I Know That Guy

My Happy Days in Hollywood

Garry Marshall

Memoir

You have to be living under a rock to not have heard of Garry Marshall. He’s the man behind Happy Days, The Odd Couple, Pretty Woman, and The Princess Diaries. He’s also acted in numerous other TV shows and movies. 

So if you’re looking for some behind-the-scenes insight on your favorite movies and TV shows, this book’s for you. To be honest, I’ve only ever seen some of Mr. Marshall’s movies, as all his TV shows were before my time. But I’ve always been interested in the entertainment industry, so it was fun reading about how his movies and TV shows came to be. Pretty much any movie star you can think of, Mr. Marshall’s worked with. He’s a jack-of-all-trades, that’s for sure.

Anyone interested in Hollywood or behind-the-scenes gossip will love this book.

Behind the Scenes

Trust Me, I’m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator

Ryan Holiday

Memoir/Politics

I’m not really sure what category this book fits in to. It’s a memoir but it’s also a warning, if that makes any sense at all.

Trust Me, I’m Lying is all about blogs and how the people who run them don’t check their sources and just want to make money. It’s a bit of an eye-opener. Mr. Holiday isn’t saying that all blogs do this, of course. He’s mainly talking about political and gossipy sites. Since I have a blog, I figured I would like this book. And while I did, sometimes I found myself skimming due to all the technical jargon. Journalists will probably find all this stuff fascinating and relatable, but for the rest of us it gets a bit boring after awhile.

So, would I recommend Trust Me, I’m Lying? Yes, just because it’s not a topic you see every day and it’s good to know yet again that everything you read online is not always true.

This Song's For You

Diamond in the Rough

Shawn Colvin

Memoir

Who didn’t love the song “Sunny Came Home”? I know I used to, but that’s pretty much the only song I remember when I think of Shawn Colvin. Still, when I saw her memoir sitting on the library shelf, I figured it might be kind of interesting. And I was right (I love it when that happens).

Shawn grew up in the Midwest and moved all over the country for most of her life while trying to become a musician for a living. She’s been married twice and has one kid. She also suffers from anxiety and depression. Not only is her life story really engrossing, but I found her description of her song writing process fascinating. She’s also a good writer. There was nothing bad about this book.

If you love Shawn Colvin or musicians in general, pick up Diamond in the Rough.

As Seen on TV

Not Young, Still Restless

Jeanne Cooper

Memoir

I used to love soap operas—until all of my favorites (Guiding Light, As the World Turns, All My Children) were canceled. I did watch The Young and the Restless in high school and college but I lost interest once most of the characters I liked were killed off or left. But I still have fond memories of the show, so I picked up Jeanne Cooper’s book.

Ms. Cooper plays Katherine Chancellor on Y&R and she’s been on the show since the seventies. She talks about her early work doing movies before landing on Y&R and dishes the dirt on popular storylines and most of her co-stars. She even goes into details about her horrific marriage. It’s a much more interesting book than I figured it would be.

If you’re a soap opera fan or a Y&R fan, you’ll love Not Young, Still Restless.

Ramble City

In Fifty Years We’ll All Be Chicks…And Other Complaints From an Angry Middle-Aged White Guy

Adam Carolla

Humor

I assumed this book was more of a memoir, but alas, I was wrong. This is purely a humor book, with Mr. Carolla sounding off on a bunch of different topics. I’ve never been a fan of these kind of books, and I’m not about to start now.

I don’t even really know how to review this. Mr. Carolla talks about a little bit of everything—his childhood, meeting Jimmy Kimmel, politics, TV shows…you name it, he probably mentions it. Some is funny, some not so much. Like his second book, Not Taco Bell Material, he can be quite crass and even offensive at times. But that’s when you have to remind yourself that this is a humor book and he wants to make you gasp and feel outraged. 

If you’re a fan of Adam Carolla, you’ll like In Fifty Years We’ll All Be Chicks. If you’re not, skip this one.

Sail Away

The White Pearl

Kate Furnivall

Fiction

Books about war are so depressing, even when they’re fiction. This one tackles World War II and I told myself I shouldn’t read it, but the description on the back piqued my interest.

The White Pearl is the story of Connie, a British housewife who lives with her husband and son in Malaya. She’s shaken when she accidentally runs over a woman in town and then things go from bad to worse when they find out Japan is invading the country. Connie, her husband, son, and a few other friends flee aboard The White Pearl, their ship. People die, gruesome accidents occur, and by the end of her journey, Connie must come to grips with a whole new life.

Like I said, there were a lot of depressing events in this book but Ms. Furnivall is such a good writer you can almost look past them. I did, because I needed to finish and see what happened to everyone. The ending isn't all rainbows and sunshine, either. 

I would recommend The White Pearl to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, but if you hate hearing about the horrors of war and would prefer a happy ending, skip this one.