Book Confessions of an Ex-Ballerina

Book Review: Idiots by Laura Cleary

Title: Idiots: Marriage, Motherhood, Milk and Mistakes

By: Laura Clery

Genre: Memoir

Pages: 256

Release Date: April 5th, 2022

Publisher: Gallery Books

Rating: ★★★★☆

Summary from Goodreads:

In her first book, Idiot, bestselling author Laura Clery gave us mind-blowingly personal life stories about addiction, toxic relationships, and recovery—establishing herself as the preeminent voice of infinite conviction meets zero impulse control. Here she is two kids later asking, “How did we get here?” Sex. Sex is how we got here.

Laura’s life has changed a great deal since she wrote Idiot, but her hilarious candor has only increased with motherhood—plus she tells some of the stories she was too scared to tell in her first book (which is really saying something). In Idiots, Laura shares more than anyone ever asked for about:

-Mucus plugs, vacuum extraction, and adult diapers

-Dousing doulas, VagTime, and pelvic organ prolapse

-Vaginismus, laxative overdose, and accidental lactivism

-Placenta pills, mom brain, and vibrator manifestation

-Nipple-twisting orgies and flinging a butt burrito in your doctor’s face

-ADHD, autism, postpartum depression, and the wisdom of a ninety-eight-year-old sage named Anne

-Unsolicited dick, sexual assault, and sister-drugging

-Stephen’s cheating, Laura’s cheating, fights, and forgiveness

-Choosing love over fear and healing the world

Laura does not hold back when it comes to sharing stories of screw-ups, triumphs, and learning from her mistakes. Whether she’s crying into a diaper in a Whole Foods parking lot or desperately soliciting advice from a random elderly stranger (who has most certainly considered a restraining order), Laura is able to laugh at herself even during her worst moments—more important, she makes us laugh, cry, and feel less alone in the world.

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Review:

This was a hilarious read about the nitty gritty of life's struggles.

Laura Cleary has had some interesting situations happen in her life. Tears and joy. Struggles and good times, but these are the things that have shaped her life. She really lays it all out there in this book that tells all the ugly facts about her past and present.

I really appreciate the candor of the author. We all know how hard it is to show the ugly side of life, and Cleary has done just that, but through the whole book, she found ways to overcome and get through the pain. I really appreciate her perseverance.

This was a wonderful read and I wish all the best to Cleary and her family as they heal and move forward with their lives.

Book Review: The Case of the Left-Handed Lady by Nancy Springer

Title: The Case of the Left-Handed Lady

By: Nancy Springer

Genre: Historical Mystery

Pages: 234

Release Date: January 1st, 2007

Publisher: Penguin Philomel

Rating: ★★★★☆

Summary from Goodreads:

Enola's name backwards spells "alone," and alone she is, in the world's biggest, darkest, dirtiest city. She is being hunted down by the world's most famous detective - her own brother, Sherlock Holmes. For the sake of freedom she must elude him, but what can she do to ease her loneliness?

When she discovers a hidden cache of brilliant charcoal drawings, she feels as if she's a soul mate to the girl who drew them - but that girl, young Lady Cecily, has disappeared without a trace. Braving midnight streets where murderers roam, Enola must unravel the clues - a leaning ladder, a shifty-eyed sales clerk, political pamphlets - to find the left-handed lady, but in order to save Lady Cecily from a powerful villain, Enola risks revealing more than she should. Will her own lonely heart betray her?

In this second installment of the acclaimed Enola Holmes Mysteries, two-time Edgar Award winner Nancy Springer brings us all the danger and intrigue of Victorian London as she continues the adventures of one of the wittiest and most exciting new heroines in today's literature.

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Review:

I think this book was far better than the first, that focused more on character building vs. this book that was an amazing story of sibling rivalry and mystery.

Enola is really coming into her own. A strong woman who is fierce and smart. She really gives her brothers a run for their money. I love how they are always trying to one up each other, trying to be the first to solve the mystery.

This was a fun book. My next stop is to watch the movie and then on to the next book.

Weekly Menu #491 And The Book Of The Week

Hello Monday!

I thought Saturday was going to be a normal dry January day. We had plans to clean up outside the house from Christmas and get the last of the Christmas lights off the roofline, but little did I know... It was going to snow. It was the weirdest thing.

This weeks read is The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman. I don't know if you've been watching His Dark Materials on HBOmax like I have been, but I've also been following along with the books. Love this series and can't wait to read this last book.

Lets get to the weekly menu. Enjoy!

WEEKLY MENU

Monday

Greek Turkey Rice Bowls

Kids - Chicken and Fries

Tuesday

Dagwood Sandwiches

Kids - Grilled Cheese

Wednesday

Chicken Feta Spinach Pasta

Kids - Mac and Cheese

Thursday

Sloppy Joes

Kids - Chicken and Biscuits

Friday

Chicken Pesto Flatbread

Kids - Cheese Pizza

Saturday

Air Fry Sausage and Veggies

Kids - Chicken and Veggie Kabob

Sunday

Family Dinner

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Coleslaw

French Fries

Sunday Confessions #183

Hello Sunday!

I feel like we are making headway around here. Things are getting done and the boys are settling into school again. I'm hoping for this momentum to continue with little to no resistance. Cross your fingers.

Lets recap the week.

Sunday Confessions #182

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Weekly Menu #490 And The Book Of The Week

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Book Review: The Sporty One by Melanie Chisholm

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Book Review: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Weekly Menu #491 And The Book Of The Week

Book Review: The Case of the Left-Handed Lady by Nancy Springer

Book Review: Idiots by Laura Cleary

Sunday Confessions #184

5/100 2023 Reading Challenge

48/196 in my Star Wars Legends challenge

57/341 Gilmore Girls challenge

56/100 in my 100 books before you die challenge

Another wonderful week. Happy reading!

Book Review: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Title: It Ends With Us

By: Colleen Hoover

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 386

Release Date: August 2nd, 2016

Publisher: Atria Books

Rating: ★★★★★

Summary from Goodreads:

Sometimes it is the one who loves you who hurts you the most.

Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up — she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan — her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

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Review:

Trigger warning. This book has strong physical and emotional abuse elements. This book was recommended to me by a co-worker. I don't know if I would have ever picked it up on my own, but it was a great read and I'm glad I did. The whole story centers around Lily. Her past is a jumble of abuse from her father, who laid his hands on her mother more than once. Lily promised herself that she would never let a man harm her, but when she falls in love with Ryle, the realization things are not as they seem comes to late. Its hard to put myself in Lily's shoes, but if I was, I don't think I would be have handled it any different. The struggles the characters go through are real, but ultimately in the end they finally come to terms with their situation. This makes the story well rounded. I loved this book to no end, even with the harsh content. Its worth the read.

Book Review: The Sporty One by Melanie Chisholm

Title: The Sporty One

By: Melanie Chisholm

Genre: Non-Fiction

Pages: 432

Release Date: September 15th, 2022

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Summary from Goodreads:

An intimate memoir from international pop star Melanie Chisholm--better known as Mel C. or Sporty Spice--chronicling her trajectory from small-town girl to overnight icon as part of the Spice Girls.

25 years ago, The Spice Girls, a girl band that began after five women answered an ad in the paper, released their first single. 'Wannabe' became a hit and from that moment and, almost overnight, Melanie Chisholm went from small town girl to Sporty Spice, part of one of the biggest music groups in history.

Beginning in her bedroom in the north-west of England dreaming of performing on stage, THE SPORTY ONE follows the meteoric rise of the Melanie and The Spice Girls, from the incredible highs of becoming one of the world’s most recognizable popstars – playing at Wembley, conquering the BRITs, closing the Olympics – to the difficult lows. For the first time ever, Melanie talks about the pressures of fame, the shaming and bullying she experienced, the struggles she has had with her body image and mental health, and the difficulty of finding yourself when the whole world knows your name.

THE SPORTY ONE is an incredible story of resilience, hope and how you can find your power.

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Review:

I remember the Spice Girls from my childhood. The epitome of girl power, but little did I know of the strife that lay just under the surface. It tore at the very seams of the group.

Melanie C lays all the dirty laundry out in the open for all to see. She gives the nitty gritty... All the good stories and even the bad. We learn of the fighting and the alcohol. At times, it wasn't pretty. I really appreciated the honest in the words.

Although the stories were interesting, I didn't enjoy the writing style as much as I had hoped. It was raw and choppy and didn't flow so well.

Still, all in all this was a good read. Definitely recommended if you like the Spice Girls or memoirs.

Weekly Menu #490 And The Book Of The Week

Hello Monday!

Its been a rough week with the boys in school. Particularly the middle one, but we are getting through it. I think what scares me the most is my 12 year old is almost 6 foot tall. He looks like an adult, but still acts like his age. Its starting to cause problems with other people who think he is older than he is. We've had several situations where people have asked him if he wants some alcohol because he looks old enough to have it. He's a good kid though and always declines.

This weeks read is Caste by Isabel Wilkerson. I can't wait to read this book and learn more about our past and present. Its going to be a good read. I can feel it.

Lets get to this weeks menu. Enjoy!