words words words

I finished reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and adored every letter of that. I just loved it, it somehow really spoke to me, and was a sort of revelation in my faith and love and open-heartedness. I really need to read it again. The movie is just about to come out, with Julie Roberts. Not necessarily thrilled about it, but I have a deep appreciation for the book. It was more about the story than the writing.

Have been attempting to read The Greedy Bastard Diary by Eric Idle. It has made me laugh quite a bit, but there are lots of dry parts, in my opinion. I probably still have one third of the way to go until I finish it, but I've lost motivation. He gets too descriptive and flowery with his words... very descriptive of scenes, like waterfalls or seeing the leaves change as he's driving. I'm not reading this to relax or meditate on the beauty of trees. It just doesn't fit with this book, but then again, it is a diary, so I suppose he can go anywhere he wants with this book. There are still plenty of laugh-out-loud parts, which make it worth checking out. I just gotta push through to the end.

Also in the middle - well, now almost at the end - of Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler. Now this has me laughing a lot. It's hard to say whether the stories are totally legit, or she takes one small situation and runs with it. I suppose it doesn't matter either way, I woudln't know the difference, but I sure do laugh! Have to read this again. About a year ago or so, I read her book (which I believe came out first), My Horizontal Life,  which again was hilarious. It's about some of her 'hookup' experiences, but not necessarily dirty stuff. Stuff I can't relate to (like hooking up with so many people or being an alcoholic or being famous... lol), but she really does have a comedy bone in her. Excellent books.

Attempted to read Nine Kinds of Naked by Tony Vigoritto earlier this summer. It didn't take. I didn't like his style of writing. I couldn't get into it. It was supposed to be about these nine stories/lives/situations that somehow intertwined without the people realizing it. I didn't get very far into the book when I just decided it wasn't worth it, at least not presently.

However, I could have felt super picky because I was coming off the high from reading Black Swan Green by David Mitchell. Who would have guessed I'd adore a book recommended by Ike? Oh wait... duh! I loved this book!! It is about a 13-ish year old boy in England, one chapter for each month for 13 months, and about being picked on at school, his crazy parents (but aren't all parents crazy in books? They sure are in Chelsea Handlers' books...), and, well, I can't remember it all, but it was written so well. Will definitely revisit this one.