Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP newsletter this week is a reading list to make our summers just a little bit better. In all honesty, I think Goopy just thinks we’re all morons, and we need to read something she recommends before she speaks to us again. Here’s Goopy’s little note to us this week – by the way, it’s like she’s speaking right to me! Oh wait, I just signed up for the GOOP emails:
As I prepare to have some August downtime, I’m dying to get my summer reading list in order. I’ve asked some friends for their best summer reads to help narrow down the plethora of great novels. There is something for everyone here.
Love, Gwyneth
[From GOOP]
This is one of the things I hate most about the Goopster. I hate when she gets her friends to do her dirty, goopy work for her. Like two weeks ago, when Goopy had her friends (and her shrink) give us relationship advice, yet Gwyneth stayed silent on what it took for her marriage to stay afloat. Personally, I’d rather hear what Gwyneth’s relationship advice is. And I’d also like to know what she’s reading – I would find it very educational. Alas, her friends have snotty taste in books for the most part. It’s like they don’t get that summer reading can be a fun, trashy paperback, or some silly detective story.
It’s a long list, so I’ll just give you some of the more interesting titles for what Goopy thinks we should be reading this summer, and I’ll put in Goop’s friends’ little asides as we go: The Pirates! In An Adventure With Napoleon by Gideon Defoe (“Insane, absurdist, hilarious English wit and very short…what more could anyone ask for??”); Peace Like A River by Leif Enger (“A miracle of faith, family and classic adventure – an incredible story.”); The Almond Pickerby Simonetta Agnello Hornby (“This novel is set in Sicily in 1963.”). Look, I like getting book recommendations and everything, and I’m a voracious reader, but do you get the feeling that Goopy’s friends are as pretentious as her?
In an ode to downmarket, fun summer reading, I’d like to recommend three of the most pleasurable books I’ve read recently. Over the weekend, I just read Janet Evanovich’s Finger Lickin’ Fifteen, which was hilarious, and I would recommend the Stephanie Plum series to anyone looking for something easy and funny. Since I love crime and detective stories, I have to recommend two by Elmore Leonard: Mr. Paradise and Up In Honey’s Room, both written in the past few years, and two of Leonard’s best, in my opinion. And if it takes you more than a day to finish any of them, I’d be surprised.
Note by Celebitchy: I didn’t find the list all that pretentious, probably because I’ve read and enjoyed a couple of the books that Gwynnie’s friends mentioned: Peace Like a River by Leif Enger and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon. Kavalier and Clay is incredible and I would highly recommend it. Peace Like a River is pretty good and I would sort-of recommend it. I lent to a friend and she found it too heavy on the biblical stuff, and too long.
There are also a couple of books mentioned in the newsletter that I’ve tried to read and ended up putting down. Gwynnie’s friend Abbie Kane recommends Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying, but says it’s on her “summer list,” meaning she just intends to read it. It’s an Oprah book club recommendation from 2005. I tried to read that book after someone lent it to me and just couldn’t get into it at all. The style is disjointed and hard to follow and I know people rave about Faulkner but he’s not for me.
There’s also Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke, a book my husband bought for me. I read a few chapters and found the plot incredibly boring and the descriptive passages way too long. Now that seems like a pretentious book, but to each his own.
My favorite recent read was Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen. Favorites of all time include Empire Falls by Richard Russo, and The Shipping News by Annie Proulx. And for quick reads I really enjoy John Grisham, but some of his newer stuff is hit or miss. True life story The Innocent Man is incredible. I couldn’t put it down and had to stay up all night reading. I’ve also read a few of the Stephanie Plum books that Kaiser mentioned and they were a lot of fun. Right now I’m about 3/4 of the way through Stephenie Meyer’s Eclipse, and it’s cheesy but I’m geared up for the epic vampire werewolf battle that’s about to come.
Reading is a personal thing, which makes me question why Gwyneth isn’t sharing her reading list. Is she afraid that she’ll get made fun of, like the last time she listed only classics?
Here is Gwyneth last night at The Children Of The City Champions of Hope Benefit Gala in New York City. That’s a wacky dress she’s got on. Credit: Diane Cohen/Fame Pictures
Whatever, she’s encouraging reading and that’s always a good thing. She gets bashed no matter what she does anyway, but then again, I really like Gwynnie.
You know, I’d actually rather hear from her friends than from her, particularly since this time (at least) they provided information about why they liked the books. I’ve seen other “newsletters” in which her friends gave such vague information as to be useless.
I just read Drink Play F@#k, and it was a funny rejoinder to Eat Pray Love, which I found pretentious. And while I liked Kavalier & Clay and Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, I’m amazed that the same person also likes Michael Connelly’s overwritten, choppy books.
Well, for once I agree with Gwynth! If we did we wouldn’t be taking the likes of FOX News and Lou Dobbs as bible or posting here that matter! LOL.
@KateNonymous – I will have to check out Drink Play F*ck. I tried to read Eat, Drink, Pray, whatever and I was like “how up her own ass is this woman?” and put it down. How did you get through Jonathan Strange, was it worth it? I found it too dry.
August downtime? Didn’t she JUST have a “relax and enjoy life phase” not too long ago?
Don’t tell me this woman actually thinks she’s “working.”
I couldn’t finish Eat Pray Love either, but the man’s version sounds hilarious.
Water for Elephants was AMAZING, couldn’t put it down.
The title of this post is wrong.
Because I am a tight-@ss, type A personality, I made it *all the way through* Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. (In other words, i cannot bear to start something and leave it undone. It just makes me itch.) It took me almost 6 months to get through it. By the end of the thing, 1500-some odd pages, I was so disappointed. It was a complete waste of time – so incredibly dull. I hate myself for not being able to quit it while I was ahead. But, I loved Eat, Pray, Love – I thought it was an incredibly earnest, honest account of this woman’s journey and I loved it. She was neurotic, yes – but I didn’t think she was pretentious in her presentation. I tend toward too much self-analysis, though, and so did she – so it may not be for everyone.
…forgot to say, although I loved Eat, Pray, Love I will happily check out Drink Play F***! Sounds hilarious…
I read Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrel. It took some determination, honestly, to get through the first third. After that I found it got more engaging, and the characters were a little more compelling once you knew them better. It was alright; not excellent, but not bad at all.
I would prefer to hear what Gwynnie wants to read, personally. Her friends are no one to me, and she lists their “credentials” as if it will make me more interested. Ooh, your friend from childhood recommends a book by her college buddy. Some random guy likes some random author… I feel like I could get a better list of recommendations at the library.
I have to agree with her. Juat look how many of those celebs from CRIBS have everything in their houses that you can think of and I can recall only two that I’ve seen that had books in their house
Moby and Russel Simmons, other than that most had 8,000 cars gaming rooms etc etc,
@CB, my experience was the opposite of the other posters. I really liked the beginning of the novel, but I thought it was much too long, and I lost interest.
However, it was a great book to take to jury duty. All those hours waiting to see if my name would be called gave me lots of time to read JS&MN. So I did finish it–and I’m glad I did–but I wouldn’t put it on a “must read” list.
i loved “jonathan strange”, too. it took awhile to get into but when i did i really loved it. i too, hated, HATED “eat pray love” i just kept thinking what a self-centered snot this woman is. the best book i have read all year is “the elegance of the hedgehog” …amazing. i am also reading “in the woods” (liking it so far), christine falls (great) and re-reading one of my faves, “confederacy of dunces”, which may be the funniest, darkest black comedy ever written. as long as goop promotes reading i’m fine with her…i actually liked her reading list from last year. it’s when she starts recommending where to shop (a burberry raincoat – for just $1,800!) and her ridiculous cleanses that i get irritated.
Who made this sick broad popular?????
I could not get past the first chapter of Jonathan Strange..but I chose book according to my mood, lazy summer days the Tudor inspired series of books by Philippa Gregory, rainy indoor days Joseph Boyden – Three Day Road and the incredible sequel Through the Black Spruce.
I’m so compulsive about finishing a book that I MADE myself continue to read Jonathon Strange…and then I fell in love with it! Please don’t give up on this book… it is truly magnificent. I read it over three years ago, and it still haunts me.
@Rosalee – Oh yeah I read “The Other Boleyn Girl” for a bookclub a couple years ago. It was so trashy I loved it!
I think I am gonna write to Goopy and suggest she add Finnegans Wake to her list of ‘light summer fare’. Just to see what her take is on that literary monstrosity. 😉
Personally, and this is just my opinion, I am not going to waste my vacation trying to muddle through The Myth of Sisyphus or some such sh*t, vacation for me is the time to shut down a bit and simply relax. I love a crappy page turning, drugstore, potboiler in the summer or winter for that matter.
Put down the video games and pick up a good book….people want the visual, the sound, the interaction. I prefer books where you use your imagination to visualize the story….and exercise your brain since it has to think.
@ taylorb: oh my god, “finnegan’s wake”! ooof. i had to read it, along with “ulysees” in college and i thought i was going to die. i get that it is wordplay, and it’s very clever, but it is an exhausting read. “literary monstrosity” is a good way to describe it! but, i do adore “dubliners” … perfect prose, every word just so beautiful and powerful.
Here’s the deal. She has many good ideas. What she doesn’t realize is that some of her suggestions are for a non-sustainable upper class and how pretentious and ridiculous they are when seen in the long view (historically as well as culturally).
When talking about traveling to Spain for example, how about referencing dishes that 90% of Spain eats and can afford and referencing destinations that someone who does not belong to the “investment class” can afford.
In this case though she is referencing books and as Americans, we are loud with our opinions but for the most part – terribly uninformed; we just don’t read. Cut the girl some slack. When she is right, she is right.
vale: I am totally on your bandwagon. I like Gwynnie too. And, I am a self-confessed book snob. I wouldn’t be caught dead reading trashy novels. Luckily, I am not famous so no one criticizes me.
I just finished Tom Wolfe’s Bonfire of the Vanities… I couldn’t put it down! Cover to cover it only took me a few days. Fast-paced, good summer read, especially if you know the politics of New York City.
If anyone likes historical fiction, Gore Vidal has written a great series of American history books told through the perspective of an average family. I’d recommend 1876, Burr, and Empire is my absolute favorite.
Taylor B, my mom (R.I.P.) always had two books going at once: a trashy “bodice ripper” (as she called them) and a serious tome. Best of both worlds! BTW, I do love book lists. I waste tons of time on Amazon Listmania. Now if I could peel my eyes away from the list and get to the actual reading of the books…
Oh. I didn’t know she could read.
LuLu, The propensity to read one kind of literature or another doesn’t make you a ‘snob’, it is just your personal taste. I don’t enjoy romance novels, or comic books personally, but I certainly wouldn’t begrudge someone who does; it doesn’t make me a ‘snob’ it just isn’t my taste. I think it is wonderful just to encourage people to read instead of sitting about playing Atari or Nintendo.
But to be fair Gwen has a tendency to talk down to people to the point it is irritating to some. Trips to St Lucia, Escargot and Prada are fantastic options, but for most of us camping, french fries and Target are a bit more realistic. She has had, does have, a very privileged life and has had many adventures, but they don’t really translate to 99% of the population, so it is a bit hard to stomach her giving regular folks her pearls of wisdom on how to ‘live well’, shop well, learn, when many of us are simply trying to get by from day to day without a 3 week liquid diet ‘cleanse’ lesson… otherwise known to tens of hundreds of thousands of people in the world, including people in the US, as hunger, due to poverty.
Trillion,
I do that to, one for the porch/kitchen, one for bedtime, and one for the John. After a long day the deliciously trashy sure is nice to decompress with, and more relaxing for me than ‘The Worlds Biggest Famewhore Loser’ or whatever the reality show du jour happens to be on; I really miss stuff like Fantasy Island, Mork and Mindy, the Love Boat, the A-Team, Taxi, Columbo, etc. I know, I know… I am an uncouth rube, but I like that stuff.
TaylorB: Well said. But, I really don’t get the vibe that she is talking down to people. I don’t understand people hating on someone because they were born lucky. I went to school with people who were far wealthier and privileged than she will ever be. They were always so kind and generous with me and it didn’t matter that I was the poorest one in the room.
I just think it’s unfair that we judge people before we know them. And she has the right to put stuff out there like anyone else with a blog or a Facebook page.
People read more now than ever, because of the Internet. I have been reading all my life and would average a book a month and the ocassional newspaper. When in college I would pick 2 or 3 books to complete a research project where now I read loads of articles, books, journals to the research. The plus is we save time by not having to go to the library and so forth. Young students need to fullfill the FCAT reading fluency requirements and if they used the internet as most adults do today, the “no child left behind” would be greatly fullfilled, so I suggest Mrs Paltrow buy kids a computer or evena type writer for reading fluency training instead of the comment we don’t read enough. Being on the Internet is constant reading. She may not know this, and funny how some will mention there’s problems when what we all need are solutions. No wonder Hollywood appears weak. What next, we don’t know hor to cook chicken?
With all the millions you have for reading scripts why not buy books. I agree that we need solutions not people pointing out we have problems. We all know there are issues. We have enough Indians, sort of speak, but not enought chiefs. So Paltrew, put the money where it counts and save the speeches for the movies. I suppose the Internet doesn’t count for reading, but maybe that’s true if one doesn’t know there’s more to it than the tabloids. She needs to read more, it seems.
There’s an enormous amount of resouces on the Internet. One just needs to know how to use it. She’s still living in Shakespeare time. Haven’t you heard? People are reading more, just not the traditional way. I now read several newspapers a day, instead of the one that was usually taken from the front door anyway. Besides, no need to read all of the newspaper since most have the same news, but are reading more, even if just repetion.
If she is so worried than she should become part of the solution and not the problem. Pointing fingers and calling out on issues we all know exist is weak. Get your hands dirty, and get kids the books or computers would impress your fans a lot more than pointing something out. Lame. Maybe now you can turn it around and do something instead of preaching.I don’t want to know how to cook a chicken, that’s too easy, but maybe this is her extent and that’s just fine.
I would like to know how to make sushi.
I must’ve said this millions of times, but people don’t hate on Gwyneth because she’s privileged. They hate on her because she is selfish, self absorved, pompous and she notoriously mocks anyone who isn’t as fabulous as she sees herself. Hell, it would be hard to list all her stupid statements.
I never understood the point of Goop. Why Gwyneth, out of the blue, decided she was the person to give us, poor mortals, advice? Was her greatness too much for herself and she felt she had to share it? Gwyneth teaching us to cook is like, I don’t know, Lindsay Lohan writing a self help book. Gwyneth never washed a fucking dish in her life and she wants to teach me how to cook? Bitch, please.
I wonder who is the target audience of Goop. I suppose it must be filthy rich people, because I don’t anyone else looking up for Mulberry bags or detox diets. This kind of delusional project is very typical of spoiled rich girls looking for new distractions.
But, I suppose what makes Goop more offensive is not the site itself, but the times. We’re in recession, people are losing their jobs and struggling to survive. It seems really inappropriate to brag and show ostentation. So, once again, Gwyneth shows how alienated and unable of empathetic behaviour she is.
Peopel would read more if their job consisted of reading scripts for a couple months, then sit around and do nothing else but read a recipe book. How inspiring. Another bimbo.
The girl has to much time on her hands and needs attention at your expense. I suppose we haven’t heard that kids need to read more, so they grow up with the skills. If i worked a couple a month here and there I suppose I could read more, but have college to attend, a professional career to mold, and don’t need a lazy chic to remind us kids need to read more. You have money. have you given anyone a book lately? Or is just to fullfull your boredom? Being a celebrity isn’t admirable and it’s about times these lazy people either attended school or did something with substance. I admire the teachers, the nurses, some artists, poets, and so much more. The tabloids just make me feel better about my life path. She needs to know she makes others feel better about themse;ves because her life seems as if lacking something, but at others expense. Give me a college graduate in Hollywood and not the average boozer, gambler, wrork a month here and there and than wants to run for office. California is great example what these folks will acomplish with their learning skills. Thanks but no thanks.
Great idea. She should remind her fellow lazy workers to get a diploma and not read our scripts. Now that would be an advantage. Get them to go to school, than maybe you could be better role models.
Give this girl something to do. She’s bored.
Hey, Gwen, magon Fox day off Aug 4. Why not take that day to make your lame point. Nahhhh
Did you guys read what she said about her website last night…. http://www.dlisted.com/node/33197
If she’s so worried she needs to get herself to school and get a teacher’s certificate to teach kids to read. In the meanwhile, just keep pretending. No one cares. If the writing is on a movie is great, pleople will watch, but as evident people don’t go to the movies because your in it. Just look at box office mojo. keep playing and let us do the real work, will yahhh.
I’m always up for a good recommendation, and this post gave me some good fodder. Thank you!
Peopel don’t hate her because she’s priviledged. There’s a lot of priviledged people we all admire and respect and who motivate our youngster and even grown ups. It’s the comment that is rediculous when she has plenty of time to do something about it, and not point fingers. It’s like having a huge fat person tell us how to lose weight. She’s no scholar, and has all the time to read, and obviously how to remind us some kids lack in reading skills. There will always be kids who lack motivation and skills, but the actual truth is that more people read now than ever because of the Internet. I agree they should be reading great works and not the tabloids, but if some learn by reading trash, than that counts for something. It gets to read, even if to learn how to boil a chicken.
She mentions several books she has read. There’s the clue. The girl has so much time to read and market the books for the authors. Nice going. Read all night. Nice to stay up whenever you feel like it, because your next gig may not happen for another three months, than a year or two off. I would read that much myself, and actually do read that much in between real work and school. Does she expect people to quit their jobs and read that much just to fullfill her wish?
you know, this post of hers doesn’t totally make me want to vomit. although i really dislike her and her stupid goopy website.
water for elephants— loved loved loved it!!
and strange and mr. norrell– oh my god. that’s hours of my life i am *never* getting back.
Crash2,
Just don’t try to muddle through Finnegans Wake, even Nobokov couldn’t make heads or tails of that thing. But if you like dark comedy try ‘A Confederacy of Dunces’ brilliant read.
Jill wrote: “and strange and mr. norrell– oh my god. that’s hours of my life i am *never* getting back.”
Amen sister. But I guess we all have our own tastes in literature. I like a very wide varity myself, from CS Lewis to Hemmingway to that fun woman who churns out a cheesy mystery a week for airport kiosks Mary ?? something or another, but more often than not I unfortunately find myself stuck in AVMA journals, while informative, not much of a gripping read. 😉
I find it hilarious that anyone would consider Sidney Sheldon (channeled by Tiggy Bagshawe or whatever her name is) snotty reading. The late, great Mr. Sheldon was the master of trashy reads and most of his work holds up admirably well to this day. And if you don’t feel like reading Sheldon, you can always pick up some Judith Krantz! I could give pages of recommendations for trashy summer reads, but I’ll limit it to these two who are arguably the bast at what they do: trashy, dirty, can’t-put-em-down, pure escapist literature. Enjoy!
Az wrote: “I could give pages of recommendations for trashy summer reads, but I’ll limit it to these two who are arguably the bast at what they do: trashy, dirty, can’t-put-em-down, pure escapist literature. Enjoy!”
Please recommend away, I am no slave to the elite lit, I confess I just love a potboiler as much as the next guy/gal. Bring em on! Oh, and toss in some good horror novels as well.
I am going on vacation, and anything that isn’t work related sounds good to me.
@elisabetta ooh I read Charlotte Simmons by Wolfe a few years back and I enjoyed it. I will check out Gore Vidal, I think I tried to read him a while ago and didn’t get into it, but I’ll try again!
@Lee and @sofie I like your point about the Internet and agree
– in a way it has more advantages because it’s so simple to access any piece of information or whatever you’re interested in, and it’s more engaging.
@Glowstar I live in Europe (Berlin) and it’s 6 hours later than EST so sometimes news that breaks in the late afternoon won’t make it here until the morning. Kaiser covered that and it will be up in the morning EST.
@Jill – we have similar tastes, what other books would you recommend?
Ooh another book I loved was Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides.
OK – I read a Harlequin romance/mystery novel on my iPod touch a few weeks ago and I really loved it. It was free through the application Stanza (also free) and you can also get it free through Kindle. (Does anyone have a Kindle and would you recommend it?)
Here’s the link:
http://www.amazon.com/Crime-Scene-at-Cardwell-Ranch/dp/B001R4GNS6
Thanks everyone I think we just started a summer reading list..as for classics a few years ago I read the works of Mark Twain, a few years later Jane Austin, Margaret Laurence and Atwood. One of my favorite authors is Joseph Conrad. But good old fashion hot, steamy trashy novels in the summer sun are my escape..right now I’m starting the Chatelaine Harris books – Sookie rocks
@Az, I like Judith Krantz’s books. They’re trashy–but what I like about them is that she knows they’re trashy and is having fun writing them.
Although hopefully I shouldn’t say “had fun;” it’s been quite a while since she published.
The difference between Krantz and, say, Danielle Steel is that Krantz seems to know exactly what she’s writing, and seems to have a blast with it.
Great literature? No. Unabashedly fun reads? Sure. There’s room in my library for both, and everything in between.
(Right now, BTW, I’m obsessed with Dennis Lehane’s books, and I’m reading “The Outlander by Gil Adamson–the story of a woman escaping through the wilderness in the early 1900s. Not sure where it’ll wind up, but I’m really enjoying it.)
CB,
I just saw a bit on the news, granted in passing, that they reserve the right to delete books that you ‘purchase’ for whatever reason. The commentator claimed that at least one Rand book, I think Atlas Shrugged, was deleted from their Kindle by Amazon. I am not sure about this, but it may be something to check out.
@TaylorB I saw that article too. I think that there were books that supposedly were distributed against copyright, at least Orwell’s 1984 ironically enough, and Amazon had to delete them for legal reasons, but that’s terrible. One day your book is there, the next day it’s disappeared!
CB wrote: “One day your book is there, the next day it’s disappeared!”
No kidding! Can you just imagine if you were on the last few gripping chapters, but were so tired you just had to go to sleep, so you get up in the morning, grab your coffee, find a comfy spot to settle in all excited to finish the book and BAM it’s just gone.
Hot diggity dog would I be pissed off.
How did we mere mortals ever get through life without St. Goopy’s wisdom?
Very easy