My New Hobby...

If you know me, you know I love writing.  Thankfully I get to teach 5th graders to write for a living!!  There's just something about word choice, the power of imagery, and a subtle, yet sarcastic voice in writing that I love.  I have struggled with wanting to jump back into blogging the past few months, but wasn't quite sure what to blog about.  It turns out my students are right, writer's block is a real thing!  After months of rough drafts that went no where, I decided to blog about my new hobby that has kept me occupied during this slower pace of life. 

There are three hobbies I have always wanted to acquire: running, reading and ice skating. This whole quarantine thing has helped me to accomplish two. Ok, just one, but I’m really working on the second. First off, I live in Texas, so my Nancy Kerrigan dream is out the window. Let’s focus on my realistic dreams, reading and running. A few months ago I decided to be intentional with the extra time I have been given while the world slowed down and start running. In order to accomplish this, I needed something to keep my mind off of my throbbing calves. Enter Audible. I found that when I got really into a book, I never wanted my walk/jog to end. 

**Side-note: I call it walk/jog because there is waaaay more walking than jogging. It’s not that I don’t have the endurance to jog, it’s just that I have the running form of Phoebe Buffay, and I actually teach in the neighborhood I live in. I need these kids to take me seriously, people. So, I only jog when I’m 99.9% sure no one can see me. 

via GIPHY

Ok, now let’s hit the books...

The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle: “At one point or another, we’ve all been asked to name five people, living or dead, with whom we’d like to have dinner. Why do we choose the people we do? And what if that dinner was to actually happen?” 

As a writing teacher the clever plot is what got my attention. I could imagine giving this prompt to my students and seeing where their creativity went. Honestly, I teach 5th graders, so I would probably get a lot of Stef Curry, Kobe Bryant and YouTubers I have never heard of, but that actually might have been a little more interesting than this novel...

The main character shows up to her birthday dinner with the five people she had named as her dream dinner list, ready to celebrate with her, and confront a few life altering decisions, too. I had high hopes for this book, but it was a little slow and fell a little flat for me. I actually read this one, and did not listen to it on Audible. Who knows, maybe that’s why it felt slow to me. I didn’t hate it and I do think this might make a good movie, but it wasn’t my cup of tea.

2.5 out of 5 Stars. 

Open Book by Jessica Simpson:  I listened to this one on Audible and really enjoyed the fact that it is read by Jessica (we're on a first name basis now). I realized while listening to this book that I really loved memoirs. I think it’s because I’m nosy and I want all the details. Well, Jessica Simpson gave ALL the details! I don’t think this book is for everyone, but if you remember tuning into MTV’s Total Request Live with Carson Daily every afternoon, then this might be a fit for you. Jessica details her rise from a Texas preacher’s daughter to stardom, her marriage to Nick Lachey, dating superstars John Mayer and Tony Romo, and eventually meeting her current husband. Since I loved it, I would give it 4.5 stars, but keep in mind, if you never bought jeans at the Wet Seal or went through a Delia’s catalog page by page, you might not find it as charming. 

Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis:  I’m going to keep this one short and simple. Girl, find a new hobby. 

I wasn’t a fan. I liked hearing the details of Rachel’s life (remember, I’m nosy), but I didn’t care for her advice and didn’t always agree with her spiritual interpretations. I think a small dose of humility would be good for our friend Rach!  I would give this 2 out of 5 stars. 

Sisters First by Barbara Bush & Jenna Bush-Hager: I really enjoyed this book! I listened to this one on Audible, too, and loved that they alternated writing (and reading) every other chapter. As a Texas girl that grew up in the same time frame as the Bush girls, I felt I had similar life experiences as them. Well, I mean my grandfather was never Vice President, my dad was never the governor of Texas or president...and I’ve never lived in the White House, but like Barbara, Julio Franco was my favorite Texas Ranger, so it’s basically like we were raised together. 

Overall, I really enjoyed hearing their childhood and teen stories. I also found their 9-11 stories touching. I had not thought of how that day impacted them, knowing the pressure their dad was under. If I’m being completely honest, I enjoyed Jenna’s chapters more than Barbara’s. I think Jenna’s writing is a little more eloquent, and as she mentions early in the book, she is a natural story teller. Barbara has great memories, too, I just felt like her writing lacked the warm and fuzzy feelings that her twin sister’s chapters provides. 4 out of 5 stars. 

Jackie’s Girl by Kathy McKeon:  This book is why we don’t give up on books too early. I almost abandoned it after chapter two, but I am so thankful I persevered. Since I was about ten years old, I have been obsessed with all things Kennedy related. I blame that on my dad watching too many JFK documentaries during my Thanksgiving breaks when I was growing up. 

Jackie’s Girl is a memoir from Kathy (Kat) McKeon, Jackie Kennedy’s personal secretary. Kat began working for the Kennedy family shortly after JFK was killed, when Jackie and the kids had moved to New York City. Kat basically went from an extremely poor, Irish immigrant, to living on the Upper East side of Manhattan’s most coveted block overnight. 

I devour any insight into the Kennedy family, so hearing Kat’s anecdotes about Caroline, John, and of course the stunning Jackie, were right up my alley! Kat also writes about her life in Ireland, traveling with the Kennedy’s, Robert’s assassination, Jackie’s marriage to Aristotle Onassis, Caroline’s marriage, Jackie’s death, and John’s tragic plane crash.

This book was so well written that I was actually sad for two days after I finished it. Kat had such a bond with Jackie, that a true friendship developed. It was also evident how much she cared for Caroline and John. I loved every single part! Nothing is perfect (or should I say Camelot), so I’ll give it 4.75 out of 5. 

After finishing Jackie's Girl I was craving more Kennedy info, so I began reading Once Upon A Secret by Mimi Alford. 

I finished this book two days ago and I'm still not sure how I feel about it.  This book was published almost ten years before the Me Too Movement, but it really made me think about how people abuse their powers.  Mimi Alford was a 20 year old intern at the White House in 1962.  She had an 18 month affair with JFK that lasted until his death.  She kept her secret for forty years until a tell-all novel mentioned her name in 2009.  As I mentioned earlier, I devour all things Kennedy, but this one was a little unsettling.  Mimi does a great job detailing her story and how it impacted her life after Kennedy's death.  I would give this memoir 4 out of 5 stars, but just remember, this story casts a little shadow on Camelot.

  

I also started STori Telling by Tori Spelling, but after losing countless brain cells, I decided to jump ship. Who would have thought Jessica Simpson could out write Tori Spelling? Maybe Donna Martin was a few graduation credits short after all. #DonnaMartinGraduates #90210Reference

What’s up next for me? 

I am reading is Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham. You might know her best as Lorelei Gilmore from The Gilmore Girls or Sarah Braverman from Parenthood. So far it has  managed to capture my attention, but I’ll let you know my final thoughts when I’m finished. 

I hope you enjoyed my reviews and found something that intrigued you. In the words of Reading Rainbow’s Levar Burton, “But you don’t have to take my word for it!”   Man, I wanted so bad to be one of those book reviewers in the 80's!

Let me know if you have a book or memoir you recommend! Thanks for checking out my corner of the world!