Book Review: "My Booky Wook" by Russell Brand

Russell Brand is a celebrity figure whom I've always found to be fascinating. "Get Him to the Greek" is a permanent fixture in our home - our go-to film when there's nothing good on TV and we want guaranteed entertainment and laughs (despite the fact that we've seen it dozens of times). I think Brand is brilliantly funny in that film.

Part One of Brand's autobiographical series,My Booky Wook, was rather entertaining and amusing. I did find myself laughing out loud every so often during my reading. Nothing in it was really unexpected from what I had already learned about Brand through the media, but some of the details were surprising and interesting. For example, the story about how Brand lost his virginity was not really a shocker, but it explains a lot. It was impressive to me how vividly he seems to recall much of his childhood, adolescence and beyond, especially considering how much drugs and booze he put into his body. I also found both his lexicon and syntax to be rather sophisticated.

I would recommend Brand's book to anyone who's ever been fascinated by the man. If you have never taken an interest in his personality, work or life, then this book probably isn't for you, because it goes really into depth about his life and experiences. Now that I'm finally finished with his first book, I'm just starting his second, "My Booky Wook 2" which seems like it can thankfully pick up where the other left off and tell more about his adult life and experiences as a celebrity. Here are some of my favorite excerpts from My Booky Wook:

"Weeks passed, gerbils germinated. I think Barney disgraced himself by getting pregnant with one of his son's children; I despaired of them. I did consider a Sodom and Gommorah-style smiting, preserving only Barney, but when I looked at their little faces my wrath was assuaged: 'How can I stay mad at you? You incestuous, cannibal little slags.'"

"My mum used to send me these postcards from hospital....There'd always be some encoded, 'Try and be a good boy' message stitched into it. Well, I wish I'd been naughtier, if anything. When I look back, it's not those misdeeds I regret...but the times when I conformed. I regret that I didn't realize...it's all just a trick to indoctrinate you into being a conditioned, tame, placid citizen. Rebel, children, I urge you, fight the turgid slick of conformity with which they seek to smother your glory."

And lastly: "Another thing which happened at that orgy that shouldn't is a washing-machine repair man turned up--not as a guest, but to repair the washing machine. That's bad scheduling, isn't it? 'Are you busy between nine and twelve on Wednesday?' 'No, not really, well...I was planning to have an orgy.'

Book Review: "Not Dead and Not For Sale" By Scott Weiland

It was perfect timing that I bought and read this book in mid-August, as I had tickets to see Stone Temple Pilots play a show on the beach over Labor Day weekend. And they were still really good live!

Something I loved about his book was that Weiland would talk about a certain time in his life, and then talk about a few songs he'd written during that time, and explain what the lyrics were about. As I listened to the songs on my ipod while I read each chapter on the beach, I could make sense of what he was singing and it was a really cool literary-meets-musical experience. Sure, Weiland talked about his experiences getting loaded and doing smack, but he didn't focus on his drug problem. Rather than bragging, it came off like he was just being honest about the history of his music and life as a musician.

He did talk about his childhood, and it surprised me to learn that he grew up in a financially rather well-off family. One part that I found shocking about Weiland's life was a trip he took to Paris one winter. He talked about nearly being murdered and castrated in the Parisian countryside and only barely escaping with his nuts. Crazy.

My favorite part about Weiland's stories was learning what a sensitive, mellow guy he seems to be...not something I'd sensed much from his music, as it's often dark and semi-heavy. He's also really devoted to his family and only really wrote about one woman the whole novel. Quite a contrast from reading the Motley Crue autobiography right before this one. I do recommend Weiland's book if you want a glimpse into the vocals and dynamic of Stone Temple Pilots.

Book Review: "The Dirt" by Motley Crue

Length: 400-some pages
Genre: Band Autobiography

I love to read band and artist autobiographies and biographies. This one, written by all four members of Motley Crue, was riveting! I wasn't expecting this one to be so un-put-downable, but it really was. Obviously the language and literary sophistication left something to be desired, but other than that, I was so into this book! Between the bandmates' detailed stories of their respective childhoods, their meeting, their early days as a band, their mind-bogglingly numerous sexcapades and drug abuse over the years, and their highs and lows as a major touring rock band since the 80s, it was all a lot to take in and all quite shocking to read about. Most interesting, was the fact that it was told from EACH of the bandmates' perspectives, so you really get a real feel for their individual personalities and a full idea of where everyone's heads were at during certain times and events. Additionally, it was hard to keep track of all the girls/girlfriends they wrote about because there were so many!

Other than the shallow goings-on that one might expect in such an artist autobiography, Motley Crue also wrote about some really personal and difficult times that each of them went through apart from the band. From Nikki Sixx's rough childhood and Vince Neil's detailing his daughter's unfortunate health problems, to Mick Mars' health problems and Tommy Lee's jail stint--by the end of these chapters, I was somehow oozing compassion for these guys who had seemed like such pigs at various earlier points throughout the book. It made me see the members of Motley Crue as real people with feelings and sensitivity as musicians, even if their pursuits and music may be lacking in integrity.

Motley Crue knew what they stood for and what they didn't stand for, and they sensed early on that their stories would be valuable and a juicy dish for readers and fans someday. Their story is rare and there will never be another band quite like them--they are four extremely original personalities and artists. Also included in "The Dirt" are about 20 pages of full color glossy photos of the band from their respective childhoods, to their first promotional photos to their respective wedding days. The photos help to visually narrate the lengthy read. I highly recommend this delectably deviant read.

Poem for Max

Little (God's) Creature
by Samuel Hazo

"Do you know what love is? Get a dog."
- Mona Van Duyn

Simply by lying down and being
dog, he demonstrates how
satisfaction differs from fulfillment.
Oscar's fulfilled.

Without
a clock he knows the time
of night, of year, of age.
...

What makes me love this pooch...?
...Is it
because he pays attention
and accepts contentment as life's
best reward?
Is it because
he thinks precisely with his nose
and chats concisely with his tail?
Or is it just his irreplaceability?
Each night he lies beside me
while I read

In dog's arithmetic
he's half my age, but catching up...
How innocent he is of malice,
treachery, impatience, envy
and the fear of death.

I read.
He sleeps.
We share mortality
in silence, breath by breath.

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

I just finished reading this, finally. I mean, war books can take a long time to get through, right? So it goes. Anyway, Slaughterhouse Five is largely about author Kurt Vonnegut's experiences fighting as an American soldier in World War II. His tone and phrasing throughout the book are full of dark humor. A commonly used expression in Slaughterhouse is, "So it goes." It is Vonnegut's unique writer's device, used to transition from A to B in his writing, and to explain the "why" behind unjust events. To me, it's Vonnegut's equivalent of saying "Shit happens," "And that was that." Here's an example of how he uses the phrase: "..they saw some other people moving down by the riverside and they shot at them. They hit some of them. So it goes."

Vonnegut mainly writes about the awfulness of one particular bombing, in which he was present after he'd been captured as a prisoner of war during the final months of World War II. It was the Bombing of Dresden, an air raid bombing in Germany in 1945, whose death toll and destruction Vonnegut implies, were greater than the death toll and destruction of Hiroshima, Japan. (Casualties according to estimates in the 1970s by comparison: Hiroshima - 71,379; Dresden - 135,000). (More recent estimates suggest the casualties from Dresden to be between 22,000-25,000).

The plot of Slaughterhouse Five, and the main characters, are presented in such a way that Vonnegut's timeline of events is extremely erratic. This disjointed storyline is perhaps a coping mechanism for Vonnegut the writer, or to represent a reflection of a soldier's nightmarish memories. OR perhaps a way to make the story more interesting and bearable for readers, or himself. It does make the story more full, more colorful, and much less horrible to read about the destruction and aftermath of the bombing. His erratic plotline, absurd events and darkly comedic commentary make me think that Vonnegut himself must have suffered serious psychological repercussions from having witnessed the firebombing of Dresden. So it goes. (and by the way, I generally found this book to be very entertaining, enjoyable and historically educational).

Favorite excerpts:

[after the author compares the wreckage of Dresden aesthetically to the face of the moon].
"Nobody talked much as the expedition crossed the moon. There was nothing appropriate to say. One thing was clear: Absolutely everybody in the city was supposed to be dead, regardless of what they were, and that anybody that moved in it represented a flaw in the design. There were to be no moon men at all."

"Billy got out of bed in the moonlight. He felt spooky and luminous, felt as though he were wrapped in cool fur that was full of static electricity. He looked down at his bare feet. They were ivory and blue."

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Genre: Self-help; travel-adventure narrative
Length: 445 pages (compact version)
Purchase here (used: $3 ; new: $8)

You've probably heard of this book. I'm not a girly-girl, but personally I found it helpful--even comforting to read. It reminded me that I don't have to be traditional if I don't want to be. It reminded me that I don't HAVE to get married and have kids by age 30--or by any age for that matter.

I can relate in so many ways to Gilbert's journey, reflections and her most cherished role--that of a writer. After a bad breakup--and much deliberation and desperation-- she chose to temporarily leave her life in New York City and travel to Italy, India and Indonesia for one year (4 months each). I too was seeking something more in 2009 when I went to South Korea for one year. The events that lead up to my travels mirrored Gilbert's story in many ways. So, this story spoke to me on a sincere, personal level. But I believe Gilbert's message is so universal--anyone can embark on a similar, soul-searching adventure, (and without the international travel). This is what I took Gilbert's message to be: If you're stuck in a rut and you can't find your way out, take a bold leap and create a new path for yourself--one that might defy convention--one that feels right for YOU. Search yourself and your surroundings--or change your surroundings--be willing to work at it. Don't hold onto your possessions and your attachments so tightly. Be yourself and allow time, space and people to help heal you.

I wasn't much a fan of Gilbert's quirky, informal writing style at first, but I came to appreciate it as her own. She added a lot of needed texture by researching the histories, evolution and etymologies of the things she wrote about and including her findings along with her personal anecdotes and musings--which were oftentimes hilarious. She at times revealed details of her darkest hours--something to which every reader can reach out and connect. I eventually came to like her writing style, but I do think it was very "Sex and the City" at times, too. (Only more cultured, with less drinking and much less sex).

Something that still strikes me as a little peculiar is how "perfectly" everything seemed to evolve throughout the story. I find myself asking several questions. 1. Had Gilbert not had a wealth of prior international travel experience, would she have adapted so well to living in 3 foreign countries for a year during her writings? 2. Had she not had financial support and abundant resources to pull from, would she have been able to fund such a wild, luxurious and therapeutic journey? However, I believe her message is that we should each create our own journey--whatever works for each person's budget and personal needs.

Verdict: 4 stars out of 5.

Ten Things I Wish I'd Known Before Going Into the Real World

Author: Maria Shriver
Genre: self-help

I ordered this one on half.com as an audiobook, because I've only ever done the audiobook thing once in my life before. I got this particular piece by Shriver because I was so inspired by her last little self-help book, and I admire her focus, ambition and ability to multitask career & family. As a woman, that kind of balance is like a fine art. What made me respect her so much in her last book was that her writer's voice uniquely demonstrated her ability to be down-to-earth and laugh at herself - while realistically acknowledging her fortunate background.

I was able to listen to Ten Things...while just driving around to various appointments in the span of 2-3 days. I would recommend this as an audiobook because it seemed like the perfect way to consume/ingest such a story. Shriver's story further inspired me to work through professional and personal obstacles and to not worry about the opinions and judgments of others.