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!

Well, it’s official…I have completed my first novel thanks to NaNoWriMo.  It was a struggle, especially the last 10,000 words, and it was time consuming, but I finished.  (Three days early, no less).  I have no idea what I wrote and at times I had to go back and check things like, “how old was this guy?” and “what day did that happen?”.  One thing I know for sure is that when writing 50,000 words in 30 days, you can’t be too concerned about the small stuff.  That being said, I think the edit process is going to be interesting.

I’m sure there are those of you out there who would scoff at the goal of 50,000 words in 30 days.  “I write that all the time!” or “It’s not even a novel, really…more a novella.” Well I say pthhhht!  This is more about finishing something you’ve started and stop finding excuses for why you can’t write that novel you just know  you have in you.

Before I edit, I need a break.  I can’t even think about reading it.  (I’m a little sick of it, I must confess.  Plus, I hate horror stories).  I have a feeling I am a better consumer than producer, but we’ll see.  At the very least my family can be prevailed upon  guilted into read it.  It was tough, but will I be doing it again next year?  Probably!  I mean, I got a certificate and  MPW bought me the winners shirt, so…

That Just Happened!

Woohoo!  I have actually made it half way through the event!  And to commemorate this momentous occasion I get to answer a survey (and I love answering questions about myself, that’s for sure)!

1. What are you reading right now?  I am getting ready to start my next book: Drop Dead, Gorgeous by Mary Janice Davidson.
2. How many books have you read so far? This will be book #3

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? The one I am about to start.  I love Mary Janice Davidson’s books.  They are always a fun read.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? No special arrangements, but MPW has done a great job of getting me coffee and taking care of the dog.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? Not too many interruptions.  I think a lot of them have been planned into the day so I have had some strategic breaks.  Although, I am mid-way through a can of pop and I am on bathroom trip #2…

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? How much fun it is and how easy it is to read for two hours without noticing.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Not yet, but maybe as I go along.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? I would definitely have more of a schedule and I would get a better sleep the night before.

9. Are you getting tired yet?  A little tired of reading, but not tired yet.  I am more of a night person anyway, this morning was definitely harder.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered? No tips, per se, just thank you cheerleaders for taking the time to post, I like having a cheering section.  Wouldn’t it be nice if we could have one all the time.  “You showered in 10 minutes!  WTG!  Saving the environment FTW!”  and such.

Well, it’s back to reading now.  Thanks to all the followers who are going to have to sort through a plethora of posts tomorrow in their feed from me!

That Just Happened!