Books I’m Reading

by Marinka on March 17, 2012

One day I’m going to get a book that was written by a friend and I’m not going to like it and then that’s going to be an awkward moment in front of my keyboard. Because what do you say? What do you do? Well the good news is that I have a while longer to figure that one out because I read Jill Smokler’s Confessions of a Scary Mommy and I fucking loved it. Damn it. Oh.

Jill is one of the first bloggers that I became friends with when I started blogging, one of the first in whose writing I recognized a relatable humor and to this day, Scary Mommy is one of my daily stops.

I was so happy to discover Scary Mommy (yes, I did discover it, this was before Jill was on CNN and on ABC and WKRP in Cincinnati) even though it made me sad that I didn’t have the blogging community when my children were babies and I was so lonely and scared and exhausted. Because Jill’s voice is so relatable and I know I’d have found comfort in it. In the poop, in the sleepless nights, in the exhaustion and all that other crap that doesn’t make us love our children any less, but good lord does it drain our life force.

And reading Confessions of a Scary Mommy felt a lot like having coffee with Jill. (Trust me, I’ve had coffee with Jill. I know whatof I speak. OMG. How is whereof a word and whatof not a word?) With headings like “Yes, You’ll Shit on the Delivery Table” and “Subjectively Revolting” each chapter made me laugh and be glad that someone had been there too and written about it.

So, yes, buy the book! Two thumbs up! (And seriously, it’s perfect for Mother’s Day!)

Want to know what else I’ve been reading?

Fifty Shades of Grey. You’ve heard of this book, yes? Originally written as Twilight fan fiction and then published and developed a cult-like following among “suburban mommies” and other mythical creatures. I’ve had friends who were talking about it last year but it wasn’t until I heard that it was sold out everywhere in NYC that I had to get it. I downloaded it and eh.

I don’t know, maybe I’m too old and dull but I just don’t get it.

I’m also annoyed that in this day and age we have to read phrases like “he entered her sex.”

“What the hell is her sex?” I asked my mah jongg playing ladies when I read that in Miami.

“Her sex is her vagina, you moron,” one of them told me and continued to sip her margarita. Well, I knew that, of course. But is that supposed to be erotic? Also, it’s very bondagy, which seems very draining and ouchy. And no one takes time to watch The Real Housewives of any county, so I’m just not feeling this book.

Finally, I’m sort of mildly offended by the press Fifty Shades had gotten, including some choice quotes by one woman who said that this was the first book she read in 7 years. Or 70.

I’m sort of stuck in the middle of this book and I may not even finish it.

Finally, I’m reading Catching Fire, the second book of The Hunger Games trilogy. I still like it a lot, although it’s definitely not as exciting as the first one. And I’m sorry, but how many teenagers sleep in each other’s arms the whole night and not even kiss, let alone do some bondage stuff?

Hey, maybe I’ll write some fan fic based on it. Working title: Catching Fire With Your Sex.

What do you think?

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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }

neena March 17, 2012 at 4:41 pm

I read all three books in the Fifty Shades of Gray trilogy. They were um…interesting. I do wish she would have stopped referring to her “inner goddess”

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Kristin
Twitter:
March 17, 2012 at 4:56 pm

I also loved Confessions of a Scary Mommy. It’s my go to for baby showers now. The whole 50 Shades thing is one I hope to avoid for a while. A woman in my book group said she liked it, but it was badly written. Hmmm. I guess she liked the story-line? If I want BDSM I can just watch Secretary or something like that.

I would like to get started on the Hunger Games books, but I’m in the middle of a few others now. At the very least, people are reading more than the magazine at the doctor’s office, I guess.

Thanks for the run-down. Fun to read, as always.

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fadkog (foradifferentkindofgirl) March 17, 2012 at 7:07 pm

I am nearing the end of Fifty Shades of Why Am I Still Reading This, and am growing increasing concerned that the male protagonist is always ‘finding his release.’ Why is he always losing it? Should he perhaps chain his release so it doesn’t wander off so often. Is chaining it up in a chapter I’ve not yet read? Seriously, why am I still reading this book?

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Yuliya
Twitter:
March 17, 2012 at 10:39 pm

I cannot wait to hear your take on the ending of the Hunger Games trilogy…

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anna see March 17, 2012 at 11:37 pm

Yay Scary Mommy!!!!! Still on book 2 of Hunger Games.

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Brittany {Mommy Words}
Twitter:
March 18, 2012 at 9:12 am

Starting hunger games now that I finished Jill’s book and yes, it was awesome!

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Alexandra March 18, 2012 at 10:50 am

“Her sex is her vagina, you moron,”

Who knew you could have pee in your pants laughing for breakfast.

You need your friend to guest post. She’s killing me today.

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Becky Rice
Twitter:
March 18, 2012 at 8:36 pm

I can barely find the time to get thru my Entertainment Weekly. I obviously need to stop playing Angry Birds on my lengthy commute and crack open a book.

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Marta
Twitter:
March 18, 2012 at 9:46 pm

Catching Fire definitely picks up and is a complete cliffhanger at the end. I put it down and picked up MockingJay immediately.

I was going to order 50 shades and now I will not. I don’t need to read “mommy porn” as I’ve heard it referred, I much prefer shopping at Target and watching Real Housewives to satisfy myself.

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Andrea
Twitter:
March 19, 2012 at 12:08 am

Oh thank you. I read it and I didn’t like it. I did finish, but didn’t like it. I am apparently an outcast of the majority of those reading or who have read it.

I look forward to Jill’s book. I think I did not know it was out already, I am confusing myself (or Marlo, as my autocorrect decided) and will go look now.

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Megan March 19, 2012 at 1:02 pm

” Twilight fan fiction” says it all to me: stay away.

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The Flying Chalupa
Twitter:
March 21, 2012 at 12:07 am

While I think that’s pretty darn cool that you’ve had coffee with Jill, I’m also pretty jealous of Jill for having coffee with the one, the only…MARINKA.

But yes, I think the book is pretty fab, too. Funny and real. Just like Jill.

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