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Furiously Happy
Furiously Happy
Jenny Lawson | 2016 | Biography
10
8.7 (15 Ratings)
Book Rating
Made me almost fall off the bed giggling (2 more)
Hilarious descriptions about bizarre situations
Revealing what's going on in her head lets other people know they're not alone
Hysterically funny
How do you even begin to explain a Jenny Lawson book? Known as The Bloggess on the internet, Lawson is one of the most laugh-out-loud, hysterically funny, off-the-wall-crazy-pants writers I've ever come across. From her antics with taxidermied animals to the bizarre arguments she has with her husband to the weird tangents her brain goes on, Lawson is one of the most entertaining people on the internet. In Furiously Happy, she explores her lifelong fight with mental illness, from depression to anxiety to a number of manias, and she does so in a lovely, non-judgmental way. She does get serious - she talks about her "folder of 24" - 24 letters from suicidal people telling her that she, and the community she's built, are the reason they're still here. Lawson tackles the topic of depression head on, and by writing down the bizarre things that go through her head, lets people know THEY'RE NOT ALONE, and that's incredibly important.

As the subtitle of the book says, it might be a book about a serious topic, but oh. my. is it funny. Between sneaking a taxidermied ecstatically happy raccoon into view of her husband's video conferences, and trying to snuggle koalas in Australia while dressed in a full-body koala costume, Lawson also talks about waking up in the middle of the night thinking her arms have fallen off, and being stalked by carnivorous swans. Lawson's blog is hilarious, and this book is one of the most insanely funny things I've ever read, and now I have to track down her other two books. (Let's Pretend This Never Happened and You Are Here)

You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com
  
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Sam (74 KP) rated Why Mummy Drinks in Books

Mar 27, 2019  
Why Mummy Drinks
Why Mummy Drinks
Gill Sims | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.1 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
Set out to appear as a diary, Why Mummy Drinks follows the day-to-day life of middle-class mummy Ellen. From trying to be the popular Pinterest-worthy parent to aspiring to seem like she has everything together, the life of Ellen is documented in hilarious honesty.

I really enjoyed reading this one. It was so funny and honest, and I can definitely see how it sold so well. I loved the perfect parents in the playground who Ellen aspired to be, and how they fed their kids on quinoa. It was just so funny.

My favourite characters were Bardo and Louisa. Everyone has those embarrassing relatives that you’d rather people didn’t know about, but these took it to another extreme. They lived outside and brought their children up outside, almost like animals. They were so surreal and I would have happily read a book just on their lives.

I wasn’t sure whether to buy this one, mainly because of it being aimed more towards parents than me. But now I can safely say that you don’t have to be a parent to appreciate the humour.

There were a few parts that took the humour a bit too far for me and were past funny, but they didn’t ruin the book. I found the book a bit slow in some places as well, but I read the second half on a sunny day within a few hours and quickly forgot about that.
  
You Die When You Die
You Die When You Die
Angus Watson | 2017 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Fantastic witty pre-historic Viking / Native American fantasy
This is the alternative-reality story of the Hardworkers, a small clan of Viking descendants in pre-Columbian North America. A mentally-damaged young boy in the clan has a premonition that the village will be attacked and they should head west. When the village is indeed attacked by natives (who themselves had a premonition of these Vikings ending the world), the clan quickly up-sticks and head off.
There follows a brilliant, exciting, funny story of this small clan with mixed abilities (some well trained warriors, some powerful yet cowardly warlocks, some useless wastes of space) travelling across North America, hunted by the magically-enhanced warriors sent to end them, and meeting numerous clans and tribes along the way.
The wonderful merging of plausible pre-history America and a more familiar fantasy setting (prophecies, evil empires, warriors) results in this superb story. The dialogue is witty and funny, the world is familiar yet strange enough to make you think, and the action sequences are fantastically narrated, often from different viewpoints.
The characters are all very well crafted and unique, and their interactions and conflicts really spur this story on.
I would urge anyone keen on fantasy to read this book. While the cover, and title, may suggest it is a brutal slobberknocker of a book, it is actually very clever, funny and thrilling.
I cannot wait to jump in to the next book in this trilogy. Wootah!!!
  
Charlie All Night
Charlie All Night
Jennifer Crusie | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry
8
7.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Fast, funny, absurd, and thoroughly enjoyable, Charlie All Night is a fun-filled romp filled with great characters! This is my first Jennifer Crusie book and I can't wait to read more from her, especially since I've heard her newer books are even better. While the bit of mystery isn't real strong, Ms. Crusie's flowing plot and zany characterizations are wonderful, and more than make up for it. In some ways, this book reminds me of early Janet Evanovich romances, although Jennifer Crusie's have a more timeless feel to them. A very nice, light read to curl up with. :)
  
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The Heist (Fox and O'Hare, #1)
8
6.6 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
FBI Kate O'Hare has been chasing conman Nick Fox for years. But when she finally catches him, her life is turned upside down. Now she finds herself teamed up with him to try to catch another criminal.

To me, this book felt like a melding of the TV shows White Collar and Castle, both of which I love. It was funny and a wild ride. The pace was just a little off at times, but for the most part I enjoyed this romp.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/07/book-review-heist-by-janet-evanovich.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
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Pipsqueak
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
When Garth Carson finds a squirrel puppet from a favorite childhood show, he thinks he's found a nostalgic goldmine. Instead, he soon finds a body and a conspiracy that seems too hard to believe. In fact, that was one problem I had with the book, I just couldn't believe it. The characters were also too thin. And the "comic" part of the comic caper? Not really that funny. I did find the climax over the top yet fun, however.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/06/book-review-pipsqueak-by-brian-m-wiprud.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Danvers hates his life, especially since no one appreciates his attempts to create stunts that his idol, Gonzo, would love. But one morning Danvers wakes up as a Muppet. What is happening? And how will his life change? I found the book to be a very fast read, the large number of pictures certainly helped. Yet, I also found it quite funny. Any fan of the Muppets will enjoy it, down to the elementary school target audience.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/07/book-review-tales-of-sixth-grade-muppet.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Piggie is invited to her very first party, and Gerald says he knows all about parties. But are his ideas right or not?

This is another fun and funny book in Mo’s Elephant and Piggie series. Things just get crazier as they go along until we hit the perfect ending. Once again, the words are easy to sound out and the illustrations add much to the humor of the story. Great for reading and rereading.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/09/book-review-i-am-invited-to-party-by-mo.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.