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bandherbooks's Reviews (3.65k)
Hilarious. I did listen to this on Audiobook and I think this is the best way for memoirs sometimes because the narrator (and author) can really add the right tone to the book. I loved her take on motherhood as it is similar to my own (irreverent). My favorite chapter was the details on how she became "Sarah Palin" on SNL. Totally blows my mind that she only knew she HAD the part the day of the shooting of SNL. Crazy.
What a strange, wild, but fun romp this was!
When a snarky, literary blogger seeks to expose the "sell-out" ghost-writer of a popular reality star's book, hi-jinks ensue.
The first half of this novel sets up one way, but a huge twist brings about a crazy down slide to the finale. I really love when books surprise me because it doesn't happen too often.
When a snarky, literary blogger seeks to expose the "sell-out" ghost-writer of a popular reality star's book, hi-jinks ensue.
The first half of this novel sets up one way, but a huge twist brings about a crazy down slide to the finale. I really love when books surprise me because it doesn't happen too often.
I finally read the book after binging on the Netflix series a few months ago. I definitely noticed differences between the much sensationalized and fictional show and Kerman's actual account, but this did not detract from the power of her tale. I really appreciated her focus on the injustices of the justice system, especially long, fixed minimum sentences. Kerman also did a wonderful job of humanizing the people she served time with.
Vic "the Brat" McQueen barely escaped from a psycho killer when she was 17. Her mind is split between how this happened. Did he kidnap her and drive her to Colorado, or did she seek him out using her special bicycle and her "powers?" Now that she is an adult with her own son, and having battled for years with what she believes is mental illness, the killer, Charles Manx, is back and looking to take her son to Christmasland for all eternity.
This is the scariest book I have read in many moons. So scary, yet so poignant. The characters are damaged, flawed, but all the more special because of this. I especially enjoyed Vic's relationships with her son's father, and her son (Bruce Wayne). Vic herself is an amazingly drawn character. She is just badass, with her motorcycle engine tattoo over her heart, and her sailor mouth.
This book also made me cry, the second this year. Eleanor and Park was the first. This is the second. Odd :)
This is the scariest book I have read in many moons. So scary, yet so poignant. The characters are damaged, flawed, but all the more special because of this. I especially enjoyed Vic's relationships with her son's father, and her son (Bruce Wayne). Vic herself is an amazingly drawn character. She is just badass, with her motorcycle engine tattoo over her heart, and her sailor mouth.
This book also made me cry, the second this year. Eleanor and Park was the first. This is the second. Odd :)
Kippy's best friend Ruth was found murdered in a corn field and strung up like a scarecrow. Her small WI town is convinced they've found the murderer (Ruth's bonehead boyfriend Colt) but after reading Ruth's diary and finding some glaringly obvious clues, Kippy is determined to solve who actually killed Ruth even if the rest of the town is against it.
Unfortunately as a mystery, this book did not work in the least. I had to willingly suspend much disbelief as Kippy ever so conveniently stumbled upon what actually happened to her "friend" who really was more of a frenemey. Kippy is an odd little duck, who I did find endearing, but I never felt like I got to know her. Also, why throw in a haphazard 'love' connection? Not necessary.
Plus, even though the author is from WI originally, I felt she relied on overwrought stereotypes that anybody could pull from their hat. We don't all say "You Betcha." Please.
The cover was so awesome on this book, just a bit disappointed in the contents.
Unfortunately as a mystery, this book did not work in the least. I had to willingly suspend much disbelief as Kippy ever so conveniently stumbled upon what actually happened to her "friend" who really was more of a frenemey. Kippy is an odd little duck, who I did find endearing, but I never felt like I got to know her. Also, why throw in a haphazard 'love' connection? Not necessary.
Plus, even though the author is from WI originally, I felt she relied on overwrought stereotypes that anybody could pull from their hat. We don't all say "You Betcha." Please.
The cover was so awesome on this book, just a bit disappointed in the contents.
Two soul mates, one from the North Pole and one from the South, discover to their horror they cannot come within two feet of one another. Determined they will find the cure for their fate, they marry anyways. But, how does one pass the years with a mate you cannot touch? With stories and legends of course! These stories compose the bulk of the Encyclopedia of Early Earth as we find out how the Nordic Man and his whole universe came to be. Early Earth’s history is oddly familiar, with variations of the flood myth, the Tower of Babel, and others, yet is ruled by one jerk of a deity, BirdMan and his two children, Kid and Kiddo. Author and illustrator Isabel Greenberg’s pokes fun at the classic and familiar mythologies of our world and her irreverence is both hilarious and poignant. Each tale is lushly illustrated with Nordic inspired graphics and a muted color scheme that uses bright pops of color to capture your eye. This is a graphic novel not to be missed.
**Review based of an ARC received from netgalley.com
Laila is the daughter of a Middle Eastern dictator. He was brutally murdered by his brother, and Laila's mom and brother are brought to the United States by the CIA. While the country in this book is never named, it doesn't matter. Carleson makes you feel the effects of the Arab Spring. She also deftly weaves a tale of what it means to be of Middle Eastern descent in an American world and also what it means to love your father while hating what he did all. This is a great glimpse into how grey the world really is; which side is right? Which side is wrong? Should Laila's family receive money to betray their country? Should she be proud or ashamed of her past? Great discussion group questions can be drawn, and this would be a great addition to any YA collection.
Laila is the daughter of a Middle Eastern dictator. He was brutally murdered by his brother, and Laila's mom and brother are brought to the United States by the CIA. While the country in this book is never named, it doesn't matter. Carleson makes you feel the effects of the Arab Spring. She also deftly weaves a tale of what it means to be of Middle Eastern descent in an American world and also what it means to love your father while hating what he did all. This is a great glimpse into how grey the world really is; which side is right? Which side is wrong? Should Laila's family receive money to betray their country? Should she be proud or ashamed of her past? Great discussion group questions can be drawn, and this would be a great addition to any YA collection.
Beautiful! What a way to learn how to write and create Science Fiction. Gorgeous illustrations, and the best part - author interviews! I heavily skimmed, but focused mostly on the tid bits and marginalia.