YOU ARE WHAT YOU READ

So, if you are what you read, I'm not really sure what I am. Clearly I'm confused, clearly I'm making a life to-do list. And clearly I am procrastinating on what I should be getting done.

Current list of bedside books:

1) Meggin Cabot's SHE WENT ALL THE WAY.

People, I'm in a PBE (post breakup era). The girl wrote one of my favorite chick lit books ever (EVERY BOY'S GOT ONE) and continues to write scandalous titles and clean books with snarky heroines I identify with. So I curl up with her books, I identify the hell out of them, and then I find out that I get a happy ending! What's not to love? In the current read her snarky, under appreciated, recently dumped writer heroine is stranded with a hot actor and isn't giving him the time of day out of principle. They just had a brawl about whether to ditch her laptop in the snow. Finally, a REAL moral dilemma! This is writing I can get into.

2) Michael Berg's THE WAY.

I was super depressed this weekend and I was talking with a girlfriend about inspiring books that changed our lives, and this one popped right to the top of my list. Before you read any further, allow me to disclose that it's about Kabbalah. Yup, don't hate it til you try it! If I were to offer a gross oversimplification I'd say that it's about how being good to others can solve the world's problems. I told you it was a gross oversimplification! I bought it years ago and have found it to be one of the most enlightening and peaceful books I've ever read. I'm usually reading something spiritual at any given time, but this is one of the best.


3) IF THE BUDDHA DATED

My mom gave this to me for my birthday. Which was possibly ironic given that I had a serious boyfriend on that morning (but not, notably, on that evening). It applies Buddhist principles, Quakerism (yup!), and other stuff to the realm of relationships. It's good, but Buddhism sometimes bothers me because I"m not evolved. I'm not always down with 'what is'. I"M NOT THERE YET!!! I don't feel in the mood to date yet, so this book is technically mid-read, but more realistically tucked in my drawer.

4) HOW PROUST CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE

I know you think I'm on a self-help bent, but this is actually a sarcastic and witty (sardonic? is that the word for it?) book using Proust's life story and excerpts from his work to give you tongue-in-cheek on topics such as "how to fail successfully" and so on. I was running out of Milan "Marry me!" Kundera books to read, so I looked up authors influenced by him and came upon this one.

I've never read Proust's famed books, which are 204902249 pages long, so getting the recap is nice too. One of my favorite quotes from his writing so far has been "one must never miss an opportunity of quoting things by others which are always more interesting than those one thinks up oneself". Other highlights of this book include discussions of his ongoing urinary issues and the codependent relationship he had with his mother.


5) SCREW IT, LET'S DO IT!

Wow, I guess I'm all up with the weird titles right now. This one is Richard Branson's business lessons books. If I had to list the top 3 people I'd like to meet, he'd be up there. (Madonna's not on my list, so har har Susie!) He's a fascinating, gut-driven businessman who tries anything and everything. I don't have his set of nerves, but it's fun to step into his shoes. Plus it's a happy book to read when business school is boring you out of your skull. It helps remind you (here: me) why you went in the first place. And it's always nice to see someone who has a jolly good time of their life. I don't know many people like that lately!


If you are what you watch, I am a Desperate Housewife.
If you are what you listen to, I just might be "No Way Out", the Puff Daddy and the Family album that I dug up this weekend and that is, if you ask me, not even as good as Ma$e's first album. But that's another thought for another post.
If you are what you drink, I'm green tea.
If you are what you eat, I'm a soy turkey wrap.
If you are what you wear, I'm a heavy grey wool vest with misaligned buttons.
If you are what you think, I'm the mental drafting of a very, very bad professor review for one of my instructors.
If you are what you do, I'm sudoko to the zillionth power and a serious, serious procrastinator.