I finished Water for Elephants a couple of weeks ago and it slipped my mind to blog about it until I was updating my to read list. I am more into self-help, informational, research-based literature. I rarely finish anything that’s fiction. (Rarely, not never!) This historical novel was absolutely fantastic, though. I hate to give a synopsis. I feel like it takes a lot of the fun out of reading the book. In (very) short, this novel is the reminiscences of a 90-something year old man who spent much of his youth working in a circus. It has everything that anyone could ever want in a story, love, lust, conflict, excitement; it makes you laugh and it makes you cry. But the real appeal to me was Gruen’s writing style. It’s warm and inviting. I didn’t want to read this book in a busy breezeway while I was waiting to go into class. I wanted to read it on my couch with dim lighting and a cup of coffee.

Gruen’s latest book, Ape House, just debuted this month and if it’s written in the same inviting tone as Water for Elephants, it will surely be added to the long list of books I intend to read in the near future.

I say…read it!

If you can ignore the title (which isn’t entirely applicable, because they aren’t teaching anyone how to be a bitch) and the totally irreverent tone in which the book is written (hey, not all of us find it funny), you’ll find a wealth of information in Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin’s book Skinny Bitch. While the information is not as extensive as that covered in the Omnivore’s Dilemma (and understandably so, seeing as how the Omnivore’s Dilemma is a documentary and Skinny Bitch is more of a guide to a natural diet), it’s definitely an easier read.

Skinny Bitch has received mixed reviews from the friends I have who have read (or at least attempted to read) it. The book advocates a vegan diet. For most of us the thought of giving up meat and dairy is preposterous. I mean, what would we eat? Fortunately, the book does an excellent job of justifying why one should live a vegan lifestyle. (The FDA and the USDA and all organizations related to regulating the food industry are in bed with the actual food industry. The information they are giving us and the crap they are feeding us benefits their lovers, not us!)

If giving up dairy is as easy as giving up meat was, I’ll have no problem. But something tells me, it’s not going to be. If you get around to reading Skinny Bitch, you’ll find that you can actually be physically addicted to cheese. While I do like to take all of these books with a grain of salt (I’m not quite ready to give up my coffee and my merlot yet…or ever), I know that what Freedman and Bournouin are saying about the food industry in the United States is true and I don’t want to be part of supporting these corrupt industries. As a student, I can’t afford to break my budget shopping at Whole Foods (or Whole Paycheck, as it’s so often referred to). But I can buy affordable produce at local farmer’s markets. Fortunately for me, there are a plethora of affordable, vegan-friendly restaurants in Central Florida.

With all of that said, I recommend Skinny Bitch for anyone who is looking to educate themselves on the meat and dairy industries in the United States (and anyone willing to make dietary changes in response to their findings).

Interested in following my vegan dining adventures? Well, remember when I mentioned that I was collaborating with a friend on a new blog? Well its debut is finally here! AMPlified Culture is a work in progress, but I will definitely be documenting my vegan ventures there. Add it to your RSS feed or your blogroll or your google reader, but whatever you do, don’t miss a beat!

Why She Buys (Bridget Brennan) – A fairly entertaining read considering it’s a marketing book. It was not particularly eye-opening in regards to uncovering what women want. Though, if read by a man, I’m sure it would solicit a completely different review. There are topics covered in this book that I found most compelling. The first is that women have the power! “Women are the driving force of the global economy.” The majority of purchases are either made or influenced by women. There are more women with careers (and therefore their own money to spend) than ever before.  “Men drive the majority of senior-level business decisions. Which means that men are usually the people who have final say in designing and approving products that target women…” (Brennan, 17). Do you see the disconnect people? The second topic that I found particularly compelling was the explanation of biological differences between men and women. Brennan talks about how man and women are SO different (and they see the world so differently as a result), that they basically function in their own (very different) worlds. Interestingly enough, I’ve been identifying many of the marketing shortcomings that are discussed in this book in the world around me. You know that a book/a professor/a documentary has done it’s job when you see it’s application in the world around you. While this book isn’t exactly a thriller or particularly revolutionary, I vote it as a good read for any marketer and every man!

French Women Don’t Get Fat (Mireille Guiliano) – Not much to say about this one. I bought it with the expectation of learning some fascinating tricks. (Silly me, everyone knows there are no quick fixes when it comes to your weight/health!) The content was slightly disappointing. Everyone knows deep down inside that the “secret” to maintaining a healthy weight is moderation, fruits, vegetables and exercise. BUT, the writing was entertaining. Guiliano has a sense of humor and you can’t help but like her as she shares the art of being/acting French. I must say that, above all else, the purchase of this ebook was worth it just for the recipes. The Summer soups, yogurt and bread recipes are enough to send a foodie into a coma AND it’s all healthy. If you’re looking for some new recipes, I give it a thumbs up. If you’re looking for a book on healthy habits, I would only recommend it if pizza, burgers, fries and anything fried is a part of your regular diet.

The Gospel According to Coco Chanel (Karen Karbo) – This was an impulse buy. I mean what [bookworm of a] girl could resist a title like this? I was expecting some Coco Chanel rules to live by with plenty of humor scattered throughout. I was wrong. This is the history of the woman who revolutionized fashion for women. And while I was disappointed at first that it wasn’t some sort of fashion comedy, I found myself really enjoying it. Gabrielle Chanel (yes, Gabrielle) was a piece of work. Always loving, never marrying and always working. While some people might find it a bit silly to learn the history of a fashion icon (especially those of us– like me– who aren’t in the fashion industry), it’s not as useless as you think! I was recently at a networking luncheon and I met a fashion designer. Someone asked her if all of the designs were hers. Her response was that all of the designs were hers, but she had a team that did the sewing for her. And I thought….Just like Chanel! And then I got to share my little story about Chanel! hehe. It’s an interesting read that focuses not only on the life and times of Coco, but also on the evolution of women’s fashion. Whether or not I would recommend it would depend on who you are and what you like to read.

Since I received the nook (on June 10th), I’ve read 2 books! I know that 20 days seems like plenty of time to read two books, but it’s really quite record breaking for me. I’m a busy woman. I don’t have space in my purse to carry around books.  (Ha! Anyone who has seen my purse knows I’m lying.) Even if I were compelled to carry around a novel or two, it gets annoying to flip pages or find the nearest object/junk mail/job application to hold my page while I walk the dog/make dinner/answer the phone. I think you get my drift. I just whip the little gadget out and read no matter where I am…no pages to turn, no place to lose (it knows where I left off!) and even better–no highlighter/pen/notebook to jot down my thoughts or interesting quotes. That’s right, I highlight and make notes right there on the nook’s touchscreen. Love it!

You know what else is amazing? (If you own one, I’m sure you’re thinking “of course I know what else is amazing!”) Barnes and Noble picks up the bill for my 3G. While I can’t exactly go browsing facebook on their dime, I can download a book while I’m in the car, if it strikes my fancy. (Of course I’m in the passenger’s seat when I’m downloading this book. Honestly people! How crazy do you think I am?)

My only gripe, which is sure to be fixed with a simple software update, is that you can only see your highlights/notes by “flipping” back through the book. The Barnes and Noble ereader for the iPhone allows you to view a list of all of the highlights/notes you made. I have done some research and I am not the only one who has taken issue with this inconvenience. I trust that the voices of nook owners across the country will be heard soon and that they can do a little software update to smooth things over.

Until then, happy reading!

Stay tuned for reviews on all of the books I’ve been reading!