Maybe one day I’ll actually look at ratings before I decide to read a book I’ve never heard of, but somehow appeared on my “maybe you’ll like this” ofMaybe one day I’ll actually look at ratings before I decide to read a book I’ve never heard of, but somehow appeared on my “maybe you’ll like this” offerings so of course I grabbed it immediately (the title had me thinking of a potential loveable scamp of a stabby stalker like Joe Goldberg). According to a quick Google, this was supposed to encourage readers to “wake the hell up,” but what it really amounted to was some sort of indulgent MFA navel gaze told from the perspective of a woman who spends all of her time hyperfocused on both “The Man I Want To Be With” (who makes it very clear throughout that he’s just not into her) as well as hatescrolling the Instagram of “The Woman I Am Obsessed With” (the man’s long-time other woman). Nothing happens for 200 pages (which took me forever to read), and then it ends. Thank you, next....more
How does an Ivy League graduate (complete with MFA, no less) somehow take a detour from even beginning a career in either the writing or publishing woHow does an Ivy League graduate (complete with MFA, no less) somehow take a detour from even beginning a career in either the writing or publishing world and end up re-educating herself as a sommelier at the hoity toity-iest of fine dining establishments? Well, that’s not super clear, but the good news is I don’t want to know everyone’s entire life story (more often than not, I am only interested in name dropping and trash talking, including here when I was reminded how utterly heartless I am as my attention was waning with the story of her dying dad. Sorry, but I’m really only interested in confirmation Bobby Flay is a real twat (sadly, she claims he is not . . . but I still have a feeling he is - just sooooo smarmy!) and for the olive loaf, ma’am, not to feel things.)
I was real scared when I started this and it kicked off with talk of Momofuko and Lucky Peach that my fave famous chef David Chang (I REALLY have a thing for Davids, I’m starting to realize) was going to be some sort of sex pest at best and sex criminal at worst, but thankfully it was a business partner who was the most vile and Chang is simply the expected brand of psychopathic kitchen dictator I have come to realize is fairly the norm when it comes to successful restaurateurs.
If you are like me and a little gossip mongering goblin who can’t get enough of kitchen secrets, this one might be a winner. Boy do I appreciate a tea spiller who will drop alllllllllllllllllllllllllll the names . . . .
And if you have any recs for me, drop a comment! Despite only ever dining out at a divey sort of Mexican joint where I can get a smothered and covered burrito the size of a three month old baby or . . . .
I’m super into foodie memoirs (no need to drop the aforementioned David Chang or Anthony Bourdain – I snatched those as soon as I really started consuming audiobooks).
I actually received an ARC of this from NetGalley, but realized I wanted to listen so I waited for an audio copy from the library....more
While my heart will always remain true to my Darling David, and while I would still leave my husband in a New York minute for David Spade (don’t tell While my heart will always remain true to my Darling David, and while I would still leave my husband in a New York minute for David Spade (don’t tell me about my internalized misogyny, I’m a GenXer so I’m well aware), this might actually be my favorite comedic memoir of all time. Like most celebrities whose books I have picked up in the past, I didn’t know anything about Molly Shannon’s life prior to reading this one. What an example of a triumph in the face of tragedy her story shares. The only way to go on this is audio – her exuberance and frenetic energy make the entire experience so much richer. And she can go down as the only person who made me laugh so hard I tripped over my own two feet while walking.
She’s a SUPERSTAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
(If you’re curious, this was the story that made me eat dirt – specifically the part about how she kicked the (not a prop) tampon machine right off the wall. Every Star!) ...more
As an old, married, cis white lady, maybe this simply was not meant for me. But in the current climate of defunding libraries and banning books my assAs an old, married, cis white lady, maybe this simply was not meant for me. But in the current climate of defunding libraries and banning books my ass is still gonna read ALL the things. I’m also going to blame Libby for recommending this one to me when my other want to reads on audio had wait lists because this was not on my radar until the “algorithm” selected it for me. Per usual when it comes to nonfamous people (but this dude really comes off as presenting himself (a blogger and a freelance writer) as someone everyone should be aware of) getting book deals and declaring them to be oh so hilarious, my reaction continues . . . .
Their family had always been good at hellos and goodbyes, moments ending even as they began. It was easy to love someone in the beginnings and endiTheir family had always been good at hellos and goodbyes, moments ending even as they began. It was easy to love someone in the beginnings and endings; it was all the time in between that was so hard.
About once or twice a year Shelby and I don’t share a brain and have differing opinions about a book. I had actually removed this from my library holds at some point because we are so like-minded, but then it popped up as an “available now” option, my FOMO kicked in, and immediately upon starting I was like . . . .
I just knew right away this was going to be for me. So take that as a message to any of you keyboard commandos out there that it is A-okay for there to be different strokes for different folks and not having the same reaction to a book is not cause to go scorched Earth on another reader (especially when the authors don’t even freaking know we exist most of the time and different ratings do not generally equate different amounts of dollars in their bank accounts).
Now, on to the book. As the title declares, this is the story of the Blue sisters. Once there were four: Avery, Bonnie, Nicky and Lucky . . . but sadly Nicky died a year ago. This book jumps in at the one year anniversary of her untimely passing while we navigate through each sister’s grieving process. I am a sucker for family stories and maybe you can go home agains, so if you too find that to be your wheelhouse, this may be a winner. Please note the theme of addiction is VERY prevalent here – if that is a trigger for you, then maybe steer clear....more
This has received really high marks from my Goodreads’ friends, so chalk me up once again as a wrongreader. The intentions of this release are very clThis has received really high marks from my Goodreads’ friends, so chalk me up once again as a wrongreader. The intentions of this release are very clear – piss off right wingers. Which is all fine and good aside from the fact that none of them will ever read this to begin with so the author is basically just yelling into the void and relying on his audience to be amused by the chronic masturbation which is (literally, in this case) the MAGA hive mind. I’m not a fan of kitschy and I’ve made that very clear so having said kitsch on repeat was a total flop for me....more
As a chubster, you give me a plus size gal on a cartoony cover and combine all that with the promise of a fake relationship trope, I am absolutely reqAs a chubster, you give me a plus size gal on a cartoony cover and combine all that with the promise of a fake relationship trope, I am absolutely requesting that from the library. Unfortunately, I didn’t pay any attention to the fact that I had previously failed with this author and should have stayed away. Will I remember I’m now a two-fer flop in the future? Probably not.
Per the opening line above, this had a lot of potential. I love some good fake dating/marriage tropey yum yum. Unfortunately, nothing about this was good. From her who used a fake name for lame reasons. To him whose vocabulary consisted of a lot of “gee willickers!” To the combo of both of them being so pitiful in their woe is me, no one could ever like me personalities. None of it worked. And then at the halfway mark there was no pretending there was going to be any more story or plot whatsoever, and it went to a nonstop teenage quality bangfest full of very NOT hot dirty talk and apparently a great need for some moisture wicking underpants for the both of them for the duration . . . .
EDIT: Because I forgot the fake relationship was THE EXACT SAME FUCKING TROPE USED IN THE AUTHOR'S LAST BOOK. Talk about having zero creativity. ...more
RIP to the Netflix “recommended to you” algorithm for having to deal with me. Things I recently can’t get enough of? Savior Complex, Tell Them You LovRIP to the Netflix “recommended to you” algorithm for having to deal with me. Things I recently can’t get enough of? Savior Complex, Tell Them You Love Me, Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God, Escaping Twin Flames, 847 different documentaries about the FLDS . . . and Grace and Frankie. I don’t know why this was even thrown out there as an option other than as an intervention to stop me from watching cults and crimes. Despite having a pretty visceral reaction simply to the term “#girlboss” . . . .
I’m always down to watch a trailer and as a complete thrift store ADDICT who has a real opinion about resellers and fast fashion, I decided to give the show a shot. And didn’t like it whatsoever. Buuuuuuuuut, I noticed it was first a book and I’m always needing something to listen to while I walk so I downloaded it.
You know what? This had some seriously GOOD advice for youngsters. Stuff like how forgetting about paying a $19 credit card bill can eff your credit up for near eternity. Or if you live with others DO NOT be the one who has every single utility in your name because what if they don’t give you their share of the money (also, don’t live with people who you think would potentially not give you their share of the money). It also has good resume, cover letter, interview advice and just general advice to be who you want/dress how you want – FOR YOU not for others and to not let yourself be shamed into being inauthentic. While I would never shop at Nasty Gal (see fast fashion comment above), I was surprised by how much I liked this book. ...more
Maybe midlife crises were just poorly marketed, maybe each one was profound and unique and it was only a few silly men in red convertibl
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Maybe midlife crises were just poorly marketed, maybe each one was profound and unique and it was only a few silly men in red convertibles who gave them a bad name.
Ahhhhh perimenopause. What a delight it is! (said no one ever)
This is certainly going to be a love it or hate it type of read. If you enjoyed Big Swiss, then this one might be a winner for you as well. As for me, turns out this was a National Book Award finalist so it’s like one of three times a year where I get to pretend that . . . .
“I guess we know why the Wicked Witch of the West was so pissed now.”
Y’all know I’m gonna read an“A fucked situation? A house killed our parents.”
“I guess we know why the Wicked Witch of the West was so pissed now.”
Y’all know I’m gonna read anything with a house on the cover, but unintentionally all of my library holds coming up recently have been about actual HOUSES – or more particularly, the haunted variety. I actually read the blurb on this one and figured there was probably more to this “house” than I figured and ended up picking it up thinking it would be a sort of social thriller that has become sort of my jam (ex: The Other Black Girl, Lakewood, When the Reckoning Comes, etc.). Obviously I can’t give away the goings on in the house/family/neighborhood, but I can say I had to try twice before succeeding in getting caught up in the story. The writing at the beginning is VERY dense (and Spring Forward does my brain absolutely ZERO favors), so I put this aside yesterday and waited until I had a solid thirty minutes of quiet so I could fully concentrate. And boy did it end up being good!
This might be a 3 because it was hard to sink into AND ACTUAL SPOILER AHEAD SO DO NOT READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW THINGS (view spoiler)[and what happened to Ezri certainly doesn't help the Alt Right way of thinking that anything LGBTQ+ is not natural, but good news is those people probably would never even read this book to begin with (hide spoiler)], but I'm giving it 4....more
Nicole and Tom got to experience how the other half live after hitting the mega lottery jackpot and moving in to a custom smart house. But now poor ToNicole and Tom got to experience how the other half live after hitting the mega lottery jackpot and moving in to a custom smart house. But now poor Tom has been found floating in the luxury pool and we’ve got to figure out just what happened to him . . . .
This was a recommendation by my real-life friend who listens exclusively. We’re pretty easy to please when it comes to our audiobooks and look for simple plots to follow with pleasant voices narrating them. This one delivered. I’m always down for multiple readers to help me keep track of things and the various reveals spread throughout the story kept my interest. It definitely felt like it could have been whittled down a bit (which is not a great thing now that I’ve noticed it wasn’t even 350 pages in print) and I’m never a fan of epilogues, but it kept me walking so that’s a win.
Per usual I chose this book by the cover and title so I was expecting either a light-hearted romcom about soon-to-be betrotheds or a second-chancer abPer usual I chose this book by the cover and title so I was expecting either a light-hearted romcom about soon-to-be betrotheds or a second-chancer about the one who got away. I’m a geezer so earlymoons and babymoons are all a bunch of newfangled getaways to my old ass, but I don’t have any sort of visceral reaction to the idea of either the experience or of reading about them. What I do react to instantly are stupid nicknames – so the notion of these two guys using various Lilith Fair performers as their standard way of greeting each other was so gimmicky it made my eyes roll. And then there’s the idea of a couple two months away from marriage where one is practically still in the closet and neither appear to ever communicate about ANYTHING ending in anything other than either a break up or at least a postponement. Thank you, next....more
There are no words to express how much I adore Stanley Tucci. I’m an old lady, so my love for Tucci anI gained five pounds walking to this audiobook.
There are no words to express how much I adore Stanley Tucci. I’m an old lady, so my love for Tucci and his love for food goes way back to Big Night. There’s simply no argument that he excels at his craft (I mean did you guys see Conclave? Holy crap is he great.) But this newfound career as an eatie is simply chef’s kiss. Searching for Italy was a delight, as was his first food memoir Taste, but this one exceeded all of my expectations (and I was smart enough to get it on audio which is really the only way to go, in my opinion). How is it possible for someone to be so unapologetically bougie and yet completely relatable at the same time? This “year in the life” has a little bit of everything. A glimpse into an A-List sort of lifestyle (presented by a true homebody at heart), Tucci’s signature dry wit, entries about friends and family that bring both the LOLz and the feelz. And pasta. So. Much. Pasta. Simply magical . . . .
Maybe it was because it was 65 degrees outside yesterday so I was able to go outside for a walk. Maybe it was because it was so short and I was able to listen it from start to finish in one go. Maybe it was because the descriptor of “Jane Eyre meets American Psycho” was pretty spot on unlike most of these “if you like this, you’ll LOVE this” types of blurbs. Maybe it was because the reader sounded SOOOOOOOO much like Helena Bonham Carter (in a character I could totally see her playing). Whatever the reason, this was a winner winner chicken dinner for me and it doesn’t surprise me at all why the film rights were acquired and a movie already in the works before publication day. ...more
I always thought I would be a one and done with Lisa Genova because she clearly gets off on writing tragiporn novels centered around terminal or chronI always thought I would be a one and done with Lisa Genova because she clearly gets off on writing tragiporn novels centered around terminal or chronic illnesses. Like billions of others I read Still Alice, but then The O’Briens was once again about some sad debilitating disease with no hope so I was officially out. Never say never, though, because maybe a story about a young woman being diagnosed with bipolar disease might be up my alley and I thought I'd give it a go.
I thought I would quite possibly dig this one, but it pretty much lost me right away at the somehow weirdly recently overused "main character who wants to be a comedian." Dear Authors: Stop making unfunny characters have comedic aspirations. How did that even become such an overused career goal in books recently? If you’re going to make these characters be aspiring comics, they have to be FUNNY. Comedy isn’t just writing jokes and memorizing them - it’s people who are naturally hilarious. No one would want to sit through this chick’s ranty Ted Talk comedy special. And if the bizarre zero dollar an hour career choice wasn't odd enough, then the additional manic episodes featuring Taylor Swift related imaginings just put it over the edge. Then there’s the problem of Maddy having little to no developed personality outside of her illness and what glimpses we did get being so unlikeable and first world with a great support system (and great insurance to boot). So unrelatable.
This was as easy read, but I didn't think it was very good. ...more
Today I put away all the culty stabby stuff I have been gobbling up recently and blew the dust off my formHappy Hallmark Holiday to all who celebrate!
Today I put away all the culty stabby stuff I have been gobbling up recently and blew the dust off my former Rom Com loving heart (while keeping my fingers and toes crossed for PG fade-to-black style sexuals instead of the gross-out variety filled with all sorts of overly descriptive encounters). Success! I’ll admit I knew going in that a Sophie Cousens would not be one to fail me, but this little baby was an absolute delight.
Anna and Will are co-workers who seem to be vying for the same assignments at the magazine they work for. When Anna is told she needs to freshen up her column or potentially find herself unemployed she goes along with a plan devised by her children – go on a series of dates with people THEY choose for her. What could possibly go wrong?
I’m telling you I loved every second of this . . . .
We’re talking a little touch of May/December, getting her groove back, enemies to lovers reminiscent of The Hating Game, OH NO THERE’S ONLY ONE BED! – even a grand romantic gesture . . .
Here’s a quick question: Are all of Alice Feeney’s books about couples? Yes, I know I’m literally sitting at a computer with internet access and also Here’s a quick question: Are all of Alice Feeney’s books about couples? Yes, I know I’m literally sitting at a computer with internet access and also my phone and Alexa are right here in the room with me, but I am lazy and unwilling to expend the energy to do the research. And really it’s sort of rhetorical. I’m assuming (yeah, I know the saying about assuming) that her claim to fame is domestic thrillers about husbands and wives, but really that was the weak link of this one. I mean there were other things like the overused stolen manuscript subplot and all the redwood talk that wasn’t really necessary. But as a whole this would have been 4 Stars for me if it had simply been about an author who was offered a “resident writer” position on this unique island. I loved all the people who inhabited it – loved their backstories – but the wife crap felt like it was just thrown in and didn’t mesh whatsoever.
To follow along with one of this book’s themes allow me to “borrow” from my friend Kelli and agree with her assessment that this “wasn't beautiful, but it wasn't ugly either!”
I think the first (and maybe only) thing to note is in order for this story to be successful for you, you have to believe that not only is the newspapI think the first (and maybe only) thing to note is in order for this story to be successful for you, you have to believe that not only is the newspaper industry still apparently a booming business, but also that they are still hiring “Dear Abby” types of columnists (but ones that have zero work history or any sort of credentials whatsoever). Add to that an attempted murder charge, convicted (but obviously not guilty) felon, multiple whoopsie babies, rape, child abuse, domestic violence and you get an entirely unpalatable stew for this everything but the kitchen sink tragiporn . . .
This time with Olympic hopeful snowboarders. Much like many other selections of this ilk, I spent the majority of my reading time finding other things to do so I wouldn’t have to waste my time on this and the remainder thinking . . . .
The problem here is twofold. There’s a lot of snowboard speak which would suck even more if the reader weren’t familiar with that sport and which sucks equally for everyone because READING about snowboarding rather than watching it is a real snoozefest. And second – when dealing with a small cast such as this the most obvious suspect of the whodunnit is clearly a red herring, which leaves only one more person in a story as basic as this. Soooooo I knew immediately who the big reveal was going to be revealed to be and simply slogged through this over the weekend wishing it was 100+ pages shorter.
But seriously, though, how long to I have to wait for the next one?????
If you aren’t a fan of Cher, well, then I probably don’t really want to know you because she’s fucking fantastic. This “Part 1” takes you from childhood right up until the point where an encounter with Francis Ford Coppola after one of her shows at her Caesar’s residency in Vegas convinced her to revive her dream of becoming an actor. And you know what eventually happens??????
I walked nine miles one day listening to this audiobook and if that isn’t praise I have no clue what is. Believe it or not, Cher was actually famous before I was even born, but I have been a fan as long as I can remember and loved hearing her story (I also didn’t realize how YOUNG she was back in the Sonny and Cher days). What a remarkable life. I can’t wait to listen to the second half of it.
And for those of you who might not realize how fabulous she is, check out her social media every once in awhile . . .
Really the only complaint I have here is that Cher narrates the beginnings of each chapter and then a long-time friend/business associate takes over the remainder until the next chapter. I think most of us can agree that when choosing a celebrity memoir, we want the celebrity to voice it, but it was so good I’m not deducting any Stars. ...more
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