Tag: nonfiction

Book Talk (rerun): *Bossypants*, by Tina Fey
March 21, 2012 reading

Book Talk (rerun): *Bossypants*, by Tina Fey

This review was originally posted in July 2011. I’m re-running it as part of my feature on the 2011 Indie Lit Awards Short List (Biography/Memoir) this week.  (Have you entered my Blogiversary Giveaway?) Bossypants Tina Fey read by the author Reagan Arthur Books (2011),  Hardcover (ISBN 9780316056861 / 0316056863) (Audio edition 1609419693 / 9781609419691) Memoir/essays, 288 pages Source: Purchased audiobook Reason for reading: Personal Book description, from the publisher’s website: “Before Liz Lemon, before ‘Weekend Update,’ before ‘Sarah Palin,’ […]

Book Talk: *Tolstoy and the Purple Chair*, by Nina Sankovitch
March 20, 2012 reading

Book Talk: *Tolstoy and the Purple Chair*, by Nina Sankovitch

This week and next, I’ll be posting my reviews of the Indie Lit Awards Biography/Memoir short list, working my way up to the top two. (Also: Have you entered my Blogiversary Giveaway?) Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading Nina Sankovitch (Facebook) (Twitter) Harper Perennial (2012), Paperback (ISBN 0061999857 / 9780061999857) Nonfiction (memoir/books), 256 pages Source: Purchased e-book (Kindle) (ASIN B004MMEIWI) Reason for reading: Indie Lit Awards Short List (Biography/Memoir), E-Book Reading Challenge […]

Book Talk: *I Pray Hardest When I’m Being Shot At*, by Kyle Garret
March 19, 2012 reading

Book Talk: *I Pray Hardest When I’m Being Shot At*, by Kyle Garret

This week and next, I’ll be posting my reviews of the Indie Lit Awards Biography/Memoir short list, working my way up to the top two. (Also—Have you entered my Blogiversary Giveaway?) I Pray Hardest When I’m Being Shot At Kyle Garret (book website) Hellgate Press (2011), Paperback original (ISBN 1555716865 / 9781555716868) Nonfiction (biography/memoir), 200 pages Source: publisher Reason for reading: Indie Lit Awards Short List (Biography/Memoir), Memorable Memoirs Reading Challenge Opening lines: “This is a […]

Book Talk: *Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis*, by Lauren Winner (Shelf Awareness review)
February 7, 2012 reading

Book Talk: *Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis*, by Lauren Winner (Shelf Awareness review)

Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis Lauren Winner HarperOne, 2012 (January 31) hardcover (ISBN 0061768111 / 9780061768118) Nonfiction/memoir/spirituality, 272 pages A version of this review was originally published in Shelf Awareness, Readers’ Edition (January 31, 2012); SA’s editors provided compensation and a galley of the book. The cover image links to IndieBound.org. I am an IndieBound affiliate. Lauren Winner told the story of her conversion from Judaism to Christianity in her first memoir, 2002’s Girl […]

Book Talk: *A Thousand Lives*, by Julia Scheeres
February 2, 2012 reading

Book Talk: *A Thousand Lives*, by Julia Scheeres

A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Faith, Deception, and Survival at Jonestown Julia ScheeresFree Press (2011), Hardcover, 320 pages (ISBN 1416596399 / 9781416596394)Nonfiction/history, 320 pagesSource: ARC from publisher (published October 2011)Reason for reading: personal Opening lines (from the Introduction): “Had I walked by 1859 Geary Boulevard in San Francisco when Peoples Temple was in full swing, I certainly would have been drawn to the doorway…I would have been thrilled and amazed by Peoples Temple, […]

Shelf Awareness (Audio)Book Talk: *Just Kids*, by Patti Smith
December 5, 2011 reading

Shelf Awareness (Audio)Book Talk: *Just Kids*, by Patti Smith

This is a compensated review originally written for Shelf Awareness for Readers, which did not publish it. It is posted here with permission. I have a personal copy of this book, but hadn’t yet read it when I was offered the audiobook for review. Just Kids Patti Smith HarperAudio (July 2011), unabridged audio CD (ISBN 9780062109385) Memoir, 9 CDs Just Kids, Patti Smith’s memoir of her friendship with Robert Mapplethorpe, which began with a random […]

(Audio)Book Talk: *Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?* by Mindy Kaling
November 29, 2011 reading

(Audio)Book Talk: *Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?* by Mindy Kaling

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) Mindy Kaling (Facebook) (Twitter) (Tumblr) Crown Archetype (2011), Hardcover (ISBN 0307886263 / 9780307886262) (audio edition ISBN 9780307939807) Nonfiction/essays/memoir, 240 pages Source: Purchased audiobook (Audible.com) Reason for reading: Personal Book description, from the publisher’s website: 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 […]

Book Talk: *The Heroine’s Bookshelf*, by Erin Blakemore (TLC Book Tour)
November 22, 2011 reading

Book Talk: *The Heroine’s Bookshelf*, by Erin Blakemore (TLC Book Tour)

The Heroine’s Bookshelf: Life Lessons, from Jane Austen to Laura Ingalls Wilder Erin Blakemore (Facebook) (Twitter) (Blog) Harper (2010), Hardcover (ISBN 006195876X / 9780061958762) Nonfiction/literary criticism/biography, 224 pages Source: personal copy Reason for reading: Participation in TLC Book Tour to support the paperback release* Opening lines (from the Introduction): “In times of struggle, there are as many reasons not to read as there are to breathe. Don’t you have better things to do? Reading, let alone […]

(Audio)Book Talk: *Born Standing Up*, by Steve Martin
November 21, 2011 reading

(Audio)Book Talk: *Born Standing Up*, by Steve Martin

Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life Steve Martin (Twitter) read by the author Scribner (2008), Paperback (ISBN 1416553657 / 9781416553656) (audio edition ISBN 0743569725 / 9780743569729) Memoir, 208 pages Source: purchased audiobook (Audible.com) Reason for reading: Personal Book description, from the publisher’s website: In the midseventies, Steve Martin exploded onto the comedy scene. By 1978 he was the biggest concert draw in the history of stand-up. In 1981 he quit forever. This book is, in […]

Sunday Salon: Some Words From My Reading of *The CHICKtionary*
November 13, 2011 reading

Sunday Salon: Some Words From My Reading of *The CHICKtionary*

It’s subtitled “From A-Line to Z-Snap, The Words Every Woman Should Know,” but if any guys make it past the bright pink cover, they’ll get some unexpected insights into the modern woman. (If you’re brave enough to go there, please use your new-found knowledge wisely, gentlemen.) As for the women, you’ll find “over 450 words you can’t live without”–true, because you probably don’t, although you use some more frequently than others–in The CHICKtionary by Anna […]

Stick Around, Reader: My Favorite (Blogging) Mistakes
November 10, 2011 reading

Stick Around, Reader: My Favorite (Blogging) Mistakes

This post is inspired by Sticky Readers: How to Attract a Loyal Blog Audience by Writing More Better, by Margaret Andrews. I was given a signed copy of this book by the author with no obligation to blog about it. Quotes are used with permission. All opinions are my own. Buy links are provided for readers’ convenience; I have no affiliation with any of the retailers listed. As I just said, I “was given” a […]

Stick Around, Reader: What Makes You Stay?
November 8, 2011 reading

Stick Around, Reader: What Makes You Stay?

This post is inspired by Sticky Readers: How to Attract a Loyal Blog Audience by Writing More Better, by Margaret Andrews. I was given a signed copy of this book by the author with no obligation to blog about it. Quotes are used with permission. All opinions are my own. Buy links are provided for readers’ convenience; I have no affiliation with any of the retailers listed. A blogger can find plenty of information about […]