Friday Reads is a new weekly feature here on
Cityline.ca, where we give you a behind-the-scenes look at what
Cityline guest experts and staff members are reading. Each week we’ll
put the spotlight on the “Friday Reads” of two of our crew. This week,
we’re taking a peek at the bookshelves of Kathy Buckworth and Gail Pelton.
Kathy Buckworth, guest expert:
Previously unknown in North America, new bestselling author Caitlin Moran is an extremely popular columnist for the Times in London, England. How To Be a Woman (Harper Perennial), her brutally honest tale of an upbringing in a home with seven siblings, takes us on a hilarious journey of how women think as they go through puberty, boyfriends, weight loss, purses, how they dress, even having children.
The underlying commentary is absolutely feminist, which she describes as “Simply the belief that women should be as free as men, however nuts, dim, deluded, badly dressed, fat, receding, lazy and smug they might be.” She’s dismayed that in 50 years, the only rival to the word “feminism” has been “Girl Power”. As she says, “After all, P. Diddy has had four different names, and he’s just one man.” One of the best books I’ve read about being a woman and a mother in today’s age. (She’s great on Twitter, too: @caitlinmoran.)
Gail Pelton, Cityline editor:
I have to admit I was never a Guns N’ Roses fan. I like their music, but I was more into grunge when they were around. It’s So Easy: And Other Lies by Duff McKagan (Touchstone) has given me a new appreciation for them and their songs. I hadn’t really thought much about how unique their sound was. Aside from the music, Duff’s story is totally interesting and completely entertaining. The book is written so well that I actually get stressed out when Axl doesn’t show up for gigs, and my heart breaks when Duff slowly watches his friends descend into drugs and his band implodes.
I bought this book because Duff was on Dr. Phil and I was interested to read about the panic attacks he suffered. I never suspected that I would become so invested in his story and become such a fan.
What are you reading this Friday? Tell us in the comments what books are currently residing on your bedside table!