Positive Progress with Melissa Hazek: Book Chat!

Having recently been reminded that I don't have to pay for my books and TV on DVD - I was ecstatic to find that my local library carried all of the items that I needed to feed/rot my brain (and if my local library did not have the items, another branch did, and all I had to do was "Request" and the item is delivered to my local branch! Beeeauutiful!)

So after 4 seasons of Beverly Hills 90210, 8 seasons of ER, and 2 movies, I decided it was time to start utilizing my noggin, and crack open the books again. I LOVE to read (if it is the right book), and can sit for hours doing so. I very much like the real life memoirs that reflect on horrible childhoods, heinous addictions, overcoming any sort of battles, dysfunctional families, depression (as a child or adult onset), psychological problems, abnormalities, and so on. I also enjoy a good mystery, fantasy (i.e. The Lovely Bones), and love story every once in a while.

I used to read alot, often times before bed, I would settle in, and read a chapter or two (sometimes more if the book was inside my head) before I turned off my bed lamp and fell asleep. This was when I lived without a husband in my bed. Since he goes to bed earlier than I, I quickly dropped my habit of bed reading as the lights bothered him (yes, even if he was already asleep). Although I have to give him credit, he did buy me an Itty Bitty Booklight one birthday - however, the light on that thing must be super-powered as it lit up our whole bedroom with a nice, fluorescent, ambient glow... Great if you are on an alien space craft, not great if your husband is trying to sleep!

My solution to this reading dilemma came to me one night after my John went to bed, and I was sitting all comfy in my recliner about to watch yet another re-run of Sex and the City on TBS. The lightbulb went off (thank god it was not the Itty Bitty lightbulb, or I may have been blinded!) and I thought, why keep watching re-runs after the husband retires to bed when I can have the entire QUIET house to myself to curl up in my recliner and read?!? AHA! ...

Needless to say, I have been frequenting my library for a few months now. Below is my reading list for the new few weeks/months (of course, items will be added as i find more books). The books I have read are in italics, and could be reviewed in later posts. Check out my list:

MAH's Fall Reading List

Look me in the eye : my life with Asperger's / John Elder Robison.

Mean girls grown up : adult women who are still queen bees, middle bees, and afraid-to-bees / Cheryl Dellasega.

Are you there vodka? It's me, Chelsea / Chelsea Handler.

Pretty little dirty : a novel / Amanda Boyden.

Notes from the mothership : the naked invisibles / by Adrienne Zurub.

Waiter rant : thanks for the tip--confessions of a cynical waiter / The Waiter [i.e., Steve Dublanic

The night of the gun : a reporter investigates the darkest story of his life, his own / David Carr.

The glass castle : a memoir / Jeannette Walls.

Sex and the city / Candace Bushnell.

Trading up / Candace Bushnell.

One Fifth Avenue / Candace Bushnell.

sTORI telling / Tori Spelling with Hilary Liftin.