So You're a Little Sad, So What?: Nice Things to Say to Yourself on Bad Days and Other Essays, by Alicia Tobin (Amazon / Book Depository) Alicia Tobin is a comedian and podcaster based in Vancouver. In her first but decidedly polished essay collection, she writes about self-esteem, bad boyfriends, working in retail and as... Continue Reading →
The First Book from The Last Podcast on the Left
The Last Book on the Left: Stories of Murder and Mayhem from History's Most Notorious Serial Killers (Amazon / Book Depository) Marcus Parks, Henry Zebrowski, and Ben Kissel of The Last Podcast on the Left, the long-running, make-you-laugh-til-you-cry comedy podcast covering stories of crime, the macabre and supernatural, conspiracy theories, alien abductions, high strangeness and general... Continue Reading →
More Funny Tales From the Quirky Life of John Hodgman
Book review: Medallion Status, by John Hodgman (Amazon / Book Depository) Comedian, author and podcaster John Hodgman's second memoir-in-essay collection, Medallion Status, is ostensibly built around his obsession with the loyalty program of the airline he calls "Beloved Airlines," and the travels, specifically for acting jobs, he's had in connection with earning those miles. It's... Continue Reading →
‘My Favorite Murder’ Dual Memoir Tackles Mental Health and Personal Issues with Humor
Book review: Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murdered, by Karen Kilgariff & Georgia Hardstark (Amazon / Book Depository) We have gone from living inside your headphones to pouring ourselves out onto the page like a couple of Edna St. Vincent Millays. There aren't many podcasts that become phenomenons, but My Favorite Murder, styled as true... Continue Reading →
Brave, Funny Takes on “Cultural Shifts” and Being an Outspoken Feminist Writer
Book review: Shrill, by Lindy West That period—when I was wholly myself, effortlessly certain, my identity still undistorted by the magnetic fields of culture—was so long ago that it’s beyond readily accessible memory. I do not recall being that person. Lindy West has written boldly and bluntly - but not actually shrilly - on all... Continue Reading →
Taming Agoraphobia, and One’s Twenties
Book review: Agorafabulous! by Sara Benincasa (Amazon / Book Depository) This day was different. This day I woke up, stared at the ceiling, and was gripped by the certain knowledge that, if I left the apartment, something terrible would happen. I did not know what the terrible event was, only that it would occur, and with a fury.... Continue Reading →
South African Roots and Apartheid’s Influence, with a Sense of Humor
Book review: Born a Crime, by Trevor Noah Amazon Where most children are proof of their parents’ love, I was the proof of their criminality. Apartheid is one of those subjects that I know embarrassingly little about beyond the basics. If you're in the same position, I highly recommend comedian and Daily Show host Trevor Noah's 2016... Continue Reading →
Surprisingly Moving Essays on Personal Strength, Humor, and Embracing Mistakes
Book review: The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo, by Amy Schumer I like Amy Schumer's comedy, but I'm not enough in love with it that her book was a priority when it came out nearly a year ago. Until I happened upon a review praising it as something much more meaningful than a reiteration of Schumer's... Continue Reading →
Shaking Up the Senate
Book review: Al Franken, Giant of the Senate, by Al Franken Al Franken would argue that, despite the title of his new book, he's not a giant of the Senate. That label is for the likes of Ted Kennedy and Mike Mansfield. But he certainly provides a lot of evidence in the book that argues... Continue Reading →
All About Eddie
Book review: Believe Me, by Eddie Izzard "I was a bit bonkers. But good bonkers. There is a difference." Eddie Izzard is a beloved British comedian, actor, activist and marathon runner. He's also known, for better or for worse, for being a proud transvestite. I say for better or for worse because as he explains in his... Continue Reading →
Lost is an OK State to Be In
Book review: All Over the Place, by Geraldine DeRuiter (Amazon / Book Depository) Geraldine deRuiter is the voice behind The Everywhereist, a funny, quirky travel blog. She started writing about her travels, and often her ineptitude in accomplishing them, after losing her job in the recession, thus freeing her up to accompany her husband, a workaholic SEO... Continue Reading →
Some Light Hollywood Trash-Talking
Book review: Kathy Griffin's Celebrity Run-Ins, by Kathy Griffin I love Kathy Griffin's standup. Sometimes if I'm feeling down, clips of her energetic, overexcited, judgmental storytelling work as a quick fix cheerer-upper. I haven't read her other book, Official Book Club Selection, which I think got positive reviews, but I started reading this one when I couldn't focus on... Continue Reading →