Book Review - Kimberly Rae Miller's Beautiful Bodies

Thank You to Little A for providing me with an advance copy of Kimberly Rae Miller's memoir, Beautiful Bodies, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT- In her memoir, Beautiful Bodies, Kimberly Rae Miller explores her relationship with her own body; the confusion she feels over body image and her never-ceasing diets. 

LIKE- I loved Miller's previous memoir, Coming Clean, about growing up with parents who are hoarders, and I was thrilled to be approved for a galley edition of her latest memoir. Miller is a talented writer who is very open with sharing the intimate details of her life. This openness and vulnerability is what makes her writing so accessible. When I read her books, I feel like I'm being told a story by a close friend. Admittedly, I did not find the subject of body image to be as fascinating as her being raised by parents who are hoarders, however Miller's writing is so good, that I'd likely pick up any book she writes.

What Miller really hits on is the disturbing problem of very young girls dieting and having negative thoughts about their body. Honestly, I don't remember personally having these issues, but I see it in elementary-aged girls that I know; the fear of being fat and the obsession with dieting. It's scary! Along with her personal dieting stories, Miller throws in some dieting history. I love how she blends in the historical perspective, providing some Trivial Pursuit worthy tidbits. 

Miller analyzes how her body image has impacted her relationships, including that with her husband, Roy. It is hard for Miller to trust that Roy accepts her body with all of its changes, including pregnancy. 

DISLIKE- Nothing. Miller is brutally honest and often very funny.

RECOMMEND- Yes!!! If you are unfamiliar with Miller's writing, I highly recommend that you read both Coming Clean and Beautiful Bodies. She has a strong voice and unique perspective. 

Movie Review- Despicable Me 3

PLOT- After failing to capture villain Balthazar Bratt (Trey Parker), Gru (Steve Carell) and Lucy  (Kristen Wiig) are fired from their jobs at the anti-villain league. Gru is devastated and just as he is trying to figure out a new career, he finds out that he has a twin brother, Dru ( Steve Carell).

Their parents divorced when they were babies and each parent took a child. Dru lived with their father on the private island of Fredonia, where he had a successful pig farm as a disguise for the real family profession of villainy. Just as Gru was a disappointment to his mother, Dru was inept at villainy, disappointing their father. Now their father has died and Dru is eager to reconnect with his brother, hoping to get Gru's help to carry on the family business. Gru isn't interested in returning to a life of villainy, but he sees this as an opportunity to work with his brother and take down Bratt. Will Gru redeem himself with the anti-villain league or will he return to a life of villainy?

LIKE- Despicable Me is a fun franchise: Loads of creativity, heartfelt story lines, lovable characters, solid humor, et... I'm happy to report that the third installment was just as enjoyable as the previous films.

I really liked how the film opened with Balthazar Bratt's diamond heist, which used the story device of a television news report to reveal Bratt's backstory. Bratt was a child-actor who played a child villain mastermind/inventor until his successful series was abruptly cancelled due to puberty. Bratt couldn't handle the end to his fame and suffered a mental break where he thought that he was actually the character that he played. Now, as an adult, he is living the life of the character he played, still stuck in the trappings of the 80's. Basically Bratt is akin to a has-been actor like Corey Feldman. As a child of the 80's, I loved all of the references and the music. Excellent soundtrack!

Lucy's struggle as a stepmom and trying to bond, yet not overly spoil the girls, really spoke to me. We saw this film with my step-kids who are visiting for the summer and my husband kept telling me to be like Lucy. There is a great scene at a local fair, where all hell breaks lose as she's watching the girls and they wander into a sketchy pub looking for a unicorn horn. Speaking of kids, my step-kids are nearly eight and ten; they both loved Despicable Me 3. 

Anyone remember the "unicorn" at the Ringling Brother's circus in the 80's? You'll get a kick out of the unicorn-goat. 

DISLIKE- Nothing. Despicable Me 3 is a top-notch family friendly film.

RECOMMEND- Yes! There is nothing like having kids to realize that there are so few films that are truly appropriate and enjoyable for the entire family, but Despicable Me 3 hits every mark. I would have seen this without the kids, but I'm happy we could watch it as a family. 

Book Review- Taylor Bell's Dirty Rush

PLOT- Taylor Bell recalls her true story of her time in the Beta Zeta sorority at a college in Delaware. Initially, Bell is reluctant to join the sorority, but as a legacy, she is actively pursued to rush. 

LIKE- I picked up Dirty Rush based on positive professional reviews and a fun endorsement from Jen Lancaster. I adore Jen Lancaster. Somehow, I didn't realize that Dirty Rush was based on a true story until I had started reading, which made everything even more outrageous.

I was never in a sorority and the colleges that I attended didn't even have them. I don't think any of my close friends were in sororities or fraternities. Basically, I'm unfamiliar with them, except for what I've seen in popular culture. That said, I find the entire set-up fascinating. I just can't understand who would willingly put themselves through rushing and dealing with all of the drama. Bell does come out of the experience with some close friends, but I'm definitely not convinced of she wouldn't have made deep connections if a sorority hadn't been part of her college experience. Her friendships are solidified when the president of the sorority goes after Bell, releasing a doctored sex tape and trying to assassinate Bell's character while getting her tossed from Beta Zeta, Some of the other sorority members see what is happening and as Bell gathers proof, they stand by her side. There is a surprise twist when we find out about a terrible secret that Bell's older sister, a former sorority member, has kept hidden from her sister. Bell's story is truly shocking.

I loved that Bell was able to get Rebecca Martinson ( the sorority president who went viral for her scathing rush instruction email) to write a forward. It sets the tone for the entire book, letting the reader know that Bell has a good sense of humor regarding her experiences. Despite the intense bullying that Bell endures, her memoir has plenty of laughs. 

DISLIKE- This is a guilty pleasure read. A few years ago, I would have been embarrassed to admit to reading Dirty Rush. But you know what? I'm going to own it. Sometimes, you need a little trashy reading.

RECOMMEND - Dirty Rush is certainly not going to be everyone's cup of tea. It's shocking and has a scandalous/ TMZ type of vibe. Bell's humor and the quick pace make this a perfect beach read. I enjoyed the ride.