Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on .... by Cheryl Strayed
I picked this one up because I really enjoyed her recent novel, "Wild" but I'm not loving it like I thought I might. This is the only book out of these four that I haven't finished yet and it's partly because it feels like a vehicle to dispense cliche advice. Some of the advice is great and there are poignant moments, usually when she is sharing something from her own experience, but I'm having a hard time connecting in a way that would make me want to get through all of it. I want my advice column to be straight up advice and I want my memoirs to be descriptive and poignant - together, it doesn't do it for me here.
Astonish Me by Maggie Shipstead
This is a novel about a ballerina turned mother, and it takes you into the world of ballet in a way that is voyueristic and relatable. It's a good book and recently I always appreciate a book about a mother trying to reconcile herself with her creative life, but it left my brain as soon as I was done with it.
I Remember Nothing by Nora Ephron
I hadn't read anything by Nora Ephron before "I Feel Bad About My Neck", but after that read, I was intrigued and impressed enough to keep reading more. I gotta admit that part of my interest in these essays have to do with the fact that I wouldn't mind being a successful writer living in Manhattan when I'm older. I wouldn't mind that at all.
Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon
This is one of those books that I have been meaning to read for a while and loved it when I finally did. It's just a list of helpful sayings and advice about how to approach your creative process. Some things that I took away from it: collect things you love, surround yourself with people you aspire to, steal from severa of your heroes and transform it, and have a strong work ethic (schedule and log)!
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