Category: Non Fiction

Binge by: Tyler Oakley

6/16/2016

Binge by: Tyler Oakley
Synopsis: Pop culture phenomenon, social rights advocate, and the most prominent LGBTQ+ voice on YouTube, Tyler Oakley brings you his first collection of witty, personal, and hilarious essays written in the voice that’s earned him more than 10 million followers across social media.

Alright... its review time!

“When life throws a wrench in your plans, catch it and build an IKEA bookshelf.” - Tyler Oakley

Tyler Oakley is one of the most beautiful human beings on this planet. If I’m being completely honest, I’ve never really been a big fan of non-fiction. While I have read the odd memoir here or there, none of them have really grabbed my attention the way Binge did. For those of you who do not know, Tyler Oakley is an LGBTQ YouTube personality and activist with over 8 million subscribers. I started watching his videos around 2 years ago and instantly fell in love with his contagious smile, relatable humor and the fact that he isn’t afraid to be unapologetically himself. While his book was filled with some of the most hilarious stories that had me laughing out loud, what I liked the most was that he talked about feelings and situations that we all have to experience. Binge focusses on (however cliche it may sound) learning how to enjoy the journey instead of panicking about the destination. Its about getting back onto your feet, even after life hits you with some pretty cruel curveballs. I think this is lesson that everyone (myself especially) needs to revisit every once in a while.

If you haven't watched any of Tyler's videos I beg that you do so immediately. If you consider yourself a fan but have yet to read this book, stop what you are doing and please drive to your nearest bookstore asap.

Happy reading nerds! Sound off in the comments with your thoughts about this WONDERFUL memoir!

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A Stolen Life by: Jaycee Dugard

5/18/2015

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A Stolen Life by: Jaycee Dugard

Synopsis: In the summer of 1991 I was a normal kid. I did normal things. I had friends and a mother who loved me. I was just like you. Until the day my life was stolen.
For eighteen years I was a prisoner. I was an object for someone to use and abuse.

For eighteen years I was not allowed to speak my own name. I became a mother and was forced to be a sister. For eighteen years I survived an impossible situation.

On August 26, 2009, I took my name back. My name is Jaycee Lee Dugard. I don’t think of myself as a victim. I survived.

A Stolen Life is my story—in my own words, in my own way, exactly as I remember it.

Alright, its review time!

Wow. This story. I can't even put into words what Im feeling. I saw her memoir at a local garage sale yesterday and I IMMEDIATELY knew I needed to read it. I brought it home and finished it in one sitting. Jaycee Dugard was abducted almost 10 years before I was born so obviously I do not remember any of the news stories when it happened. I do remember when she was found though. I was only 8 or 9 years old at the time and even at such a young age, It was so clear that everything I was hearing on tv was so wrong and disturbing. I remember watching the news when they aired the actual videos that Phillip and his wife Nancy filmed at parks and playgrounds of little girls playing. For some reason, that has been ingrained in my head for years. I remember watching it see clearly. I remember being so disgusted.

Reading Jaycee's memoir broke my heart. There is no possible way to even begin comprehending what she went through or how that has affected and will effect her for the rest of her and her children's lives. I have so much respect for this woman because of her strength, courage and the undying amount of love she has of her children. I have no idea how she survived the sexual, physical and physiological abuse that she went through. It blows my mind. This book, while disturbing and unfathomable, was so interesting and to an extent, motivational. I wish Miss. Dugard the best during her continuous recovery and I wish her and her kids, happiness.

One of the (many) things that bothered me a lot through her story though was the media and how to this day, they won't leave the poor woman alone. She writes about not being able to go to her children sports events etc, in fear of being recognized and having people make the connection to her children. I makes me so angry that after everything she went through, people still won't leave her alone. In addition, the law enforcement system infuriated me through out Jaycee's entire ordeal. I can't believe that no one would notice anything. Here you have this man who was previously charged with the raping a different young woman and who is clearly not okay in the head and NO ONE even comments on the children that are living in his house or anything FOR 18 YEARS!? Jaycee says that a few times the parole officers came over, her and her daughters were in the house and even TALKED to the officers under the guise that they were just some neighbours who came to live with them? It just seems extremely fishy to me and makes me so angry and disappointed in the people who are specifically given the job to serve and protect.

This story was so powerful and heart breaking. I highly recommend this memoir to anyone who remembers Jaycee and her daughter's story.

Happy reading nerds! Sound off in the comments with you opinions and perspective on this memoir!

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Very Good Lives by: JK Rowling

5/18/2015

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Very Good Lives by: JK Rowling
Synopsis: In 2008, J.K. Rowling delivered a deeply affecting commencement speech at Harvard University. Now published for the first time in book form, Very Good Lives offers J.K. Rowling’s words of wisdom for anyone at a turning point in life, asking the profound and provocative questions: How can we embrace failure? And how can we use our imagination to better both ourselves and others?

Drawing from stories of her own post-graduate years, the world-famous author addresses some of life’s most important issues with acuity and emotional force.

Alright, Its review time!

Wow. I walked into my neighborhood Indigo, spotted this beauty, plopped my butt down and devoured it. JK Rowling is such an inspiration to me and I am so thankful to her for changing my life, whether she knows it or not. This speech is so beautiful, poetic and perfect in every sense of the world. This woman is such an incredible writer and I couldn't help getting chills throughout this entire speech. What I loved is that she didn't just talk about things that are relevant to graduating students. Instead, she talked about things that anyone can relate to (failure, imagination, empathy, love). For me, it is such an huge inspiration to hear her talk about her past and how she over came it. A lot of people (myself included), tend to put celebrities on a pedestal and look at them as some God that needs to worshipped. What I love about JK Rowling is that she is human and isn't afraid to acknowledge it and use it to motivate and help other people.

"You might never fail on the scale I did, but some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default."

This speech was just so beautiful and as cliche as it sounds, it really makes you think. I am just so happy that this was put into print and that it now sits of my shelf. The proceeds from this book also go towards Harvard Aid as well as Rowling's organization Lumos, which works towards ending the institutionalization of children across the globe. I HIGHLY recommend this to any human. Please pick this up.

Happy reading nerds! Sound off in the comments with opinions and perspectives on this speech.

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Binge by: Tyler Oakley

A Stolen Life by: Jaycee Dugard

Very Good Lives by: JK Rowling

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