TresSugar

"I'm a 20-Something Seeking Literary Wisdom"

Tres Community — Fri, 25 May 2012 03:05:00 PDT

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!

I'll keep it brief, because I imagine my issue is one that virtually all women go through at multiple stages of life... Basically, I'm at a certain "milestone" in my life - my first career after college, my first time on my own, my first time having to be an adult in every sense of the word.

Call it a quarter-life crisis, or just a growing pain, but I'm having some seriously deep introspections about who I am, who I want to be, what I want out of life, what I value, what I don't, my place in the world . . . you name it, I'm thinking about it. I'm exploring my spirituality, my needs in love and my career, my general expectations for life. It's exhausting!

I don't want advice on how YOU answered these questions. What I WOULD love are some recommendations for a good book that tackles the issue of identity and, preferably, womanhood. Or any books that you've found to have a profound effect on your own identity and soul-searching. Something that helps us explore who we are and practice the cultivation of sense of self and self-love.

Maybe it is a lofty goal to find all of this in a book . . . but I can't afford therapy. Thanks!

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously to Group Therapy for advice and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.

Watch a Fifty Shades of Grey Parody With Selena Gomez, "Fifty Shades of Blue"

Shannon Vestal — Tue, 22 May 2012 10:14:52 PDT

Funny or Die is getting in on the literary and pop culture phenomenon Fifty Shades of Grey, and in their spoof of the sexy sensation, Selena Gomez plays a girl who's been a little too into reading the book. She develops an unlikely obsession with her decidedly unsexy house painter, Carl Blue (played by The League's Nick Kroll). Watch Gomez in "Fifty Shades of Blue" as the Anastasia-like character, complete with an inner monologue full of the word "flushing," a penchant for biting her lip, and a weird liking for her own older man.

May Must Reads

Laura Marie Given — Fri, 18 May 2012 08:22:13 PDT

Along with May flowers, Mother's Day, and graduation season comes a brand-new batch of must-read books. From laugh-out-loud memoirs to poignant, suspenseful novels, we've picked out some of the most promising reads to get you through the rest of this busy Spring season. Whether you're sitting on the bus or lying on the beach, these stories are sure to inspire and entertain.

Source: Instagram User nuriadebofarull

Censored: Books Banned For Sexual Content

TresSugar — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:24:47 PDT

E.L. James may have kicked off her Fifty Shades of Grey book tour in Miami, but don't expect to see the erotic book in every Florida library. Librarians in Florida, as well as Georgia and Wisconsin, took the series off the shelves for being semi-pornographic and not so well received by critics.

While book banning may sound like a throwback to Victorian times, censoring books continues to flourish in 21st-century schools and libraries. What's most surprising is a book can be removed from a curriculum, reading list, or school library with the complaint of just one parent. Violence, racial themes, and the occult are commonly cited reasons, but an even more popular one is sexual content. Check out these 11 books that have been removed from schools and libraries in the last two years, and tell us if you think there's ever a good reason to ban a book.

Source: Flickr User wheelo50411

21 Books Your Mom Will Love This Mother's Day

Tara Block — Tue, 08 May 2012 04:00:27 PDT

Mother's Day is this Sunday, and if you're looking for the perfect gift for Mom, we've got some books she's sure to love. Whether she's looking for something lighthearted and funny or an emotional memoir, these page-turners take on the issues mothers and mothers-to-be can relate to. And many of these are great for daughters, too, so you can borrow it when Mom's done! Check out 21 books that will make great Mother's Day gifts now.

#TresReads: What Are You Reading?

Tara Block — Fri, 04 May 2012 11:09:36 PDT

We recently shared what book we've been reading on our downtime, and asked you all to share on Instagram what page-turners you haven't been able to put down. From poolside mags to Kindle books by the fire to novels at the park, we love seeing not only what you're reading but how you're diving into it. Check out what our readers have been flipping through now, and be sure to share your own #TresReads with TrèsSugar on Instagram!

What We Know About Fifty Shades Author E.L. James

Annie Scudder — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:30:26 PDT

E.L. James, author of the erotic Fifty Shades of Grey series atop the New York Times best-seller list, isn't embarrassed about her material. The British mother of two kicked off a book tour in Miami last weekend, greeting more than 500 blushing and flushing fans at an early morning signing on Sunday. Later in the day, she spoke to a sold-out crowd. E.L. James has bagged a seven-figure movie deal, and The Vampire Diaries' Ian Somerhalder already threw out his name as a possible Christian Grey. If you're deep into the S&M fiction, or just curious about the pop culture phenomenon, here are a few things to know about the woman who started it all.

Her real name is Erika Leonard.
Before she landed on E.L. James, she went by the pen name "Snowqueens Icedragon." And her work was originally titled Master of the Universe.
The story began as Twilight fan fiction, and E.L. James says Stephenie Meyers inspired her to try writing a novel.
She wrote the story during what she calls a "midlife crisis" and says it contains all her fantasies in one place.
She's been married for 20 years, and has two teenage sons who have not read the books. Of that prospect, she says: "Good God. I would be mortified."
E.L. James was raised in London, studied history, and previously worked as a TV producer.
She was named one of Time's most influential people of 2012.

Click through for some photos from the book tour.

Would Reading This in Public Embarrass You?

TresSugar — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:03:56 PDT

If it surprised you that S&M romance novel Fifty Shades of Grey reached number one on the New York Times best-seller list, it shouldn't. The romance category is the most profitable in publishing. Even so, we judge books by covers and people by what they read. At best, they impress; at worst, they repel. Thank goodness for Kindles! Previously, we asked which reads you didn't want to be seen in public with. We rounded up the books, series, and genres that embarrass you on the train, in the air, and at the park. Now you can be the judge!

Source: Flickr User Ed Yourdon

Spring Reading List: Books to Read Before They're Movies

Lizzie Fuhr — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:55:12 PDT

Spring has sprung, and there's much to celebrate: better weather, more holidays, and a whole new slate of books you've got to read before they're adapted to the silver screen. We've got you covered with 10 titles that are sure to fit the bill regardless of your literary taste. But if you're a James Franco fan, you're in luck: he's signed on for three of these projects. Click on through to check out the list!

Love Lessons Inspired by Nicholas Sparks Stories

Laura Marie Given — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:50:00 PDT

Nicholas Sparks novels-turned-movies are known for steamy kisses in the rain, romantic boat rides, and fated relationships. Still, even in the midst of all the classic clichés, the stories offer plenty of thoughtful, important messages about love. From Message in a Bottle to The Lucky One, which is out today, here are seven valuable love lessons to be learned from the works of Nicholas Sparks.