Review: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman

 

“We have groundbreakingly divided this searing examination of a relationship between two human beings into chapters with different subject matters and headings. It’s an oral history presented to you in an organized yet playful fashion, dotted here and there with photography and cute drawings.”

At last, the full story behind Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman’s epic romance, including stories, portraits, and the occasional puzzle, all telling the smoldering tale that has fascinated Hollywood for over a decade. 

The year: 2000. The setting: Los Angeles. A gorgeous virtuoso of an actress had agreed to star in a random play, and a basement-dwelling scenic carpenter had said he would assay a supporting role in the selfsame pageant. At the first rehearsal, she surveyed her fellow cast members, as one does, determining if any of the men might qualify to provide her with a satisfying fling. Her gaze fell upon the carpenter, and like a bolt of lightning, the thought struck her: No dice. Moving on.

Yet, unbeknownst to our protagonists, Cupid had merely set down his bow and picked up a rocket launcher. Then fired a love rocket (not a euphemism). The players were Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman, and the resulting romance, once it ignited, was . . . epic. Beyond epic. It resulted in a coupling that has endured to this day; a sizzling, perpetual tryst that has captivated the world with its kindness, athleticism, astonishingly low-brow humor, and true (fire emoji) passion.

How did they do it? They came from completely different families, endured a significant age difference, and were separated by the gulf of several social strata. Megan loved books and art history; Nick loved hammers. But much more than these seemingly unsurpassable obstacles were the values they held in common: respect, decency, the ability to mention genitalia in almost any context, and an abiding obsession with the songs of Tom Waits.

Eighteen years later, they’re still very much in love, and have finally decided to reveal the philosophical mountains they have conquered, the lessons they’ve learned, and the myriad jigsaw puzzles they’ve completed, in a book. Featuring anecdotes, hijinks, interviews, photos, and a veritable grab bag of tomfoolery, this is not only the intoxicating book that Mullally’s and Offerman’s fans have been waiting for, it might just hold the solution to the greatest threat facing our modern world: the single life.

I’ve always been the type to be reluctant with any non-fiction in general, but memoirs and autobiographies especially. But when I saw this was a book, and then heard about the audiobook, I had to read it/listen to it! I think it might be the book that changes my mind on non-fiction. I LOVED this audiobook SO. MUCH. Nick and Megan are so truly in love and are so darn funny. I listened to it in my car on my way to work and I would find myself hysterically laughing (like a crazy person to other drivers I’m sure). I love the set up with the book, and it feels as though you are having a conversation with both of them. It was so interesting to hear about both of their lives, and how their careers have come to be. LOVED THIS BOOK. I recommend it to everyone.

 

Review: Breathe My Name by R.A. Nelson

“I need to see you. Please come right away.
We have to finish.”

Frances Robinson is in high school now. She lives a quiet, suburban life, far from her horrifying past. When she was a child, her birthmother smothered her three sisters. Through pure luck, Frances survived. Now her mother has just been released from prison . . . and she wants to see Frances.

A new boy at school called Nix charms Frances. Together, Nix and Frances embark on a clandestine journey to visit Frances’ mother: to confront the monster in its lair. This trip will help Frances at last find peace or die trying? But no matter what, Frances will discover just what it means to finish.

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I picked up this book and knew it was going to be a good one. The story is like none I have ever read before. The original idea of the story is what drew me to want to read this book. A mother who had killed her own children? The one that survived? Intriguing! I love Frances and her parents, the Robinsons. I found myself not wanting to put this book down. I really like the relationship between Frances and Nix. Although Nix did seem a little unrealistic. I really liked the way in which Nelson handled this storyline, and the tragedy it focused on. Overall, this book is definitely one that I’d recommend for anyone to read on a summer day.

Guest Review-Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley

*This guest review was written by the amazing Maria with RelentlessReading*

“For eighteen years I’ve believed what other people told me about what was right and what was wrong. From now. I’m deciding”

It’s 1959. The battle for civil rights is raging. And it’s Sarah Dunbar’s first day of school, as one of the first black students at the previously all-white Jefferson High. No one wants Sarah there. Not the Governor. Not the teachers. And certainly not the students – especially Linda Hairston, daughter of the town’s most ardent segregationist. Sarah and Linda have every reason to despise each other. But as a school project forces them to spend time together, the less their differences seem to matter. And Sarah and Linda start to feel something they’ve never felt before. Something they’re both determined ignore. Because it’s one thing to be frightened by the world around you – and another thing altogether when you’re terrified of what you feel inside.

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Y’know the type of books that are, in simple terms, more than books? The books you never really put down, even though the physical copy mightn’t be in your hands anymore; the characters who don’t feel like characters but real people, real friends of yours, telling you the story of their life. The characters whom you love equally as much as you could love any real person, and whom you miss and worry about constantly whenever you’re not with them. The books you don’t just read, but live in; the books that entirely take over your life, whilst you’re reading it and for long afterwards.

“Lies We Tell Ourselves” is one of those books.

“Lies We Tell Ourselves” can teach you more about the past than any history book ever could – not because it tells you the facts, but because it tells you much more than that. It teaches us about not only what happened, but, more importantly, how it felt to those involved – and, for once, not the white people involved, but the black people. Those who were truly victimized, not those who have the habit of playing the victim. The terror and pain experienced by Sarah beams from the pages. At times it felt not as though I were reading about her, but as though I were her; I could feel every ounce of shame, every once of anger, all the humiliation she experienced. Books like “Lies We Tell Ourselves” are of huge value in today’s society, because they allow people like me – white, privileged people to gain a better understanding of both institutionalized and societal racism, not only in the past but also nowadays.

Which leads me onto the topic of representation. There’s no doubt about the fact that, although recently a greater emphasis is being placed on diversity in YA books, authors and publishers still have a long way to go. “Lies We Tell Ourselves” is a perfect example of what we mean when we say we want better representation in novels. First of all, it doesn’t treat minorities like individual blocks; it shows that, more often than not, minorities intertwine. Many authors seem to not realize that a person can belong to more than just one minority. LGBT+ or POC protagonists are a rare occurrence in YA books, but what’s even rarer than that is an LGBT+ and POC protagonist; I was really excited to finally find a book that contains such a main character.

Another problem I have with many “LGBT+ books” is that they focus mostly on the fact that the character is LGBT+. We don’t want books about LGBT+ characters; we want books with LGBT+ characters, and “Lies We Tell Ourselves” is exactly that. Of course, coming to terms with one’s sexuality is a major aspect of the novel, but it is not the only aspect. There’s more to the plot and to Linda and Sarah than solely how they feel towards one another.

I could talk for long about all the things about “Lies We Tell Ourselves” that I adored, but in summary it can all be brought down to one sentence: I couldn’t find a fault in the book if I tried. It’s gripping, unique, and impossible to put down. The characters are original and intriguing; the character development is perfect. The book is educative, but not the text-book type of educative; it teaches facts through fiction, it tells us about the past (and present) without bringing it down to solely names, dates, and places. In simple terms, it has all the ingredients of the perfect novel.

Without a doubt, “Lies We Tell Ourselves” is among the top five books I’ve read this year, and a new addition to my list of all-time favourites. It’s definitely a novel I will be recommending to all.

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THANKS to Maria for sharing this review! Go check out her blog!

Review: The Giver by Lois Lowry

“The worst part of holding the memories is not the pain. It’s the loneliness of it. Memories need to be shared.”

Jonas’s world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

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This is a type of book that really makes you sit down and think. I really enjoyed it! To be honest, I started to read it and wanted to get it done because the movie will be coming out soon, but it’s always been on my “reading bucket list.” It’s a super quick read and reminds me of a lot of other dystopians. I did not get the feeling that this was a book written awhile ago. Overall, I enjoyed the read, the characters, and the story. I would recommend this book to those who love dystopians.

Review: Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

“There were plenty of ways to hurt someone without using your fists.”

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.
The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.
There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don’t come back.
Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.
Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.
That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings—the only boy Ember has ever loved.

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This was a really good book. I found that I honestly wanted the main character to succeed. Ember could get annoying at points, but I have never been in the position she was in, in this novel so I don’t know how I would react. It had the perfect amount of background on the story, without that taking over the whole plot of the book. I can’t seem to tear myself away from the dystopian genre, and that’s ok because I was able to read this great book! I like the relationship Ember has with her mom, and how she doesn’t just stay a static character. She grows! I got some Delirium feelings, but I feel like the bad guys in this book are just straight up bad and don’t care who knows it. Overall, a great read, and I will be finishing the series as soon as I can.

Review: Eleanor and Park

“Holding Eleanor’s hand was like holding a butterfly. Or a heartbeat. Like holding something complete, and completely alive.”

Two misfits.
One extraordinary love.

Eleanor… Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough…Eleanor.

Park… He knows she’ll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There’s a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises…Park.

Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.

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I was really surprised with my reaction to Eleanor and Park. I stayed up all night reading Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl but with this book I just couldn’t get that same feeling. I loved both the main characters, but I felt like I was reading two different story lines in one book. Eleanor’s home life is horrible, but we don’t ever get closure with her family. I felt like I was screaming at the decisions she was making in regards to her school, home, and romantic life with Park. I also noticed that it felt extremely rushed or something in the end. All of Eleanor’s relationships were just ended and I couldn’t understand why she was acting the way she was. Overall, I loved the connection both her and Park felt with each other, but the ending left a bad taste in my mouth. Sorry Rainbow.

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

“You’re mistaking bitter animosity for heartfelt affection.”

Mara Dyer believes life can’t get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her strangely unharmed.
There is.

She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love.
She’s wrong.

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Mara Dyer… I’ve heard so much about you, and I’m glad I was finally able to get my hands on this book. For parts of this novel I was very confused, but it all made sense in order to lead into the next book. I would not say that this book is a “thinker” book but it was good just to get lost in the story. I feel like the next books in the series will have more thinking parts. A lot of this book felt like it’s sole purpose was to lead in to the next book. I liked the characters, although the banter between Mara and her mom gets repetitive and exhausting at times. Give this one and chance and let me know what you think.

Review: All The Bright Places

“You are all the colors in one, at full brightness.”

Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.

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I had to give myself a week before writing up a proper review for this book. I think sometimes in life we find something that makes an impact on our life, and one of those things for me was All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. I felt very connected with the characters, and I read this in one sitting. Now, this isn’t to mean that it was just a quick read. It was an amazing read. Finch is a character that stays with you for the long haul, and Violet is just as remarkable (see what I did there?). The subject may be a heavy one, but Jennifer handles it beautifully. I would suggest this book to anyone, especially young adults.

Review: Not Today, But Someday

“There’s not protocol for falling in love with someone. There’s no game plan to tell you when it’s appropriate to do certain things, say other things.”

Emi is heartbroken. She’s always believed in love, but what happens when she discovers her father is cheating on her mother. Emi must move schools. At her new school, she meets Nate. They develop a friendship that can stand the test of time.

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This is a prequel for a series but can be enjoyed before or after. I stumbled upon this book from BookBub and it was free for my nook. It was so good! And even though it was a novella, I found myself not being able to stop reading and staying up late to finish it! I can’t wait to continue on with the series! I absolutely loved the relationship between the characters, especially between minor characters as well. Would recommend to everyone, especially YA.

Review: The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

“I want to sleep, I want dreams to pull me from this world and make me forget. To stop the memories from swirling around me. To put an end to this ache that consumes me.”

In Mary’s world there are simple truths.
The Sisterhood always knows best.
The Guardians will protect and serve.
The Unconsecrated will never relent.
And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.
But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power. And, when the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness.
Now, she must choose between her village and her future, between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

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Have you ever had an experience with a book, where you just wish you could forget about it and re-read it just so you can get the first time reading feeling/experience again? Yeah that happened for me with this book.
I enjoyed this book and could barely put it down. I connected with the characters and I loved the fresh feel Carrie gave to zombies (Unconsecrated). Mary! Oh how I went through so many emotions with Mary! I would probably be exactly like her if I were in her situation, yet throughout reading this book I thought I would make different choices. Jed got on my nerves at first but redeemed himself. TRAVIS! HARRY! I wanted so bad for her to be able to live with them both. I didn’t have too good of feelings towards Cass but I got over that.
Overall, this book is fabulous and amazing. I suggest it to everyone, I’m so lucky I stumbled across this gem of a book.
(Only thing, beware of a cliffhanger)