I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Book 1 of 2018 is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.

This is my life and my mother's life and my sister's life but in another country.

I said to a friend that this resonated with me and she asked if it was hope. I luckily didn't scoff out loud. Non-whites don't need hope. We are not hoping for white acceptance.

This book empowered me. It encouraged my strength built through adversity, rejection and overt discrimination. It articulated why I don't fall down or crawl away when someone from the ruling class kicks me.

I don't need to. I'm more robust than they will ever be. I see your ignorance, fear and awkwardness and continue being the lioness.

Everyone who does not identify as white must read this. I am so sorry I waited so long.

5 children's roars out of 5.

Should I read this? Yes. Just everyone. Read it please.
What did I learn? Australia doesn't have any idea about the plight of our Indigenous people.

Wishful Drinking

Book 68 is Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher.

Having just read everything about her after her detail last year, I knew most of the stories she had to tell. The Paul Simon stories and song were new and very light. I may have to read a biography of his to get the gritty details... if I ever feel I want them.

This is a very light book. Short and sweet. Very much written to make money but not much value to the reader.

Maybe Postcards from teh Edge will be better.

2 princesses out of 5.

Should I read this? Don't. There are many better autobiographies.
What did I learn? I love Carrie Fisher's characters but I'm not sure I love her character.

Girl Walks Out of a Bar

Book 46 is Girl Walks Out of a Bar by Lisa F. Smith.

This book is the kind of autobiography that makes you sad, angry and shocked.

Sad because she was set up to fail from childhood and through genetics.
Angry because no one else saw it and people actually encouraged it.
Shocked because you'd think someone would die before getting this far.

Maybe addicts are just people who haven't managed to kill themselves yet because their bodies have a high tolerance for abuse. That makes me sad.

4 bottles of wine out of 5.

Should I read this? If you enjoy rubbernecking then yes. I do so it was finished within the same day I started it.
What did I learn? There are high functioning addicts out there and you may never guess it. Disturbing and sad.

What Happened

Book 44 of 2017 is What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton.

It is rare that I read a book right after it is released but having stood in the middle of the storm that was the 2016 US elections as an outsider watching it unfold, I wanted to look behind the curtain.

There are two sides if not twenty to what happened in November 2016 but this was the one I wanted to understand. How did someone so qualified for the job lose to someone who wasn't? It made no sense to me.

On reading this, I have had some major realisations.

I respect Hillary Rodham Clinton for the strong woman she is and the inroads she has made for women all around the world.

Her politics are still too conservative for me but I put that down to her generation and age. She was born in a different time and a more conservative world than most people in America today. I have no doubt that was one reason people could not connect with her.

And lastly, women are losing well before they even start. To be the first at anything or the only woman in the race is harder than anyone can imagine. You are not judged equally because there are no women to compare you to. So instead, you are judged as not being a man. She articulates this much better than me.

The reason I recommend people read this book is because she gives hope where others use fear. She tries to stand back and work out what she owns in this journey but does not take all the blame. She gets angry and punches out and although it's not ladylike, it's awesome to see. Why must women bow out quietly when they weren't treated fairly in the situation.

You should read it.

4 insights out of 5.

Should I read this? If you lived through the election that Trump won and see it as the election that Hillary lost then yes, yes you should read this.
What did I learn? So much American political history from both sides of the fight.

Waiter to the Rich and Shameless: Confessions of a Five-Star Beverly Hills Server

Book 28 of 2017 is Waiter to the Rich and Shameless: Confessions of a Five-Star Beverly Hills Server by Paul Hartford.

I enjoyed the dirt on celebrities but couldn't find a way to like the main character.

It felt like he knew his wife would be reading it so he didn't tell the whole truth about everything - especially the sex, drugs and whatever else he'd roll.

This was not the book I was hoping for and although I did recommend it to a friend of mine who may enjoy the elitist food and drink attitudes, it isn't one I'd say anyone should read.

One thing I did enjoy was his attitude towards service and the pride he initially took in his job. It is an ethos I share so it was enjoyable to work through as he articulated his learning.

2 Grey Goose and sodas out of 5.

Should I read this? Maybe if you'd worked in the industry in that part of the world but otherwise, no.
What did I learn? I'm too grown up to be impressed with how much someone spends on a bottle of wine.

Born a Crime

Book 16 of 2017 is Born a Crime by Trevor Noah.

For someone who used to say she didn't like autobiographies, some the best books I have read in the last few years are just that. This is one of them.

I laughed, I cried. I felt so connected to this half black and half white boy telling the story. The culture you grow up with. The never belonging completely anywhere. But I didn't grow up a black man in South Africa so there is a big difference.

If you read any non-fiction this year, let this be it.

5 amazing black mothers out of 5.

Should I read this? Everybody should.

What did I learn? Less learnt than reinforced is the belief I have always had that not really belonging anywhere allows you to belong everywhere. That's how I've always seen myself and it is a nice idea.

Porcelain: A Memoir

Book 14 of 2017 is Porcelain: A Memoir by Moby.

I'm learning that autobiographies make very good audio books when read by the author. This may be the only type of audio book I will entertain.

Considering I enjoyed Moby's music but always considered him a little mainstream and elitist, this was a nice awakening. Yeah, he is a geeky little balding white guy who grew up very poor but he truly does love music and is a real musician. This made me respect him that way.

Realising that not all celebrities are rich and that it can take a decade to have an albums selling millions was awakening for me. I always assumed they were on private jets and sipping on Champagne while eating caviar. Not the case it seems.

The end felt a little rushed. The final chapters reflecting on his childhood and his mother would have been nice if they were extended but it feels like he didn't really want to go there. That made you feel his sadness, all the more.

This was a great view in to the New York music scene in the 90s. Much in the style of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Mental note: Must read that again.

5 bowls of brown rice and vegetables out of 5.

Should I read this? Yes, yes and yes. You don't even have to be in to his music.
What did I learn? Famous does not automatically equate to rich.

Talking As Fast As I Can

Book 2 of 2017 is Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham.

I am so glad that I read this within weeks of watching the revival of Gilmore Girls. Graham had me in fits of laughter, tears and finally with my heart broken for the third time as I say goodbye to Lorelai again.

The thing I loved the most about this was that she writes like she seems in Gilmore Girls and that did not disappoint me.

There are spoilers towards the end so don't read it until you have watched every episode ever made including the revival.

The writing is free and honest. I consumed this is just under 6 hours.

Five cups of mother and daughter banter out of five.

Should I read this? If you are a Gilmore Girls fan then absolutely. Not sure it will mean as much if you aren't. But who isn't a fan?
What did I learn? I learnt that the last four words of a TV show are very important.

Dear Mr. You

Book 66 of 2015 is Dear Mr. You by Mary-Louise Parker.

This is an original and well-written autobiography from an actor I have enjoyed and respected since watching Fried Green Tomatoes. Weeds is still one of my favourite TV shows of all time and she my favourite suburban sociopath.

She writes this as a series of letters to the people who were important in changing her life. Sometimes it is overly wordy and feels like she is trying too hard to write a good book and then she writes a chapter that leaves you crying and telling those around you that you are ok and not to worry.

Even if you don't know Mary-Louise Parker, you should read this. This is my second favourite memoir of 2015 after Not My Father's Son.

4 letters to my dearest loved ones out of 5.

Should I read this? Totally. Absolutely. Yeah, like now.
What did I learn? I need to rewrite my whole book.

Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir)

Book 45 of 2015 is Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir) by @thebloggess (AKA Jenny Lawson).

I've been following @thebloggess on twitter for many years. There are twitter moments she talks about in her autobiography that I remember seeing on her twitter stream and that is always a cool experience.

My recent foray in to the autobiography scene was never enthusiastic but I have been pleasantly surprised again by this book and can call it one of the best books I've read this year.

I literally laughed out loud through every chapter of this book, even the ones I also cried through.

She is a crazy lady who makes those of us who aren't quite conventional feel a little less alone. I've always liked her for that and this book concreted that for me.

5 taxidermied Hamlet mice out of 5.

Should I read this? Without a doubt, yes.
What did I learn? The broken people are my favourite kind of people.

Not My Father's Son: A Memoir

Book 23 of 2015 is Not My Father's Son: A Memoir by Alan Cumming.

I had no idea who this guy was. I picked up the book because I liked his hair and it was rated 4+ stars.

Little did I know that his brokenness would give me freedom and peace that I wouldn't have known before I read this book.

Life shits on you. It does. You can either work through it and be mindful or let it own you. Alan Cummin made me realise that facing all my demons was well worth the effort.  Sure, it will take me a very long time but I will get to a place where my existence is good... or better.

4 floggings out of 5.

Should I read this? Only if you like memoirs. This is a very good one.

What did I learn? They can beat you and you will still survive.