Great Sky Woman

Title: Great Sky Woman
Author: Steven Barnes
2009
Began Reading: 09/10/2009
Ended Reading:

Format: CD







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Fortunate Son

Title: Fortunate Son
Author: Walter Mosley
2006
Began Reading: 8/29/2009
Ended Reading: 9/10/2009

Format:





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The Ascent of Money

Title: The Ascent of Money
Author: Niall Ferguson
2008
Began Reading: 08/18/2009
Ended Reading: 08/29/2009

Format: CD





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Because They Hate

Title: Because They Hate
Author: Brigitte Gabriel
2006
Began Reading: 8/10/2009
Ended Reading: 8/16/2009

Format: CD





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The Constant Princess

Title: The Constant Princess
Author: Philippa Gregory
2006
Began Reading: 8/3/2009
Ended Reading:

Format: CD





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Don't Ever Tell

Title: Don't Ever Tell
Author: Brandon Massey
2008
Began Reading: 8/2/2009
Ended Reading:

Format: CD




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Are You There Vodka, It's Me Chelsea

Title: Are You There Vodka, It's Me Chelsea 3.5 / 5
Author: Chelsea Handler
2008
Began Reading: 7/29/2009
Ended Reading: 8/2/2009

Format: CD






I have a hard times reading humorous books. The jokes fall flat or they do not translate to the written word well. A good example of that would Stephen Colbert’s. I am America and So Can You. The book, at least in audio format was horrible. The subject matter had the potential to be through the roof funny. Stephen’s alter ego is a Bill O’Reilly of sorts, right down to the way BO holds his pen and gets that serious I’m looking out for you impression. The look that makes me turn the channel everytime he comes on because he seems so insincere.

Chelsea Handler, unlike Colbert was through the roof funny. I know, I know. You can’t compare a quasi political book and a comedic memoir. But it is just the handling of the story. I thought Handler was funny because her stories were so outrageously stupid. The time she told classmates she was going to be in a Goldie Hawn movie, or when she did time in a women’s jail for drunk driving. Her boyfriends alleged affair with a cockapoo. This girl is hilarious. She can’t make this stuff up. Then again, she probably did.

Then there’s her voice. Most comedians with dry humor, witty humor win me over almost immediately. Her voice was so dry and sarcastic it made the book that much more funny. Her voice was part valley, part liar, part asshole.

Now for the social commentary part of this book. Handler is Jewish and there seems to be a dearth of funny Jews right now. Old School would be the perv Woody Allen. Middle School would be Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld. New School would be Adam Sandler, Director Judd Apatow and actor Seth Rogan. Handler has the tradition of being a neurotic Jew. The kind Woody Allen made famous and Larry David does so well. It must be something in the water because most Jewish comedians are laugh out loud funny to me.

I enjoyed Chelsea Handler’s little silly book. I understand she has at least one other book out there. It is called My Horizontal Life. I am hoping HL is as funny as Vodka.