Book Recommendation Sunday: 'Isla and the Happily Ever After'

A few years ago, back when ebooks were still an experimental medium that didn't really hold a candle to real books, I bought Anna and the French Kiss on my Nook. It was late at night - long past closing hour for a brick-and-mortar store - and immediately got to reading. The next day, I finished the book and knew it was one of my all-time favorite stories. 

Before Anna, I wasn't crazy about Paris. I had been an Anglophile since I was 15, but France just didn't strike my fancy as much. Therefore, it's not an understatement to say that my entire view of the city (and country) changed after reading the book. Stephanie Perkins was able to show me a side of Paris that I hadn't seen before, didn't know existed and now would die to experience.

Her second book in the 'series' (stand-alone companion novels, really) Lola and the Boy Next Door was pleasant and enjoyable, but just didn't hit me as a hard as Anna's tale had. But last week, finally, after months and years of waiting - which I was happy to do because Perkins was so open with her readers about her struggles with depression and subsequently, writing - Isla and the Happily Ever After debuted.

In keeping with Anna and Lola, I had downloaded it to my Nook - which I now read mostly on my iPhone and iPad - and absolutely tore through the 258 pages in a day.

There is a reason Isla and the Happily Ever After it is currently touting a 4.43 rating on Goodreads. Let me tell you how much I love this book: roll up my love for New York City, Paris, and happily ever afters and you have my opinion about Isla. 

People were saying it is structured differently than Perkin's other books, but it is still the same theme. It's about Isla and Josh figuring out what they mean to each other. Whether they're in a relationship or not while that happens is irrelevant. It's still about friendships that change over the years, and how the choices we make define us. As seniors at SOAP, they're trying to balance living in the moment and planning for the future. 

As with her other novels, the book spans roughly a year, so it does move at a fast pace. But the characters develop and evolve as they should, and we understand how their motives change over the months.

I flew through the final few pages of Isla and the Happily Ever After because it was exactly what I could have ever hoped for for these characters. It was like adrenaline was rushing through me and I had to find out what happens next, turning page after page after page.

The only sad thing about finishing Isla is knowing I won't be able to see these characters in the context of another book. Alas, they're happy where they are, and that's good enough for me.

Buy: B&N | Amazon | Books a Million

Pure Barre: Deceivingly easy, incredibly fun

I like fitness classes. They're fun, keep me entertained, and much better than trudging on the treadmill after thirty minutes, trying not to think about how much I hate running. 

A few months ago I tried kickboxing, which left me exhausted and sore days later. Last summer, I signed my soul over to the devil and took up weekly Saturday morning SoulCycle classes. Both were so much fun for me, and now I'm always eager to try the next best thing (like trampolines!) 

Enter: Pure Barre. The ballet-infused fitness class doesn't focus on cardio and how much you sweat, but rather, micro-movements that engage your entire body and really work to strengthen muscles all over. One of their mantras is 'Lift. Tone. Burn.' for a reason, people! 

Image credit: Pure Barre

I was so happy to see they opened a location in Annapolis, MD - a town that hasn't exactly jumped on the fitness class trends of SoulCycle or FlyWheel - and absolutely loved the studio. The instructor was wonderful with us newbies - about four out of the eight of us in the Friday morning class. I never felt intimated for not knowing exactly how it all worked, and the atmosphere was oddly relaxing, as we were shaking, trying to hold certain poses. 

I had thought I'd get through the class relatively unscathed. I can do a 2-minute plank, have fairly impeccable balance, and consider myself in shape (I've been working out four-six days a week for a year now.) Uh, yeah. Didn't really work like that. A 90-second plank is a lot harder to do when you're constantly correcting your form in the mirror. You have to use your own weight against you, 'tucking' your abs tight and hips under your waist.

Just hanging out or working their abs to the max?

While the class did feel good, there were moments where my legs experienced a new kind of pain. At one point, as we were standing on our tippy-toes, grasping the ballet barre, leaning away from it at at 45 degree angle, I honestly thought my thighs were going to burst into flames. The class is 55 minutes, split between a variety of arms, abs, legs and full-body toning. They use weights, exercise bands, small bouncy balls and yoga mats. And, of course, the ballet barre. 

The moves themselves are nothing new, but as I was holding three pound weights and pulsing them above my head, my shoulders and biceps burning, I just begin to feel better. Like I knew that the pain would be worth it (and I had paid for the lesson, so why not get something substantial out of it.)

I'm home for one more week and I think I'll just got ahead and purchase the 5-class series (saving a whopping ten dollars than if I bought them individually.) Just as SoulCycle promotes finding your inner soul, Pure Barre encourages you to "embrace the shake." 

I'm not exactly feeling the same kind of post-workout exhaustion than if I had run four miles, I think tomorrow I'll wake up and need to immediately begin stretching.

On My Spotify: 'Magazines or Novels,' Jon Batiste and Stay Human, "Bang Bang"

Oh August, you are a gift to the music world. So much good music has been released so far this month, and it's only August 8th. As we head into the final days of summer, there's no reason to let your 'Summer 2014' playlist grow stagnant, riddled with cobwebs. No no, dear reader. Instead, as these tracks to your playlist and you'll keep rocking all the way into fall. 

1) Magazines or Novels - Andy Grammar

Andy Grammar is one of my favorite musicians. He’s right up there with Eric Hutchinson and Jason Mraz in terms of quality, listenability and likability on social media (seriously, the guy’s great.) After memorizing every amazing song off his self-titled album, Andy Grammar, I have eagerly awaited the release of Magazines or Novels. Unsurprisingly, it is such a knock-out of an album. It opens with my favorite track, “Honey I’m Good” with such catchy vocals and melodies. Even slower tracks like “Remind You” are so interestingly composed, using a hint of synthesizer in the chorus, unexpectedly.

Andy Grammer said the album is named thusly to look at the juxtaposition between 'light' reading (magazines) and something more substantial (novels) and I think his album is a delightful mix of both. Honestly I love every song, but there are also those that are very carefully crafted, one's that may have taken more time, and some that may have come easier to him. Sometimes, you need to put down the novel to pick up a magazine.

This is an album I’ll need to have with me at all times for many years to come. The music is transcendental - you can listen to it anywhere and draw different emotions from each song every time - and as I’ve said, I cannot get enough of this man’s vocals.

Listen: Honey I’m Good., Holding Out, Blame it on the Stars

2) “Express Yourself (Say Yes)" - Jon Batiste and Stay Human 

Thank you, Stephen Colbert. Thank you for having these musicians on your show. Thank you for letting them do something out of the ordinary with their performance. Thank you for introducing me to Jon Batiste and Stay Human and their album, Social Music. 

“Express Yourself (Say Yes)” is such an intriguing song to listen to. It’s jazz, but it’s also R&B, it’s not pop but thinking about it now, it’s almost reminiscent of Pharrell’s “Happy" - but, better. Also, I love the intro to this song - people in different languages saying ‘express yourself.’ I like how you don’t really pick up on it until the fourth or fifth listening. Seriously - a lightbulb went off in my head, “oh, that’s what they’re saying!” 

If you do get a chance to listen to Social Music (find the time, people!) be sure to listen to "Express Yourself Outro," as well. It serves as a nice cherry on top of the "Express Yourself" sundae.

To get the full effect of this song, check out their performance on The Colbert Report. It is five minutes very well-spent.

Listen: Express Yourself (Say Yes)

3) “Bang Bang” - Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj

It’s being hailed as the new “Lady Marmalade” but “Bang Bang” has the potential to be greater. It’s a good song, any way you cut it. It probably won’t win a Grammy, but mixing these three women’s voices together is something special. Breaking it down one by one, the all bring something to the table that, without, would leave the song lacking a spark.

They may preform in different genres (‘genres’ being used very loosely, as you could argue all of them fall under Top 40/pop/hip-hop) but they all have such powerful voices. When they sing, you listen. Ariana Grande is the next Mariah Carey. Nicki Minaj is breaking glass ceilings in the rap world left and right. Jessie J sings complex and layered songs, not just mind-numbing stuff.

Listen: Bang Bang 

September has a lot to live up to.

'You're the Worst' is actually the best

I’m not even going to apologize for the pun in the title. Blame You’re the Worst creator Stephen Falk for titling his show as such, when the actual show itself is not the 'worst' by any means.

I wanted to write this a week ago, but I figured I should watch the third episode to make sure the first two weren’t a fluke. They weren't. You’re the Worst is one of the best new comedies to debut on television in recent memory. 

The show centers around two adults: Jimmy and Gretchen. The former is played by Chris Geere, who’s frequent exasperated expressions are always on the mark. His incredulous yelling, as he is prone to do, is even funnier when heard in his British accent. Gretchen, whom actress Aya Cash embodies with a mix of self- deprecating charm and an absolutely no-holds-barred attitude. 

The two meet in the pilot at Jimmy’s ex-girlfriend wedding and proceed to hook up. Their relationship is purely physical at first, but as the show progresses, there is a certain amount of emotional intimacy that develops, too.

But, seeing as how neither are particularly crazy about the idea of “settling down” they seem perfectly happy to continue on as maybe-dating. It does get to the point where Jimmy is jealous about the idea of someone else sleeping with Gretchen, and Gretchen slowly lets down her walls and can maybe see Jimmy become someone important in her life.

You’re the Worst has yet to falter - again, there’s only been three episodes - but the way it allows these characters to be selfish and insulting, demeaning and most of all, truthful, is ultimately refreshing. It doesn’t bullshit with the viewers. Jimmy will not pretend to like you and engage in small talk. Gretchen tells it like it is, she speaks her mind and isn’t going to back down.

Then there's Edgar, whom actor Desmin Borges describes in his Twitter bio as the "least worst" person on You're the Worst. And he's probably right. A war vet with PTSD, and recovering drug addict without much direction in the world, he lives with (and cooks for) Jimmy, has befriended Gretchen and provides much of the humor on the show. 

(Photo credit: You're the Worst Facebook)

Honestly, his performance in the second episode was so on point, every expression made me laugh out loud. 

Kether Donohue rounds out the main cast as Gretchen's best friend, Lindsay. A woman always trying the latest fad diet (for reasons unknown to me, she looks fantastic, it's a strange character trait, or flaw) and married to a bore of a man. She could be used as Gretchen’s insult punching bag, but she holds her own with an incredibly polished and put-together look, and facial expressions that could make me cower.

All in all, it stands to reason that these people are not actually “the worst” - unless Gretchen starts murdering people and Jimmy begins cooking meth - but for now, they do remain fairly terrible people who tell it like it is. 

Honestly, it is no surprise I love this show. The humor is dark and dry and it is one hell of an entertaining half-hour. It's almost worth it to record all of them just so I could binge the entire season in one weekend. But I am weak, and don't have the will power to wait that long. 

Season 1 is just ten episodes and boy do I hope a season 2 pick-up is on its way.

You’re the Worst airs Thursdays at 10:30 p.m. on the FX Network. Check it out.