Ugh I sucked at reading in June. Here’s the thing: the pool used to mean reading time. Now the pool means running after Reese who just saw a T0-to (dog) and stopping her from trying to go down a slide by herself. My reading has taken a serious hit. The LOL is that this last weekend in St. George I already finished my 2 book club books for July so I guess it just comes in waves (and when Grandma is there to be Reese’s bestie 4 lyfe).

I really only read 2 books, but I finally finished reading Daughters in my Kingdom which I’d been reading for daily scripture study for the last couple of months and had a lot of things to say so I’m going to include that one, even though it doesn’t *really* count. I make the rules here in my blog kingdom.

Why Not Me?

In her second memoir Mindy Kaling addresses a random variety of topics from her life in show biz, including college sororities, dating in Hollywood, landing her own show, and an inside photo diary of her daily schedule. She tackles subjects like her ethnicity, weight, the glass ceiling, and the question she is often asked – “Where do you get your confidence?” It’s random, honest, and hilarious. 

As a proclaimed Mindy lover I knew I would love this book. I love her voice, her honesty, her balance. I was surprised that I liked this book even more than her first, even though it talks more about the Mindy Project than The Office. This book was SO worth reading and I want to recommend it to millennial women everywhere.

Good

• The overwhelming best thing about this book is how unabashed she is about how hard she has worked – from day one. She talks about it throughout the essays, not in a braggy way or for credit. Simply to show that none of this was handed to her, and nor will it be handed to you.
• My new favorite quote (swearing alert) is: “Work hard, know your shit, show your shit, and THEN feel entitled.” I LOVE LOVE LOVE HEART EYE EMOJI THIS.
• She’s just funny. She just is. You can’t read this without a literal LOL or two.
• She’s uncomfortable with her body, just like we are. And not in the way the tiny Hollywood starlets say they’re uncomfortable. She feels it like we do, crawling out of bed and catching sight of ourselves in the mirror and thinking “Ugh.” But she keeps hustlin’, because that’s so low on the list of things she has to offer.
• In both books I just love how much she loves her parents. She believes in love and marriage. She believes in family. It’s refreshing.
• The fake Mindy who teaches at a private school in New York? DYING OVER THAT CHAPTER. 10/10 would watch if that was a TV show.
• I talked about this in my last blog post but just the idea that we have to act a little bit better when people are watching us and that’s a good thing – so poignant to me.
• Great, fast read. Perfect for the beach, pool, airport, etc.

Less Good

• There is a fair amount of swearing and sexual talk, just FYI.
• It’s very Mindy. If you aren’t into her high-pitched, girly, self-absorbed schtick then this is not going to be up your alley.
• Short! I finished it in less than 2 days and would have kept reading.

Mother Can You Not?

Kate Siegel, the creator of the Crazy Jewish Mom viral Instagram account, took her story to print to add some hilarious and almost unbelievable depth to their mother-daughter relationship. Spanning almost her entire life, Kate shares stories from childhood to current day where her mother has done crazy, caring, protective, and pre-emptive feats for her child. She kidnaps shelter animals, throws her a “period party,” and travels across the country for an “accidental” encounter with the Princeton representative to help Kate’s college chances. 

This book is absolutely crazy. You’ll constantly question whether it could possibly be real. Surely no one is THIS crazy, right? By the end you start to not really care if it’s real or not, because you’re laughing so hard or cringing so hard you just can’t view it as reality. I, like anyone who frequents the internet, had come across this Instagram account, so when I had an opportunity to receive and review this book from Blogging for Books I snatched it up.

Good

• It’s very light-hearted. You’re laughing or rolling your eyes the entire time, but never left feeling down.
• Not only are the stories extreme and hilarious, Kate is also a great writer with a biting sense of humor and self-deprecation that makes it feel like you’re getting this firsthand from the cool girl at the party.
• It was very fast to read, and as soon as you start a chapter and hear what her mom did you’re racing through – certain that there’s no way that happened.
• I liked the pictures and text conversations to break up the text.

Less Good

• Their relationship is VERY open. I mean OPEN. Tons of talk of anatomy, puberty, sex, hygiene, childbearing, STDs, etc. Definitely not ok for under 21 I would think.
• Lots of swearing and sex stuff, unfortunately.
• It’s not very long, which is good because it starts to wear down a little bit by the end. You’re like “ok she’s crazy and you’re dry, we get it.” Still worth a read but don’t be worried if you get tired by the last chapter.

Daughters in my Kingdom

This book chronicles the development of the Relief Society from it’s earliest days down to our current era. Full of historical events, quotes from prophets and Relief Society Presidents, and photographs, it’s a varied and interesting look at the church’s women’s organization throughout time. Written to help women in the church understand and appreciate their heritage, it provides great material for talks & lessons, and an interesting source for daily study. 

Earlier this year I realized what was making me feel good – making me feel like Danica – GIRL POWER. There’s just something about it that has given me life from even my childhood years. Especially when it comes to the Gospel. There’s a lot of feelings and opinions about women in the church, and more than once I’ve felt a pull that THIS is where I’m needed. This is where I need to plant my feet and bloom – in defense and company of strong women in the church. I decided to focus my study on that – beginning with this book (and now I’m onto Sheri Dew’s Women & the Priesthood, then Eve and the Choice Made in Eden).

Good

• For the most part, this book has a lot of sections and divisions, making it very easy to read as daily scripture study. I would read 1-2 sections or whatever I had time for, and it was uplifting and fast. Sometimes you don’t have half an hour to read a whole scriptural chapter, ya know?
• This book is free. Just ask your RSP for one if you don’t have one already!
• As someone who grew up as a Utah County Mormon I expected to know everything (don’t I though?) but I found myself so proud and shocked at the things I learned. I guess I wasn’t fully aware at how hard we fought for women’s suffrage and I read it with tears streaming down my face in pride.
• I completely understand now why they felt the need to publish and share this, and I think all Mormon women should read it. I think so many of us roll our eyes at the term “relief society” but do we actually know what it does? What it was created to do? Because I can honestly say I have never caught the vision until now. And wow is it an incredible vision. It would change the entire world if we all caught this vision.
• So much Gordon B. Hinckley, because he was such a champion for us, you guys. I just love him so so much.
• The look at polygamy was so interesting and healing for me. It’s something that has never sat right with me, and I choose to just straight up ignore it. But this was helpful. This was good.

Less Good

• There’s plenty of parts that made me feel like absolute garbage because I can’t even attend all 3 hours of church regularly but these women are giving up all they had for Relief Society.
• I couldn’t help but find myself spotting all the pieces and parts that today’s feminists would flame if they could. I’m still struggling to find my place within Mormon feminism, so this was probably good for me, although sometimes uncomfortable.