Saturday, December 20, 2014

Bucket List: Hoda

Well for those of you who have seen my Graduation Bucket List one of the things on there is to read 5 books that are just for fun.  And I finished my first one yesterday. I read the book that Hoda Kotb wrote.

This book was so much fun to read. As a journalism major, this really opened my eyes to what it takes to get where she is in her career. And it makes it even better that she is one of my favorite people in television. I first started watching the Today show about a year ago during the winter Olympics on NBC because I had time in the mornings before class to watch and Hoda and Kathy Lee are the fourth hour from 10-11. I fell in love with this show so quickly. They really are a hoot. One of the first memories of Hoda and Kathie Lee is during the Olympics, they had a checkered board with shot glasses on it to represent all of the medals the USA had won so far, the only ones that actually had vodka in them were random ones representing the Gold medals. I laughed so hard because I never expected to see people with shots of vodka on national morning television. Ever since then, I watch the show as much as possible (having a class start at 10 is not conducive to watching a show that starts at 10).

Hoda and Kathie Lee during the Olympics. (Photo Today)


Anyway, about the book, Hoda wrote it in such a great way that it feels like I'm just listening to her talk, and she is so personable. She talks about growing up Egyptian and traveling around the world as a small girl, the hardship of loosing her dad, and her battle with cancer, a bad marriage, and Kathie Lee. I read the book in two days. Now, by no stretch of the imagination is this book a difficult read or something that should take a really long time to read, but it is really fun to read. And that is the point of my bucket list item.

Fun fact, I have added on my life long bucket list, to go to New York, be on the Plaza during the Today show, and meet some of the anchors, especially Hoda!

I highly encourage anyone who is majoring in journalism, thinking about journalism, or likes live television news to read this book. She is so honest about the things that happen as a journalist; like what happens when the network sends you to the middle of a war zone to get a story, or when you cover Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Television really isn't just the glitz and glam you see on your TV in the morning. It takes a lot to get there. But Hoda really has given a first hand account of what it takes and what you must be willing to sacrifice.

Well I have marked one of the five books to read off the list, but I still have a few more books to read to finish my bucket list item, what are some books you suggest? Who is your favorite television news personality? 

Also, go like A Taste of the College Life on Facebook by clicking HERE! Help get to 100 likes on the page before the end of the year!!

4 comments:

  1. I didn't know that Hoda wrote a book, but this sounds like a must-read! I'm putting it on my list right now. Currently, I'm nearing the end of #Girlboss....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really was a great book! And I am going to have to look into that one. :)

      Delete
  2. I do like Hoda. She's a great mix of personable & professional. I grew up with Anderson Cooper on Channel 1 News and used to really love Rick Sanchez's show on CNN.

    ReplyDelete