The Wrong Heaven by Amy Bonnaffons

I first heard Amy Bonnaffons when her short story “Horse” was read as part of an episode of the National Public Radio show “This American Life.” I don’t remember what the theme of that particular episode was or any other segments, but “Horse” stood out. It is a short story about a woman deciding to … Continue reading →

Whatever You Do, Don’t Run by Peter Allison

In my last blog post, I lamented all the time I lost while trying to read the book “No Touch Monkey” by Ayuun Halliday.  I promised that there were far better travel books out there, that were much more worth your while, so today, please allow me to introduce you to one such book:  “Whatever … Continue reading →

My Lady’s Choosing: An Interactive Romance Novel by Kitty Curran and Larissa Zageris

If you loved doing Choose Your Own Adventure novels growing up and wonder what it would be like if you could turn that concept into an adult, romance novel – My Lady’s Choosing by Kitty Curran and Larissa Zageris is the book for you! Just like those Choose Your Own Adventure novels, in My Lady’s … Continue reading →

The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell

Have you ever found yourself enjoying a book and suddenly come to an opinion by the author so puzzling, or perhaps even horrifying, that you had difficulty continuing with the book? Or perhaps you just quit reading it altogether. I ran into this over halfway through W. Kamau Bell’s book The Awkward Thoughts of W. … Continue reading →

Adulthood is a Myth by Sarah Andersen

I discovered Sarah Andersen and her wacky cartoons on Instagram and instantly I was hooked. Andersen draws in a whimsical and simple way, sharing her life, friends and pets with us. All of these stories and comics can be found in Andersen’s first book, Adulthood is a Myth. As Andersen puts it, “this book is … Continue reading →

Calypso by David Sedaris

After putting out a collection of his diaries and dabbling in short fiction, David Sedaris returns to nonfiction essays in his new book Calypso. The essays are often funny but at times also become very serious. Aging and death are reoccurring themes in the book. Tiffany, the author’s troubled sister, killed herself in 2013, and … Continue reading →

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Jon Stewart’s departure from The Daily Show was met with the kind of trepidation that greeted Johnny Carson leaving The Tonight Show or Suzanne Sommers leaving Three’s Company. Okay, Suzanne Somers is probably a bad comparison. Perhaps it’s closer to the guy who played Mr. Kotter leaving for most of season four of Welcome Back, … Continue reading →

Pantheon: The True Story of the Egyptian Deities by Hamish Steele

Pantheon: The True Story of the Egyptian Deities is the hilarious and irreverent retelling of the Egyptian myth of Horus, son of Iris who vows to revenge his father’s murder. Steele has based his retelling on various versions of the Osiris myth and retold it in humorous, colorful detail. While this comic may appear crude … Continue reading →

Theft by Finding: Diaries 1977-2002 by David Sedaris

If you LOVE the works of David Sedaris, you might like this one. If you only LIKE his work, well…you may be disappointed. It is not at all what I expected. With very few exceptions, it is almost depressing! I listened to the audiobook, and even his voice (which in itself can be comical at … Continue reading →

The Jesus Cow by Michael Perry

Place quirky characters in a small, rural town, add a calf born early on Christmas morning with the face of Jesus imprinted on its side and life gets more entertaining. Harley Jackson is trying to make ends meet on the surviving acres of farmland his father left him when his cow delivers the marked calf. … Continue reading →