Brunette Ambition by Lea Michele

(notice all my tabs!)

From the Cover:

“This book is the story of how I got to where I am today. My hope is that something from it will inspire and motivate you, and also make you realize that anything you want to accomplish in your life is completely possible.” Lea Michele

“In Brunette Ambition – an illustrated book that’s part memoir, part how-to, and part style guide – Lea reveals the lessons and advice that have worked for her, from how she keeps comfortable on the red carpet and maintains flawless hair and makeup all night, to how she stays motivated to work out (even when she just wants to sit on the couch!). Lea shares her favorite recipes – for the hair masque she uses to restore fried ends, the comfort soup she eats to unwind on Sundays,…and many more. Most important, she reflects on the ways she remains grounded,centered, and true to who she is.”

In reading the synopsis above the most important sentence, is the last one – which speaks volumes “…she reflects on the ways she remains grounded, centered and true to who she is.” 

In a world full of “child stars gone wrong” this is so very refreshing. I realize she is still young (to me! She was born in 1986) but she has a great – strong – solid foundation!

“Be you – It’s so cheesy, but there’s no one better at being you than you.”

“Be proud of all the things that make you different.”

                                                                           Lea Michele

Lea Michele writes to young people. Encouraging them to be themselves and to be their very best. To work their hardest.  To be their very best.

This beautiful author shares tips on caring for yourself, eating right (with recipes), keeping fit, style and her life.

Even at 63, I picked up some fabulous tips from her.

I enjoyed reading about her “low-key” lifestyle. Her practical style of living seems odd in this age of outlandish “stars” trying to shock. But even in her low-key lifestyle she offers us a glimpse of her glamorous life on the red-carpet.

We see no crazy extravagance in her life, she seems to be very wise in all aspects.

I like that about her. About her book. It shows her readers that being authentic, being sincere is the best you can do for yourself. – Even if your life is without glamour! After all, we aren’t all created to be on a red carpet!

Beyond the book:

On Rachel Berry,

I loved Rachel Berry in Glee. She is my favorite character. I am always shocked when I hear people say “Rachel is so annoying!”  So I am quick to defend her by explaining her behavior!!

On Lea Michele,

None of us should be defined by our tragedies or our successes. Because it is adding all of our tragedies, mistakes, successes together that makes us a whole. Together they define us, they all work together to make us the person we were always intended to be. Whether we understand or not.

It’s no secret that I can’t carry a tune. I’ve always wanted to be able to “belt it on the fly” as Rachel was able to do but there is a reason God made me without a beautiful voice (one that should never be heard outside of a shower).

- It’s because He knew I would let it completely take over my life. I would let it define me.

Lea Michele is – in my opinion – one of the best singers – performers I have ever heard. But I don’t get the impression she lets it completely define her. She has a very well rounded life outside of her singing voice.

Maybe I see more in this beautiful woman than is actually there – but I don’t think so. I like her!

I liked the book. I’m buying copies for my grand girls!

I am very glad Lea Michele wrote Brunette Ambition!

http://leamichelemusic.com/

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

"In an unnamed South American country, a world-renowned soprano sings at a birthday party in honor of a visiting Japanese industrial titan. His hosts hope that Mr. Hosokawa can be persuaded to build a factory in their Third World backwater. Alas, in the opening sequence, just as the accompanist kisses the soprano, a ragtag band of 18 terrorists enters the vice-presidential mansion through the air conditioning ducts. Their quarry is the president, who has unfortunately stayed home to watch a favorite soap opera. And thus, from the beginning, things go awry.

..............................

Joined by no common language except music, the 58 international hostages and their captors forge unexpected bonds. Time stands still, priorities rearrange themselves. Ultimately, of course, something has to give, even in a novel so imbued with the rich imaginative potential of magic realism. But in a fractious world, Bel Canto remains a gentle reminder of the transcendence of beauty and love. --Victoria Jenkins"

Good Reads Review

I liked this book. I started reading it while flying home from a trip – once I got home, I put it down for a couple of weeks – busy! Then picked it up without having to review it. Very memorable and full of wonderful quotes.

     “For a man to know what he has when he had it, that is what makes him a fortunate man.”

Funny quote:

     “Maybe there would be a bad outcome for some of the others but no-one was going to shoot a soprano.”

     “It’s easier to love a woman when you can’t understand a word she’s saying.”

The quote that immediately reminded me of my husband:

     “But together they moved through the world quite easily, two small halves of courage making a brave whole.”

The reader continually hopes for the fairy tale ending. If one is thinking logically one knows it can’t turn out well for everyone, but there is still hope.

It’s so easy to see the Stockholm Syndrome at work and how one could easily (?) fall into the thinking of acceptance.

Music lovers will especially enjoy the “Lyrics” of this book.

You can read about Ann Patchett H.E.R.E.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

"Sylvia Plath was an excellent poet but is known to many for this largely autobiographical novel which was first published in 1963 under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas. The Bell Jar has become a classic of American literature.

The book is based on her own experience yet one has to be careful not to confuse this novel with an autobiography, it has been written with a certain audience and effect in mind, 10 years after the actual events.

Content

Esther, an A-student from Boston who has won a guest editorship on a national magazine, finds a bewildering new world at her feet. Her New York life is crowded with possibilities, so that the choice of future is overwhelming, but she can no longer retreat into the safety of her past. Deciding she wants to be a writer above all else, Esther is also struggling with the perennial problems of morality, behaviour and identity. In this compelling autobiographical novel, a milestone in contemporary literature, Sylvia Plath chronicles her teenage years - her disappointments, anger, depression and eventual breakdown and treatment - with stunning wit and devastating honesty. --Penguin Books "

http://www.sylviaplath.de/plath/belljar.html

I picked up this book for only one reason – It is mentioned several times on the Gilmore Girls.  Lorelai and Rory are warming up in front of their gas oven and Lorelai says,”Did anyone ever think that maybe Sylvia Plath wasn’t crazy, she was just cold?”

This statement intrigued me so I did some research on Sylvia Plath which led me to her book, “The Bell Jar.”

“The Bell Jar” is described as the Memoir of Sylvia Plath and her descent into mental illness.  It was during the era of electrical shock treatments.  It is a sad book. – but not depressing. 

{over the last year I have discovered the difference between sadness and depression.}

It’s a short book – easy to read.

The comment made by Lorelai on The Gilmore Girls referred to the fact that Sylvia Plath did indeed stick her head in the gas oven and commit suicide on February 11, 1963. Her book “The Bell Jar” was published under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas on January 14, 1963.

You may read about Sylvia Plath  H.E.R.E.

A passage worth noting from “The Bell Jar” -

     “A girl lives in some out-of-the-way town for 19 years, so poor she can’t afford a magazine, and then she gets a scholarship to college and wins a prize here and a prize there and ends up steering New York like her own private car.”

I’m glad I read it.