beauty girl bookshelf: what i've read, am currently reading and want to read next...

bonjour, beauties! summer is officially over and i confess, i didn't do as much reading as i have {or expected to do} compared to past summers. in fact, i've done less reading this whole year, but i'm not beating myself up over it. i think i was in a bit of a rut, but it looks like i'm climbing out of it ~ the last two books i read have been fabulous, i'm almost done with another, and am excited about the next two i plan to read. just thought i'd share, so take a look...

I Don't Know What You Know Me From by Judy Greer

i just finished this title in audio format, which is fabulous because Judy reads it herself {i call her Judy as if i know her, LOL}. while many don't know her in public when they encounter her, i'd know exactly where i know her from if i ever find myself in the same space. since seeing her in The Wedding Planner, back in 2001, she's been on my radar. she's a fabulous actress with almost 100 films to her credit. if i were an actor, i'd want my career to be just like hers ~ consistent and noteworthy. she gets to work with amazing actors and is still able to maintain a life of normalcy that allows her to be in public without being followed or stalked by paparazzi. while not over-the-top funny, this book is full of fun stories from her life and career. if you like memoirs, are a fan of Judy Greer, you should definitely find this to be an enjoyable read.

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell 

Rainbow Rowell has quickly become one of my favorite authors. her books are smart, heartfelt and thoughtful. every story is unique, with multifaceted characters and a fabulous story. the first two books of hers i read {Eleanor & Park and Fangirl} are classified in the YA category, but this book, her very first novel, is in the adult fiction genre with a very chick-lit/rom-com feeling. that's fine by me. i could easily see this as a movie, but i love the format of emails as part of the narrative, i'm not sure how that could be portrayed on screen. if you're looking for a romantic, sweet read, this one is a great pick!

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

i'm almost done with this gorgeous, epic novel. the story takes place in two time periods, 1962 and present day. in 1962 a young italian innkeeper spies a tall, thin woman in white approaching him and his hotel via boat. he soon learns she's an american actress. oh, and she's dying. in present day, more other characters are introduced, each aspiring to fulfill their own dreams of success. enter an older italian man in search of the mystery woman he knew many years ago. i love how this book goes back and forth between time periods, slowly moving toward how they ultimately are connected. i was moved and captivated listening to this as an audiobook {the narrator is fantastic}. there are no big action scenes and no crazy plot twists, but if you're looking for a moderately paced story featuring grand scenery and old-hollywood icons, give this one a go.

next i want to read: We Were Liars and Station Eleven…

what book have you finished or are currently reading? i'd love to know ~ i welcome your thoughts and recommendations! 

currently reading: Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante

reading isn't something i have much time for. in fact, i feel like these days it seems to take me forever to finish a book! i don't mind so much, though, because i truly enjoy reading.

that said, the book i'm currently reading, Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante is simply fascinating. i found this novel at my local used book shop a few weeks ago and the plot description sounded interesting. i thought, why not? i had just finished two great books, i was looking for a new book to read, and it was only fifty cents. the timing was right and the cost wasn't high... 

so far, i'm beyond intrigued by this book. the main character, Dr. Jennifer White, is literally losing her mind {she's suffering early onset Alzheimer's}, her best friend and neighbor, Amanda, has been killed, and Jennifer may or may not have murdered her. the biggest clue that makes Jennifer the prime suspect is that four fingers from Amanda's hand have been surgically removed. oh, did i mention Jennifer is a former orthopedic surgeon?

 Jennifer keeps notes for herself to try to keep her life and the people in it straight. she belongs to a coping group, but her episodes are becoming worse and she is remembering less and less. there are additional plot points involving other characters {like her grown-up kids and live-in caretaker} that will reveal themselves as the book moves on, i'm sure, and for now, i'm relishing where i am in the story. can't wait to find out how this mystery will turn out!

what are you currently reading?
  

btw, those books i mentioned earlier that i had finished are Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell {the audio version is fabulous!} and Trinkets by Kirsten Smith. they are both really good ~ i highly recommend you check them out!

reading ~ watching ~ listening ~ 9.18.13

 reading... Rules of Civility by Amor Towels

i'm only 4 chapters in, but i'm already in love ~ set in 1938 new york city, Rules of Civility tells the story of a watershed year in the life of an uncompromising twenty-five-year-old named Katey Kontent. armed with little more than a formidable intellect, a bracing wit, and her own brand of cool nerve, Katey embarks on a journey from a wall street secretarial pool through the upper echelons of new york society in search of a brighter future.

this story is beautifully written, every detail makes it easy to see 1930's nyc. Katey is a great character as are those supporting around her. i'm looking forward to learning more about this one year in her life that will surely teach her {and maybe me, through reading} a lot about herself and life.

watching... Revenge 

loosely inspired by one of my favorite stories, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, this soapy mystery-drama was one i watched when it premiered, but for some reason let it fall off my radar as it progressed through season one. thanks to Netflix, i started watching it again {the first two seasons are streaming now}, and wow, i'm so glad i did. btw, season 3 starts at the end of the month! :) 

listening to...Lorde

with the song Royals popping in and out of my ears these past few weeks {thank you Pandora}, i couldn't help but take notice. what i love most {aside from the catchy beat and fabulous vocals} was learning that she wrote it. this 16-year-old {born and raised in new zealand as Ella Yelich-O'Conner} is a seriously talented songwriter and has written something amazing. her 5 song EP, Love Club, was a huge success when it was released earlier this year ~ each song is worth listening to on repeat! i'm definitely looking forward to seeing her career take off once her full length, debut album, Pure Heroine, is released on september 27.    

i'd love to know, what are your reading, watching, listening to??

reading ~ watching ~ listening ~ 1.14.13

reading ~

Luther: The Calling by Neil Cross
this book is a prequel to the dark and thrilling {not to mention altogether fabulous}, BBC series. i've been taking my time with it for a few reasons. for one, the story is kind of scary; that being said, Luther is such an intriguing character, so it's been fascinating getting to know him better through the pages of this oh-so-engaging crime-fiction novel.


watching ~

Downton Abbey, series 3
finally! my favorite imported soaptastic drama is back, and if you're watching, you know it's already been so good. the addition of Shirley MacLaine has been such a treat. Maggie Smith is as brilliant as ever and the whole cast is marvelous {can you tell i'm obsessed in love with this show? LOL!}; from costumes to story lines, i expect this season will be nothing less than fabulous.



listening to ~

Lindsey Stirling
i discovered this amazing musical artist last month thanks to one of her songs being played during yoga class {it was Crystallize}. clearly, i'm late to the party since she's already a youtube sensation and was on a show i don't watch, "America's Got Talent". Lindsey composes, choreographs, and directs all of her original music and videos ~ merging unique violin stylings and electronic dub-step beats with animated contemporary dance. just watch the video below. hopefully you'll understand why i can't get enough of her music!

beauty girl bookshelf: 'These Girls' by Sarah Pekkanen

reading a good book is always a satisfying way to spend time. it's so enjoyable to be able to escape into another story, another life, universe or time, through the pages of a novel, even if only for a brief bit of time each day. i'm happy to have been given the opportunuty to read a new one, titled These Girls, by Sarah Pekkanen. wherever you read it {home, on a long drive or flight, poolside, at the beach}, it's a great book to get caught up in!

here's a bit of info about the main characters, Cate, Renee and Abby:

Cate has recently been promoted to features editor at the very popular magazine, Gloss. while she's concerned that her colleagues at the magazine think she got the job due to reasons that have nothing to do with her work performance, there's a bigger issue she's terrified will be revealed...

Renee also works at the magazine and has her sights on the beauty editor position that recently opened up. she's qualified and puts herself in the running for the job, but she doubts she'll get it because of her physical appearance. in her quest to land the position, Renee decides to start taking diet pills to lose weight...

Abby is a student and has recently come to nyc with a secret. this secret has left her broken, so she's looking to pick up the pieces and start over. layered in her story, she's also questioning the truth of a tragic event that happened in her family as a child...

Sarah Pekkanen's writing style is very conversational and reads so fluidly. the story, while not perfect, is engaging; the women are likable and complex without being out of touch, and i can easily see myself being friends with each of them! descriptions of places {especially nyc} and feelings are described beautifully, but my favorite thing about These Girls is that it reveled in the value of friendship. yes, there are themes of betrayal, dishonesty, and a bit of cattiness, but these are elements that have their place in the issues of each woman's story.

if you're looking for a summer beach read, definitely pick up These Girls.
for more info, visit Sarah's website, sarahpekkanen.com. you can also follow her on twitter {she loves chatting with readers!} and facebook.

 

*book sent to me for the purpose of review by the publisher, Atria Books/Simon & Schuster; pic taken by me :)

what i'm reading: Style Eyes by Taylor Chang-Babaian

in her new book, Style Eyes, makeup artist Taylor Chang-Babaian shares her knowledge, advice and how-to instruction for creating amazing eye looks, no matter what their shape or your occasion. i love that this book is filled with clear, crisp images (kudos to photographer Albert Sanchez) and great step-by-steps for each look-- Taylor includes sections on everything from the brushes you should have and how they are to be used (but without any brand recs), how to play up eyes based on your eye shape and skin tone, brow shaping, etc., without forgetting to include a chapter on how to create the best flawless eye canvas to start your look.


just a few images from Style Eyes (click to enlarge)

each pic is so fresh and inspiring-- they made me want to play with eye makeup looks all day!-- and the use of different colors to create the classic, and oh-so-popular smokey eyes is fabulous! Style Eyes is very thorough and a great book to own since you can pick it up and read it from any part for tips or to try something new!

check out this book, now available on amazon.com and a bookstore near you.

xo
this book was sent to me for review consideration.

what i'm reading: What to Wear For the Rest of Your Life

Kim Johnson Gross' book What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life: Ageless Secrets of Style chronicles the journey of the author's own re-discovery of her sense of style and helps the reader find her own by offering practical tips to create a wardrobe that begs to be worn.

every woman's closet-- no matter the size-- is a room of her own. in that space hang side by side the special occasions and the everyday, the triumphs and the disasters, the memories we want to keep and those we should jettison.

i like the advice in this book and the personal stories really help made me feel like i was getting to know who the author was. though this read is geared at an older audience (40+), any stylish gal can pull tips and learn from it.



divided into four main parts, What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life begins with part one, "How Should I Look?", which is divided into 10 sections covering everything from evaluating your clothes to assessing how we truly look in our clothes to getting your closet in feel good condition.

part two, "What Do I Want to Wear?", Gross encourages the reader to choose style mentors, while part three, "How Do I Look?", brings up that our closet is always evolving-- especially as we age. makeup, hair styles and shopping advice are also addressed in this section.

in the fourth section, thoughtfully titled "Clothes Meet Life", advice is given about jewelry, dressing sexy, and dressing for special occasions. Gross then ties everything together with a wrap-up section, Wardrobe Wisdom, which gives book recommendations and highlights the women the author interviewed in the book-- loved that!



if you're looking for a style-themed, how-to, semi-memoir book, you might find What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life quite enjoyable-- i know i did! you can find it at amazon.com.

xo
book featured was sent to me by the publisher for review consideration.

what i'm reading: Fierce Style by Christian Siriano

Fierce Style: How to Be Your Most Fabulous Self by Christian Siriano* allows every woman the opportunity to get advice from Project Runway's most successful and fierce winner.

i admit, i was always a huge fan of Christian's-- every week i would tune in to PR, eager to see what he would create. he was even memorable to hubby because of his repeated use of the word "fierce"; the man couldn't remember Christian's name, but if i said "you know, the 'fierce' guy", he instantly remembered, LOL!

with a foreward from Tim Gunn (if you get the book, don't skip this part!), Fierce Style touches on everything from how to create your own signature style, give your wardrobe more pizazz, how to dress your body type, the best places to shop for your style preferences (even on a budget!), beauty and hair tips, what inspires him, and the list goes on...


pic of Christian working, featured in chaper 7 (page 98)

throughout the book, Christian shares his own style blunders and missteps, lists his favorite (and not so favorite) things, and the best part of all? the glossary of terms at the back of the book (i'm glad i'm not the only one who uses the word fabulous to describe everything i love!)!

i really like this book because it's practical, fun to read, has amazing tips (and pics!), and each chapter is broken down into bites, rather than being long and drawn-out. you can literally pick this book up, open it to any page, and get a style tip, beauty inspiration or an idea on how to make the most of your own time and talents so you can be your most fabulous, fierce self.

great job Christian!

you can find Fierce Style: How to Be Your Most Fabulous Self in bookstores now and online at amazon.com

xo
first pic taken by me :)
Christian Siriano photo via amazon.com
*the publisher, The Hatchett Group, sent this book to me for review

what i'm reading: How Not To Look Old by Charla Krupp

How Not to Look Old by Charla Krupp isn't a book i would have chosen to read on my own, but since it showed up on my doorstep, i thought i'd take a look. this book, though geared at the over-40 population, is packed full of fabulous examples and advice on not growing old gracefully.

i really like this book-- the ideas are fabulous and Charla's tips completely make sense. some of the tips are a bit odd to me (don't wear red nail polish?!), i know i'll be adopting some of these tips now and in the future.

packed with eye-opening details on hair color, brows, lipstick, wrinkle-erasers, jeans, shapewear, jewelry, heels, and more, the book speaks to every woman: from low maintenance types who don't want to spend a fortune or tons of time on her looks to high maintenance women who believe in looking fabulous at any price. there's also too-old vs. just-right before and after photos, celebrity examples of good and bad style, shopping lists of Charla's brilliant buys in fashion and beauty products, coveted addresses of 'where the top beauty pros go,' fun sidebars- and more.

this best-seller has been updated since it was first published, and in it you'll find over 150 new Brilliant Buys, updated salon listings in 21 cities, and other fabulous advice and tips.

find How to Not Look Old at amazon.com

xo

What I'm Reading: Cosmo's Sexiest Beauty Secrets

when it comes to matters of sexiness and beauty, Cosmo has it covered! in the new book, Cosmo's Sexiest Beauty Secrets, the mag's editors share the best ways to create beauty that isn't just beautiful, but alluring.

each chapter covers the basics (skin type, tone, eye shape, hair texture, etc), but goes a bit further with great tips that you may not find in other beauty how-to's-- the Mesmerizing Eyes chapter, for example, helps you create everything from a romantic eye to emulating the i-forgot-to-remove-my-eye-makeup eye.

the book touches on other beauty topics aside from makeup that will help you create the best sexy beautiful looks; from hair to nails, body and skincare, it also has advice for finding your perfect scent and creating the perfect spa treatments at home. of course, in the grand tradition of Cosmo, the book also dedicates a chapter to what guys love (and hate) about our beauty habits!

the easy tone of this book is fun and fabulous-- it's easy to read and has some amazing tips. i love the fact that i can read a little here and there without it feeling overwhelming. there are great pictures and bite-sized tips throughout, making it a book to give (or get for yourself) for some new beauty inspiration.

find Cosmo's Sexiest Beauty Secrets at amazon.com

xo

what i'm reading: The One Hundred

The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own is Nina Garcia's second book, and while i have only read through the first two chapters (letters actually, as every item is in alphabetical order), i am loving it!

my copy sits next to me as i type this, and i can't wait to dive back into it. it's everything i expected, and i am so excited to read more!

the book contains the 100 items that Nina believes will never go out of style, and that have become absolutely indispensable for any woman reaching for her own eternal fashion look. think of it as the list of classic, yet always stylish, items to own so you are always prepared adn never have to feel like you "have nothing to wear" (some of the items, like a passport, are not for wearing).

Nina elaborates on each item, and finding that designer labels have very little to do with them makes this a must-read for everyone!

for an excerpt and a video featuring Nina on GMA, click here.

find The One Hundred at a bookstore near you and online at amazon.com


xo