central theme of wanting to remember and the wish to leave something behind. I'm fascinated with other people's journals of late, and that is what drew me to Ongoingness: The End of a Diary by Sarah Manguso. It's a small, meditative book of blurbs that resonated with me and I would venture to guess anyone else who has ever kept a journal.

Manguso's book is written snapshots, snippets of her memories about diary-keeping over her life. She states that her goal of diary-keeping was to "end each day with a record of everything that had ever happened". It's a concise little gem of a book that constantly hits home the idea that we are not infinite, and that eventually "in a hundred and fifty years no one alive will have ever known me. Being forgotten like that, entering that great anf ongoing blank, seems more like death than death". Which of course is why the idea of diary-keeping seems so appealing. Being able to chronicle our lives so that we leave a written (or electronic) legacy behind long after we are gone. There is some comfort in believing that something we created will outlive us.

But as we grow, despite not wanting to let go of memories, or more precisely not wanting to miss an opportunity to perfectly capture all the fleeting moments that make up a life, we start to live our lives more fully. To be more ever-present. Instead of recording our memories in our diary, we imprint them into ourselves. And though that means we have to let go, at least a little, of our desire to be immortal through our diaries, it also encourages a bit more living and certainly a lot more to reflect upon.

This book was small but packed a big punch. Pick it up if you've ever kept a diary. It will speak to you.

Blogger note: I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. This review is entirely based on my opinion and contains my honest evaluation.

In the Age of Social Media, Do you REALLY Know What You Like?

The concept of liking things has become practically synonymous with social media. Whether you are liking a friend's status on Facebook, retweeting a celebrity's hilarious tweet on Twitter or showing some love for a brand's newly uploaded photo on Instagram, liking is a quick way to support or show approval for someone else. But what about the deep down concept of enjoyment? Do we really have a firm grip on what we as individuals truly like in the age of digital liking bombardment?

Go Ahead and Like it

Go Ahead and Like It by Jacqueline Suskin is a little gem of a book that encourages the reader to delve into what makes them tick. Step away from technology for a little while and just focus on your surroundings. Think about your favorite memories. Recall simple pleasures that leave a 500-watt smile on your face. Tune into your likes. Then start making a list. That's all there is to it!

What I like most about this book is that it's very thought-provoking. It made me realize how infrequently I take a honest look at what moves me and brings me joy. This book would make a great gift for anyone who could benefit from a little quiet reflection. And honestly, that is pretty much all of us these days.

Blogger note: I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. This review is entirely based on my opinion and contains my honest evaluation.

Taking Photos of Your Kids Made Easy: Capture the Moment by SarahWilkerson

I can't say for certain, but I'm pretty confident making the following assumption: Parents want to capture every moment of their child's life. It's just human nature. And what better way to capture all the moments than by photographing them? But most of us aren't experts in how to capture the best shots, we lack the tips that would really give us the most bang for our shutter snap. Solution? Capture the Moment by Sarah Wilkerson (CEO of Clickin Moms).

Capture the Moment by Sarah Wilkerson

I love this book. LOVE it. This book is the perfect companion for any parent/ wanna-be photographer. Why? Because of it's simplicity. We all know that we should embrace all the rules and basics of good photography but sometimes what we want are tips to set up the shot. Ways to get our lighting bolt fast subjects to sit still just long enough to optimize the impact of the photo. This book is just that. Simple tips accompanied by GORGEOUS photos.

This book is for every mom (and dad) who has chased their kids around with a camera for the sake of posterity. Get this. The information is helpful, concise and easy to follow for even the most sleep deprived parent!

Blogger note: I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. This review is entirely based on my opinion and contains my honest evaluation.