The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra by Helen Rappaport

Summary:

They were the Princess Dianas of their day—perhaps the most photographed and talked about young royals of the early twentieth century. The four captivating Russian Grand Duchesses—Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia Romanov—were much admired for their happy dispositions, their looks, the clothes they wore and their privileged lifestyle.

Over the years, the story of the four Romanov sisters and their tragic end in a basement at Ekaterinburg in 1918 has clouded our view of them, leading to a mass of sentimental and idealized hagiography. With this treasure trove of diaries and letters from the grand duchesses to their friends and family, we learn that they were intelligent, sensitive and perceptive witnesses to the dark turmoil within their immediate family and the ominous approach of the Russian Revolution, the nightmare that would sweep their world away, and them along with it.

The Romanov Sisters sets out to capture the joy as well as the insecurities and poignancy of those young lives against the backdrop of the dying days of late Imperial Russia, World War I and the Russian Revolution. Rappaort aims to present a new and challenging take on the story, drawing extensively on previously unseen or unpublished letters, diaries and archival sources, as well as private collections. It is a book that will surprise people, even aficionados.
Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 512 pages (Hardcover)
Source: Review Copy
Available Formats: Print/E-book/Audio
Publication Date: June 3rd 2014 by St. Martin's Press (first published March 27th 2014)

I've been fascinated with the Romanovs since I was a little girl and watched the kids movie Anastasia. While that tale is widely exaggerated and is pure entertainment, it sparked an interest and I've always been wanting to learn more about the family outside of my World History textbook from high school so when I got the review request from St. Martin's Press how could I say no?

While some non-fiction books about history can be dry, slow moving and ultimately very boring, I'm so glad to say that Helen Rappaport's book about the last of Russia's royal family was not like that at all. I really enjoyed the way that she laid out the information in an easy, accessible way that brought the family to life in a respectful way which to me as a reader is important.

I loved learning more about the royal family. Some of the facts I knew but I found that her close attention to detail and her obvious skill for researching came through. Most of the facts I knew about the Romanov family were about the Tsar and Tsarina and their youngest child and only son the tsarevich Alexei before I read this book so I was happy to read more about the other members of the family. I knew little about the older daughters but in reading this, I feel as though I got a really interesting and in depth picture of not only them but the family unit as a whole which isn't an easy thing considering the family has been dead almost 100 years.

The way that she portrayed them was, as I said very respectful and lacked any of that sensationalism that can sometimes occur especially when it comes to this family in particular. It serves as a reminder that the these young women were flesh and blood. They felt as we feel and it provides an intimate glance into their lives, that is both familiar and unfamiliar. They might have been royals living in a different era and country but as I said they were still young women and certain things are universal and transcend barriers.

I thought that the author's voice was fantastic and the way she pieced all their lives together was very well done and would have no problem recommending this book to anyone with an interest in Russian history especially about the Romanovs. Even if you aren't a non-fiction fan Helen Rappaport puts forth an intriguing and well researched read that is easy to delve into and I for one will definitely be giving Rappaport's other books a try.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

 

Loved It!
★★★★★

 

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I Want to Get Married!: One Wannabe Bride's Misadventures with Handsome Houdinis, Technicolor Grooms, Morality Police, and Other Mr. Not-Quite-Rights by Ghada Abdel Aal, Nora Eltahawy (Translator)

 

Summary:

 

The rules may differ from country to country, but the dating game is a universal constant.

After years of searching for Mr. Right in living-room meetings arranged by family or friends, Ghada Abdel Aal, a young Egyptian professional, decided to take to the blogosphere to share her experiences and vent her frustrations at being young, single, and female in Egypt. Her blog, I Want to Get Married!, quickly became a hit with both men and women in the Arab world. With a keen sense of humor and biting social commentary, Abdel Aal recounts in painful detail her adventures with failed proposals and unacceptable suitors. There's Mr. Precious, who storms out during their first meeting when he feels his favorite athlete has been slighted, and another suitor who robs her in broad daylight, to name just a few of the characters she runs across in her pursuit of wedded bliss.

I Want to Get Married! has since become a best-selling book in Egypt and the inspiration for a television series. This witty look at dating challenges skewed representations of the Middle East and presents a realistic picture of what it means to be a single young woman in the Arab world, where, like elsewhere, a good man can be hard to find.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 160 pages (Paperback)

Source: Toronto Public Library

Available Formats: Print

Publication Date: October 15th 2010 by Center for Middle Eastern Studies, University of Texas at Austin       

 

After having this book on hold for over a year at the library (I'm still baffled as to why it took so long to get the shipment in and have thee books go into circulation) I was finally able to read it in October. I suppose my tardiness in finally writing a review for it makes sense seeing as how long I waited to read it.

 

This was my read for Egypt for Around the World challenge last year and I'm really glad I gave it a try. I'm always interested in learning about other cultures and I  love learning the customs behind seeking a husband or a wife so this one suited me quite well.

 

I loved Ghada's quirky, up beat sense of humour and I think the translator did a reasonably good job of translating the text from Arabic. I completely understand that somethings are bound to get lost in translations but I was really glad that the author's voice shined through the translation as well as it did.

 

While I was reading this I found myself laughing at least 90% of the time and 10% of those laughs resulted in me laughing so hard I had tears. Ghada's many trials and tribulations on the marriage market were hilarious to read about.

 

Many people may not agree with the way that marriages occur in other places in the world but I thought this book based on Ghada's blog gave an interesting look into the life of a would be bride and I really enjoyed reading her stories. I loved getting to know her friends and family by reading the book and you can tell that there is a lot of love and mutual respect in her family and you can totally tell that she's a Daddy's Girl (rather like I still am).

 

Despite the fact that I really liked much of the book the fact that it was made up of blog posts was both a positive and negative. The negative was that the book didn't flow all that well and I found myself reading it in spurts not straight through but that's just me and I'm sure others would have no problem with this aspect.

 

Overall, I found that the book was a good read, interesting and pretty informative. The laughs it held were hilarious and I would recommend this to anyone wanting a fun read that will allow them to experience life in another culture.

 

 Liked It!
★★★ 1/2

 

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Love, Lust & Faking It: The Naked Truth About Sex, Lies, and True Romance by Jenny McCarthy

 

 

 

Summary:

 

"New York Times" bestselling author Jenny McCarthy returns to her comic roots in this candid, wise, and witty look at women, men, sex, romance, heartbreak, love, and how (not) to fake it.

In "Belly Laughs," Jenny McCarthy told you what you could really expect when you're expecting. In "Baby Laughs" and "Life Laughs," she gave you the unfiltered ups and downs of motherhood and marriage. Now, in Love, "Lust & Faking It," the inveterate truth teller turns the lights on for a funny, often poignant, and no-holds-barred look at the essence of relationships: love and sex.

Jenny explores the intensity of first love, introducing us to Tony, the boy of her teenage dreams, and Tubby, her dirty, sexy stuffed teddy bear. She takes us on a whirlwind tour of the world of aphrodisiacs and fetishes, explains the importance of playing doctor and other nice and naughty fantasies, and gives thanks for the pleasures of chocolate. And she sets the story straight on STDs, man junk and lady bits, why we "really" cheat, why women are master manipulators, the virtues of sex with the lights off, the power of a "loving no," the satisfaction of the perfect booty call, and so much more.

Filled with humorous stories about her own out-rageous exploits--from becoming a "Playboy" Miss October to the pain of getting a discount boob job to meeting Brad Pitt--as well as the lessons she's learned from family, friends, and fans, "Love, Lust & Faking It" takes on a subject the sex symbol, mother, television star, comedian, and divorcEe can be trusted to examine with nothing but unvarnished honesty and earthy humor. Throughout, Jenny reminds us to aim higher, believe in true love, and, most of all, be kind to ourselves. And to have lots of fun and sex--without faking it.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 256 pages (hardcover)

Source: Toronto Public Library

Available Formats: Print/E-book

Publication Date: September 28th 2010 by Harper

 

 

Back in January I had myself a wee obsession with Jenny McCarthy's books and kinda read 4 of them within a week or so and this was the last of them that I read, and really enjoyed, maybe not as much as the other books I've read by her but I still liked it.

 

I really enjoyed reading about her life post divorce and coping with being a single mom too her young son Evan. I also learned a lot about her life before she became famous which was hilarious especially when she talked about her exploits as a Bunny.

 

Love, Lust and Faking it was just as gritty as her previous books but they lacked a flow. She tended to jump all over the place with her stories and sometimes I'd be reading about her life before being famous, then post divorce, then back again it was very jumbled and that was the main reason why I didn't love this book as much as her others. Plus many times while reading it seemed as though things were a tad bit forced and I'm not used to that.

 

Usually in her books her humour as gritty as it is is seamless and flowing which I think was lost in this one. Luckily though it was still a hilarious read and one that I'm pretty sure I'm going to read again when I need a laugh. Seeing Jenny write about her personal life experiences is great as it's not a side many celebrities are willing to show so it's awesome they have good and bad days like the rest of us.

 

Overall, I thought this was a pretty good book and I'd recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Jenny McCarthy and her wicked sense of humour. I can't wait to read another book by her and I hope she comes out with a new one soon.

 

Really Liked It!
★★★★

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Every Secret Thing: My Family, My Country by Gillian Slovo

 

Summary:

 

A passionate witness to the colossal upheaval that has transformed her native South Africa, Gillian Slovo has written a memoir that is far more than a story of her own life. For she is the daughter of Joe Slovo and Ruth First, South Africa's pioneering anti-apartheid white activists, a daughter who always had to come second to political commitment. Whilst recalling the extraordinary events which surrounded her family's persecution and exile, and reconstructing the truth of her parents' relationship and her own turbulent childhood, Gillian Slovo has also created an astonishing portrait of a courageous mother and a father of integrity and stoicism.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 282 pages (Hardcover)

Source: Toronto Public Library

Available Formats: Print/E-book

Publication Date: February 1st 1998 by Little, Brown Book Group   

 

As many of you know I'm really interested in the history of South Africa, particularly about the figures who played an essential role to bringing about the downfall of the apartheid regime. So when I did another one of my numerous library searches I came across this book and knowing very little except the basics about Ruth First and Joe Slovo I decided to give it a shot.

 

I wasn't sure what I was expecting this book to be really since I knew nothing about Gillian Slovo (apart from her parentage) and I've never read any of her other books before but what I got was not what I was hoping for.

 

I never go into a non-fiction read especially a biography or a memoir thinking that it will be a fast paced read like a novel and while this is sometimes the case in this instance the book crawled like a turtle. It took forever for me to get into the writing style and even as I finished the book I still hadn't warmed up to it.

 

While I understand that the lives of those in the spotlight are neer what they appear to be and that what goes on behind closed doors is often nothing like we would imagine I was surprised that the author chose to refer to her parents by her first name. Perhaps this is because she was trying to distance herself from them in order to focus on them as people rather than mom and dad but it bothered me. The book was written with such a coldness it was as if she'd rather not be connect to them at all.

 

However given her tumultuous upbringing I can understand if there are old wounds that never healed but I suppose if you're going to discuss your family that it would be prudent to add some snippets of your family life like some warmer moments just to offset the cold clinical attitude that the author adopted. Another thing I disliked was that she skipped back and forth from from different points in time. Often I would find her referring to events in the 1950's and she would skip ahead to the 1980's and back again. There was no fluidity to the writing at all.

 

The one saving grace of the Every Secret Thing was that I learned an amazing amount about the real Ruth First and the real Joe Slovo. While the way their life stories were told didn't sit well with me I did get an intimate look into the history of this political powerhouse of a couple.

 

Overall, I wasn't too impressed with Every Secret Thing but I do respect Gillian Slovo for penning this book. It is no easy thing to delve into your parent's pasts and uncover long hidden secrets (like a long lost brother) and she should be commended for her efforts. I just wish that it was put forward in a better way. I would recommend this to people who enjoy biographies and those with an interest in reading about two people who helped change the world.

 

It Was Okay!
★★

 

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The Bite of the Mango by Mariatu Kamara, Susan McClelland

 

Summary:

 

"The astounding story of one girl's journey from war victim to UNICEF Special Representative."

As a child in a small rural village in Sierra Leone, Mariatu Kamara lived peacefully surrounded by family and friends. Rumors of rebel attacks were no more than a distant worry.

But when 12-year-old Mariatu set out for a neighboring village, she never arrived. Heavily armed rebel soldiers, many no older than children themselves, attacked and tortured Mariatu. During this brutal act of senseless violence they cut off both her hands.

Stumbling through the countryside, Mariatu miraculously survived. The sweet taste of a mango, her first food after the attack, reaffirmed her desire to live, but the challenge of clutching the fruit in her bloodied arms reinforced the grim new reality that stood before her. With no parents or living adult to support her and living in a refugee camp, she turned to begging in the streets of Freetown.

In this gripping and heartbreaking true story, Mariatu shares with readers the details of the brutal attack, its aftermath and her eventual arrival in Toronto. There she began to pull together the pieces of her broken life with courage, astonishing resilience and hope.

Summary & Photo taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 216 pages (Paperback)

Source: Toronto Public Library

Available Formats: Print & E-book

Publication Date: September 12th 2008 by Annick Press

 

This was my third read of the year and for some reason it has taken until now for me to finally get around to reviewing it although I do have some suspicions as to why this is the case. I don't know about other book bloggers out there but when it comes to me writing a review for a work of non-fiction especially an autobiography or biography I find it difficult to pick apart a persons life and over the last 15 months of blogging I've learned that sometimes you have to look past that fact and only focus on the way the person's story is told.

 

When I discovered this book on a list I knew I had to read it. It fit into my 2013 Around the World Reading Challenge, it's an autobiography, and it was hailed as international best selling read. Now I'm not one that pays attention to best seller lists but given the subject matter I quickly wrote down the author's name and the book title and was on my merry way to my local library branch which luckily had it and started it as soon as I got home.

 

 Mariatu Kamara was a perfectly normal little girl until one day the war in her home country of Sierra Leone robs her of her hands which were brutally hacked off by a soldier when she was 12 years old which lead to her life never being the same again.

 

Despite the odds being stacked against her she rises above all her trials and tribulations including coming to terms with the molestation she faced not long before her attack and the subsequent pregnancy that followed and eventually the death of her first born son 9 months after he died and not long after she turned 14. Poverty, disease and fear were constants in her life but through relief efforts she was able to escape her homeland and make a life for her self here in Toronto, Canada.

 

Her story was told with so much heart, honesty and bravery I was left wondering how people can be so cruel to one another at times and yet at other times come forth with exemplary acts of kindness, love and selflessness. While her story was a tough one to read I think it is one that is a must read. It will break your heart and restore a bit of your faith in humanity afterwards a bit to know that there are people out there that are working to make the best out of a horrible situation.

 

Though it's hard for me to say that I enjoyed reading about Mariatu's journey so far I can say that I am very glad that I picked it up and read it. It's opened my eyes a little more to the things that take place in this world of ours that can be both harsh and beautiful at the same time. My one hope is that Mariatu comes forth with another book soon to update us on her journey since the publication of The Bite of the Mango. Mariatu is just one of many people who lived through these or similar circumstances and though she is an inspiration you can't forget the countless others like her out there struggling, waiting and fighting for a better day.

 

I would highly recommend this book to everyone and I do know that this is actually on some reading lists for schools already and that makes me happier than you can imagine. The first step towards moving forward is educating the younger generation. This book is written so that young adults can read it as well as grown ups. While I didn't give it the highest rating it was still extremely well worth the read.

 

Liked It!
★ ★ ★  1/2

 

 

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My Road to Kenya: A Story of Faith, Hope and Democracy in Action by Jack W. O'Leary, Mary Clare Lyons

 

Summary:

 

Over a period of 17 years, Jack refurbished and built hospitals, clinics and orphanages, and undertook other humanitarian projects in Kenya. An archbishop, an environmentalist and an AIDS activist are only a few of the heroes, who stood up against a ruthless dictator and corrupt government, in Jack O'Leary's “My Road to Kenya”. The archbishop spent 40 years fighting for democracy, and in 2011 his efforts were rewarded when the new government ratified a new constitution.

The book mostly consists of happy memories of fascinating people overcoming obstacles. In one town a hospital was built that resulted in an 80% decrease in the infant mortality. On safari, a game warden warned Jack if he got out of his vehicle one more time he would shoot him. His stories of adventures with his friend Stephen are both humorous and uplifting.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 148 pages (E-book)

Source: NetGalley ARC

Publication Date: September 2012 by WestBow Press

 

This is the personal accounts of both Jack O'Leary and Mary Lyons and their contribution to the people of Kenya. As many of you have probably seen I'm trying to read more non-fiction in 2013 so when I came across this one on NetGalley I had to give it a shot.

 

I'm not too sure what I expected to get out of my reading from the book other than that I would learn a bit about two people who work very hard to give to the people of Kenya. While I did learn about the efforts of both Jack O'Leary and Mary Lyons I felt that the book lacked a bit more of a personal touch.

 

For me, when I read a memoir like this I want to not only learn about their contributions to society but about them as individuals. In this memoir I felt that My Road to Kenya lacked a lot of the human aspect from the authors. While I really enjoyed their various stories about their time in Kenya and the good deeds they've done I know very little about Jack and Mary outside of their charitable contributions and that really bothered me.

 

I completely understand that the author probably wanted the focus to be more on sharing their experiences but I felt that learning who Jack and Mary are would have gone a long way to understanding how and why the road they were on led them to become so involved with the people of Kenya.

 

Despite this fact though, I thought that the book was well written and I enjoyed the fact that there was a certain lightness to it. It was not bogged down by dry writing but was written in a very easy to read manner. What I appreciated most was the humour with which both Jack and Mary told their numerous stories about their interactions with friends, family and strangers as well as how much passion they both have for what they do it is nothing short of inspirational.

 

Overall, this was a good little memoir based on two peoples experiences in terms of their charitable contributions that are being used to better the lives of the people in Kenya. I would recommend this to everyone especially those readers who want to read a memoir but don't want one that is too long and too time consuming to read.

 

* I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review. I was not compensated in anyway to give a positive review and all thoughts and opinions herein are my own.

 

I read this book for the following challenges:

 

2013 Around the World Reading Callenge

2013 150+ Books Reading Challenge

 

Liked It!
★ ★ ★ 1/2

 

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Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War by Leymah Gbowee, Carol Mithers

 

 

 

Summary:

 

In a time of death and terror, Leymah Gbowee brought Liberia's women together--and together they led a nation to peace. As a young woman, Gbowee was broken by the Liberian civil war, a brutal conflict that tore apart her life and claimed the lives of countless relatives and friends. As a young mother trapped in a nightmare of domestic abuse, she found the courage to turn her bitterness into action, propelled by her realization that it is women who suffer most during conflicts--and that the power of women working together can create an unstoppable force. In 2003, the passionate and charismatic Gbowee helped organize and then led the Liberian Mass Action for Peace, a coalition of Christian and Muslim women who sat in public protest, confronting Liberia's ruthless president and rebel warlords, and even held a sex strike. With an army of women, Gbowee helped lead her nation to peace.

Summary & Photo taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 256 page (Hardcover)

Source: Toronto Public Library

Publication Date: September 13th 2011 by Beast Books

 

A couple of weeks ago I was at the library and I just so happened to stumble across Mighty Be Our Powers sitting there on the shelf. Many of you know that I'm attempting to read more non-fiction this year and that I'm participating in an Around the World reading challenge in the Goodreads.com group Around the World (In 52 Books). I didn't complete my challenge last year but I'm planning to this year so when I saw that this book was set in Liberia I knew this would be my read for that country.

 

I'll be honest with you, while I had heard of the African nation of Liberia prior to my picking up Mighty Be Our Powers I didn't know too much about the country and I had no idea that it had suffered a brutal civil war that waged on and off for about two decades. However, by the time I finished this remarkable read by Leymah Gbowee about her experienced during that turbulent time in her country's history.

 

In this powerful memoir Leymah describes her life before, during and after the war in Liberia. The account starts off not long before the war started when she was just a teenager starting college in the 1990's.  She describes the care free life she lived before she moves on to retracing her life from after the war started and her life changed dramatically.

 

At 19 years of age Leymah found herself pregnant and in an abusive relationship with an older man that was taking advantage of her youth and her naivete. Battling feelings of hopelessness and loneliness she takes the first step to better her life for herself and her little ones by leaving their father and moving home where after some time she begins the rough journey of piecing her life back together again.

 

Leymah Gbowee's memoir is an inspiring read. Amidst a brutal civil war with many cards stacked against her she rises above many adversities to become a woman who leads others like her in the fight against poverty, rape and most of all the fight to bring international attention to the fact that women and children are often the ones who suffer most in times of war.

 

I learned a lot about the country of Liberia and about this one woman's experience during the civil war that struck her homeland. The writing of this memoir was easy to read, she told her story like it happened and didn't once make her role in various organizations seem like she was the most important person. There was not one ounce of vanity in her depictions which I truly appreciated.  I loved the fact that while she focused on her role as a leader that she is just one of many who are making strides to better the lives of her fellow Liberians and that they not she, are the unspoken heroes of the war.

 

This book definitely sparked an interest in me to learn more about the people. culture and history of Liberia as well as the politics in the country. It also has me interested in checking out some of the NGO's that are in the country that are working to re-establish it's infrastructure and better the lives of the people.

 

I highly recommend this memoir to anyone wanting to learn some amazingly hard life lessons from a woman who thought that she wasn't good enough to raise her own children to leading thousands of women. It's an inspirational read and while she does talk about her faith in the book she only does it in passing and doesn't force her religious beliefs upon the reader which is another thing that I liked about reading her memoir. If you want to learn a little bit and broaden your horizons I suggest you check this one out and it is one of the best memoirs I've ever read.

 

I read this book for the following challenges:

 

2013 150+ Reading Challenge

 

Loved It!
★ ★ ★ ★★

 

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It's Not Really About the Hair: An Outspoken Stylist's Smart Guide to Life by Tabatha Coffey

 

Summary:

 

Fans of the hit Bravo show "Tabatha's Salon Takeover" tune in for the straight-shooting, unvarnished commentary of its ballsy, stylish, and savvy star. Though millions admire Tabatha Coffey's unflinching honesty and never-say-die attitude, some do not and have even taken to name-calling. Refusing to let others define her, she has reclaimed the word "bitch," transforming it to fit the person she is: Brave, Intelligent, Tenacious, Creative, and Honest.

In "It's Not Really About the Hair," this deeply private woman shares the experiences of her own life to encourage you to get in touch with your own inner bitch. Tabatha reveals how she used her strength and openness to help define her signature look, personal relationships, life choices, and tenacious work ethic--one that in her own words likens her to "a pit bull with a bone." Here are the people and the circumstances that have led her to a place of honesty, self-assurance, satisfaction, and success--from her tough-minded "mum" to her famous mentors, her peers, and clients.

Part memoir, part business manual, and part coaching guide on achieving self-acceptance and love, "It's Not Really About the Hair" teaches you that it's all right to be who you are, stand up for what you believe in, and do what makes you happy without being defined by others.

Tabatha Coffey's raw, funny, shocking, and always inspirational story will encourage you to celebrate the long-lasting and most important beauty of all--the true beauty that is you.

Summary & Photo taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 212 pages

Source: Toronto Public Library

Publication Date: January 1st 2011 by It Books

 

Back in October one of the Goodreads groups I'm in You'll love this one...!! A book club & more had a week long non-fiction read-a-thon and this was one of my reads for the challenge. I've long been a fan of Tabatha Coffey and I actually watch her show every week. I love her attitude and her work ethic. Plus when she goes off on the stupidity of some people well she's a girl after my own heart.

 

When I found out that Tabatha had a book I was kind of surprised and a little nervous. I really wanted to read it but I was a little nervous as to how it would turn out because Celebrity biographies, autobiographies and memoirs can be very hit or miss. So, when I finally did start this book I went into it with low expectations and ended up completely surprised.

 

In It's Not Really About the Hair: An Outspoken Stylist's Smart Guide to Life Tabatha gives us a glimpse into her early life in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia with her mother and father. Her parents owned a strip club when she was very young and she writes how she often spent much of her time there helping out the transsexual strippers that they employed.

 

Tabatha's upbringing and life experiences have clearly shaped her into the strong, intelligent, independent woman that she is but even this self reliant woman admits that she could not have turned out the way she is without the love and acceptance of her mother which I can totally relate to because my mother (and father) are the most important people in my life.

 

Though Tabatha did have some hard knocks in life she was ultimately able to rise above everything and pull her life together to the extent that she was able to open her own salon and employ other stylists to work for her.

 

The book was a quick read, and to my surprise it wasn't dry as some autobiographies are. Instead while I read the book I felt as though Tabatha were reading it to me. I was impressed with it and the personal details that she shared since she is clearly a rather private person I thought it was a real treat to learn about her and her struggle to get where she is now. I think she's an awesome stylist and a passionate person about everything she does which I truly admired about her.

 

Overall I really enjoyed the book. It was a quick and easy read but still enjoyable. I would recommend this book to everyone who loves her shows Tabatha's Salon Takeover and Tabatha Takes Over. It's a quick read that will keep you entertained and may even surprise you too.

 

Really Liked it!
★ ★ ★ ★

 

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