High on Lowe

We're recently back from a winter getaway to The Bahamas and I've had the post vacation blues. Sign of a fantastic trip I suppose; I'm feeling a bit homesick for our bungalow by the beach. The setting, the family time, I want to bottle it up. I even had a bit of one-on-one time with Hubs and some alone time. I read a few books over the course of the flights, the early bedtimes and the slices of sunbathing.

Before the trip I read Rob Lowe's autobiography, Stories I Only Tell My Friends. After getting hooked on Lowe's writing I read his follow up memoir, Love Life, on vacation. Both books were terrific. Aside from the first chapter of book one, I was captivated. Superb writing, juicy stories, intimate moments.

Lowe shared details about his unique childhood. He was partly raised in Malibu before Malibu became fancy. His buddies included Charlie Sheen, Emilio Estevez and Sean Penn. Lowe wrote about his rise to fame, the result of a bunch of serendipitous, lucky breaks and an almost naive, sheer determination. He opened up about his partying days, battles with substance abuse and eventually finding both sobriety and love.

I personally loved reading about his experience on The West Wing, the greatest TV show of all time. But there were lots of stories about his work in television and film, including another favorite About Last Night (check it out!) and of course, St. Elmo's Fire. These were all before my time, but I've watched them in recent years and they really do hold up. Lowe was also in Brothers and Sisters, another beloved series, that brings me back to my Chicago days, third wheeling with my bestie and her boyfriend, watching in their Lincoln Park condo.

Lowe's second book dives more into his perspective on parenthood and on life. He's wise, a bit spiritual and I'm totally on board. He's a true Renaissance man, and I'm a fangirl of all his pursuits, especially his writing. Hubs joked that Lowe should write Stories I Only Tell My Therapist next. I'll be his first reader. I hope to bring it on our next beach jaunt. ;)

AES

P.S. The other two books I read on our trip were novels, recommended by my friends at Elm Street Books: The Matchmaker's Gift and Mary Jane. I endorse both and I especially love the Jewish aspects of the former. Take a gander.