Better (way) late than never. This is what I read during July:
Average Expectations by Shep Rose
I succumbed to reading another book by a Bravolebrity, specifically of the OG Southern Charm variety.
A month and a half after reading and I cannot remember that much about the book. One thing that stands out is the fact that Shep disarms the reader with his “aw shucks”-esque attitude that translates to the manuscript.
It is difficult to shake Shep Rose’s small screen reality persona as a womanizer. He shares some rather embarrassing photos of himself throughout upper adolescence and I now understand. I suspect he is of the type who never attracted girls but eventually grew out of his awkward stage. Coupled with his financial security and the mid-thirties power flip, he has a trifecta that gives him the Teflon-like attitude towards commitment.
I don’t think this is what he intended for me to get out of his book.
A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost
I ordered this via iTunes on a whim after it was a clue on Jeopardy. There is a smugness about Colin Jost that I cannot stand. Maybe it is his Harvard education. Maybe it is that he bagged one of the highest profile actresses in Hollywood. Maybe it is because he is head writer of a heritage television show. I was ready to find his humanity.
Find his humanity, I did! First, I want to point out how much I admire the reverence with which he speaks about his mom. She was a doctor with the FDNY and one of the first responders during 9/11.
Colin Host’s book had me belly laughing as I did with Gary Janetti’s, Brad Goreski’s, and Dave Holmes’ memoirs. Yes, it is true: Colin Jost is as witty as a high profile gay man. There is not a joke about him that he is not in on and I appreciate that self deprecating humor.
If you cannot make a joke about yourself, I don’t want to hear your jokes about others. Colin’s job is to literally write jokes. Literally he beat us to his punchline.
After Perfect by Christina McDowell
There is a certain narrative that has emerged to the forefront amongst sometimes striving, nearly always mid-to-upper crust white women. We see it all the time with the Real Housewives. I saw it in Christina McDowell’s memoir.
Christina’s father was indicted and served a prison sentence for a number of financial crimes. As if that was not enough, he took out a number of lines of credit in her name in an attempt to keep the high balling lifestyle for his wife and three daughters. This effectively destroyed her credit rating and derailed her life path.
I bought Christina McDowell’s memoir after putting down her recent novel The Cave Dwellers with tears in my eyes. Fair warning: her story is dark.
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Of course I just had to read the book of the summer!
I love anything 1980s and Malibu Rising is set against 1982. For some reason as I was reading it, I felt like it was heading, hurtling really, towards tragedy. The story has a happy content ending, really satisfying.
