10 Favorites from the Founder of PopSugar

October 3 2016
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Editor’s Note: Lisa Sugar turned her passion/obsession with pop culture into the enormously successful independent media company for women, PopSugar. She shares her personal and professional story in her new book, POWER YOUR HAPPY, and offers accessible advice for combining your passions and talents to achieve success. At Off the Shelf, we’re big fans of Lisa and PopSugar, and we were delighted that she shared 10 of her favorite reads with us. In her own words, here’s what she loves and why she loves them.

Valley of the Dolls
by Jacqueline Susann

Iconic! I fell in love with the story of three women on their quest to make it big in the entertainment industry in NYC. Reading about the highs and lows of their journey was as addictive as the little pills they depended on. I read this book in the ’90s and couldn’t believe it was written 30 years earlier. I immediately read Jacqueline’s other two books as well.

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Valley of the Dolls
Jacqueline Susann

Iconic! I fell in love with the story of three women on their quest to make it big in the entertainment industry in NYC. Reading about the highs and lows of their journey was as addictive as the little pills they depended on. I read this book in the ’90s and couldn’t believe it was written 30 years earlier. I immediately read Jacqueline’s other two books as well.

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MENTIONED IN:

10 Favorites from the Founder of PopSugar

By Lisa Sugar | October 3, 2016

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The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins

I’m not one to shy away from YA or sci-fi, and this is an amazing combo of both. The first book in the trilogy is my favorite, although I enjoyed all three.

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The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games," a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.

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Shoeless Joe
by W.P. Kinsella

The book that later became the movie “Field of Dreams” was one of great dreams and fantasies. Between the love of baseball, the White Sox scandal, and the search for the secluded J. D. Salinger (another favorite author of mine), I heard all the voices in my head just like the main character, Ray. Sadly, author W.P. Kinsella recently passed away.

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Shoeless Joe
W.P. Kinsella

Though it’s probably best known for the movie it inspired—a certain Kevin Costner flick that took place mainly in a cornfield and featured a voice whispering “If you build it, he will come”—W. P. Kinsella’s book is a wonder all on its own.

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MENTIONED IN:

10 Favorites from the Founder of PopSugar

By Lisa Sugar | October 3, 2016

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Gone Girl
by Gillian Flynn

This is the first book in a long time that I finished in record speed! I could not put this thriller down. Loved the dual narrative structure and tone.

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Gone Girl
Gillian Flynn

Some say she’s cold and unfeeling, calculating to a subhuman degree, and basically totally nutso. I say Amy Dunne is just a smart, sensitive woman in a man’s world, frustrated by patriarchy, down with to-do lists, and dedicated to the fine art of revenge! This powerhouse of a novel sees crime writer Gillian Flynn come into her own as a dramatic storyteller in full command of her many gifts.

Crazy like: A fox! Amy is a hottie!

Best crazy moment: The box cutter. ’Nuff said.

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A Million Little Pieces
by James Frey

Forget the controversy surrounding whether this is fiction or semi-fiction; it’s still an intense look inside an addict’s time in rehab. I had to put it down sometimes because the descriptions were so painfully extreme that I could not even stomach it, but I was sucked in and felt emotionally and physically sick along with the author.

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A Million Little Pieces
James Frey

Forget the controversy surrounding whether this is fiction or semi-fiction; it’s still an intense look inside an addict’s time in rehab. I had to put it down sometimes because the descriptions were so painfully extreme that I could not even stomach it, but I was sucked in and felt emotionally and physically sick along with the author.

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MENTIONED IN:

10 Favorites from the Founder of PopSugar

By Lisa Sugar | October 3, 2016

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Shopgirl
by Steve Martin

I’m a huge Steve Martin fan in anything he does and as an author. I enjoyed the love triangle story about a saleswoman in a high-end department store and her two totally different suitors. Quirky, smart, and cute, just like Steve.

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Shopgirl
Steve Martin

I’m a huge Steve Martin fan in anything he does and as an author. I enjoyed the love triangle story about a saleswoman in a high-end department store and her two totally different suitors. Quirky, smart, and cute, just like Steve.

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MENTIONED IN:

10 Favorites from the Founder of PopSugar

By Lisa Sugar | October 3, 2016

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A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
by Dave Eggers

I had recently moved to San Francisco when this book came out, so I felt connected to Dave Eggers as he described specific locations. It was depressing, funny, and a sign of the times. I really enjoyed it.

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A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
Dave Eggers

When Dave Eggers was a college senior, in the space of five weeks, he lost both of his parents to cancer and became the guardian of his 8-year-old brother. His moving memoir manages to be a simultaneously hilarious and deeply heartfelt story of the love that holds a family together. How is this hot dude not ugly-crying on the train?

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The Catcher in the Rye
by J.D.Salinger

It’s so cliché to put this on a favorites list, but it left a lifelong impression on me after I read it in high school. I also love NINE STORIES and FRANNY AND ZOOEY and for all the same reasons: great writing, conversations, and characters, plus the mystery behind the reclusive author.

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The Catcher in the Rye
J.D.Salinger

Since 1951, the story of Holden Caulfield's coming-of-age has rightfully mesmerized generations of readers - 65 million copies have been sold around the world.

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Cravings
by Chrissy Teigen

I love when celebs give us an inside look at their lives distinct from social media or their regular press interviews. Being able to see how Chrissy eats and why she loves to create meals is a special treat for us all—and the recipes are amazing.

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Cravings
Chrissy Teigen

I love when celebs give us an inside look at their lives distinct from social media or their regular press interviews. Being able to see how Chrissy eats and why she loves to create meals is a special treat for us all—and the recipes are amazing.

Amazon logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo

MENTIONED IN:

10 Favorites from the Founder of PopSugar

By Lisa Sugar | October 3, 2016

Close
Questions I Ask When I Want to Talk About Myself
by Mindy Kaling

I love that she based these cards off her book and created a way to make conversations with friends. It’s a fun way to get to know people and let your guard down knowing that we all have times when we need to be called out, stop being so self-conscious, or just relate that we’ve all been there before.

Amazon logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo
Questions I Ask When I Want to Talk About Myself
Mindy Kaling

I love that she based these cards off her book and created a way to make conversations with friends. It’s a fun way to get to know people and let your guard down knowing that we all have times when we need to be called out, stop being so self-conscious, or just relate that we’ve all been there before.

Amazon logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo

MENTIONED IN:

10 Favorites from the Founder of PopSugar

By Lisa Sugar | October 3, 2016

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