Review of "The Pulpwood Queens' Tiara-Wearing, Book-Sharing Guide to Life" by Kathy L. Patrick

Description:

Kathy L. Patrick, author The Pulpwood Queens' Tiara-Wearing, Book-Sharing Guide to Life, the official book of the Pulpwood Queens—“where tiaras are mandatory and reading good books are the rule!”—celebrates the transformative power of reading and is a resource for book clubs and book lovers everywhere.

When licensed cosmetologist turned publisher’s rep Kathy L. Patrick lost her job due to industry cutbacks, she wasn’t deterred. Merely months later, she opened Beauty and the Book, the world’s only combination beauty salon/bookstore. An instant hit with customers, who flocked to the store for her dual beauty/book tips, Kathy soon founded The Pulpwood Queens of East Texas. The group meets monthly in official Pulpwood Queens attire—anything that includes hot pink, leopard print, and the obligatory tiara—to eat, drink, and talk books. In THE PULPWOOD QUEENS TIARA WEARING, BOOK-SHARING GUIDE TO LIFE, Kathy shares her life story on how books have changed her life, how she chooses selections for the Pulpwood Queens, and how to start a book group—and keep it going!

My Review:

I have to be honest, when I was asked to review this book, I wasn't sure if I would like it.  I was wrong!  I have to warn you, there are a few words in here that I don't allow in my house (like the horse manure word 2-3 times, and the d-m-word now and then), but if you can over a few of those, you could find a real gem of a book.  This book is part auto-biography, part self-help, part literary guide, part travel book, and more.  Kathy takes the reader on a journey through her childhood to how she ended up starting her tiara and leopard-print-wearing reading group in her own store called Beauty and The Book (part stylist, part book store) where she gives beauty make-overs and book make-overs (finding a perfect book for someone).  She is joyful and funny and inspiring.  She makes me want to start my own book club and to work harder at spreading the joy of reading to others.  She makes me want to wear leopard print with pride.

I could totally relate to her insecurities in her childhood and the way that reading helped her escape to different worlds.  Though I don't have her courage now, I am inspired to reach for borrowing on some of hers and taking a risk to make girlfriends like her book club.  I want to wear a tiara to a book club and I bet there's some other women out there who would like that too! 

I was also impressed with how she could discuss her childhood--which wasn't easy--without any hint of self-pity.  She is matter-of-fact about it and is quick to point out the ways in which her difficulties led to opportunities. 

I love how she has surrounded herself with special people and that she takes joy from them.  Through her eyes, I felt like I was meeting her friends Joe and Mary and others. 

Though I have never met Kathy Patrick, I feel like she is my friend now.  Her conversational writing style made me feel like we were talking over lattes in my dining room.  She is larger than life.  I really like how each chapter ends with a list of books that relate to the chapter's topic, everything from strong women, to quirky characters, to Southern characters.  I also enjoy the pull-out quotes interspersed throughout. 

I like Kathy's determination to make everyone who comes in her "Beauty and the Book" shop feel like a queen. I feel more like a queen after reading her book. 

I give it my sunny day rating (with the small warning about a couple words that fit Kathy's bold and sassy personality, but nevertheless are not part of my usual reads). I just  need to find a tiara to go on the sun.