Category: Reviews-Harper Collins Canada

(Review) Sh*t My Dad Says

Posted on by Cindy


TITLE: Sh*t My Dad Says
AUTHOR: Justin Halpern
PUB DATE: April 26/10
PUBLISHER: Harper Collins
PAGES: 158
SOURCE: This was a borrowed book from the library.

ABOUT THE BOOK

After being dumped by his longtime girlfriend, twenty-eight-year-old Justin Halpern found himself living at home with his seventy-three-year-old dad. Sam Halpern, who is “like Socrates, but angrier, and with worse hair,” has never minced words, and when Justin moved back home, he began to record all the ridiculous things his dad said to him:

“That woman was sexy. . . . Out of your league? Son, let women figure out why they won’t screw you. Don’t do it for them.”

“Do people your age know how to comb their hair? It looks like two squirrels crawled on their heads and started f——.”

“The worst thing you can be is a liar. . . . Okay, fine, yes, the worst thing you can be is a Nazi, but then number two is liar. Nazi one, liar two.”

More than a million people now follow Mr. Halpern’s philosophical musings on Twitter, and in this book, his son weaves a brilliantly funny, touching coming-of-age memoir around the best of his quotes. An all-American story that unfolds on the Little League field, in Denny’s, during excruciating family road trips, and, most frequently, in the Halperns’ kitchen over bowls of Grape-Nuts, Sh*t My Dad Says is a chaotic, hilarious, true portrait of a father-son relationship from a major new comic voice.

If you would like to read the first chapter you can do so by clicking on this link

MY THOUGHTS:
When I first heard this story one day on the news I quickly had to check out www.twitter.com/ShitMyDadSays . I think I ended up sitting at my computer laughing at some of the things Justin’s dad had said.

I am anxious to see how this will play on in the fall when Sh*t My Dad Says comes on tv. Is anyone else going to watch this?

Anyways back to my review of the book. I have to say that some of the things Justin’s dad said was pretty funny and I sat laughing out loud. This was a pretty quick and easy read.

Each chapter offers a title and a mini story about said title. At the end of each chapter is a bunch of quotes from his dad. To pick a favorite title is hard as I enjoyed them all but I will give you a few of my favorite sayings.

On Tailgating the Driver in Front of Me
“You sure do like to tailgate people…Right, because its real important you show up to the nothing you have to do on time.”

On Videotaping Christmas Mornimg
“Okay, smile when you open your presents…No smile and look at the camera, dum-dum.”

On Child Safety
“Don’t touch that knife, you never need to be holding a knife…I don’t give a sh*t, learn how to butter stuff with a spoon.”

On Summer Vacation
“Watching tv all day is not an option. If this were Let’s Make a Deal that would not be behind one of those doors to choose from.”

As you can see I was being very selective in what I was putting here because of the language. If this kind of lanuage offends you then this is not the book for you as its used alot in the book. If your like me and it doesn’t bother you then pick up this book. I am sure you will be laughing out loud.

This was a funny quick read book that I enjoyed reading.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Spin Review

Posted on by Cindy

TITLE: Spin
AUTHOR: Catherine McKenzie
PUB DATE: January 9, 2010
PAGES: 419

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Katie Sandford has just gotten an interview at her favourite music magazine, The Line. It’s the chance of a lifetime. So what does she do? Goes out to celebrate — and shows up still drunk at the interview. No surprise, she doesn’t get the job, but the folks at The Line think she might be perfect for another assignment for their sister gossip rag. All Katie has to do is follow It Girl Amber Sheppard into rehab. If she can get the inside scoop (and complete the 30-day program without getting kicked out), they’ll reconsider her for the job at The Line.

Katie takes the job. But things get complicated when real friendships develop, a cute celebrity handler named Henry gets involved, and Katie begins to realize she may be in rehab for a reason. Katie has to make a decision — is publishing the article worth everything she has to lose?

MY THOUGHTS:

The only way I can describe Katie in this book is a train wreak happening. She might not want to really admit it but she has a drinking problem and it causes alot of problems for her that she really isn’t aware of or wants to admit to.

She finally gets the interview for her dream job to write for The Line. She has wanted to write for them for a long time but she manages to basically manages to screw that up by showing up to the interview late and drunk. Which of course is never a good thing.

Katie is afraid to face reality with herself and everyone around her. She is a party girl who has yet to really grow up and is going around lying about her age. She hangs around university kids so that she can feel like she fits in while her friends that her age are out making a real life for themselves and working.

A few days later Katie gets another call from another boss at The Line called Bob. He is offering Katie another job with the company but its for the gossip magazine and promises her that if she does good on this job then he will hire her to work at The Line. Her job will to go to rehab as a patient and spy on IT Girl, Amber Sheppard. She is the hottest thing in Hollywood. She agrees because she will do anything to work for The Line.

At first Katie goes with the flow and takes it as it is, not really taking in the rehab. She is there to do a job and doesn’t feel she has a problem. As time goes by Katie begins to see it and admits she does have a problem. She finds herself friends with Amber and admits that she likes her.

Things are good while they both are in rehab until they are released and Bob informs Katie she has an article to write. Katie is stick if she doesn’t submit this article she can be sued and if she does submit the article she looses her friendship with Amber. What is Katie to do? Will she risk it all?

I have to say that I really enjoyed reading the book. Luanne from http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.com/2010/01/spin-catherine-mckenzie.html describes this book like a bag of patoto chips and I have to agree. For it me it was like a accident waiting to happen and I had to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. It was addictive.

This is Catherine’s debut novel and her second book is coming out in 2011.

If you are interested in checking this book out before you buy use this link and it will allow you to access up to 20% of SPIN. The Browse Inside link is http://browseinside.harpercollins.ca/index.aspx?isbn13=9781554687589

This book was provided for review by Harper Collins Canada.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

I am Neurotic (and so are you) Review

Posted on by Cindy

TITLE: I am Neurotic (and so are you)
AUTHOR: Lianna Kong
PUB DATE: May 2009

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Based on the popular, hilarious website of the same name, I am Neurotic is a smorgasbord of anonymous confessions and wacky photographs that reveal people’s deepest neuroses. Author Lianna Kong has collected the best neuroses from the blog, as well as previously unreleased submissions, demonstrating how neurotic behavior is highly amusing, shocking at times, and ultimately a great human equalizer.

Did you wash your hands?
Set the alarm clock?
Lock the front door?

Better yet: Do you like even numbers? Do you fold all of your trash neatly into squares? Do you count steps? Do you carry a bottle of hand sanitizer with you at all times? Everyone has his or her own neuroses. On a routine trip to the office bathroom, Lianna Kong discovered one of hers: “How could I possibly pee with my coworker sitting right next to me doing her business?” And, in that quiet moment of panic, iamneurotic.com was born.

i am neurotic (and so are you) is a smorgasbord of anonymous confessions that reveal people’s deepest, strangest, and funniest compulsions—quirks that are triggered in the boardroom, the bedroom, and everywhere in between.

MY THOUGHTS:

I had to laugh when I received this book as it came with a travel sized bottle of Purell. Which I have to admit has come in handy recently with H1N1 and flu season upon us.

I have to say I loved this book. Its filled with annonymous confessions of real life people. There is photos to accompany each confession and that was done by Matthew Stacey.

Admit it we all have some strange and funny and perhaps weird quirks we do in our daily lives? I know I do and you might be surprised to know some of mine. As I was going through this very quick read/book I realized that others do share them with me or at least one other person in this world.

Here are some of my quirks, what are yours? Do you share the same ones?

-I have a think about numbers that has to end in zero. Mainly when I am pumping gas. If it stops at $38.45 I continue to pump until its at $40.00

-I wait until right before i got out the door before putting on my pants and then as soon as I get home I take them off because I can’t get comfortable lounging with them. Needless to say I wear pj bottoms all the time.

-Everytime I go into the bathroom and the shower curtain is closed I have to punch it to make sure no one is behind it.

-I can’t fall asleep if my closet door is open even if its a little bit. I feel as though I am being watched.

-When I mail letters in the mailbox I have to check it at least 3-4 times before walking away from it.

-If I eat smarties or M&Ms I always have to check the color before I eat it and no I don’t eat the red ones last.

Those are just a few of mine that are similiar to the book.

The book is divided into ten sections. All the annonymous confessions are grouped according the the title. Some of the section titles are: can’t touch this, wiped, law and order, jedi mind tricks and it’s not you, it’s me.

If you are neurotic or know someone who is this would make a great book to give them. It was funny and entertaining to read them.

You can also check out the website at www.iamneurotic.com

To see the photographers site you can see it at www.matthewstacey.com

This book was provided for review by Harper Studio (Harper Collins). Thank you for sending me this great book to read and review. I really enjoyed it.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Review: Remembering The Bones

Posted on by Cindy

TITLE: Remembering The Bones
AUTHOR: Frances Itani
DATE: December 2007

We are introduced to Georgie Danforth Whitley. She is a Canadian widow. Her Husband passed away 3 years ago. Georgie is getting ready to go to London, England. She has been invited to London for a celebratory luncheon honoring Queen Elizabeth’s 80th birthday. She shares the same birthday with the Queen. She is one of 99 commoners who have been invited. We discover that Georgie is fascinated with the Queen. (BTW most Canadians are fascinated with the royal family.) Through all Georgies careful planning she will not make it to the palace this time.

On the way to the local airport Georgie gets distracted and her car slips off the road, through the guard rail and flips twice down the hillside. Georgie is thrown from the car into the brush. There is no visible sign from the road that an accident ever occured.

Georgie is alone and helpless. When she was a little girl she dicovered her grandfathers 1901 Edition of Grays Anatomy. She memorized all the bones in a human body. Which you will discover that after the first chapter all the other chapters in the book are named after bones in the body. Each bone tells a story from her past.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.

Review: Summer Blowout

Posted on by Cindy

TITLE: SUMMER BLOWOUT
AUTHOR: CLAIRE COOK
DATE: JUNE 2008 (ARC)

Summer Blowout by Claire Cook is the authors 5th book. This book is very lite and is a very quick read. This is a great summer book. I would say its chick lit.

The main character is Bella. She is a divorced make up artist/hair stylist. She is working in the family business with her father and siblings. She is obsessed with lipstick. “Lipstick is my drug of choice”.

We find out during the story that Bella’s life revovles around the family business. This family seems like a happy family but we discover that is not all that it appears to be. Her father has been married 3x already. Her brother Mario is gay and committed to his partner Todd.

Bella’s marriage is over and she is divorced. She founds out after he left that her half sister Sophie was involved with her then husband. Bella is bitter towards them both. She has thrown things at her ex’s car and doesn’t speak to her sister. Bella has sworn of men and relationships.

Bella thinks that she can be happy on her own with no man. Then by accident a little dog left in her care makes Bella realizes that love is worth taking risks for. Then during one of the make up demos she meets a young, handsome entrepeneur named Sean. Sean tells Bella that she has a talent as a make up artist and how she can make a name for herself selling make up kits.

Bella’s interest in Sean starts to grow. She tries to keep her distance with him and to keep it proffessional. That changes after a crazy family wedding in Atlanta when Bella realizes that its okay to move on.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.