Monday, July 15th -- Summer Reading List
Forgot again to write on Friday... but, to be fair, I was dealing with an eye injury. So I get a pass.
I've been reading like a mo-fo these past few weeks, I've torn through several comedic memoirs as "research" for my own... here's what I think of what I've read. Worst first, best last...
Chelsea Chelsea, Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler -- I really enjoyed Chelsea Handler's first book, that said - this one was complete crap. Disorganized, with no real sense of chronology or reason for being, the book strung together a bunch of random essays that -at times- seemed really self-indulgent. This book made me like her less. C-
The F***ing Epic Twitter Quest of @MayorEmanuel by Dan Sinker -- If you follow Chicago politics or parody Twitter accounts even a little bit, this book is for you. As I am a life-long Democrat and Chicagoan by birth, I was heartily amused while reading the fake Twitter feed of Rahm Emanuel running up to the 2011 Chicago Mayoral race. And, I actually liked it even better in book form, with Dan Sinkers foot notes and little snippets of Chicago political/cultural history in-between the actual Tweets. The big problem with this book is that it is 100% a niche read -- as I found out after handing it to my British (very smart, very funny) compatriot who had heard me chuckling and snorting my way through the book. He was able to get through exactly 10 pages before he threw it back across the bed at me and said "Why is this supposed to be funny? I don't get it." So, it's not very universal, but - again - if you love politics and/or Chicago, it's a great read. PS: I <3 Quaxelrod and Hambone and David Axelrod's mustache. They need a spin-off series. www.quaxelrod.com C- from the Brit, A+ from me = a solid and respectable B
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (and Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling -- This was a good and funny memoir by a good and funny lady. I -literally- plowed through this book in one Saturday afternoon -- light, fluffy and funny, Kaling's memoir includes stories from her childhood, her career, her personal life and random one off essays about random topics on which she holds strong opinions. It's easy to see where her success has come from. I enjoyed this book muchly. B+
American on Purpose by Craig Ferguson -- Okay, I'm really biased here, as Craig Ferguson is my favorite stand-up comic, hands down. However, this memoir wasn't only funny and revealing as to Feguson's comedic starts -- but, it was an uncompromising look at failed relationships, his family and his addiction that -while making me laugh, a lot- also moved me. Unlike Chelsea Handler's book, Craig Ferguson's book made me like him MORE. (If that's possible.) A+
Next up on the docket -- my friend Kambri Crews' memoir Burn Down the Ground. I'm sure it's going to be AWESOME, as Kambri is awesome... <3
