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 #19 - Vision in White by Nora Roberts

I know it's probably hard to believe, but this is the first Nora Roberts book I've ever read. I'm not sure what kept me from her in the past; maybe because my mom was always thumbing through one, and as a rebellious teen often does, I didn't want to read anything that was enjoyed by my mother. Good news - I've grown up, and as a bride-to-be, Vision in White was a great first Roberts' novel to experience.

This is the first book in her Bride Quartet (I'm not sure if you've picked up on it yet, but I like to read series). It follows four life-long friends who run a wedding business called Vows. Mackensie is the photographer, Emma is the florist, Laurel is the baker and Parker oversees everything else as the traditional wedding planner. They all live and work in the same sprawling Connecticut estate, and we not only learn a little bit about their business, but also about each woman.

Mac is the main character in this first novel. She hasn't yet found Mr. Right, until a man from her teenage years comes back into her life when his sister hires Vows to plan her wedding. Shy, yet surprisingly sexy, professor Carter Maguire is exactly what's missing from Mac's life. They beginning seeing each other, and like in any romance novel, there isn't a happy ending right away. But Mac and Carter's romance is chronicled in a way that showcases Roberts' sharp, clever writing and develops two very real characters that are easy to like and relate to.

Not only is the novel about finding the right guy in unexpected places, but it's also about friendship. It conveys how the four friends love and support each other through thick and thin, and how they manage to respect each other while running a very successful business.

Vision in White was the first romance novel I've ever read, and I'm anxious to read the books that follow in Roberts' Bride Quartet. It was like watching a cute romantic comedy - although at times it's highly predictable, when it's over, you're still really glad with the happily-ever-after.

Book #18 - Sweet Little Lies by Lauren Conrad

As a child who's grown up as part of the MTV generation, it's only natural that I watched Laguna Beach and The Hills. I could relate to the characters' lives and dilemmas as high schoolers and young adults, with the biggest disconnect between us being their super-wealthy lifestyles in Orange County and my normal one in middle America. Nonetheless, I got hooked on following Lauren Conrad and her friends while I was in college and ever since, it's been a guilty pleasure of mine.

When I first heard that Conrad was penning a series of books, I thought "Wow. I guess anyone can get a book deal in Hollywood." But I should bite my tongue. Sweet Little Lies is Conrad's second novel about two friends who agree to star in a reality show that chronicles their lives in Los Angeles. Fiction, right? Although she's not breaking any new literary ground, and I'm still skeptical as to how much writing Conrad actually does, her novels are a quick, entertaining read that provides some perspective into her crazy life.

I don't feel bad for anyone on reality shows like The Hills - when you sign up to be on television, you know what you're getting yourself into. The same is true in this book. The main character, Jane, who is the star of "L.A. Candy" a.k.a the fictional Hills, sees her life unravel as her first scandal hits the tabloids. Her friendship with her lifelong best friend Scarlett, who's also on the show, deteriorates as she tries to look out for Jane and warn her that everyone isn't as nice as they seem. Ultimately Jane discovers who she can and can't trust, what she needs to do in order to survive in Hollywood, and prevails.


This was a great, mindless weekend read, that kept my attention as I raced through the pages. I liked following the lives of Jane and Scarlett in this book even more than following the lives of Lauren and her pals on TV.

Book #17 - The Big White Book of Weddings by David Tutera

I figured that my reading project should help along my wedding planning process. So, for one of my non-fiction reads, I thought it would be a good idea to delve into a wedding book to help my cause.

David Tutera is a wedding planner to the stars, and one of my bridesmaids keeps telling me how much she loves him on the WE network. At the beginning of The Big White Book of Weddings, he clearly states his mission to help any bride have a sophisticated and classy wedding of her dreams.

The book had some great ideas for the little things like favors, centerpieces, etc. and I was glad I read it to get those tips. But as a bride-to-be who is taking wedding planning at a snail's pace, the rest of Tutera's advice utterly freaked me out and made me feel like I'm doing a terribly inadequate job in prepping for the big day.

I think it will help to re-read this book closer to my actual wedding date, so I can double check that I have everything in order. But right now, it was a quick read for some ideas to file away for that perfect day that's yet to come.

Book #16 - The Blind Side by Michael Lewis

I am a sucker for "Awards Season" - the Golden Globes, the SAGs and the big show, the Academy Awards. I will sit and watch for hours as the celebrities arrive on the red carpet and make their acceptance speeches. I'd been wanting to see the movie The Blind Side since it hit theaters, but when Sandra Bullock started winning accolades for her portrayal of Leanne Tuhoy, it peaked my interest in the story of Michael Oher even more.

After finishing, I'm glad I didn't see the movie - as I'm sure you've learned from my blog, I'm a big believer that the book is always better, and therefore, it's always wiser to read it first. It took me a while to make it through this one, as the story was very rich and involved a lot of football history. I learned more about the game and the position of left tackle than I ever thought to know. But the background information Lewis provides is necessary in realizing why Michael Oher was such a hot commodity to college football.

What surprised me about the story is that it took place rather recently - Michael Oher graduated from high school in 2005 and he currently plays in the NFL after a successful college football career with the University of Mississippi. He was taken in by the Tuhoy family shortly after he started at Briarcrest Christian School, where their daughter, Collins, was in the same grade.

Michael had a terrible upbringing and childhood - no father, a drug-addict mother and was often sleeping on the streets and scavenging for food. He didn't go to school regularly, meaning he had a lot to catch up on in the classroom before even going to college could become a reality. This book follows Michael's personal struggles and growth more than his performance on the field.

The Tuhoy family's generosity and commitment to a complete stranger really gives me hope that there still are good-hearted people out there who will do what's right even when they know there is nothing to gain in return. The story of Michael Oher is inspiring to anyone - it demonstrates that with a lot of help and perseverance, anything can be possible.

Book #15 - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

This was another book that was suggested by my cousins Ashleigh and Allison over the holidays. I had never heard of it and I had no idea what to expect, with the exception of the lamentation of my cousins pronouncing "This one is soooo good."

When I looked at the back cover of this novel, one of the reviewers' quotes classified this novel as "A modern day Catcher in the Rye." And I thought, awesome (you all remember how well that one went for me).

However, I was pleasantly surprised by The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. The main character of this novel is Christopher, a British teenage boy with some sort of mental disability. He finds a neighbor's dog murdered in the yard, and he takes on the charge to solve the mystery of the dog's death.

Along the way, Christopher discovers more than he bargains for, and more than he can mentally handle. He lives with his father and his mother is dead and he has an entire list of things he does and doesn't like. For example, he hates anything brown and yellow; he loves anything red. Christopher is also a math genius and the smartest kid in his school and uses his ability with math and numbers to calm him when necessary.

When Christopher discovers that his father isn't the person he thinks he is, he sets off on a journey and achieves things he never thought possible. During this journey, we understand how difficult it is for a mentally disabled individual to do things that seem so simple, like riding a train or reading a map. But throughout the novel, we also realize how gifted Christopher is and how he can visualize and accomplish things that I could only dream of.

Above all else, this novel is a story of survival. Christopher has to survive every day and rise above the challenges his disability presents. And he also survives a realization that most human beings would let cripple them with hatred and distrust, but he teaches us all to rise above.

Book #14 - The Hours by Michael Cunningham

In the novel The Hours, author Michael Cunningham uses the life and work of Virginia Woolf as his inspiration. Through it, he tells the story of a group of contemporary characters, while shedding some light on who Woolf was, as well. If I had one word to describe The Hours, it would be "depressing," as the novel begins with the narration of Woolf's suicide and carries the somber tone throughout the stories of Mrs. Dalloway and Mrs. Brown, as well.

The lives of these three women are woven together to create this novel. As I was reading, I was constantly trying to figure out how the three would collide, and when they did, I wished they never had. However, the way Cunningham reveals the connection is masterful, regardless of how unexpected and heartbreaking it may be.

The three women in this novel are living lives that they are unhappy with. They tolerate them solely to protect others and because they are the only lives they have ever known. There is a general theme of feeling trapped in this novel - trapped in heterosexuality, trapped with depression and even trapped in motherhood.

I haven't seen the movie, nor have I read Mrs. Dalloway, but after finishing this novel, I'm inclined to pick up both. Cunningham's novel sheds light on parts of the female condition that most writers or filmmakers have tried to and failed. We understand these three women; we feel sorry for them and we root for them to break free from the so-called prisons of their everyday lives. In its own way, this novel allows it characters to live and ultimately seek what they deserve out of life.

Book #13 - The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

I'm actually quite surprised that I never read The Lovely Bones. It's been an extremely popular book for the past few years, and I've always had it on my mental "to read" list. However, I finally was compelled to read it over the holidays.

While visiting my family in northern Virginia after Christmas, my cousins Ashleigh and Allison had a stack of books set aside for me that they thought I should read as part of my 100 book quest. One of them was The Lovely Bones.

I started reading this novel, and was a little surprised at how much information was offered up about Susie Salmon and her murder at the very beginning of the story. Once I continued reading, I understood why. As I'm sure you've seen as part of the film's previews, the story follows 14-year-old Susie while she is in the In Between heaven and earth after her death. Through her narration, we are able to see how her family is coping with the tragedy of her murder.

As the reader, we also gain insight about Susie's murderer and his sordid past and chilling behaviors. We see the quest for justice and vindication for the Salmon family and are kept suspensefully on-edge through the many close encounters of their revelation of the killer.

The Lovely Bones was much, much more than the murder/mystery novel I was expecting. Like I said, it's hard to be a mystery when you know who the killer is from page two. Instead, I was delighted to find a novel full of thoughtfully imaginative narrative that provided hope in a tragic situation. Sebold creates characters that you feel sympathetic toward, but who you also cheer forward as they try to move on with a "normal" life. In my opinion, I would have liked the Salmon family to receive the justice they are so longing for, but as a whole, The Lovely Bones definitely does not disappoint.

Book #12 - Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

I was first exposed to the novel Bel Canto while in college, as my advisor was reading it at one point in time, and he suggested I picked it up. Well, nearly four years later, I finally read Bel Canto as a recommendation for this project from one of my supervisors.

The novel is based on the Lima Crisis, and focuses on a group of terrorists who hold high executives and people of high political standing hostage. Set in an unnamed South American country, the story begins at a birthday party thrown at the country's vice presidential home. The party is thrown for Katsumi Hosokawa, the visiting chairman of a large Japanese electronics company called Nansei. Performing is a famous American soprano, Roxane Coss.

Bel Canto explores how the terrorists and hostages cope with living in a house together for several months. Many of the characters form unbreakable bonds of friendship, while some fall in love. What's interesting about this novel, is that the relationships that form are not just between the hostages, but between captor and captive, as well.

The daily activities of the hostages and how they are forced to live for months in a strange place with child terrorists standing guard are described with such detail and care. It almost seems as if nothing really happens in the plot for pages and pages, and within the last few, all of the action takes place.

The novel meticulously reveals the human condition of survival, and allows the reader to get a glimpse of how we could all hope to act if we've found ourselves in a similarly unfortunate situation. It also demonstrates the emotions that can develop if given the chance; in a world where race, language and age aren't the first things we see. Instead, the characters are able to fall in love and appreciate their fellow housemates for who they are and what the believe in, and not based on the color of their skin or the language they speak.

Book #11 - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I decided to read The Great Gatsby because a number of people told me that it was a quick read. When you're trying to read 100 books in a year, and the phrase "quick read" is combined with "classic," you need to jump at the opportunity.

The story follows Nick Carroway, a young Midwestern man who's moved to New York City after college. He then meets Jay Gatsby, his neighbor who is fabulously wealthy and is famous for throwing lavish parties on his sprawling estate. As the novel progresses, we learn that Jay loves Nick's cousin Daisy, whom he met and courted before going off to fight in the war. Daisy is now married to Tom Buchanan, another wealthy man, who cheats on his wife and thinks he is better than those around him.

After an initially awkward reunion, Gatsby and Daisy reestablish their connection and begin an affair. Tom soon becomes suspicious of his wife's relationship with Gatsby and confronts them on a trip to New York City. As they rush back to Long Island when things go awry, the car Daisy is driving accidentally strikes and kills Tom's lover, Myrtle, but Gatsby takes the blame. Myrtle's husband seeks out revenge, and when Tom tells him that Gatsby allegedly killed his wife, he finds and shoots Gatsby in his pool, ending his mysterious and tragic life.

The American lifestyle of the 1920s that The Great Gatsby portrays is eerily similar to the years preceding the recent economy crash of 2008; living in excess, spending beyond our means, wrapped up in questionable morals and a quest for pleasure above all else. Just like Gatsby, Americans no longer value the dreams of discovery, individualism and the pursuit of happiness. Instead, it is about having more money than the next guy, and having better stuff than him, too.

Perhaps we should take Fitzgerald's observations about the changing American Dream to heart. Because look what happened to Gatsby - his desire for money and personal pleasure overtook his more noble goals, and eventually, led to his demise.