Lately, I’ve become a huge fan buzz books, those pop culture junkie books like celebrity memoirs that sit on your coffee table and everyone’s heard about. I don’t talk about it a lot, but I love diving into a little pop culture non-fiction between intense YA reads. They go down like butter, often making me laugh, cry, and cheer while I’m on the subway going to and from work.
I’m still reeling from the Gilmore Girls revival (did you guys watch it? DM me with thoughts @mostlyyalit!), which was a pop culture phenomenon as well as dropping names of everything and everyone (as the show does). So this week’s #TopTenTuesday is sort of Gilmore Girls-inspired, all about some of the buzz books I recommend or have purchased because they’re current, and chock full of wisdom and laughs.
P.S. I’ll have holiday gift guide, part 2, with more gift ideas for you next month!
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Ten Buzz Books for the Pop Culture Junkie in Your Life
1. Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick | I’m not even done this yet and I know it’s going on my gift guide for everyone. Anna is one of my fave actresses and she is so refreshingly open about her awkwardness and her feminism. It’s made me snort out loud on the subway. Read it.
2. Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter | I have a mini-review of this, but if you’re into Hamilton, or just the making of something really great and legendary, this is so worth the read.
3. Why Not Me? and Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling | I should really put this in two, but since both of Mindy’s books follow the same (hilarious) format, it’s one entry. If you’ve seen any of Mindy’s shows, you know how funny she is, and that definitely plays out on paper/audio, too.
4. You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day | This was on my best books of last year. It actually made me cry because it was so visionary and unique about an actress and entrepreneur who literally made her career on her passion.
5. Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham | This isn’t non-fiction, and it’s not Lauren Graham’s memoir Talking As Fast As I Can (which is coming out today, see below!). A few years ago, Graham wrote a novel loosely based on her experiences as a struggling actor in New York in the early 90s. It’s a lovely, wise, and honest read. I read it as an ARC, but I’ve listened to the sample of Graham reading it and I honestly wish I’d read it as an audiobook.
6. Texts from Jane Eyre by Mallory Ortberg | Ortberg was one of the creators of The Toast, which was a fantastic, feminist, irreverent online magazine. A couple years ago, I read and loved this book by her that imagines texts from characters from classic and modern literature. It’s completely hilarious, and a great gift for the booklover in your life.
7. Slaughterhouse 90210 by Maris Kreizman | This is more of a coffee table book than anything else, but damn, it’s a good one. Kreizman runs a Tumblr by the same name, where she pairs quotes from great literature with scenes/pictures in pop culture. It’s beautiful and often kind of sarcastic…perfect for the snarky sis or friend in your life who’s picky about what he/she reads.
Buzz Books I Haven’t Read Yet But Have Purchased/Own
8. The Elephants in My Backyard by Rajiv Surendra | Remember the rapping mathlete Kevin from Mean Girls? Yeah, you do. This is his book, and it’s…not about that at all. Instead, this memoir is about Surendra falling in love with the novel Life of Pi. He decides to drop everything to go on a life-changing trip to India.
9. The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher | I’m a big Star Wars fan, and Carrie has always been really inspiring to me because she’s such a vocal supporter of those of us with mental health issues. Just got this on audiobook, can’t wait to start!
10. Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham | Oh, you better believe I pre-ordered this memoir by this amazing Gilmore Girls actress. It comes out today and I’ll be starting this week!
So curious – are you guys into pop culture or buzz books? Are you big pop culture junkies? Interested in reading or gifting any of these for the holidays? Leave a comment and I’ll stop by!
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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke and the Bookish to highlight a top ten list related to book blogging, and to get to know fellow book bloggers.
I don’t mind the odd pop culture or buzz books. A few years back I went through Jenny McCarthy’s books and Tori Spellings as well even though they weren’t the kind I’d usually pick up I loved them. I have to admit though I haven’t read any in a couple years but I do want to read Anna Kendricks.
Here’s my Top 10 Tuesday post
I really need to read more memoirs! Anna Kindricks’s, Mindy Kaling’s, and Lauren Graham’s are high on my list!
My Top Ten
I definitely want to read the Lauren Graham and Carrie Fisher books. Hamilton looks interesting too. Great list!
The Hamilton book is SO good, but I wish I’d bought it as a paper book because it’s gorgeous and includes the entire libretto. I’m reading the Lauren Graham memoir on audiobook now and it’s lovely. Carrie Fisher is next – have you read any of her other books?
I haven’t read any of the other books. I may have to give them a try as well. I’m a Star Wars fan so this new one may be a fun read.
I love this so much!! I enjoyed Mindy’s books and Felicia Day’s as well. Someday, Someday Maybe was cute. I really want to get the audio for her memoir as well as the Anna Kenrick one. I have had that Slaughterhouse 90210 on my wishlist forever. Great great list!!!
Thanks so much! I feel bad that I never fully reviewed either of Mindy’s books or Felicia Day’s, but I loved them all. We totally have the same taste in pop culture books. I’m thinking of picking up the Lena Dunham next, have you read that?
I did read Lena Dunham’s book and I liked it a lot. If you like her you will like the book – it is very much n her voice.
Scrappy Little Nobody was so fun! I think it’s mostly because I love Anna Kendrick, and her voice comes across so well <3
OMG, listening to Anna Kendrick narrate is exactly what I hoped. I feel like she’s my friend now. I would like her to be my friend now. Please, can she be my friend now? =p
Ooooh, this is an excellent list! I bought Lauren Graham’s book today on my way to work and read it on my breaks. I am 1/3 through! You’ve also made me want to go back and “re-read” Graham’s novel but as an audiobook this time. She narrates it?! I’ve also picked up Anna Kendrick’s book and can’t wait to read it. She is so funny. I hadn’t heard of Slaughterhouse 90210 but it sounds right up my alley! Definitely gotta check that one out.
Oh, Slaughterhouse 90210 is SO your kind of book, Beth. You’ll really enjoy looking through it.
I just started the Lauren Graham book and finished the Anna Kendrick. The AK is hilarious. So far, the Lauren Graham is great as well. I love how much joy these books bring, and they’re such fast reads, too.
1, 4, 5 & 10 are on my wishlist. 3rd read both and enjoyed. I also really enjoyed Kunal Nayar’s book, Yes My Accent Is Real.
Oh yeah, I’ve heard great things about Yes, My Accent is Real! Moving higher up my TBR. Thanks!