Book #41 - Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

I have mixed feelings about Eat, Pray, Love. And I blame those on the millions of opinions I received about this novel before starting it. Who hated it, who loved it, who thought Gilbert was selfish, who thought she was brilliant... the list goes on and on.

So when I began reading, I tried to do so with an open mind. If anything, I didn't love or hate Liz; I was jealous of her experiences (not the life she was running away from). Honestly, how amazing would it be to travel the world for an entire year!

My favorite section of the book was definitely her time in Italy. Being able to travel aimlessly throughout such a beautiful country and eat whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted, sounds divine. But the part that I was most envious of was her immersion into the culture and ability to learn the language. I've always longed to be bilingual, and one day I will be, but Liz's ability to leave it all behind for a year and simply follow her heart made me wish I could be in her shoes.

I also enjoyed her spiritual journey throughout India and Bali. Since I've not had much exposure to eastern practices, it was hard for to understand what she was trying to accomplish. However, I could relate to her longing for greater relationship with God. It seems she met so many characters along the way - at times I wonder if this was truly non-fiction - and that she truly accomplished what she set out to do when she left her life in NYC for a year of self-discovery.

Book #22 - That Extra Half an Inch by Victoria Beckham

I am obsessed with celebrity gossip. I check people.com everyday to stay on top of what's happening in the celebrity world. Needless to say, my interest in Victoria Beckham peaked when she and her family moved to the U.S. a few years ago. Now, don't get me wrong, I have liked her since the Spice Girls - Posh Spice was indeed my favorite. So I knew I would read her book as part of this challenge.

It's not a true "autobiography" but It still tells the tale of her life, just through a different medium - fashion. In addition to providing fashion tips, we get insight into her fashion choices for some of her biggest life moments, including her wedding.

I would recommend knowing someone who is British or keeping google handy while reading - thank goodness for my friend Roxanne. She was able to explain what Beckham meant by "vests" and "jumpers" because it's not what you would usually think of as an American. But she had a lot more practical advice than I would have thought. At the end of the day, behind the stilettos, the make up and the fame, she is just a mom who needs to dress practically for her day, just like the rest of us.

And that's what I like most about following the lives of celebrities: discovering that they are, in fact, just like the rest of us.

Book #20 - If You Have to Cry Go Outside and Other Things Your Mother Never Told You by Kelly Cutrone

I was first exposed to Kelly Cutrone on The Hills, where she was Lauren and Whitney's boss/mentor at People's Revolution, a fashion PR firm in Los Angeles. Since her appearances on The Hills and then The City were well-received, Kelly then got her own show on Bravo, and ultimately a book deal. As a PR professional myself (although pitching faucets and high fashion are a little bit different) I knew that I'd want to read this memoir as soon as it came out.

The Kelly Cutrone that narrates this book is a little different than the one you might have seen on television. She is much more zen and very spiritual, whereas on camera, she's depicted as solely a no-nonsense, ruthlessly honest person. The other, softer side isn't seen as much and it was refreshing to hear that voice in her book.

Of course, a number of Kelly's stories are outrageous, but what else would you expect from a woman who moved to New York City with little money and a dream? It was great to hear the perspective of someone who has been in the industry for a long time, and from someone totally objective. She wasn't my boss talking to me about my work and her advice wasn't addressed to a specific employee of hers. Instead, it was straight "this is what you need to do to succeed" and I appreciated that. I would definitely recommend this book to any young woman - not just those working in PR.

Book #2 - The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

My reaction to reading this book was similar to how I felt after I saw the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" the first time. Everyone had been telling me how great it was, how amazing and enjoyable they found it. When you build something up that much, it's often impossible to meet the high expectations.

Had I not heard all the buzz about Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture, I think I would have been able to enjoy the lessons in the book, and not just the sentiment of it, a bit more. Pausch is a young father who is terminally ill with pancreatic cancer, and he uses his last lecture, and eventually this book, to share his insights about life not just for readers but mainly for his three young children.

A coworker told me before reading that this book was a balance of ego and humility. At times I had trouble seeing beyond the ego. But Pausch had some thoughtful words threaded between his tales of personal and professional successes. The one that resonated with me the most was the idea that you cannot have rights without responsibility. Whether those are social rights, inherent personal rights or just rights that accompany being an adult, you need to be cognizant of how you use them and the impact they can have on others.

Sadly, Pausch passed away, and I have yet to watch the online video of his last lecture that inspired this book. But his idea of leaving a lasting legacy, whether it's one simply for your family or one with a much larger impact or purpose. is one to think about. Pausch is right that you never know what tomorrow will bring, so you need to start living today.