Signs of Life

I am not sure how many people check this blog that aren't actually in our Book Club. I know a few of my friends and my parents look now and again but I doubt anyone is getting real advise on what books to add to their book shelves. It's more about our funny nights of drinking wine with small book reviews and discussions. The whole blog started as a joke but ended up being kind of fun to write and even more fun to think of new ideas for posts.

But in this case, I have a real book review (sort of) and a suggestion...

Signs of Life by Natalie Taylor

The cover states "Sit down with this book. See if you can stop reading after page one." Seriously I dare you, no double dog dare you! Do it.

Signs of Life is a memoir about Natalie, a 24-year-old who lost her husband in a freak accident on Father's Day 2007, she was 5 months pregnant with there first son. Natalie takes you on a journey through her grieving process while at the same time becoming a new mother (have some tissue handy). I won't say too much other then her honesty is probably one of the best parts of the book. You will laugh out loud with tears rolling down your face. It feels like a friend telling you a long story of how she coped with something that seems totally uncopeable. Through the power of her family, friends, new son, books, students and lots of other factors she is able to start to find her way back. You don't have to know what it's like to deal with death first hand or becoming a mother all you need to know is that shitty stuff happens, and whether you like it or not you're gonna have to deal with it...maybe with a little help from a Fairy God Mother (FGM).





Three of us in Book Club went to High School with Natalie, she graduated a year behind us. It was a different experience reading the book for me since I actually know the characters in the book; they aren't characters they're real people. Of course reading a memoir you're aware that you're reading about real people but it's different when you can picture that real person. When my coworker told me this morning that she started this book last night and couldn't put it down, I decided I needed to do anything I could do to get the word out about Signs of Life and if my little blog about books and wine is my outlet then so be it. I knew I was enjoying it while reading it cover to cover this weekend, but the fact that someone who doesn't know Natalie couldn't put it down really confirmed that this is a wonderful book. So needless to say next week at our April Book Club Meeting I will hardcore be pushing for this to be our May book.

Natalie Taylor is an inspiration to everyone!

You can read more here.

Other Blogs

Did you know some Book Club members have blogs of there own.....

Hillary has one all about art:
hillarysbrook.blogspot.com

And another about working out:
hillaryscrossfit.blogspot.com

Lisa has a makeup/fashion blog:
lipglosslush.com

Dislike

I really dislike when a book changes it's cover to an image of the upcoming movie. When shopping at one of the last standing Border's over the weekend, I noticed Water for Elephants changed the cover to an image of Reese & that Edward guy from Twilight. Many of us Read Between the Wine ladies are in Advertising, so we understand...promote people to read the book quick before the movie because we all know the book will be better. Of course then at a cocktail party you can always say "Oh yeah I read that book it was so much better than the movie" and sound super smart. Don't get me wrong I want to see the movie Water for Elephants but why not just keep the normal book cover?


















I had to buy a movie cover book when we read Julie & Julia and it really made me mad, I was emabrassed reading it. I think a fellow member even made fun of me when I brought it to Book Club. And there are lots more examples....

April Book

April's book is Invisible by Paul Auster. This was Lisa's pick and she really enjoyed it. Sounds like it's chalk full of drama, can't wait!

Also for all you over-achievers, Book Club plans on reading Signs of Life at some point by Natalie Taylor. A few of us know Natalie and went to High School with her, so if you want to get ahead start go for it. It's sure to be a major tear jerker, I can barely watch the trailer without tearing up. Hopefully it will be an inspirational story for everyone.

Another book we discussed reading last week was Heart Sick by Chelsea Cain. Katie is going to read this one and report back. Not sure it's a good discussion book, but it could be a good scary read.

Go get 'em ladies!