My Name is Memory, book review

The latest book to have been read and returned to the library is My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares. She also wrote the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books.

Anyway, This was one of the oddest books I have read. I guess I have a knack for choosing odd books, like the more recent read, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake.

Basically, one of the main characters, Daniel, has the ability to remember all of his past lives he has lived and the souls of people he has met in those prior lives. He remembers, particularly one individual, whom he calls Sophia, and tries to find her in each lifetime because he falls in love with her in each lifetime he finds her. She is his love interest, but when she comes back in each lifetime, she has no "memory" of her past lives or whom Daniel is. She feels some kind of subtle connection to him in one of her more recent lives, but is not sure how that could be since they had not so much as spoken before.

It made me wonder a little bit about the whole "past lives" phenomenon and whether there was any validity in it at all. The book was an interesting read and really brought you into the book once more of the action began about 3/4 of the way through the book. The ending I was a little disappointed about, but, I think it ended that way for the sole reason of one's own speculation.

The next book I have been reading is Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler. I thought her comedy was pretty funny, and this, I believe, is her second book about her life. The book is pretty much just like her, funny and vulgar. It reads just as I would imagine a conversation with her would go. I have been laughing out loud when reading this book, and have another of her books, Are You There Vodka, It's Me, Chelsea next on the list. 

Basically, I can review this book now: It is a book about parts of Chelsea's life. Some of the crazy stunts she has pulled. I can say that I hope I am never "tested" by one of her "jokes." Some of them are just plain crazy! But the read is a quick, funny one that gives you insight into her life, makes you feel a little sorry for her, laugh hard, and then not feel sorry for her any more. I just picked it up to see what it was about and if the books were any good. Often times, I have found, or have bought into the stigma that books "written" by celebrities are often huge wastes of time, and the paper they are printed on. Seriously, Lauren Conrad, I am talking to you.  Here are Chelsea's thoughts on ... Being unpopular: "My parents couldn't have been more unreasonable when it came to fads or clothes that weren't purchased at a pharmacy." Living with her boyfriend:"He's similar to a large toddler, the only difference being he doesn't cry when he wakes up." 

Too funny!

-LD