Blog and Book Club: Chelsea Handler's My Horizontal Life

I love reading.  I always have.  But when people ask me about my hobbies, I’m stumped; I always just look at them like “What hobbies?”  Then I remember that I spend most of my down time reading so that has to count as a hobby, right?  The only problem is I never have anyone who can discuss books with me.  So on any given day while talking with any given person, I’ll end up starting sentences like this, “A character in my book…,” or “In the book I’m reading…,” or “Have you read…?”  You get the picture.  It makes me feel like some kind of nerd.  So in order to help myself avoid those situations, I’ve gone out on a limb and started a book club.  A group of friends obligated to talk about books with me?  Perfect.

Last month’s title was My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One Night Stands written by Chelsea Handler.  A Chelsea Handler book was called for, so I decided we should start with her first published work.

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA; Later Printing edition (May 12, 2005)  ISBN-10: 1582346186

The book is about just what it sounds like it is about.  Handler’s wit and humor shine through the pages as she tells the world about some of her more memorable one night stands.  She open’s with a story from her childhood.  Picture this: a very headstrong seven year old Chelsea sneaking into her parents room on a dare and snapping a shot of her parents in the throes of passion.  And thinking she has gotten off scot free.  Handler chooses now to introduce us to her rather judgmental father in the first pages. I can only assume its because he adds a considerable amount of humor to the later pages.  As she takes us through her twenties, has us laughing at her and her friends' alcohol infused antics and the various men she chooses to take to bed.  From cheap cruise performing boys that are barely legal to the man you see smiling at you from the bank posters.

As far as I can tell, the book is based on truth, or so the reader is supposed to believe.  But it’s hard to know when Handler openly admits to readers that she makes up incredible stories and passes them off as true, something that adds an extra punch to her cock tales.  

I was a little surprised when the book wasn’t as vulgar as I had anticipated.  It was actually refreshing; I enjoyed reading about Chelsea’s shenanigans more than I would have enjoyed reading explicit sexual content starring Chelsea Handler, the woman I watch on late night television.
What I liked best about the book?    Handler's stories encourage reader’s to take chances.  To do what you want, when you want, and nothing you don’t want.    

So, if you’re looking for an easy read that will make you laugh out loud, I’d recommend My Horizontal Life.  You can buy the book from any major book dealer, but I just borrowed it from the local library's electronic collection.  

And please don't forget to let me know what you thought! 

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