Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick

You may know Anna Kendrick from her starring role in the Pitch Perfect series, or perhaps her Oscar nominated role in Up in the Air. Maybe you recognize her as Jessica, the snarky friend from the Twilight movies. Or maybe you are one of the people who remember her roles in independent films like Camp, where she plays a "scary little girl". No matter what the role, there is no denying that Anna Kendrick is a actress on the rise, and Scrappy Little Nobody gives an inner look at how this all happened.

Anna describes her ascent from tiny Maine theater to Broadway to Hollywood with ease. Her first big break on Broadway was due to trusting parents sending her with her 14 year old brother to the big city on their own. Her breaks in movies come a little harder, as she explains to high school friends that the Sundance she is at, is the SUNDANCE where celebrities go. And while everyone else was staring college, she was giving acting a full on go, which forced her to grow up quickly. Even as her fame started to rise, her budget did not quite reflect that, and there are some regrettable fashion choices along the way.

Scrappy Little Nobody is one of those books you'll race through to laugh with Anna about her life, and ridiculousness of it all. Not quite a celebrity tell all, not quite a rise to the top story, but a life in progress view that will endure you to this performer. Fans of celebrity memoirs, such as Judy Greer's I Don't Know Where You Know Me From and Aisha Tyler's Self Inflected Wounds won't be disappointed.

Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini

How does a brassy girl from Brooklyn get involved in and break away from something as controversial as Scientology? Leah Remini wants you to know like most things, it's complicated. Best known for her role on King of Queens, Leah has never backed away from a fight, or thrown herself in to something less than 100%. In Troublemaker, she tells the story of how her family got involved in Scientology, and eventually broke away from the church.

Like all good celebrity memoirs, she doesn't shy away from awkward moments growing up, gives us good backstage gossip, and opens the curtain on the secretive world of Scientology. You can only imagine sitting over coffee (or something stronger) and having her tell stories of her family, Tom Cruise and Dancing with the Stars. 

If Going Clear was a bit academic for you (or thoroughly fascinating), check out Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini!

My Mother Was Nuts by Penny Marshall

Celebrity memoirs fall into two categories for this reader: those who you feel you could be best friends with, and those who live lives so differently from you, it's best to admire them from afar. Penny Marshall spans both of these categories in her memoir My Mother Was Nuts. From her childhood in the Bronx to her days starring on Laverne and Shirley to her directing days Penny Marshall gives snippets of many parts of her life.

Famous friends pop up in just about every chapter, and she is frank about her family, past marriages and health issues.Whether you are a fan of Laverne and Shirley or a League of Her Own, behind the scenes stories will have you turning the pages. Reading the book was like having a long conversation about life with Penny Marshall, and it is easy to assume the the audio book read by the author would be an amazing listen.

Check out My Mother Was Nuts @ the library!