That Just Happened!

Degeneres, Ellen.  Seriously…I’m Kidding.  Grand Central Publishing.  October 4, 2011.

I’ve experienced a lot the last few years and I have a lot to share. So I hope that you’ll take a moment to sit back, relax and enjoy the words I’ve put together for you in this book. I think you’ll find I’ve left no stone unturned, no door unopened, no window unbroken, no rug unvacuumed, no ivories untickled. What I’m saying is, let us begin, shall we?

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I have not read Ellen’s two previous books, but I am going to have to pick them up.  I wouldn’t really classify this as a biography, even though the library does, it’s more like a stream of consciousness.  It seems like the ramblings of a person with a very active imagination, but perhaps she laboured over each word to give the illusion of a word association experiment (although I strongly suspect it’s the former).  The chapters don’t really relate to each other, and she has everything from colouring pages to “short, short stories”.  A part of me thinks she was obligated to write another book and her publisher was pressuring her to get it done because it doesn’t seem to be about anything in particular, despite her claims that a lot has happened since her last book was published.

The other part of me doesn’t really care what her motivations were, this book was hilarious!  I have not laughed out loud this much since Chelsea Handler’s Chelsea, Chelsea, Bang, Bang.  I was reading it in the waiting room at the doctor’s office and laughed out loud.  People scooted their chairs away.  I actually read part of it aloud to MPW (who found it funny, but I don’t think really got the full effect of it because I was laughing so hard he probably understood one every three words).  Since Ellen is such a prominent public figure, her voice is easy to emulate in my head, so reading this book, I was reading it with her voice and timing, which is easy to do as she writes like she speaks.  With short sentences.  And lots of after thoughts.  Hilarious.

The audio book is actually her reading it, so you won’t even have to picture her voice in your head…you can hear it for real.  In this book she included things that you could only really see in the book, and things you’ll have to hear on CD to appreciate.  As I said, it’s totally random.

I knew it would be great the moment I turned the book over and it is all compliments from her to the reader and it didn’t disappoint.  If you like Ellen, you will definitely love this book and it’s a great idea for a Christmas present.

That Just Happened!

Kaling, Mindy.  Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (and Other Concerns)  Crown Publishing Group.  November 1, 2011.

Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of  immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a  Ben Affleck-impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright,  and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights  with her friends and coworkers with the sentence “Can I just say  one last thing about this, and then I swear I’ll shut up about  it?”…

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I received this book courtesy of Alita @ Alita.Reads for the Book Blogger Holiday Swap.  I read it in one night and I laughed out loud the whole way through.  It is easy to see how Kaling was chosen to be a writer for “The Office”.  She is funny, sarcastic, and seems like the girl-next-door.  There were so many times that I found myself nodding in agreement to what was written on the page.  Why do  boys take so long to put on their shoes?  Will Ferell shooting himself with a tranquilizer dart in “Old School” was  comedic gold!

She talks about being a teenager and trying to make it in comedy, but without the “woe is me” attitude that comes across in other biographies.  She hasn’t done a stint in rehab, she hasn’t had any illicit affairs, or been slapped with a DUI…she was a good girl who went to college and worked hard to get where she is.  Kaling could be one of your friends who just happens to be on TV.  I could totally relate to her experience with friend groups in high school, her love of designer fashion, and taking pics with your phone to make sure your makeup/hair/clothes look alright.

I would say this book is second only to Chelsea Handler’s   books in making me laugh out loud.  If you are looking for a funny book for someone this holiday season, this is it.  I would say this is a Must Read.  So thanks again to my Secret Santa for the lovely gift!

That Just Happened!

I just finished “Artemis Fowl: The Atlantis Complex” by Eoin Colfer and it was awesome!  I love the Artemis Fowl series.  They are fast reads, full of adventure and move along at a fast pace.  I also love the character Artemis Fowl because he is a child genius with a penchant for suits and a dark, sarcastic wit.  It was the perfect book to end the Read-A-Thon with.

Yes, my lovelies, it is time I called it a night.  Next time I participate I am going to try to clear my schedule for the following day so that I can actually stay up until the end.  I will be writing a summary post tomorrow (right now my brain is mush) and I will have the final tallies.

Thank you to all the cheerleaders who left comments, the hosts of the mini-challenges, and the brave souls who actually host this challenge.  Good luck to those still reading and toughing out those final hours.  This has been an epic first time and I look forward to participating again.  So the time has come for…

The End.

That Just Happened!