Review: Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

Why Not Me? By Mindy KalingTitle: Why Not Me? 

Author: Mindy Kaling

Quick Summary: Follow up to her first book, Kaling, now the creator, writer and star of her own sitcom, shares funny experiences with her family and friends and navigating Hollywood as only she can.

Very quick, no surprises. She covers all the stuff I expected she would: work, love life, family and a few funny Hollywood stories in between. All of her favorite friends are here! Her Mentor! Her soup snake, B.J. Novak.  She’s honest, too, sharing her thoughts around announcing the Emmy nominations and coming to the realization she wouldn’t be on that list. It was an honest moment that she could have blown off as “whatever” but she shares the panic, sadness that comes with not getting what you didn’t realize you wanted.

This was a lot of fun to read. What needs to be recognized in awesome chicks like Mindy is the hard work they do to get to where they are (actually the hard work memoir is her first one) vs the idiot celebrities who are famous for no good reason.

In the book Kaling quotes Holden Caulfield. Cheesy, yes, but this is feeling I often have with favorite authors.

Soup Snakes

Just one coffee date. One happy hour, it’s all I ask. Mindy is definitey in this category. BTW, this section, Soup Snakes, is about B.J. They are soup snakes, and I suppose if you were a fan of “The Office” you would get the reference.

Respect the women who have worked their butts off to get where they are and have what they have. This girl’s work schedule is insane. She told me so in this book.

4 stars. Recommend? Yes to Mindy Project or Office fans, to women of immigrant parents, to fans of funny women and funny memoirs. People who have read and enjoyed Bossypants, Yes Please or others like that.

This is review #3. How am I doing? Harder than I thought it would be to do. Maybe I should read less.

 

 

Review: Fun Home by Allison Bechdel

img_1006 Title: Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic

Author: Allison Bechdel

Quick summary: In this graphic novel memoir, author shares her upbringing and how she discovers her sexual identity, which ends up being right around the time she discovers secrets of her own family and must deal withe the sudden death of her father.

Now that I’ve committed to reviewing all of the books I read, I suppose I should say something about this one. Huh.

Interesting childhood that she experienced and I enjoyed the graphic novel presentation of the memoir, especially the use of real photos and documents, transformed into comic panels. I picked it up because the Broadway show won so many awards, and I like to include graphic novels in my book routine every now and again. I didn’t know what it was about before starting it, though. The story was compelling but tbh it didn’t wow me.

3 stars. Recommend? I’d give it a shrug.

Okay, next.

Review: Anything For You by Kristan Higgins

Ah! I’m already behind in my new 2016 goal of book review writing. Better get started …

Anything For You by Kristan HigginsTitle: Anything For You

Author: Kristan Higgins

Date of Publish: December 2015

Summary: Boy and girl are friends with benefits. Rom-com novel spins around how they got to this point, and how they move forward. (#5 in “The Blue Heron” series)

Favorite side character: Colleen, of course. I only made up this section so I could talk about “Dog-Face”, as her twin brother, Connor, so affectionately calls her.

Favorite line: “Hail Mary, full of grace, you already dated her! You lying liar of lie-land!”

I like: Connor. But his morning-after flub was NOT cool. And the comedic chaos of the worst business investor meeting ever was almost too much to bear.

I liked less: Jessica. Too much of a martyr for my taste.

The Blue Heron Series is not my fave, a little uneven. The O’Rourke twins have been great side characters throughout, so I’m glad to see a book dedicated to them (Colleen’s was #3, Waiting On You)

4 stars. 4 because I did stay up half the night to finish, and reread parts of it. Recommend? Yes.

Im still working on the format of these reviews, excuse the randomness of this.

Feeling Bookish

Goodreads GratificationSo, it’s like this.

I read.

A lot.

Mainly on my commute, but sometimes I pull the occasional late night to finish up a good one. These are not all masterpieces. It’s hard to get really into a masterpiece when you’re sandwiched in one of those side seats on the bus to work balancing a Kindle on top of a wet umbrella and heavy backpack. Not ideal reading location. I like stuff I can pick up and put down quickly if necessary. Most of the books I read are of the the 200 – 300 page mainstream variety, with some of my favorites including romance, young adult, urban fantasy, mystery/comedy or mystery/romance. I also like sports memoirs, Hollywood memoirs, non-fiction related to journalism or other personal interests (e.g. Boys In The Boat). I try to find books that take place in Seattle, and sprinkle in a few prizewinners or ones that everyone’s read into the mix as well.

From "Anything For You" via my Kindle appI read.

A lot.

Of books that well read people may look down upon.

Sorry, writers that I love. I love you. But I’m sometimes embarrased by you. Because sometimes I want to pretend I’m really well read. I’m not well read. I’m just read. But starting this year (if I can manage this), I’m going to put a stop to the embarrassment and let everyone know about the books I read. I’m going to use this blog that I pay good money for to review and record it all. Because, you know what? The writers I’m sometimes embarrassed by are quite good. These writers are repeatedly on the New York Times Bestsellers Lists. Why? Because lots of people buy and read their books. And that’s why I read them. So, say goodbye to being embarrassed.

I read. And sometimes I stop reading mid-book if I don’t like it. And I’ll be sure to let you know when I do that as well. I’m talking to you, The Corrections. 

(By the way, it’s very okay to stop reading a book if you don’t like it. Don’t feel obliged to finish one just because you started. Nancy Pearl says it’s okay, so it’s okay)

This year, I anticipate my reading numbers to go down, (I’ve topped 60 books annually for the past five years (not that I’m counting, oh wait, I am counting. Thank you, Goodreads). Last year my goal was to up the quality of the books. This year it’s to blog/review/journal more about what I’m reading. Which leads me to here: My first review of the first book I finished in 2016: Anything For You by Kristan Higgins

My favorite books of 2015

According to Goodreads I read 64 books in 2015. Here’s my Goodreads link.

It was a strange year of reading, where I read some stellar books in January and then again in December and a real mixed bag in between. If you told me that among my favorites would be an 800-plus Stephen King book that I started with two days left to go in the year, I would have laughed. But there I was, 3 a.m., finishing up what I’ll put at the top of my favorite books of the year (Trying to arrow it down to just five)

11/22/63 by Stephen King11/22/63 (read in December, published in 2011) I was into a big time travel kick. Prisoners of Azkaban has long been my favorite Harry Potter novel because of Hermione’s Time Turner as part of the plot. I did also read and enjoy “The Chronos File” series, and as a result of some other books I picked up (but didn’t love), Amazon recommended a Stephen King novel to me. Wha? Really? I hate horror, but well, okay. I got on the wait list at the library and a few short days before we left for our Colorado Christmas, I got it. I started it on the plane ride home. 2 days and more than 800 pages later, I finished it. I haven’t read a Stephen King novel since I picked up The Stand (in an airport, for a trip home during college). I can only read the non-horror King, and this was such an easy read, with a surprising love story alongside a fanatastical historical fiction around a time traveler who goes back to the the 50s/60s to stop Lee Harvey Oswald from assassinating JFK. Much of the time I was more enamored with the Jodie, TX storyline than the following Lee around DFW, but both were compelling and a supremely easy read from an old hand. Great timing to finish this one, as the TV mini series will be coming out in February on Hulu.

Carry On by Rainbow RowellCarry On by Rainbow Rowell (read in December, published in 2015) Just before picking up the above, I finished this story, which I found incredibly clever from my favorite writer of last year. Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl featured Cath, a young college student who spent her younger years writing fan fiction for a Harry Potter-type series. Carry On is, in my imagination, the fan fiction that Cath wrote (or perhaps Rowell intended it to be the actual book and not the fan fiction?). Rowell is another writer who I feel like just gets into a rhythm and writes with such a great flow that it’s tough to put down. I also love that she has made a career of being so versatile. I was hooked with the first YA novel i read by her and was delighted to find she also wrote adult novels. I read a lot of series and following several authors and many have a formula that they don’t stray from. This was so fun to read, a great magical break.

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony DoerrAll The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (read in January, published in 2014). I’m not one to jump on the prizewinner bandwagon. Often my taste is a little bit less cultured.  After reading and hating The Goldfinch I wasn’t sure if I should pick up another Pulitzer Prize winner, but I did pick up ATLWCS and I’m so glad I did. Historical fiction that has a lot of history and a fantastical connection between a young soldier within the Hitler’s army and a young blind girl struggling to make it through the war alive. Another long one, engrossing and heartbreaking, even suspenseful at times. Sometimes the award winners are worth it.

 

We Are Not Ourselves by Matthew ThomasWe Are Not Ourselves by Matthew Thomas (read in February, published in 2014). This I picked up because I discovered I knew the author from college. It started somewhat slow for me, which was concerning because of its length (I’m more of a quick read kind of gal, which might be obvious based on the sheer quantity of books I go through every year). But it bloomed into an incredible story of one family’s struggle with early onset Alzheimer’s.

 

 

 

If You Only Knew by Kristan HigginsIf You Only Knew. I mentioned earlier that I have a small number of authors that I always read, often because they are formulaic and I know what to expect. But reading something new from them can be like a burst of fresh air in a stale hot yoga room (seriously, Rose from Modo Yoga does this and it’s A-MA-ZING). IYOK is that from Kristan Higgins. It’s like a transition piece, actually. Part of the books is typical slapstick/girl-meets-boy stuff, and the other part is heartbreak/angry woman finds out husband is cheating sadness. It was just different enough that I have to say, having read all of her novels, this stood out to be my favorite by far.

Some favorite passages, as I feared I’d not have enough to write about a rom-com (though apparently I do). You’ll see KH is just a funny kinda gal. Not to get too stalky, but I’d like to have coffee with her some day. I think she’d be hilarious.

I clear my throat. “So my ex-husband and his perfect wife have invited me to a dinner party in the city, in the same apartment where I used to live with him. Want to come? Should be a fun little freak show.”

“Hell, yes.” Leo smiles, and his face goes from tragic empathy to wicked, and I’m filled with relief. Back on safe land. “When is it? Doesn’t matter. I’ll clear my schedule. I’d miss dinner at the White House for this.”

Also this:

“Classical piano?” His voice implies that an unstable woman such as myself has never heard classical piano. He’s almost right; aside from what I hear at weddings, I tend to veer towards things written in this century.

“As a matter of fact, yes,” I lie. “I love classical piano. Beethoven, and uh … those other guys.”

“He cocks an eyebrow. “Name two pieces.”

“Um … ‘Piano Man’ by Billy Joel.”

“Oh, God.”

“And ‘Tiny Dancer’ by Elton John,”

 

Anyhoo. My goals for 2016 … is not to read more books. If anything, my new commute has made it harder for me to read, believe it or not. The Firm shuttles me back and forth to work in a bus that has wi-fi and I find myself cramming in a few more minutes of work instead of reading like I did when I took the good ol’ city bus. Except today. Today I’m finishing this blog post.

So my goal is not to read more books, but to write a review of every (okay, most) books I read. I’m already behind on that one. (KH released another book that I finished New Year’s Day). But I’m gonna give it a shot.

Cheers.

These a few of my favorite books (of 2014)

In my head I have a bunch of posts that I want to write down and get out there. One of my unofficial new year resolutions, if I still did that kind of thing, which I don’t, because, seriously, who needs that kind of pressure  … is to post more. Not just blog more, but, you know, try to get myself out there a little more. I like to write these little ditties and share this little bit about me, but the truth is, I don’t. It’s scary. So I don’t share my posts socially (well, I do, but only on Twitter and Google+, where I have about 30 followers total). I “discourage” search engines from crawling me (that sounds a lot creepier than it is). And why? Because while I like to blog, I don’t want people reading my blog posts?

I’m like the anti-blog blogger. Who’s ever heard of such a thing.

I hate rejection. I hate attention. I am bad at individual sports, prefer the team thing. But you know what, who doesn’t like a little encouragement from others every once in a while. A little validation that you are a-ok. A few “likes” on their FB pics, or a “+1” in that work email … So let’s change it up, shall we? Just for a little bit, let’s see if anything detrimental comes up if I let you in on the secret that’s not really secret, I like writing. In the meantime, you’ve caught me on a good night. I’m finally writing about the best books I read in 2014.

The only book I gave 5 stars to on Goodreads in 2014 is this first one. Not because I read a lot of crap books last year (although I did read some crap books, starting with the first book I finished in January 2014, “Allegiant” aka “Don’t Bother”). I think it’s more because I rate books very hard. I am a difficult reviewer, of books, of things, of surveys, of people. So, Jojo Moyes, congratulations. You received the sole 5 stars for Me Before You. 

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes, via GoodreadsLet’s face it. I’m a sucker for romance books. I like the funny ones (See: Kristan Higgins). I indulge in some of the regency on occasion, and I’ve read a few Nora Roberts when I just needed to get through a plane ride. Me Before You (2012), which I read in gloomy October, is like the anti-romance, in the same way I am the anti-blogger. You root for the main characters, that they both get to accomplish what they want to, and all the while you know, in the back of your mind, there’s a very good chance it is not going to end well. And then the tears. Plus, she’s British. I love her colloquialisms. Oh, and I’ve already slammed the gauntlet down in 2015 with this writer. Her latest novel? One Plus One, the first book I read in 2015? 5 stars. So, get to it, other books. Who’s going to join Jojo?

By the way, when I read other people’s reviews, be they on Amazon or Goodreads, one of my least favorite types of reviewers are the ones who provide a summary before getting into their review. If I want a summary, I will read the summary provided by the publisher. I don’t need you to waste your time providing one. That is why I’m not providing one. If you’d like to learn more about these books that are obviously quite good, click on the links and learn a little more. Otherwise, just deal with my broad, general strokes about these novels.

Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell via GoodreadsMoving on.

2014 was the year of Rainbow Rowell. I finally got around to reading Eleanor and Park (2013) in April, soon after it was announced that DreamWorks had bought the film rights to this book. When I finish a young adult book that is so emotional, gripping, beautifully written, something that bring me to tears (hmm. more crying), I often wish I had these books when I was a teen. I read a lot of crap back then. I wish I had something of more substance, that spoke to me. The scene that had me bawling into my pajama shirt (because this was most definitely a stay-up-late-to read book) was centered around Park’s mother, a Korean immigrant who, in the middle of a grocery store, suddenly realizes who Park’s girlfriend is. What she is. And is so affected by it she can’t continue her trip. I’m not spoiling anything by explaining this scene. Maybe it takes experience and maturity for it to hit you and that’s why, at 39, I’m overwhelmed. I wonder, what scenes are overwhelming to the younger set?

Why is it the year of Rainbow? Because I also read Fangirl, Attachments and Landline this year, and thoroughly enjoyed all of them. She does adult romance/fiction/relationshippy stuff just as good as the YA stuff. It’s not often I can read that many books by the same author and feel good about all of them. Excited to see what comes from this movie, and will try my best not to put it up on some pedastal only to be somewhat disappointed because it doesn’t live up to my higher-than-high expectations as a film (see: TFIOS)

I’m sort of cheating here, because while I planned to limit my list to four or five books, I’m actually bringing up a lot of titles that I enjoyed last year. The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters, via GoodreadsSo that’s why it’s okay, for this next selection, to include the entire trilogy. I was at first leery of receiving this recommendation, because the person who recommended it, well, I just don’t see us having the same taste in books. But then he told me that he read this series because so-and-so recommended it to him, and I DO see eye-to-eye with so-and-so, and plus the premise was just one I couldn’t resist, so I picked it up (or, rather, I put the digital copy on hold at the Library, then clicked and downloaded it when it was finally ready).

The Last Policeman (2012) takes a murder mystery concept and places it during a time, not too far in the future than today, when everyone on Earth is well aware of when the world will end. That’s all I’ll say. The series has a very satisfying ending, which does not happen all that often, in my opinion. It takes a simple premise and turns it on its head with the setting and environment. Love it. (The first two I read in late August/early September, and the final one, released this year, I read in October, only because the waiting list at the library was so darn long).

I have a few others in mind, but I think I’ll end this list with a couple of authors I know I mentioned last year. About five years ago my work spouse introduced me to a few urban fantasy writers to help get the taste of Twilight out of my brain, and I’ve never looked back. For serial novels (is that what they call them?), it’s always fun when you enjoy something so much you go back and reread previous books in the series. I remember when I was reading Harry Potter as they were being published, I loved the books so much I would reread the previous books in the series because I couldn’t get a big enough Potter fix.

Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews via GoodreadsAnd so with the Kate Daniels series. Magic Breaks came out this year, and immediately after finishing it (August), I reread one of my favorite books in the series, and then, last week, once I had finished my Goodreads Challenge, I reread Magic Breaks. The writing duo of Ilona Andrews loves their fans (see: Clean Sweep, which I also read this year, and enjoyed, and paid for, even though they offered it on the Interwebs for free, because they are awesome). After a buildup of 6 prior books, MB is the one when the main character meets her creator, so to speak. I’ll probably add this series to the list next year, too. It’s that good. (Here’s my one complaint this time … I can have one, right … the unnecessary sex scene that was tacked on near the end. Seriously, really could have gone the entire book without it, but it was almost as if the editors said, no you need it and so you just kind of pinned it on. Really?)

Speaking of writers who love their fans, and somewhat related, fans who love their writers, but not in that Misery kind of way … I would be omitting another favorite if I didn’t mention Shifting Shadows by Patricia Briggs. Mercy Thompson is another urban fantasy series I love (Night Broken came out this year and I would add it to the list but I didn’t do the reread like I did with Kate Daniels and so it gets the mention not the picture and listing) and Shifting Shadows is a series of short stories that take place in the “world of Mercy Thompson” … meaning our fearless writer has provided background and additional insight into side characters and stories that didn’t get the attention in a books original setting though you wished it could. So fans of the series geek out and devour every morsel handed to them. It’s like DVD extras, only way better. Thank you, for allowing me to geek out.

To sum up the last three paragraphs: If you looking for something weird and different I would definitely recommend one of these series, start with the first one and just go from there: Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews, Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (hello! Local author alert! The series takes place in the Tri-Cities!). I may re-recommend these next year too, along with The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher.

Here are the 2014 honorable mentions: The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie S. King (I read a lot in this genre, female protaganist, historical times, with or without a husband/partner of some sort. Point of Honour was also good one in this genre, and I can thank my work spouse for introducing me to these as well); Slow Getting Up by Nate Jackson (not going to win awards, but was fun to read during post-nfl withdrawal), The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach

And here are a couple of ones I wished I hadn’t: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, The One and Only by Emily Griffin, The Giver by Lois Lowry. Life would have been just fine had I not picked up any of these.

This was a long post. I don’t think I’ve written a post this long since my last best books of the year post. I think it counts as two posts. I’m going to take it easy, then.

Join me on Goodreads, where you can check on my annual Reading Challenge to read 60 books in 2015.

My favorite 2013 reads

I’ve been a member of Goodreads for a while. Readers (all 3 of you) will recognize the module on my site that logs the books that I read. Every year I tell myself I’ll write a post about my favorite reads for the year. I never get around to it, until now! Here are the top five books, in no particular order. These are the ones that stuck with me or that I’ve recommended to friends. I’m noticing some patterns here … Seattle connections … sports … memoirs … and some guilty pleasures that I deserve. I’m worth it!

Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown (2013)  Read in June. For those who have read Laura Hildebrandt’s Unbroken, this has a similar feel (though, I feel Hildebrandt’s writing is better and Zamperini’s story just incredible). As a (former) Seattle rower, this is a great tale about Seattle rowing, Stan and George Pocock, and the memorable crew that travelled to Germany in 1936 to compete and win at the Olympics (it’s history, people, I’m not spoiling anything here).

Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews (2013) Read in August. Of all of the supernatural creatures out there, the werewolf/were-animal is my favorite. Of all the alpha leaders in all of the fantasy books I’ve read, Curran is the leader of the, um, pack. This is the 6th book in of one of the best urban fantasy / paranormal romance series out there. It’s the “European vacation” installment. Vicious fights, surprising deaths, jealousy, it’s all in there. My only issue with this series (seriously, the ONLY issue), is the writers (a husband/wife writing team) have titled all the books so similarly, I have a hard time talking about them by title, so I end up saying, “the one with…” For example. My prior favorite was the one with The Midnight Games but my new favorite is the one with the European Packs. Whatever, start with the first one (Magic Bites, I looked it up for you). And even if it seems slow or odd, just keep with it. It is worth it.

Open by Andre Agassi (2009) Read in June. This is the only one on the list not written in 2013, and I acutally had borrowed this from the library when it came out but never got a chance to read it. Boy did I miss out. It floated up again when my tennis-playing friend recommended it. I don’t play tennis, but I followed his career a little bit when I was much younger, and you couldn’t avoid the Barbra Streisand and Brooke Shields headlines. I am always looking for a good sports memoir, and this one doesn’t disappoint. What really helps this along is Agassi’s ghostwriter, who created a frenetic voice and told Agassi’s story like a popcorn/top 40 novel.

Waiting to be Heard by Amanda Knox (2013) Read in July. Another Seattle connection. I only lightly followed this news story as it was happening. Going through the honest retelling of a young and naive co-ed’s story, the shocking injustice thrown to her, and her perseverance to survive through it. Wow. And omg I am NOT going to let my kiddo go abroad for school. Just will not let my baby go.

 

The Best Man by Kristan Higgins (2013) Read in April. Here’s the dark horse. And by that, I mean a lighthearted rom-com. Did I read better, more entertaining, more meaty, worthy books than this one? Probably. But I also gave this 4 Goodreads stars, which is what I gave Amanda Knox and Andre Agassi (Boys and Magic received 5 stars, the only two that did last year). This is some classic rom-com, and late in the year I decided, should I ever take up writing or self-publishing, which I might, rom-com should be my genre. This storyline is not surprising … the typical gorgeous, caring Sheriff, the pretty but flawed woman who almost married Sheriff’s best friend who returns to the small town. The HEA ending (happily ever after, for those non-romance readers out there). My only complaint is, what I’m guessing is pressure from editors or someone to include sexy scenes. Unnecessary to me.

Do I have some runner-ups? The only other theme I can think of is I had the opportunity to support and read books written and self-published by a few friends and acquaintances. Support your friends.