Summer Reading: Mademoiselle M

I’m personally not a big planner of my future reading unless I’m reading something for a class or book club. Therefore, I only have two planned books for this summer – aside from our James Joyce selection. However, I assure you that there will most be several more that I drown myself in before Labor Day hits!

Here goes the two that I do not plan on finishing my summer without having read:

The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous, and Broke
By Suze Orman

Suze has been my new homie for a few months now. I’ve watched the DVD that goes with this book and I’ve read her other book Women and Money. I’ve also watched her show a few times. I love this woman’s style: very simple, straight to the point, and entertaining. Add this to the fact that I’m working my way into multi-millionaire status – starting early and going slow is the best method my friends – I am dedicated to learning all the personal finance knowledge I possibly can as early in my career as I possibly can.

The Art of Seduction
By Robert Green

A friend of mine has started a summer reading group and this is one of the books that she has chosen. It really appeals to me, not only because of the sexual context but also because of the benefits of this information in a professional context. Think about it: in any career you will need to master the art of persuasion. Seduction is probably the ultimate form of persuasion – which after taking a class on the elements of persuasion, I am completely intrigued by. I am fidgeting in my seat with excitement just thinking about how vibrant our group’s conversation will be!

The next several books I choose will be a toss up between those that appeal to me on my or my mother’s bookshelves at that moment and the top-rated books that I have on my “to-read” shelf at www.goodreads.com. I’ll keep you posted.

*bises*
Mademoiselle M

Summer Reading: Melissa

As the days grow hotter, I, too, am looking forward to reading (and re-reading) some great books and drinking tall glasses of lemonade.

Big Girls Don't Cry
by Connie Briscoe

Shortly after I read this novel I deemed it to be one of my faves but I haven't thumbed through it in a while. The story is revolves around Naomi Jefferson, flashing back to her teenage years in the 60's, her college days and political involvement in the 70's and her present decision to focus on her career because love and live can be fickle. Her life is shaped by a series of events and the story follows her responses to her beloved brother's death and love's betrayal. I don't want to say too much other than I picked up the book in middle school when I saw my sister reading it and finished it that weekend.


Everytime a Rainbow Dies

by Rita Williams-Garcia

This young adult fiction follows Thulani and Ysa, a young woman he sees being attacked from his roof top one day. Williams Garcia magnificently explores "loss and love, identity and self-determination" of a young Black immigrant boy in NYC as the story unfolds. I saw Nikita use an excerpt in a previous post and wanted to add one from the book's first page. I love the imagery from the description of Ysa's skirt to Thulani's hair and his birds. I felt like I was witnessing the story.

Everything is Illuminated
by Jonathan Safran Foer

I saw this book on Nicole's list and wanted to add it to mine. Thanks, Nicole!

And of course, our current group read: Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce. I won't attempt to sum up the book as I have yet to finish it and I don't want to spoil it. Read along with us!

What books are you waiting to sink your teeth into?

Summer Reading + Favorite Children's Book: Whitney

Even as I read our second UL selection, The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by the phenomenal James Joyce, I still have tons of books in my head that I want to read or revisit, including some awesome kiddie books and a couple of memoirs.


What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and What's Wrong with Washington
by Scott McClellan

I'm a simultaneous history buff and lover of juicy gossip, so these memoirs by former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan will be a perfect summer read for me while I'm waiting at the airport or laying out at the beach.



The Audrey Hepburn Treasures
by Various Authors

Ever since I saw Breakfast at Tiffany's, I've been completely enamored with the life and work of Ms. Hepburn. I've seen this book for years at Urban Outfitters but this summer in NYC will be the perfect time to add this collector's item to my bookshelf.

Blubber
by Judy Blume

This was one of my favorite books as a kid. Linda is a 4th grader struggling with finding a balance between being well-liked and doing what's right and not teasing the overweight girl in class (who everyone has nicknamed "blubber"). I LOVED the book when I first read it and it, along with other Blume classics like Are You There God, It's Me Margaret, Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing and Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great are defining pieces of my childhood.

Happy Summer!
Whitney

Summer Reading: Nicole

Hey everyone!

The Summer is upon us! Something about the idea of gathering a bunch of books to indulge in between hectic schedules and priorities makes me wriggle in my chair like a giddy child. I get really excited over book covers and designs, the chance to explore someone's perspective on life, or the chance to find a new hero(ine) with whom to identify. I'd love to share with you some summer reads that I hope help me achieve the aforementioned, whether on a plane, train, or beach chair :)

Fruit of the Lemon
by Andrea Levy

I first heard about this book though a review by Patrick Henry Bass of Essence magazine in 2006. I read the first few pages in B&N and really loved Levy's voice. At the time school (and my impending graduation) was a primary reason why I couldn't devote more time to the book, but this summer is my chance to make a more conscious effort.



Unaccustomed Earth
by Jhumpa Lahiri

It's no secret that I love Jhumpa Lahiri. And I love short stories just as much. Thankfully, Jhumpa has provided the best of both worlds again with another collection that focuses on the immigrant experience and spans from Seattle to India to Thailand. Family secrets are explored yet again through Lahiri's quiet and powerful voice.

Garlic and Sapphires
by Ruth Reichl

Articles on food rarely seem to warrant tears, but Reichl's food story entitled "Missionary for the Delicious" had me in tears in B&N late last week. It was a beautiful homage to the tradition of sincere and authentic food made by sincere and authentic people. Reichl achieves amazing depth and detail in her stories about her food adventures in only a few pages. I can't wait to curl up with her book in that warm chair that sits directly in front of the cookbooks, sitting Indian style.

Everything is Illuminated
by Jonathan Safran Foer

A former classmate did a great review of this novel, and I was convinced I had to read it immediately. However, a year would pass and I would have seen the film before having read the novel. The movie was great so I'm excited to experience the novel in the voice that Safran Foer wrote it.