The Beginning

The main thing I remember about my childhood is reading. I would consume books like crazy, not wanting to play outside or with my friends until I finished "just one more chapter". At some point in the last 20 years that went away. It was hard enough to navigate the narrative of my own life, let alone follow along with someone else's. 

I have spent the last 10 years focusing on my degree, my career, my friendships, my relationships, my body, my body, my body (you get the point,) and as I am quickly approaching 30 and thinking about starting a family, I realize that all this time I forgot to focus on me. When I say ME I mean the real me, the one that matters, the me inside. I have neglected myself, taking for granted that my inner-self would somehow get all the residual nurture I gave to the other aspects of my life. 

In order to make up for this neglect I am going to start reading again. I want to learn from others: their mistakes, triumphs, setbacks, heartaches, and joy. As I approach a major milestone in my life I want to share in the experiences of others and hopefully learn from them.  

I have compiled a list of Books. I have tried to accumulate a balance of fiction, non-fiction, autobiographies, works of art and total trash (I'm a sucker for juicy gossip) Please feel free to read along, offer suggestions, comments, or anything that might seem helpful (I only ask that you keep it positive.)

The List (in no particular order)

Cherry by Mary Karr

Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger

Sula by Toni Morrison

She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran

Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke

Middlesex by Jeffery Eugenides

Spirit Junkie by Gabrielle Bernstein

The Awakening by Kate Chopin

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

The Amateur Marriage by Anne Tyler

Fear of Flying by Erica Jong

The Andy Warhol Diaries

Just Jackie: Her Private Years by Edward Klein

Liz: An Intimate Biography by C. David Heymann

Marilyn Monroe Bio. (TBD) suggestions please

Audrey Hepburn Bio.  (TBD) suggestions please 

How to be lovely: The Audrey Hepburn way of Life by Melissa Hellstern

High Society: The Life of Grace Kelly by Donald Spoto

I'm with the Band: Confessions of a Groupie by Pamela Des Barres & Dave Navarro

Full Service: My Adventures in Hollywood by Scotty Bowers

Now, before you say anything, I have read most of the Classics (Jane Eyre, All Jane Austen, Shakespeare, To Kill a Mockingbird, Animal Farm, Chaucer) So I didn't put them on this list but I would highly recommend them. 

I have made an important decision. I am going to read actual books. I love the feel of turning the pages faster and faster as I get deeper in to the story, dog-earing the pages (and feeling a little naughty when I do) and most of all I love looking at a shelf full of books and knowing I read those! 

Happy Reading
-C