Down the Rabbit Hole Book Review

Title: Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny
Author: Dolly Madison
Genre: Memoir
Format: Hardcover


______________________________________________
A former girlfriend of Hugh Hefner describes how her years inside the Playboy Mansion went from a fairy tale of A-list celebrity parties to an oppressive regime of strict rules, scheduled sex, and a total loss of identity, so much so that she even contemplated suicide.
______________________________________________










I picked this book up because I knew nothing about Playboy, the magazine or the house.  And since I never plan to be personally acquainted with Playboy, I hoped Holly Madison would be my behind-the-scenes sneak peak.  That is what you get: a sometimes dry but very informative sneak peak.

Holly shows the reader what it actually felt like to live in the Playboy Mansion: the strict rules, the fighting between girlfriends (that Hefner often fueled), the constant partying, the drugs, the bedroom routine.  This book truly is a behind the scenes look at mansion life.  It seemed as if Holly went out of her way to be honest about the goings on of the mansion, even when it made her look bad.  I really respect her honesty.  My one criticism is that she sometimes made herself look like a naive, innocent child and constant victim of the "mean girls" who had no way out of the lifestyle rather than a full-grown woman making a decision that kept her in a constant state of unhappiness.

About Hef.  He is a creepy, manipulative, old dude who likes to have sex with young women.  Why? Because it makes him feel powerful.  Because it seems that he wasn't in it because he enjoyed the sex.  There were a few occasions where Holly said that when he didn't get his way, he would burst into tears, mind you, he was like 80 years old at the time.  There was once when Kendra explained a time when he purposely tried to start a fight between his girlfriends because "he likes the drama."

Holly's story does not end with her getting out of the mansion.  She talks about how she adjusted, relationships after Hef, and figuring our her career.  This part of her story, getting out and adjusting, I found just as interesting as the time she spent in the Mansion.

Down the Rabbit Hole isn't always always entertaining; there was never a point where I felt like I couldn't put the book down.  It's good for the information, not the entertainment.  It wasn't fun and grabbing like a reality television show.  Sometimes I got bored but keep pushing on for sheer curiosity's sake.  That was my main struggle with this book: it could be dry sometimes.

Holly is honest about her mistakes, she does try to justify them a little but don't we all?

4 stars for the content.
3 stars for how it was delivered.

November 9 Book Review

Title: November 9
Author: Colleen Hoover
Genre: Contemporary NA
Format: eBook

___________________________________________________
Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move.  Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon's last day in L.A. together, anther eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel.  Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separates lives, then continue to meet on the same date every year.  Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.
___________________________________________________






So good.  SO GOOD.  Colleen Hoover, this is so good.  

You don't even want to read the description.  All you need to know is that two people decide to meet on the same day, every year, for 5 years.  

You don't want to know anything more before reading this book.  Dive right in!

My Best Reads of 2017 Part. 1

1.)  A Court of Thorns and Roses (whole trilogy)

The A Court of Thorns and Roses trilogy is a fantasy retelling of Beauty and the Beast.  Maas created a beautiful world with amazing characters.  I love everyone and everything so much.  Pleaseeeee read all 3!!!  This is my favorite series of all time.





2.)  Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity

The title says it all.  Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus is mentally stimulating and emotionally moving.  Nabeel "provide(s) an intimate window into a loving Muslim home (and he) shares how he developed a passion for Islam before discovering, almost against his will, evidence the Jesus rose from the dead and claimed to be God."  Be prepared to learn a lot about both Christianity and Islam.  And be prepared to get on an emotional roller coaster with the author as he describes making some of the hardest decisions of his life.









3.)  Nowhere But Up: The Story of Justin Bieber's Mom

Pattie Mallette's story is worth reading whether you consider yourself a Belieber or not.  Don't overlook it just because you aren't a fan of her son's music.  "Pattie shares with the world the story of a girl who felt abandoned and unloved.  Of a teenager who made poor choices.  Of a young woman who attempter suicide and could hardly bear to believe that God would ever care for her.  One who messed up, got pregnant, and got a second chance."






4.)  November 9

Contemporary New Adult.  If you like the genre, go ahead and pick up the book. Don't even read the description.  This is a book best read by going into it knowing absolutely nothing.













5.)  The Notorious Benedict Arnold

The Notorious Benedict Arnold is one of the most engaging biographies I have ever read.  Sheinkin turns the static figure of Benedict Arnold we all learn in elementary school into the complicated historical figure he truly was.  Like most of America's founders, Arnold was passionate, brave, and proud.  This biography show how a man so similar to his honored contemporaries could make a decision that would forever sully his name in America's history books.

A Court of Wings and Ruin Book Review

Title: A Court of Wings and Ruin

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Genre: New Adult Fantasy

Format: Hardcover

Series: Yes, Third of trilogy

Status of Series: Completed

This is the last book in the ACOTAR trilogy (though Maas will pick the series back up with other characters in 2018).  If you haven't started the series, click here to see my review of A Court of Thorns and Roses, the first book in this trilogy.

Immediately after finishing ACOWAR, I went back and reread most of ACOMAF.  Why?  Because I don't want to leave this world quite yet.  I have--to this day--never reread a book series.  Not Harry Potter.  Not Twilight.  But I started rereading this one.  In fact, I think I will reread the whole series.   ACOTAR is officially my favorite series of all time.

This was a satisfying end to the ACOTAR trilogy.  It didn't top ACOMAF (which was disappointing) but it was still very good.  I appreciated seeing Rhys and Feyre settle into their relationship.  They acted like a married couple, which rarely happens in YA/NA books.  It was done well.  I do wish there were more scenes between just the two of them though.  I loved what we got but I wanted more.  

The plot was constantly go, go, go.  From the second the book opens in the Spring Court, I was on my toes.  You know the war is coming and that war was intense.  I loved seeing everyone on the battlefield.  Especially Cassian.  Holy cow!  And I loved getting to know Azriel better.  The final battle was epic and I was terrified!  SJM wrote an ending that has me full of emotions.  Should've expected that ending.  Totally didn't.

My one complaint?  I wish I liked Feyre's sisters but I just can't seem to muster the energy to actually like them.  I tried, believe me.  I wanted them to be tenacious like Feyre was when she got to Prythian but (even though they add to the plot) they are just sorta there.  

One More Thing: Stories and other Stories Book Review

Title: One More Thing: Stories and other Stories
Author: B.J. Novak
Genre: Flash Fiction
Format: Hardcover
_______________________________________________________
B.J. Novak's One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories is an endlessly entertaining, surprisingly sensitive, and startlingly original debut collection that signals the arrival of a welcome new voice to American fiction.

In One More Thing, a boy wins a $100,000 prize in a box of Frosted Flakes - only to discover that claiming the winnings may unravel his family.  A woman sets out to seduce motivational speaker Tony Robbins - turning for help to the famed motivator himself.  A school principal unveils a bold plan to permanently abolish arithmetic.  An acclaimed ambulance driver seeks the courage to follow his heart and throw it all away to be a singer-songwriter...
_______________________________________________________


I assumed I was picking up a memoir.  That is generally what I assume when I pick up a book written by a celebrity (which is obviously a mistake since the assumption has led me wrong quite a few times).  OMT is actually a collection of short stories and flash fiction.  The stories range from just a few lines to 30-or-so pages long.

Once I realized I was reading flash fiction, I expected the stories to have a sense of humor reminiscent of The Office but it was nothing like that.  The stories aren't laugh out loud funny, they are a one-sided smile and quick breath out the nose funny (go ahead, do it and  you'll understand what I mean).  The majority of the stories have a dark, clever, sarcastic, and cynical sense of humor.   B.J. Novak is obviously brilliant and funny but his sense of humor is not for everybody.

I personally like B.J.'s dark and sarcastic sense of humor a lot but his flash is weird, really weird.  If you like dry, sarcastic, and sometimes twisted humor, you will like this book.  If you are looking for something light & funny, look elsewhere.  This is the perfect book to read if you don't want to get emotionally invested in a novel but still want to read a work of fiction.  It was perfect for me during college finals because a short burst of dark humor was the perfect distraction from monotonous studying.

I liked OMT 3 stars worth but it deserves 4 stars.  How about 3.7 stars?  That seems right somehow.

Strong Looks Better Naked Book Review

Title: Strong Looks Better Naked
Author: Khloe Kardashian
Genre: Health & Fitness, Memoir-adjacent
Format: eBook

_________________________________________________
Khloé Kardashian shares her secrets for finding strength of body, heart, mind, and soul with inspirational, revealing stories of her own struggles with weight, relationships, and her self-image.

In a culture that worships skinny, Khloe Kardashian writes with passion about the power of strength: a strong body becomes a strong mind, which builds to strength of heart, character, and ultimately strength of spirit.  This is an inspiring book about how to create strength and true beauty in every area of you life, inside and out.  The book features inspired personal stories from Khloe and practical how-to advice about building a strong body, mind, heart, and soul in your own life.
_________________________________________________



When I picked up this book, I assumed it was going to be a memoir.  All I actually knew was that it was written by Khloe Kardashian and I like watching KUWTK, so why not?  Turns out, Strong Looks Better Naked is a healthy living book.

The health advice is nothing revolutionary.  The depth doesn't come from the health information itself but in how Khloe presents it.  She writes like she talks, so you feel as if you are listening to a friend tell you about their journey to a healthier lifestyle.  She also gives the recipe for "Khloe's Famous Breaded Chicken."  If you watch KUWTK, you may think buying the book is worth it just for the recipe.  I already used it (hah).  So, yes, she gives some advice we've all heard before but the way the advice is presented is what sets the book apart.

Since SLBN probably won't have any health information that you haven't heard before, don't read it hoping its will be full of nutrition research, give you the ten secrets to becoming skinny in 10 days, or even a specific diet (of course, if that's what you are looking for, you probably wouldn't have picked up this particular book anyway).  SLBN is more of a personal journey, the way Khloe went about getting in shape: her eating & exercising habits and her mindset.

And don't be totally disappointed if you are hoping for a memoir.  There were some memoir-like aspects.  Khloe shares some of her childhood (her dad and his death), her relationship with Lamar, and addresses some scenes you may have seen on KUWTK.  The space she uses to talk about her father were my favorite parts of the book.

In the end, I enjoyed the book but not because I learned some revolutionary way to get in shape but because I enjoyed reading about Khloe's journey to fitness (and it can't hurt to be reminded of basic healthy habits).

Nowhere but Up: The Story of Justin Bieber's Mom

Title:  Nowhere but Up: The Story of Justin Bieber's Mom

Author:  Pattie Mallette

Genre:  Autobiography

Format:  eBook

I know a lot of people will either be turned off or turned on to this book simply because it was written by Justin Bieber's mother.  I want you to know that her story is worth reading.  Regardless of your opinions about her son, about music or Hollywood, her story is worth being told and it is worth being heard.

Pattie's story is incredible.  I have read a lot of memoirs and autobiographies written by high-profile individuals and this one of the top 2.  

Calling Pattie's childhood rough would be an understatement.  Starting with abuse from a young age.  Then drugs and alcohol as a teenager.  Then an attempted suicide.

Yes, this is the story of Justin Bieber's mother.  She talks about raising him as a single mom.  She talks about the struggles and joys of raising Justin on his rise to fame.  But the story is much more than that.  

This is Pattie Mallette's story.  The story of a young girl who didn't believe she was worth being loved until she met Jesus.  The story of a woman trying to overcome the horrors of her past.  And the story of a single mom doing her best to raise her child.