Rita
Gary Soto, even when he is writing essays instead of poetry, has a wonderful way with words. This collection of essays containing various musings on his life is a joy to read. It had me laughing out loud in parts. Mostly though, it was just a very enjoyable read for someone who loves the written word. I would highly recommend it.
I just finished Famous Baby and before I say anything else, I have to say that I thoroughly loved it. The story is told from multiple perspectives and each voice is distinctive. Being both a mother and a daughter it is easy for to understand both characters, Ruth the slightly unhinged mother, and Abbie, the daughter longing for privacy. It raises the question of the oversharing that parents do on social media about their kids. Something I think about every time I scroll through my news feed. Great book. Highly recommended!
Mommy Man is a story about the making of a family. It is, for the most part, a funny and touching book and I thoroughly enjoyed almost all of it. There are a few times in the story where the author seems to look for instances of homophobia that aren't really there so that he can make a point or make a political sort of statement, and then mention how the person wasn't discriminating after his lifestyle choices after all. I'm not sure if it's because of how those sections were written or if it because for the most part he was defending himself from slights that were imagined, but it took me out of the story a bit. Many families do go through this type of discrimination, but his family did not, and the story did not need the extra drama added to it. The story was beautiful on its own because of the struggles they overcame to become parents and the cast of characters that made it possible.
A good read about a a relationship between a mother and a daughter. It was a little difficult to get into at first, but after a while, I was emotionally invested. The book follows what happens as the Mother's health deteriorates, and is at times funny and at times heartbreaking. The asides about cooking and the recipes seemed to fit in in certain parts, and in others sort of distracted from the story. All in all it was a good read.
When I read the title and description of this book, I expected a comical take on what it means to be a man today. What I got was comical in parts, but was overall a more serious look on what being a man really is. Heimbuch speaks of his feelings freely and at times I even got choked up reading about his struggle to define his manhood when basing on the definitions of the men in his family. The book had a lot more heart than I was expecting, and that was nice surprise. I am recommending it to my husband and I would recommend it to any young husband/father who is a little unsure of his manhood.
Getting Over Mr. Right by Chrissie Manby is one of the funniest books I have read in a while. I found myself laughing out loud as the heroine Ashleigh went from one crazy scenario to the next even crazier one. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light and funny read, and especially to anyone who has ever been through a rough break-up. Hilarious.
More Like Her, by Lisa Palmer grabbed me from the first sentence on the first page and didn't let me go until the very end. Even though a major plot point is revealed both on the back of the jacket in the description and in the Prologue, it still shocked me when it happened because of how well it was written. The story of what these friends go through before and after the event is at times gut-wrenching, and at times hilarious. Highly recommended.
Amy Ephron's voice is sometimes sentimental, sometimes hilarious, and always entertaining in this book. The short stories from her life's experience weave together an interesting story even though there is no concrete narrative. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to hear a friend tell stories over dinner, as this is what the stories in this book remind me of.
Sometimes I Feel Like A Nut, is filled with the hilarious musings of Jill Kargman. I often found myself laughing out loud and having to read passages to others so that they could share in the laughter with me. Kargman writes in a stream-of-consciousness style that makes for highly entertaining reading. Recommended to anyone looking for a quick and funny read.
Critical Care is a memoir about a new nurses first year on the job. It is a mix of touching, sometimes heart-wrenching scenes and funny anecdotes. I didn't think there was much or a story to it, but I liked the book overall. There were parts of the book that made me very emotional. It gave me a new understanding and respect for what nurses do. It was well written and a quick read, and I enjoyed it very much.
This book had me from the very first line and it did not let me go until the very end. Mathilda is such an engaging character and the "voice" of her narration throughout the book is mesmerizing. I have already recommended this book to a few people and I will continue to do so. It was funny and heartbreaking all at once.
