I'm obviously off my normal scheduling for my book clubs. I have to be honest. Atlas Shrugged is taking me forever to get through. Partly because it's, well, Atlas Shrugged and also partly because my subway rides in the morning have been more like a trip downtown in a sardine can. Seriously, it's hard to read when you're squished!!
Well, this is a book I read this over the holidays and I really loved it.
Diary of a Stage Mother's Daughter by Melissa Francis
Okay, so I have to admit that I'm fascinated by this whole stage mother thing. I mean, Dance Moms and Toddlers & Tiaras are basically two of my favorite shows. (Okay, and I've seen a number of Cheer Perfection episodes too. Sue me.)
Fortunately, the shows are generally pretty popular which makes me feel better knowing that I'm not the only one with this weird fascination.
I saw this book in Barnes & Noble (a dangerous, dangerous place for me) and knew I had to get it.
Child star.
Stage mother.
And Harvard.
Yea.
It's a super, super quick read. But if you've seen every Little House on the Praire rerun, you should read this! It was very interesting to read about her experience with "stardom," how her relationship deteriorated with her mother (and how it differed from her sister's), and how she made a different life for herself.
I really don't look at kids in commercials the same. Also, I feel like I should mention this as a warning, I had to really resist from buying all the other child star memoirs out there!!! Spend a few minutes clicking "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought..." section. There are tons of similar memoirs. Everyone from Maureen McCormick to Jodi Sweetin has one; terribly cheesy titles and everything.
So, this is a "guilty pleasure" kind of read, but it's entertaining!
xoxo





















love your old pictures of your penny loafers, can you do penny loafer shots, you look great in them.
ReplyDeleteI read The Ninth Wife, by Amy Stolls 2 summers ago and I really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteHa I saw the cover and was instantly like "That's Cassandra from Little House!", so I guess I should definitely read this :)
ReplyDeleteIt seems I rarely have time for pleasure reading as well :/
ReplyDeleteA book I recently finished, although it is not new is Pledged by Alexandra Robbins. I read it once, when I was much younger, but really enjoyed re-reading it some 10 years later, or about that it seems. Non-fiction, it's an undercover expose on Greek Life. I have never been in the Panhellenic system so it was a really interesting read to me. I know you weren't in Greek life either, maybe you would enjoy it as well? The book has some bad reviews from former Sorority girls, but I think most were put off by the concept, however, when read in full it gives a pretty balanced picture, of positive and negative aspects I believe. I was in a non-Panhellenic pre-law frat, however it is a stark removal from southern Greek life! Good read if you get a chance ;)
How ironic, I did a book-related post today too!! I love "guilty pleasure" reads, sometimes those are the best kind of books :)
ReplyDeleteXoxo,
Vina
theprettyinprep.blogspot.com
Atlas Shrugged is such an incredible book! It took me a while to read as well, but after finishing it I got sucked into some of Ayn Rand's other books (The Fountainhead and We The Living). Can't wait to hear your thoughts on Atlas Shrugged...it's really a perspective-changing book.
ReplyDelete-Irina
www.chocolateatime.com
You should definitely read Julie Andrews' memoir Home. Its about her early life and definitely has a very stage parent aspect to it. So interesting though. I'll have to give this one a read.
ReplyDeleteYou should definitely read Julie Andrews' memoir Home. Its about her early life and definitely has a very stage parent aspect to it. So interesting though. I'll have to give this one a read.
ReplyDeleteIf you liked that, you will LOVE Alison Arngrim's memoir "Confessions of a Prairie Bitch." It was fantastic, I can't recommend it enough.
ReplyDeleteTotally didn't pick up on the fact that it was a memoir until I was 3/4 of the way through the post. Just goes to show how surreal that entire lifestyle seems...that or how terrible I am at reading critically.
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