This short but compelling book is full of anecdotes about early 20th century life and features a family ahead of its time. Uniquely charming, hysterical, and witty. Recommended if you enjoy pranks and antics, if you enjoy plays on words, if you had a large family, even if you're interested in motion study and efficiency. This book has it all.

I like Gillian Flynn just for her off-the-wall descriptions - off the top of my head: spaghetti stuck condom, brillo pad hair, grape-y scent, gelatinous husbands. These words just make me cringe, but nod my head because I can picture exactly what she means.

Dark Places is plot driven, a book that makes you want to stay up all night. I read it in two sittings, and was engrossed for 300 pages. The last 30 or so pages were.. a little too neatly wrapped, like using "curly hair" instead of "brillo pad hair." I give the book 4 stars, simply because it kept me in suspense for 85% of the book. Recommended if you like any type of dark, suspenseful novels and TV shows.

Recommended if you've ever had a long distance relationship and your relationship depended on those phone calls, if you fell for the quiet mysterious guys in high school, if you wish your life had a little bit of magic in it.

Landline is a quick, easy, sentimental read. It might have been better if I read it during winter because it takes place during Christmas 2013. (It even mentions Snowpocalypse.) It starts off slowly, with less than likable characters. Georgie and Neal have serious communication problems from the start. They assume what the other is thinking instead of asking. Georgie's best friend is another guy. Neal is passive-aggressive and takes off for his parents' house leaving Georgie home alone.

But then.. there's the conversations on the magical phone! This book almost reads like a romantic comedy film. There's even an airport running scene. So like with most rom coms, I'm happy I read the book. But I may forget about it later.

Oh Ellen. That's what I kept thinking as I read this book. Oh Ellen. How can someone as bumbling and forgetful and whiny be so lucky in life?

As an example, Ellen writes about an emergency when the store boiler was leaking: "I figured whatever emergency we were facing could be handled better in clothes. And then I did my hair. One thing I knew for sure, learned over many years, was that catastrophes worked out better when my hair looked nice. And then I put on a little mascara too." - page 159 (DOES THAT MATTER WHEN YOUR BOILER IS LEAKING!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!)

I think Ellen Stimson must be cheery, warm, and charismatic in person, but it didn't translate over to her writing. I read about things that I could never imagine happening to any sane person. I will start with the least crazy, IMHO. How about.. calling 911 when the road is congested with cows because you're late to your nail appointment?! Dumping red food dye into the river and the town thinks its an ecological disaster?!?! Being grumpy at your customers when you're nearly bankrupt?!?!?!? Freaking out in the grocery store line during a stick-em-up robbery and giving the guy all the money in the cash register?!?!?!?!?!?!

How do these things happen to sane, normal people? Of course, Ellen gives a disclaimer in the beginning of the book. But so many other crazy things happen that it can't all be exaggerated, can it?

I give the book 2 stars simply because I too have moved to a different state and was an "outsider" for a long time. I enjoy adventures, I enjoy quaint small towns and browsing in general stores. I enjoyed the premise of the story. Recommended if you've experienced any of these things, but chances are you won't be able to put up with Ellen's whiny, immature voice.

Read this book is you want some insider info on what American football was like in the 1960's. Its got great stories, written succinctly in journalist style. George Plimpton is a lot like another author I like, A.J. Jacobs. They both undertake interesting challenges, like Jacobs' A Year of Living Biblically or The Know-It-All. In this book, Plimpton tries his hand at quarterbacking, and tries to cram the one hundred plays, the footwork, plus what his teammates are doing into his head. He writes about rookie initiation night and the hassling, different types of coaches, injuries, and life after the game. Plimpton namedrops great players and coaches like Bobby Layne, Night Train Lane, Jim Brown, Paul Brown, Dick LeBeau, etc. The book is really about how football inspires such loyalty and how the players played, not for the money, but for the camaraderie and the teamwork. A fun read for a football fan, even a novice one.

Quotes:
"Well, one of the nicknames for him is Tippy-Toes – hard to believe, I mean fellow standing still looks like he's sunk in the ground. But then he takes one step and you can spot that he's all springs and coils inside." Pietrosante on Alex Karras (page 181)

"That's a good number you're wearing," Williams said. "Johnny Olszewski's - Johnny O's." "It indicates my talent," I said." (page 218)