Rolemommy

Book Club

Rolemommy Books of 2008

I don't know about you, but I can't remember the last time I read a really good book.  That's probably because I haven't had a chance to curl up with a good read since the summer.  But if you're lucky enough to take a vacation this holiday season or if you're staycationing and are looking for a fabulous read, then we went right to our own resident book expert, Robin Kall, host of the radio show Reading with Robin.  So, without further ado, here are Robin's 2008 winners for books of the year along with links to Amazon.  Order now and enjoy!

READING WITH ROBIN'S BOOKS OF THE YEAR!

The Beach House by Jane Green

The Almost Archer Sisters by Lisa  Gabriele

1001 Books for Every Mood by Hallie Ephron

Cost by Roxana Robinson

Goodbye and Amen by Beth Gutcheon

The Professors' Wives Club by Joanne Rendell

Oxygen by Carol Cassella

Somebody Else's Daughter by Elizabeth Brundage

The Richest Season by Mary Ann McFadden

House and Home by Kathleen McCleary

Things That Make Us [sic] by Martha Brokenbrough

Posted in: Book Club on 12/19/2008

Want to be Inspired...Read The Last Lecture

Several months ago, when I thought I was fulfilling a dream of mine to become a full-time writer and reporter, one of my assignments was to peruse YouTube and find videos that would strike a chord with parents (I know...the task would not earn me a Pulitzer). And so, one evening, I stumbled upon "The Last Lecture." As I sat at my kitchen table with eyes glued to Randy Pausch, a professor at Carnegie Mellon who was dying of pancreatic cancer, I was amazed that despite his grim prognosis, he spent the better part of the hour-long session encouraging students to never give up on their lifelong dreams.

Within minutes, I instantly alerted my editor to Pausch and his awe-inspiring class and guess what? I was ignored. They didn't take my word for it that his video was going to resonate with millions of adults who have yet to figure out what they really want to be when they grow up. That is, until Oprah came knocking. And that's when Professor Randy Pausch's story and his inspirational message took on a life of it's own.

Now, nearly 10 months after I first saw that incredible video, I just finished his book, The Last Lecture, which was written by Jeffrey Zaslow, a reporter I actually worked with more than a decade ago, who I fondly recall was one of the nicest journalists I had ever met. So it didn't surprise me when I discovered that Jeff was the one who would pen Randy Pausch's life story.

I picked up The Last Lecture this past Friday and finished it three days later. As my kids and husband played hide and seek in the hallway, I brushed back tears when I read about all the things Pausch was going to miss about his wife and his kids. What I took away from his motivational story was that most of our lives are filled with brick walls that prevent us from achieving our true potential. But if we have dreams that we truly want to pursue, then we've got to find a way to break through those walls in order to live life to the fullest. Though he only lived 47 years, Randy Pausch achieved his childhood dreams and left an indelible mark on countless lives. I feel so fortunate to have watched his lecture and read his book and all I can say is if you are a dreamer like me but haven't yet broken through your personal brick walls, then what are you waiting for? Buy The Last Lecture, read it from cover to cover, hug your kids tight and follow your dreams. I'm sure that's what Randy Pausch would have wanted for all of us. And if you don't believe me, take a look at his commencement speech at Carnegie Mellon. While he was only given 3-6 months to live, Pausch fooled everyone and survived more than 10 months before he lost his battle this past July. So if you have time in your busy day to be inspired, read Randy's story or watch The Last Lecture. You never know, it may convince you to finally pursue your passion and break a wall or two while you're at it. Oh, and BTW - I quit that writing job several months ago...turns out that wasn't the dream I was supposed to fulfill. Still trying to figure out what it is, but somehow I think it involves me on Broadway. Since Pausch admitted he was a fan of cliche's I'll leave you with this one: Dare to dream!

Posted in: Blog, Book Club on 09/22/2008

Great Summer Reads

Despite the fact that I'm completely swamped, I've managed to carve out a few hours for some great summer reads. And if you have time, here's a peak at the Role Mommy summer reading list. Some of the books I've already read, others are must reads that have been recommended by fellow Role Mommies who have no time for crappy reading material. So without further ado...our top 5 reads of the summer are:

1. The Beach House by Jane Green. Let me just state for the record that the moment Jane Green releases a new book I snatch it up and read it within a weekend. Well, this time I read latest book in a day and a half! The Beach House is Green's tenth novel and this is truly one of her best books in years. The characters in this book are so diverse and endearing that I was instantly hooked and couldn't put it down. So if you're looking for an ideal summer read that's already made the New York Times bestseller list, then pick up a copy of The Beach House today!

2. Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner. I read this book while we were taking a mini vacation in Block Island and then finished on the way to the Hamptons (yes, I am such a jet setter). If you're a Jennifer Weiner fan like me, then you'll love this sequel to one of her best books ever, Good in Bed. This time Cannie is a mom whose daughter Joy is about to celebrate her Bat Mitzvah. What I loved about this book is that Weiner tells the story from the point of view of Cannie and her daughter so it's possible for moms and daughters to enjoy this book together and there's also a surprising twist at the end that threw me for a loop and had me shedding a few tears.

3. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khalid Housseini - I've had this one sitting on my shelf for at least a year but according to my friend Sue, this is a must read - sure it's several hundred pages but once you get into it, it's worth the read. In fact, Sue says this book is better than Kite Runner - and that one was amazing so I guess I need to dust off the book cover and give this one another shot.

4. Holly Would Dream by Karen Quinn - from the author of The Ivy Chronicles comes a light hearted read about a young woman who seems to have it all - a fiance and a great job but in a momentary lapse in judgement, Holly throws her picture perfect life away to follow a tycoon to the mediterranean. So how, in the space of one day, does it all go wrong? With the eternal city of Rome as the backdrop, Holly's adventures begin to resemble one of the 1950s Hollywood gems she so adores. Finally she must choose between her long-held fairy tale fantasy and a new, real-life dream with an ending she couldn't possibly imagine.

5. Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella. Okay, so even though this book came out in February this year, I absolutely adore Sophie Kinsella and while this isn't one of her Shopaholic books, I'll take it because I love her humor, her snappy dialogue and her knack for crafting a compelling and light read that usually leaves me with a permanent smile across my face after I've read it. Now I haven't read this one yet - gave it to my friend Sue to read first but she assures me she's loving it so far and will be giving it back soon so I could swap with one of the books I've already read.

For more great summer reads, check out the New York Times bestseller's list or watch the clip below from The Today Show. At least our #1 pick made the grade!!!

If you want to recommend a few more breezy reads, send them my way and we'll add it to our growing summer book list!

Posted in: Blog, Book Club on 07/03/2008