What I read in January (2012)

Room by Emma Donoghue

I'd wanted to read this book for a while before I finally got my hands on it, and it did not disappoint. It was as engaging as I expected it would be - once I got used to the voice of the main character. This book is all at once intriguing, chilling, entertaining, horrifying, and emotional. It tells the story of a woman both making the most of a horrible situation and showing an extreme example of what it is to be a good mother. It's impossible to avoid putting yourself in the shoes of this woman to see if you would have done things similarly. Its point of view is unique, and there is some debate on whether or not it was a success - but I for one appreciated seeing things from the perspective she chose. While I feel as though everyone and their book club has already read this book, I still highly recommend it to anyone looking for an interesting read. Be sure that you are emotionally able to handle it, though - it has the potential to disturb! I am, however, pleased with the way things ended.

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

My husband brought this home from his mom's house after picking a few things that looked interesting from her shelf. I think he had a much different idea of what it was (I think he was expecting fiction), because after he read the back cover he told me he thought it was more up my alley. It definitely was! I think I was busy reading Room, though, so he decided to give it a shot and he absolutely fell in love with it. Hearing him talk about it was infectious - I could not WAIT for my turn! And man, it didn't disappoint. At first it was a little overwhelming - I had to pause about 40-50 pages into the book because there's just so much to think about. This book gets you thinking about thinking which is as complicated as it sounds. In the end, though, it has changed my entire outlook on life - the way I think, the way I feel, the way I act, the way I set goals - everything. It has made me believe that absolutely anything in the world is possible if you know how to go after it. I'm still perfecting The Secret in my every day life - there are things I can't seem to wrap my head around (like the concepts of time & size and how they are self-imposed ideas). It all sounds a little hokey and silly at first glance, but when you really start to think about this and act on it - it really makes a difference. All that being said, this book isn't for everyone. It's enlightening, thought-provoking, and life-changing. But you really need to want those things and believe in them, and have an extremely open mind if this book is going to mean anything or do anything for you.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling

The Office is one of my TV addictions, and I've always really loved reading about  Mindy's involvement in the writing. She is a funny lady, with a great sense of what's hot at the moment. I love reading books like this - much like Bossypants or anything by Tori Spelling or Jenny McCarthy, you get a glimpse into things that happen behind the scenes of your favorite shows and the women who star in them. I love seeing the progression of a person that starts out with a desire to achieve become the person you already know and love. This was a really fun, quick read - full of stories even non-famous girls can relate to! She is both smart and funny, and it left me wishing she was my friend!