“Emojis don’t always mean what you think they mean. To be safe, steer clear of all fruits and vegetables.”
A silly but humorous book. Quick read with l“Emojis don’t always mean what you think they mean. To be safe, steer clear of all fruits and vegetables.”
A silly but humorous book. Quick read with lots of relatable stuff for a dad of my age. This may have just been an elaborate marketing ploy for Progressive to capitalize on the popularity of their Dr. Rick commercials, but I am okay with that!
“While watching sports, there are people whose job it is to announce what’s happening. You’re not one of those people.”
I had a lot of fun, I laughed out loud, it made my wait at the airport go by quickly. All signs of a quality and worthwhile read!
“Unless you’re planning on skydiving or wearing all your clothes at a water park, there’s no reason to attach all your accessories to your body. Just because you can strap something to your body, doesn’t mean you should.” ...more
Also, every one if Moore’s books are not too long. Not that I miI just love reading Christopher Moore!
It’s silly!
It’s irreverent!
It’s un-put-downable!
Also, every one if Moore’s books are not too long. Not that I mind a long book, it is just nice every once in a while to get in a quick, fun read. And, as Moore usually does not seem to release one-offs, there are more books in the world of Practical Demonkeeping to read.
This book is about as much horror as it is comedy. And, the horror is kind of funny. And the comedy is kind of horrific. A perfect tale for lovers of dark humor.
I am glad that I can confidently pick up a Christopher Moore book and know I am in for a few hours of enjoyment. There are very few authors that I am confident with in that regard. I hope you have the same experience! ...more
3.5 for the story and the writing. But I had a good time with it, so 4 stars!
If you have read Hiaasen before this book will be no surpri3.5 to 4 stars
3.5 for the story and the writing. But I had a good time with it, so 4 stars!
If you have read Hiaasen before this book will be no surprise to you. It is an irreverent and humorous romp with a crazy cast of characters in Florida. In fact, if Florida Man was a book, he would be a Carl Hiaasen book. I used to think that the types of characters and situations he writes were far-fetched, but after the series of Florida Man articles over the past few years, the storylines seem quite a bit less silly and more plausible. Which is funny . . . but also a little sad!
As mentioned in my star rating – it is not necessarily the most intricately crafted literature. But it really isn’t supposed to be. This is the essence of escapist reading. Something to pick up in the lobby of your beach hotel, read while sipping piña coladas as the waves lap at your feet, and then leave it on the pool deck for the next soul looking for a little vacation for the mind. If that is exactly the type of book you need, then this (or any other Hiaasen book) will be perfect for you!
Also, with all of this in mind, file this author away as one to read after finishing a heavy read or if you are looking to break a slump. Very little stress on the brain with this one and that is sometimes exactly what you need! ...more
I continue to be very entertained by the Chew graphic novel series!
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Always funny! Slightly irreverent! Maybe not something to read around mealtiI continue to be very entertained by the Chew graphic novel series!
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Always funny! Slightly irreverent! Maybe not something to read around mealtime – it might either make you lose your appetite or get sick to your stomach. But at least you will be laughing while you do!
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While the story is great, the artwork is even better. It is a carnival for your eyes! The goofiness and cartoonishness (is that a word . . . cartoony-ness maybe? ...more
A very cute and very fun book for the holiday season!
If you are used to the usual run-of-the-mill nativity presentation at your local religious institA very cute and very fun book for the holiday season!
If you are used to the usual run-of-the-mill nativity presentation at your local religious institution and want a fresh take that is a bit out of the ordinary, it is worth giving The Best Christmas Pageant Ever a try! When a church goes to put on the same old nativity, some local ragamuffins are interested in participating (mainly due to the promise of snacks). Over the course of the story, these seemingly uncouth kids help those who have been taking the Christmas Story for granted open their eyes to the true meaning of Christmas.
I read this one out loud with my kids and we had a great time with it. The dialogue was fun and I loved hearing my wife and kids snicker after reading off a humorous line. So, not only was the book great, but it was a fantastic family read along experience. A great way to celebrate the holidays!
Do you need your heart-strings pulled but you REALLY want them pulled in the weirdest way? Then Nothing to See Here is the book for you.
It is a story Do you need your heart-strings pulled but you REALLY want them pulled in the weirdest way? Then Nothing to See Here is the book for you.
It is a story of friendship. It is a story of family. It is a story of politics. It is a story of abandonment. It is a story of growing up. It is a story of self-discovery. It is a story of karma. It is a story of kids who catch on fire.
*sings* One of these things is not like the other . . .
So, how does that last item on this list fit in with all the others. I can’t tell you, you will have to read it to find out! But, let’s just say that it does make sense when you throw them all together.
This was another book that was a Couch Time listen for my wife and me. For those not familiar, we frequently listen to audiobooks together in the evening after the kids go to bed. When this one finished, we both looked at each other and my wife said “Well, that was weird!” Yes, yes it was . . . but we both liked it very much.
The characters and the story were interesting and quirky. Everything develops nicely and there is even some come-uppance in the end that might make you cheer. Marin Ireland was the narrator and we both really liked her narration of Anxious People. We were excited to hear her voice again and I am pleased to report she did another great job.
A great book with a great narration – worth checking out if you like (or don’t mind) really unconventional plot points. I see that some place this book in the Magical Realism category, and I think that is appropriate. Give it a shot – just be sure to have a fire extinguisher nearby (just in case!) ...more
I recently had a friend text me and say something about how people toss around the acronym LOL, but they are not really laughing out loud. But, every I recently had a friend text me and say something about how people toss around the acronym LOL, but they are not really laughing out loud. But, every once in a while you see or hear something funny and you actually do laugh out loud. Colin Jost's book had many LOL moments for me where I was really laughing out loud.
If you don't watch SNL or are not familiar with Colin Jost, I don't think there is a point in reading this book. Sometimes a non-fiction book seems like it could be easily appreciated by a reader unfamiliar with the subject. While it is a very good book that I enjoyed a lot, I don't think this is one of those of those that would be appreciated by the Jost-uninitiated.
But, if you do like SNL, like to laugh, don't mind silly toilet humor (in this case, literally a few times) then I am pretty sure you will enjoy and should check this book out.
And, no, I don't want to punch Colin Jost, but based on his stories I can see why he feels that way!...more
If yöu like hörrör, like humör, and dön’t mind them cömbined and are lööking för a quick getaway, thenThis was söme gööd, silly, hörrör, escapist fun!
If yöu like hörrör, like humör, and dön’t mind them cömbined and are lööking för a quick getaway, then yöu really must try Horrorstör. Part satire making fun öf the big böx, tab-a-intö-slöt-b, retail giants, part creepy supernatural darkness, this is the perfect störy tö escape intö ön a lazy weekend afternöön. Ör, maybe at night by flashlight under the sheets – but that might be töö scary!
I spent the first 15 years öf my wörking life wörking retail, sö all the retail clichés fröm the first part öf the böök hit höme. If yöu have previöusly ör currently wörk in retail, I think yöu will get a huge kick öut öf the setting and the characters öf this böök. Each pölicy, each persön, all öf it is sömething I ran intö during my career in retail. I göt sö freakin’ nöstalgic, I wanted tö cry!
Then cömes tö the supernatural creepiness that makes this a hörrör störy - which I will nöt get intö töö much tö avöid spöilers. Let’s just say that Hendrix döes nöt pull any punches. What starts as a gööfy möckery öf retail, turns intö an equally gruesöme tale öf göre and törture. If yöu read this and then ever find yöurself löst in a big böx störe, yöu might end up ön the flöör in the fetal pösitiön until sömeöne cömes tö guide yöu öut.
I think this böök hölds its öwn with söme öther hörrör störies I have read, and, in the future, I will easily be able tö recömmend it tö my hörrör fan friends....more
I have had this one on my radar for quite some time. I listened to the first few chapters with my wife several years ago, but I didn’t finish it. I diI have had this one on my radar for quite some time. I listened to the first few chapters with my wife several years ago, but I didn’t finish it. I didn’t give much more thought to it until I saw that a movie version of it was coming out. I figured before I watch the movie, I might as well read the book. So, I chose it for one of my book club’s September 2020 selection.
I was entertained, but it was just okay. It is a bizarre, very quirky story. The format is emails and letters, which I was okay with, but I have seen some complain about. I guess it can be difficult to keep things connected in a coherent steam of thought in this format. While it does improve toward the end with longer sections without breaks, I can easily see how it would be hard to get into in the beginning.
Again, everything about this was quirky. The characters, the story line, the various settings – all so bizarre. It is like Semple wrote the world’s longest Mad Lib and randomly assigned the characters traits, plot points, and locations by pulling them out of a hat. It certainly makes for an interesting and sometimes humorous reading experience, but at times it was a bit disorienting. That, combined with the format of the writing, make for a most unconventional experience.
I also must point out that despite the bizarre and humorous twists and turns there is also a lot of serious content about relationships, mental health, and the daily pressures of life. If you can work your way through the maze, you might find your heart wrenched a little bit as well.
In closing – I am glad I read it and I did enjoy it. Maybe it was the bizarre unconventional-ness of the book, and maybe it wasn’t, but I didn’t really connect to it to the extent I had been hoping . . . the extent that would make me say “YES! I can see why they made this into a movie”. It is worth checking out but be prepared for disorientation. ...more
I may have what some might consider and interesting opinion on this one. It is always hard when reading a book that a movie you love and have seen a dI may have what some might consider and interesting opinion on this one. It is always hard when reading a book that a movie you love and have seen a dozen times in the past 30 years is based on. Normally I think I would go in with a lot of pre-conceived notions and be completely unhappy with the result when I come out the other side. But, in this case, I am happy with the book, but only because it was easy for me to separate it from the movie.
How you ask? I am not 100% sure, but I can say that while the essence and certain key lines ("I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way") are still there, it felt completely different - enough so that I was able to enjoy it as a new story. Perhaps almost sequel-ish. The book is darker and raunchier with some sex and violence a bit more extreme than the movie. But, it was still funny and the relationship between Valiant, Roger, and Jessica was entertaining to follow.
Since many of you are probably familiar with the movie, you probably know that this is a satire take on the hard-boiled genre. I think that anyone who enjoys that genre will find a lot to enjoy here. It contains many of my favorite hard-boiled tropes - especially all of the crazy comparisons made by the main character (i.e. in one scene a character is trying to get coffee and snacks out of vending machines by punching and shaking them. He gets coffee, but the snack machine will not give in to the pressure - Valiant says that the snack machine "must have had a stronger Union than the coffee machine" I LOLed! ...more
Another humorous, raunchy, irreverent retelling and reimagining of Shakespeare from Moore. This time, the fool Pocket finds himself solving a mystery Another humorous, raunchy, irreverent retelling and reimagining of Shakespeare from Moore. This time, the fool Pocket finds himself solving a mystery in the world of A Midsummer Night's Dream. While you needn't have seen or read the original Shakespeare to enjoy this one, it probably wouldn't hurt to check it out first so that you have a good point of reference. Also, this is the third book in Moore's Fool series - after Fool (King Lear) and The Serpent of Venice (The Merchant of Venice).
I always get a kick out of the way Moore writes. It is clever with a lot of wordplay. Sometimes things get wacky to the point of being hard to follow, but for me that has never been a problem as I am enjoying the ride. And, every Moore I have read has had the same feel. So, if you have read and enjoyed his books before, you know what you will be finding here.
I highly recommend this book and series to fans of:
- Shakespeare - Raunchy (and it does get pretty extreme at points) humor - Wordplay/puns - Monty Python-esque humor - Any Moore fans you have yet to give this a try
If these all fit you and you don't find yourself laughing so hard at this book that people around you wonder if you are okay, I would be surprised!...more
I continue to be entertained by Chew. It is silly and irreverent. The plot is bizarre. But, it 4 stars – more of the same, but not a bad thing!
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I continue to be entertained by Chew. It is silly and irreverent. The plot is bizarre. But, it is what it is perfectly. I laugh and I am entertained, I don’t think I could ask for much more.
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The over-the-top cartoonishness has stayed the same since the beginning. I am not sure that this book would be as good if it looked any other way. The art portrays the bizarre silliness in just the right way and I love taking in every frame. It is also fun to look for hidden jokes throughout.
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If you have read and enjoyed Chew up through volume 6 – move on to volume 7. You can’t go wrong! ...more
My 2020 adventure revisiting some of my classic favorites from childhood with my kids continues! I just finished reading them Charlie and the ChocolatMy 2020 adventure revisiting some of my classic favorites from childhood with my kids continues! I just finished reading them Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and they loved it! I continue to feel great warmth and joy with the fact that they ask about reading time with as much enthusiasm as when they ask about tablet time. In fact, if they happen to be on tablets when I declare it is time to read, they drop them immediately and curl up on the couch. It is pretty awesome!
Charlie and Willy Wonka bring back a lot of nostalgia for me. I watched the movie and read the book (and its sequel) several times as a child. It was one of those stories I could watch/read over and over again without a break between. I didn’t care for the more recent movie they made, but if it encouraged others to go back and read the book and watch the original, then that is a good thing!
One thing I will say that I don’t remember quite as much from my child years, but I notice when revisiting as an adult – Willy Wonka is kind of a jerk. As I was reading it out loud to the kids I kept thinking, this is funny, but I hope they don’t end up thinking that acting this way is appropriate! Sure, there were lessons to be learned about the bad behavior and habits of the kids in the book, but Wonka is pretty ruthless about pointing out their flaws. I think he would do quite well as a Twitter troll today!
Up next we will be watching the movie with the kids. However, I do remember a few things from watching it years ago that we may have to fast forward through . . . more for my sake than for theirs!
Cute and fluffy. Just like curling up inside a pumpkin spice latte. If your local fall farm festival transformed itself into a graphic novel, this is Cute and fluffy. Just like curling up inside a pumpkin spice latte. If your local fall farm festival transformed itself into a graphic novel, this is what it would look like.
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If you need a feel-good read that does not require a lot of thought and effort, this is the perfect book. I suppose that last sentence could easily be construed as negative, but it is not. Sometimes we just need to get away for a while from all the craziness that gnaws at our brain. Pumpkinheads will be happy to assist!
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The artwork is also very cute and enjoyable. The story is broken up into several smaller anecdotes within the overall story which gives it a Sunday comics feel. No complaints from me on the visual presentation here!
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Side note: (view spoiler)[Do you remember the 80’s classic film (would we call it a classic?) Some Kind of Wonderful? If you do, this is the same story, but set at a farm. (hide spoiler)]
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Conclusion: This graphic novel is worth your time if you need a happy escape this fall – and I think I can safely say in fall 2020, we all do! ...more
This is just a silly and fun graphic novel full of odd characters and even odder situations. If you are looking for a graphic novel that reads more liThis is just a silly and fun graphic novel full of odd characters and even odder situations. If you are looking for a graphic novel that reads more like something you might find in the Sunday Comics, this is the one for you.
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Every character is a caricature – as they should be. When you meet someone, their appearance and the first thing they say defines them for the remainder of your time with them. There really isn’t any character development, but in this case, I don’t think there needs to be.
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The art is just fun and a pleasure to look at. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the imagery – not just the “lol” at the end of a text message, but actual vocalization from my reading chair. And, again, the art aspect of it is also just fun – nothing super intricate or noteworthy – but, exactly what it needs to be to tell this outlandish story.
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Need a fun get away and are looking for something that is not a challenge to the brain? No thinking here, just good times and goofy happenings! Give The Long Road to Liquor City a try. If you come back and say “Matthew, I didn’t find any deep meaning in this book!”, then you are doing it wrong because that is definitely not what you should be looking for! ...more
This will be a tough one to rate. The story is entertaining and creative3 stars at times
4 at others
Hoping for 4+ star content in future volumes
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This will be a tough one to rate. The story is entertaining and creative. The content is edgy, extreme, and sometimes might make you feel like it has gone a bit to far. I think my Goodreads friend L. McCoy said it best (Click for review): “This book tries a bit too hard with the NSFW content” I don’t mind NSFW content, and I kind of expect it with the more edgy comic publishers (Dynamite, Image, etc.) - in fact, sometimes it feels like the artists can’t wait to try drawing some naked breasts. In the case of The Boys, NSFW content is definitely not subtle and is definitely in your face (and, if you read this you will realize that pun is fully intended). So, unless you are completely okay with sexual content, lewd language, and inappropriate scenarios, you can feel free to avoid adding this to your TBR
NOTE: Things get pretty sketchy after the frame below . . .
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But, if you are okay with this sort of content (or can look past it) this book is pretty entertaining. And, as I mentioned, is very creative. It approaches the superhero genre in the darkest way I have seen. While it does use a somewhat more common superhero theme – i.e. superheroes as fallible humans when not on the pedestal society puts them on (other examples – Watchmen and Marissa Meyer’s Renegades Series, Deadpool), this one takes it to the point of superheroes being, more often than not, truly deplorable behind their cape. And, in response, an equally questionable crew is called in to do something about it.
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I did not really think the art was all that great – not that I could do any better, but I do read graphic novels hoping for some decent imagery. My biggest complaint is that the character appearances were not really consistent throughout the book. From one frame to the next the faces would look very different. In many cases I had to look at their clothing to keep them straight. Maybe some aren’t bothered by this or maybe didn’t even notice, but I was a bit frustrated with it by the end.
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I am going to settle in at 3.5 stars on this one. Enjoyed the story enough that I will keep going, but I hope that the art and NSFW content starts to flow a little more smoothly with the rest of the story. But, since this story seems to be all about the shock, it may continue to be crazy overall! ...more
The focus in this volume switches from Tony to his sister Toni (confusing, perhaps?) While at first each issue fThe best volume of Chew so far!
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The focus in this volume switches from Tony to his sister Toni (confusing, perhaps?) While at first each issue feels like a stand alone story, they all eventually tie in to the big finale at the very end. I love looking for little Easter eggs throughout that cross reference parts of this volume and previous volumes.
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Two words: chogs and Poyo!
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Love the art! It is just simply hilarious! It is worth double checking each frame for extra jokes in the background. I don't think I will ever get tired of looking at this series!
I can equate how I felt about this book in a way that might make sense to some –mainly if you have read Ernest Cline’s work. I loved Ready Player One.I can equate how I felt about this book in a way that might make sense to some –mainly if you have read Ernest Cline’s work. I loved Ready Player One. For me, it was just the right level of pop culture entertainment to keep me smiling at the references and feeling nostalgic. Then I read his follow-up Armada and it felt like he was trying way too hard to be pop culture, trendy, and cool. I still enjoyed it, but the forcing of some pop culture simile or metaphor every few sentences became exhausting.
The Frame-Up was unfortunately more Armada and less Ready Player One.
If you really like comic books, nerdy TV shows, and cheesy mysteries there is a good chance this book will entertain you. (I feel safe saying “nerdy” because I too am a nerd) However, if you are anything like me, after you get about two-thirds in you will wonder if it is ever going to end. In fact, it took me over a week to read the last 100 pages because I was just not that excited to get back into it every day. (The first 220 pages only took me about a week)
In the end, I was somewhat entertained, and the story was pretty good, but as I could not stay invested along the way the overall experience was only so-so. So, approach this one with caution – you may really end up loving this one, or you may end up in the same boat with me. ...more
4.5 stars (rounding to 5 because I want people to check this one out!)
This was the perfect book to read after Recursion. And, I had no clue how simila4.5 stars (rounding to 5 because I want people to check this one out!)
This was the perfect book to read after Recursion. And, I had no clue how similar it would be. In fact, if you just finished Recursion and you are looking for something just like it, give this one a try!
I would describe this debut novel from Mastai as a cross between the aforementioned Blake Crouch and Andy Weir (The Martian and Artemis). The reason I mention Weir is that the main character of this book (narrator) is self-deprecating, sarcastic, and very humorous. While Crouch and Weir may have a similar sci-fi feel, Weir is the one who brings humor, sarcasm, etc. into the mix. If you prefer that your sci-fi not come with a healthy dose of humor, this is not the book for you.
This book was enough like Recursion that as I read the last few chapters today, I was having trouble remembering if certain plot points happened in it or All Our Wrong Todays. I mention in my review of Recursion that I cannot say too much without spoilers, and that is the case here. Just know that it deals with some mind-blowing theoretical science and questions about the delicate nature of reality and humanity. If you count speculative sci-fi as a favorite of yours, get this book on your TBR.
Part of me thinks it might be a bit unfair that I mentioned Recursion (oh! Did it again!) so much in this review. I do like to give everyone a good point of reference and I am always happy to give it more publicity, but I don’t want to detract from how good this book was as well. I am hoping that my frequent mentions of Crouch’s book will draw more attention to this book which, until about a month ago, I had never heard of and ended up with because I just happened to pick up a copy when trying to find a book for someone else. In this case, I was very lucky, and I hope my review draws a few more readers to All Our Wrong Todays. ...more
I continue to be very impressed with this series. If you judge the volumes by their covers, it looks like just a lot of big breasted heroines and geneI continue to be very impressed with this series. If you judge the volumes by their covers, it looks like just a lot of big breasted heroines and general comic book action goofiness. And . . . well . . . it is! But, it is also so much more!
First things first: this is a mature-content title both in writing and illustration. I will leave that up to you to decide what that means to you - everyone has a little different interpretation of "adult content". I pass no judgment on what anyone decides. But, go in knowing there is language, sexual content, and imagery that are not for everyone.
Okay, now that is out of the way, on with the review!
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This volume focuses more on Emp's best friend Ninjette than our frequently-bound heroine. Ninjette is a hard drinking martial arts master from New Jersey. And, while Emp is completely insecure about her body and her life, we find out her just how much Ninjette sometimes wishes they could switch places.
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While the story in this series is generally silly, action packed, and, from time to time, incomprehensible, there really is a lot of deep discussion between the lines about body insecurities, self esteem issues, alcoholism, abuse, family issues, friendship, wishing you were someone else, etc. So, while there may be a man dressed up as a French maid in a heated battle with a gelatinous blob wearing a cowboy hat on one page, the next will have two characters in a heartwarming embrace, both in tears after opening their hearts up to each other. It is a pretty dynamic and entertaining experience.
Also, the writing and wordplay are actually quite good. I will leave you with the "Caged Demonwolf" as he jams out to "Baby Got Back" in a version that would make Shakespeare envious.
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