bookshelves: currently-reading
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"Classic Gothic plot. Kept me riveted flying across the country; now we'll see how interesting it is in everyday life! "
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I loved this book from start to finish! Even though the plot is one all too common to many of us, the author's personality shines through clearly with every entry in this unique and enjoyable memoir. This is the perfect book for any woman who wants to lose a few — or more — pounds (and who hasn't wanted to at some point in her life?). Over the course of six years, Shauna Reid lost half her weight, and I think she's courageous for allowing us to so intimately follow the ups and downs of her weight loss journey, and ultimately her life journey. It's fun, motivating, humorous and inspirational. Her general story is one with which many can empathize, as she seems to verbalize every poignant, obsessive and humorous thought any of us have ever had as we've tried to lose weight, and the events of her story that are individually hers are told with such honesty, candor and wisdom that readers will be hooked, cheering her on until the end. What they may not realize is that as they cheer for her, they're also cheering for themselves — in whatever form that their strengths and struggles, setbacks and obstacles, achievements and accomplishments, goals and endeavors may take. The greatest bit of wisdom for me came on page 339 when Shauna writes, "You just have to keep picking yourself up when you fall, over and over again, for however long it takes." For her and many of us, that wisdom applies to weight loss, but it can just as easily apply to any other personal life challenge. No matter what it is, you just have to keep trying to overcome it; some days will be easy and others will be challenging, but every one will be an adventure! I think the thing she learned from writing this book is the same thing we learn from reading it: there are other people out there like us, going through the same kinds of challenges every single day. We are not alone, even when we may feel like we are. She is truly a superhero for writing this book because it brings out a little bit of the superhero in all of us. ]]>
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by Nicholas Sparks
I thought the same thing about "The Devil Wears Prada." Don't know if you're interested in reading that one, but if so, I'd save yourself the time and just watch the movie instead. It's actually pretty good, and it's a masterpiece compared to the book. It always disappoints me when I read a best-seller that falls short of my expectations, because I think, "They probably made a huge advance and royalties on this, and I know I could have done better given the chance, but I'm writing drivel for $30,000 a year!" :-) ]]>