Scar Tissue

Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a very hard book to rate. I didn't think it was very well written, but that's not why I was reading it in the first place, but it didn't help the cause any. Sex, drugs and rock and roll can be a very interesting ride and why not take the chance to go through it by reading a book.

It was a giant roller coaster ride of the life of a rock star that has major points of addiction issues, relationship issues, etc. The one thing I can say for sure, celebrities do not have it easy. As much as people think they are living the dream of being famous and wealthy, it's one hell of a life. They have people trying to expose or use them at every turn, ie the paparazzi and reporters. They have people trying to exploit them for personal reasons, ie, wives/girlfriends/partners or friends. Then a major issue is what they have access to, ie. drugs (the variety is limitless), sex, alcohol and so much more. For a person with addiction issues the celebrity life is not an easy one and this picture was clearly painted in Kiedis' book. In and out of relapse and recovery, is and was a hard journey for Kiedis, who later discovered the link between using and the end of relationships for himself. Since I am not a long standing fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, when he was writing about their early music and when they just got their break, it wasn't about songs that I knew about or liked. It wasn't until approximately half way through the book that Under the Bridge was mentioned and then the musical stuff started to click for me. One point I found interesting, was the bond between Kiedis and Flea, who considered each other brothers and family. Through thick and thin they were in each others lives, they supported each other musically and reached success together, as well as with the others in the band. The dynamic between them was very interesting and sometimes tumultuous, but they always remained friends no matter what.

I will admit that I did find the end of the book a little preachy regarding addiction, but I will give Kiedis the credit he deserves for fighting with his demons and coming out on top. Another thing I found a little annoying, is that the pictures were not in any sort of order. They were from various times and just chucked in with a little blurb. It would have been more effective if the pictures were done in some sort of order, but that's just my opinion.

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A Life in Parts

A Life in Parts by Bryan Cranston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The opening chapter had my jaw dropped and me thinking WTF. Bryan Cranston truly captures the role of storyteller in this autobiography. A lot of the time when I was reading I felt like I was sitting at a campfire sharing with him and he actually telling these stories to me. The book is well written for a celebrity. In short, the book is divided in to different roles he has played or been throughout his life. Cranston lives an interesting life full of adventure and yet remains to be a very humble guy. I cannot say more about this book without giving the story away but I definitely give it 5 stars.

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Fudge-a-mania

Fudge-a-Mania by Judy Blume
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I loved this book as a kid but reading as an adult just wasn't the same.

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The Surgeon

The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tess Gerritsen is the mast in gritty reading. She never fails to commit to the task of making reading gory and graphic. In this book there is also a lot of medical stuff which is something I really enjoy reading as well. Although this is part of the Rizzoli & Isles series I think it is important to say that Maura Isles is not in this book at all. Rizzoli is, and is a big player, since it is the beginning of her career at BPD.

Note- I have read this book before but I never wrote the date or a review so I am doing that now while it is fresh in my mind.

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Girl In Need of A Tourniquet

Girl in Need of a Tourniquet: Memoir of a Borderline Personality by Merri Lisa Johnson
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I thought this BPD memoir would be a good way of looking at relationships and maybe give some incite and relative information as to why I have some of the problems I do with relationships but it fell wayyyyy short. The style of this book is written in a bizarre point form that when the author uses a line or 2 or 3 she is moving onto a different topic. She bounces around from idea to idea which is very much like the thought process of a person with BPD at certain times. 2 relevant pieces of information were the 3 categories from the Strange Situation and the 2 dimensional model of interpersonal style. Those I found, I could the information and relate it directly back to myself and see how I fit and where I belonged on the scale.

The book was very confusing to read, and was not a useful or helpful BPD memoir in my opinion.

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A Dog's Purpose

A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

WOW

This was right up there with the ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN.

Another book written from a dog's point of view, which I can only imagine is very precarious to write, but Cameron does a fantastic job. There are several different stories but they all end up being joined at the end not only by proving a dog's purpose but also how a dog can have many lives within in a lifetime and at some point they come together. (Almost along the same idea that a cat has several lives in a lifetime) It was really touching at the end when the dog sums up what a dog's purpose is and how multi-faceted it actually is. Then there is a bit about how a human has a purpose and a type of leadership that a dog looks for in us and expects from us, (I'm not doing the best job of explaining it because the way Cameron put it into words was perfect).

I had been eyeing this book for ages and then I read that it was going to be made into a movie so I was like, "Well I better get a jump on that and read it before it comes out because the book is always better than the movie." That will definitely happen for sure. So much happened in this book that when it is made into a movie they won't be able to put it all in the film.

Amazing Amazing book. If you like dog books or animal books you will definitely love this one to the core. Touching, heartwarming, makes you giggle, makes you laugh, might make you cry (didn't make me cry but for the emotional ones out there it will get to you in some parts). Geez get off your butt and get the book and read it already!

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A Home For Rose

A Home for Rose: How My Life Turned Upside Down for the Love of a Dog by Jon Katz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When Jon Katz writes about his dogs he gets you right from the start. This particular book is a collection of stories about how life is on Bedlam Farm and how Rosie is a sheep herding force at such young age, a prodigy almost. Devon, who is renamed Orson, from his famed book A Dog Year, and one of my personal favourites. Homer, who is a loner compared to Orson and Rose, he just doesn't fit in at Bedlam and it frustrates Jon as to why this is so. And the infamous Rose who has so many fabulous qualities, it was really interesting to hear her stories in this book. She can be a herding tyrant but a loving a nurturing soul with the newborn lambs, it was really quite touching. Jon Katz books are like pick me ups or books that you read when you need something that is a light read but that you know is going to be good. I enjoy them every time and can guarantee that are always great.

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