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Now Reading

2013 October 30
by WWGD

WildReview-WhatWouldGwynethDo

Now back to my personal little book club

I finished Where’d You Go, Bernadette? quickly. It was a good, fun read without being too frivolous and was the perfect antidote to Sharp Objects. There were a few times I was sitting there thinking “huh, what the heck is she talking about?” but once you embrace the zaniness and dive in, it’s worth it for the entertainment factor alone.

Then I squeezed in Man Repeller: Seeking Love. Finding Overalls. I wanted to love this book because I love Leandra Medine’s fearless style and natural beauty. I wanted to love it because she’s a fellow blogger and I love that bloggers are writing books now and I hope to write one some day. But I still couldn’t bring myself to love it. The writing is fine and the topics are humorous enough but I felt old reading it. I think it is a book for a 23 to 27 year old. I am 35.

Next up was Wild.

Oh, Wild. Queen of the 2013 book clubs. Modern-day guide to kickass womanhood. So good that Reese Witherspoon is shooting the movie now book.

Here is the only mistake I made with Wild: I kept putting it down. Kids and life and sleep kept getting in the way and when I would find my way back to it, it would take me a few pages to remember where I was, get back in Cheryl mode and really immerse. Wild is best read in one solid weekend with little distractions around, a big old glass of wine, maybe a fire going in the fireplace. You need to really lose yourself in this book to appreciate its brilliance. And brilliant it is. The writing is fantastic, in my humble opinion. Real, raw, relatable. You feel everything with her – emotions, physical pain, fears. The fear got me the most. With every man she encountered I kept silently screaming at her “you’re going to get attacked!” It made me realize how fearful I am and her fearlessness (or moreso the control she had over her own fears) was the best take away I got from the book. That and the love she had for her mother. As a mother and a daughter, the way she describes that relationship – good and bad – was humbling and enlightening all at once. Love her or hate her, the Oprah Book Club version was good, too. Her notes at the end were thoughtful and a nice way to reflect on some of the book’s best passages. And finally, Reese is shooting the movie now and sharing some fun shots from set on her Instagram (@reesewitherspoon) so if you decide to read it and want a visual, there you have it.

Read Wild. It’s worth it.

I think my next pick is Sister Mother Husband Dog: Etc. I need a little Ephron-like thinking in my life right now. After that, I might dive into self-help mode with The Secrets of Happy Families. I consider us a pretty happy bunch, but I always love a good secret or two… 😉

Reading anything good right now that I should add to my list? Share in the comments!

*disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links

6 Responses
  1. October 30, 2013

    Looooooved this book too. Could not put it down (totally relate about life getting in the way!). I’ve just read Americanah by Chimamanda Adiche – fabulous. Extremely well written and thought provoking – has made everything I have picked up to read since seem flimsy and badly written. Have you tried “Cutting for Stone”? Another didn’t want to put downer ….

    • WWGD permalink*
      November 1, 2013

      Amazing, thanks! Will check them out!

  2. Lindsay permalink
    October 31, 2013

    Glad you liked it! I agree, immersing yourself in it is the way to go – it’s about such an intense experience that an intense approach suits it best. Not sure how I feel about Reese Witherspoon as the lead though… I’ll be interested to see the trailers! The next time you’re in the mood for some fiction, I highly recommend The Husband’s Secret. I could not put it down! And I agree with Amanda, Cutting for Stone is also wonderful.

    • WWGD permalink*
      November 1, 2013

      Ooh see, I am kind of ok with Reese in the lead. As long as she doesn’t come across as too Reese-y, if you know what I mean. Clearly Cutting for Stone will be added to the queue!

      • Lindsay permalink
        November 1, 2013

        I know exactly what you mean, and I agree. I just can’t picture her shooting heroin… or getting dirty at all. But I guess that’s what acting is all about!

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