Tuesday, July 10, 2018

5 Books I’ve Read Lately #4 - 30 in 2018 Challenge Update


Well let’s see here. It’s that time again where I run you through the books I have read lately. My aim is to not only give you the down-low on if they’re worth the read but also share the key takeaways and lessons learned from me reading the book. 


So we are now half way through the year and I am kicking goals on my aim to read 30 books in 2018 because I’m already at 20! I’m shocked that I’ve read that much this year but at the same time, I feel like I’m always reading and numerous books at once so I suppose it only makes sense. Either way, I am really happy to be reaching my goal to read consistently and I can always feel the incredible benefits reading has brought to my life this year.



Eat Pray Love – Elizabeth Gilbert 
Believe it or not, I actually had never gotten around to reading this book until now. I also watched the movie right after I was finished! I had heard mixed reviews about this world bestseller so went in not knowing where I would stand with it. I still have mixed feelings about the book but I think it was VERY well written and Liz Gilbert is an extremely talented author. Some themes of the book were a little dull or dragged out but I think this book did so well because of how relatable it is. Some parts seem so outrageous and overdramatic but you sit there thinking “yeah, that’s how I would react” or “yep sounds like something I would do”. So overall, definitely worth a read to get you thinking about your own stance on certain issues that pop up and big life questions to consider.

It Gets Worse – Shane Dawson 
I LOVE Shane Dawson and have ever since I started watching YouTube in 2009. So I couldn’t believe that I had never gotten around to reading his book (a theme it seems within the books I’ve read lately). With that being said, I am still yet to read his first book because this happens to be his follow up novel. The format he follows is a collection of short stories about his life that will have you rolling around laughing, feeling sympathetic pains or reaching better understandings of why he is the way he is. I found this a highly entertaining light read and I don’t think I would dislike anything Shane releases.

The Barefoot Investor – Scott Pape 
I have already spoken about this book on the blog if you caught my post about ‘why you should get your financial sh*t together and how I do it’. So I would highly recommend heading over to that article to see the teachings of this book into practice with a handy little breakdown on how you can incorporate these methods easily into your finances. If you don't know the whole hype behind this book, it follows Scott Pape's journey to financial recovery after his home and everything he owned burned down. This was a very content heavy book out of necessity for the scope it covered. It walked you through every aspect of taking care of your finances from how to structure your bank accounts to changing your super fund and everything in-between. Honestly, if you are looking for something to change your relationship with money and set you up for success then this is it (even if it just gets you thinking about things you have never previously considered).

Down the Rabbit Hole – Holly Madison 
This is a book I’ve already read when it first came out but I wanted to pick it up again because I enjoyed it so much the first time around. This book digs the dirt on the playboy mansion, something I’m interested in because I fell in love with the family friendly tv show that aired while I was a teenager. I think everyone is interested to know what goes on behind closed doors with celebrities but especially when their reality is so much further from what you thought it was at the time. Everyone loves when a celebrity or social media influencer takes off their “mask” and reveals their vulnerable side and this book does exactly that. It’s brutally honest, a bit gossipy and truly enlightening because it makes you realise you can’t trust outer perceptions. I loved this book the first time around and loved it even more reading it again.

The Trauma Cleaner – Sarah Krasnostein 
This one is VERY different from what I usually go with. While it’s still a non-fiction (I really never read fictions) it has a huge storytelling element to it. It follows the life of an Australian transgender, former prostitute and current ‘trauma cleaner’. It tells all of the insane stories about circumstances she found herself in through her prostitution year and crazy recaps of trauma cleans she has done (cleaning up from hoarders, crime scenes or mentally ill patients). Most engaging is how it delves deep into the oppression she felt as a child growing up in a family that abandoned her and trying to understand the reality of her sexuality / gender. It’s a heart wrenching true story that has you really invested. Not only that, but it’s very well written and extremely captivating. I would highly recommend.

That’s a wrap on the 5 books that I have read lately! Keep an eye out for the next instalment of this series because I’m currently on some fantastic reads I can’t wait to share!

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