Stories That I Only Tell My Friends

Last weekend I finished reading Stories That I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe.  I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book and how I even found out about it.  Coming home around 4:00 means that I am home when Oprah Winfrey's show is on.  I do not often watch but I do occasionally notice what the topic of the day.  I noticed that Rob Lowe was her guest and quickly switched to watch.  I was excited because Rob Lowe played Sam Seaborn in my favorite TV show of all time, The West Wing.  I enjoyed Rob Lowe on this show, and when he left abruptly in the fourth season I was disappointed.  As I watched that day's Oprah, I found out that Rob Lowe had just written an autobiography.  As he told about the stories that he talks about in the story, and mentioned how much he enjoyed writing I was surprised to hear that he wrote it all on his own instead of having help or ghost writers. His mom had been an English teacher and wrote daily, as a result he wanted to just write it.  Oprah and Rob both read a few excerpts, and they were beautifully written.  It was soo pathetic, but after the show I was convinced that I wanted to read this book.  It became my very first purchase for my new Kindle, and I was not disappointed.

Because I do not want to give too much away, I wouldn't give you a lengthy synopsis.  The basic premise follows Rob Lowe's life, and focuses on the time in which he is an actor.  I didn't realize that he had started so young as a teenager, and has known his whole life that he wanted to be an actor. 

The top 5 reasons why I recommend this book:

5. It is a really fast read.  I pretty much read the whole thing in an afternoon, which can be really nice for people that don't get time to read a lot.  You don't struggle through it because you stop and start. I never wished it was over already...I was actually kind of sad when I was done.

4. Explained why he left The West Wing and talked a little bit about his decisions to even take the role which he absolutely loved.  But I also loved how as I read the book, I could see how almost each role/experience kind of led him to the role of Sam Seaborn and he kind of mentions that in the book too.

3. I really was able to relate to this book. I think because he wrote it so well in first person, you could really understand what was going on in his mind and in his life. Rob Lowe struggled with alcoholism and he really explains why he seemed to get involved and how he was able to quit his addiction. As a teacher, I work at a therapeutic boarding school that helps students deal with similar addictions. I really was able to relate even more to my students who struggle with this.

2. Rob Lowe grew up in Malibu, California, and pretty much just down the road from Hollywood.  I was always surprised about who he knew when he was a kid.  He and the Sheen family? Like best friends...Rob spent a lot of time at that house.  Tom Cruise? Stayed at the Sheen house for a little while, so he and Rob know each other really well.  It was almost like every time I turned around he is telling me about someone that he met.  He would purposely leave the name out until the very end of the story, and then you would find out who he was talking about and your mouth would just open.

1. I think that I enjoyed this so much because of how well written it was.  Honestly, I was surprised that an actor could write this well.  If he ever wanted to do fiction, he could probably quit his day job. 

Overall, A+ on this book. I would highly recommend it

P.S. Looking for a book to give to your 11 year old? I found a link from a British book company listing 50 Books that 11 Year Olds should read.  Honestly, anybody around that age range would love these books, and I know I like a few of them still today.