Wreck This Journal - The Beginning

Recently, Cindy from Cindy's Love of Books came up with a great idea. She purchased Keri Smith's Wreck This Journal and invited others to join her on a journey of journaling. Her original post about the book can be found here.

Having purchased the book some time ago, but not having really done that much with it, I decided to join Cindy and post about my journal-wrecking adventures.

Tune in on Sundays for updates.

Last Words by George Carlin with Tony Hendra

Last Words is the autobiography of George Carlin. With the help of his friend, Tony Hendra, George started writing his autobiography in 1993. When George died in June 2008 at the age of seventy-one, the book remained unpublished. Tony was left to finish the job and give us George's "last words".

I loved this sensational, well-written autobiography from the man who loved words. It starts off with a bang and remains interesting throughout. Tony Hendra provides an excellent introduction about how and when the book was written. The book then goes on to cover George's life: childhood, days in radio, comedy with Jack Burns, meeting Brenda (his wife), his on stage live performances and much more. Before I read the book, I really didn't know much about Carlin, but I suspect that the book doesn't hide much. It outlines his triumphs and failures, the drugs (his addiction), the alcohol (Brenda's addiction), the comedy, the arrests and the heart problems.

Each chapter is preceded by a photo. It was neat to see how George changed/aged over the years. The story also detailed the changes George experienced in his lifetime. As the world changed, he changed. As he changed, his comedic focus changed. While his comedy is not the whole focus of the book, fans will be glad to see that some of his more famous routines have been included (at least snippets of them anyway).

I was familiar with some of Carlin's earlier work ("Dirty Words", "Stuff"), but his later routines were new to me and surprised me a bit. I was particularly intrigued by his "The Planet is Fine" notions as well as his take on groups. Funny and thought provoking.

Favourite quotes:
On the way George and Patrick were raised by their mother:

The way Patrick [George's brother] puts it is concise: Mary wanted two Little Lord Fauntleroys. What she got was a pair of hardened dog turds. (page 45)

On his long hair:

...I always had long hair -- only I used to keep it inside my head.(page 141)

From one of his routines:

I got fired last year in Las Vegas for saying shit. In a town where the big game is called craps.(page 147)

On why his "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television" is one of his favourites:

...if for no other reason than the grief it caused people who deserve to have grief caused to them.(page 162)

On his responsibilities to his audience:

Get laughs, of course, dazzle them from time to time with form, craft, verbal fireworks, but above all engage their minds.(page 246)

Highly recommended. This book is a definite must read for fans. Those looking for a really good biography/memoir will also enjoy it.

For more information about this book or to browse inside, please visit the Simon and Schuster website.

For more information about George Carlin and his work, please visit George Carlin's website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at Simon and Schuster for this review copy.

Last Words by George Carlin, Free Press (Simon and Schuster), ©2009. ISBN 9781439172957(Hardcover), 344p.

Canada Also Reads - Time to Vote!

Way back on February 14, 2010, I posted about the Canada Also Reads competition sponsored by the National Post.

Now it's time to vote for your favourite. Click here to do that.

As I stated before, one of my all-time favourites is in the running: The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Buchanan. I just adored this book. Here's my review in case you missed it the first two times I posted it.

Don't just take my word for it. Tish Cohen (author of Inside Out Girl and Town House) is defending the book in the competition and has written some lovely things about it. Click here to see what she has to say. She's pretty convincing, eh?

I've already voted. Don't miss your chance to vote for your favourite.

Oh and good luck Cathy!

Simon's Cat by Simon Tofield

Simon's Cat is a collection of cartoons featuring Simon's cat, naturally.

The book is hilarious. If you have a cat or know a cat, you'll likely recognize many of these scenarios. Ok, so a few of them are slightly exaggerated, but only a little.

I'd never heard of Simon or his cat before this book made the rounds on the book blogs. I love cats as much as the next person (make that cat lover) so I figured it was going to be something I'd like. As it turns out it was especially good for me. Cats make me...make me...m..ACHOO! Even though I think they are the most fascinating domestic creatures, I can't have one in the house. Having this book around is almost like having a cat. I said, almost. There's definitely less hair (even though my hair seems to get everywhere, no cat hair means no sneezing), no scratched furniture, no litter box to clean, no disgusting cat food to scoop out. Hey wait a minute! This book is BETTER than having a cat around. ;) Just kidding. I love cats and this book.

I can't wait to follow Simon's Cat on YouTube.

Highly recommended.

For more information about this book, please visit the Hachette Book Group website.

For more information about the author, please visit The Official Simon's Cat Website.

I won this book over at A Sea of Books. Thanks Gwendolyn. I'd also like to thank those nice people at Hachette Book Group for sponsoring the giveaway.

Simon's Cat by Simon Tofield, Grand Central Publishing, ©2009. ISBN 9780446560061(Paperback), 240p.

Estate of Mind by Tamar Myers

In Estate of Mind: A Den of Antiquity Mystery, Abigail Timberlake buys a crude rendition of Van Gogh's The Starry Night at an auction. While she thinks the painting is worthless, the frame might be salvageable. When she gets home, though, she discovers a hidden masterpiece beneath the painting; a lost treasure called Field of Thistles also by Van Gogh. Others must know or suspect what's going on because suddenly people pour out of the woodwork to lay claim to the painting. When scandal and deaths follow, Abigail has her hands full uncovering the secrets and determining the truth.

This was such a fun read and a welcome break from some meatier and emotional books I've been reading. I love cozy mysteries but they generally get left on my bookshelf because I've got a ton of other books to read. Note to self: I must read more cozy mysteries.

Anyway, this book is part of a series, but it can definitely enjoyed as a standalone book. Myers has a healthy sense of humour and uses it liberally in this book. She uses her knowledge about antiques (she's a collector) to inject authenticity into the story. I found it fascinating. All in all, the book is quick and easy to read with eccentric, likeable characters.

I've read a few books by Myers and while I love them, I'm still not wild about her sometimes overuse of the word "dear". Maybe it's a southern/regional thing. It grates on me a little, but not enough to stop me from reading and enjoying her books.

Recommended. Definitely for fans and other cozy lovers. Others looking for a light, fun read would probably enjoy it, too. Myers has written a couple dozen books and I plan to read them all...one day.

I picked this book up at a charity used book sale a few years ago. I'm so glad I finally got around to reading it.

For more information about this book or to browse inside, please visit the HarperCollins website.

For more information about the author and her other books, please visit Tamar Myers's website. [Caution: Music/beating drums on the home page. Turn down your speakers.]

Estate of Mind by Tamar Myers, Avon (HarperCollins), ©1999. ISBN 9781554685448(Mass Market Paperback), 290p.

The Truth About Love by Josephine Hart

The Truth About Love takes place in Ireland during the 1960s. It looks at the lives of three people after a teenager dies in a horrific accident. The German, a neighbour, knows all too well about tragedy and lost love. Sissy, the mother, teeters on the verge of madness because of her grief. Olivia, the boy's sister, tries to help the family through these difficult times. A desolate love story about losing a loved one.

The book is poetic, emotional and beautifully written. I liked how the author presented the characters stories, how she explained their grief and how little details of the accident were scattered through the book. However, it might have been a little too intellectual for me. While I really enjoyed some parts, other parts just didn't grab me. I seemed to hover on the edge of the story most of the way through only somewhat understanding what was going on. Just when I thought I was getting into the story, I'd get to another section and lose interest. I also had trouble following some of the dialogue.

The last section about the conflict in Ireland was pretty interesting and contained lots of information that I didn't know. But again, I had some trouble following what was happening.

Favourite quote: This quote is part of a paragraph about the German and the tragedy he's experienced. I liked the imagery of this one statement: And he doesn't seem to bend under the weight of his memories (page 128). I know how heavy some memories can be.

While I didn't love this book, I think it has redeeming qualities. I found lots of rave reviews online, so others have enjoyed the book. Marci from Serendipitous Readings called it "Stunning, Powerful, Unforgetful, Dangerous." Her whole review is here. Conversely, I found at least one review where the reader had trouble and didn't finish the book. I think the book has an audience, but I don't think it's going to be for everyone. Therefore, I can't wholeheartedly recommend it.

For more information about this book or to browse inside, please visit the HarperCollins Canada website.

For more information about the author and her other books, please visit Josephine Hart's website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at HarperCollins Canada for this review copy.

The Truth About Love by Josephine Hart, HarperCollins, ©2009. ISBN 9781554685448(Trade Paperback), 247p.

After the Falls: A Memoir by Catherine McClure Gildiner

After the Falls: Coming of Age in the Sixties is the memoir of Cathy McClure Gildiner. It's the second instalment in a trio of memoirs from this author. In this part of her life, Cathy writes intimately about her years as a rebellious teenager and her departure for college.

Gildiner's memoir is wonderfully written and reads more like a novel, rather than a disjointed collection of events. Each event flows naturally into the next. Sometimes I find that when I read a biography or memoir there are sections that aren't quite as interesting as the rest. However, I didn't find this to be true about this one. Each and every story or situation is fascinating and made me want to read more.

She spells out the ups and downs in her life with humour and honesty, but there seemed to be an underlying sadness, especially with the events surrounding her father's illness. I was particularly interested in the early sections of the book when Cathy relates details from her early childhood. I'm amazed that she could remember so much from that time period. Equally interesting were her dealings with the radical and political groups toward the end of the book.

While I couldn't exactly relate to life in the sixties (I was born in the sixties), I found that I gained a certain understanding of older siblings and relatives who lived through it. What a difference a decade (plus a few years) makes. The world was different then; I hadn't given that fact much thought until now. Anyway, Gildiner really gives the reader a sense of what the world was like by detailing her experiences in those tumultuous times.

Favourite quotes (from an uncorrected proof, so they may or may not be present in the final publication):

Shame is not like guilt. You can't say five Hail Mary's and get rid of shame. It enters all of your pores as a gas and then liquefies in each cell. It becomes a part of you. (page 26)

Real experience is what you get when you don't get what you want.(page 119)

New word alert: seditious = rebellious; braggadocio = overblown, empty boasting

As I mentioned above, this book is the second in a planned trio of memoirs. The first instalment, Too Close to the Falls, spent 71 weeks on the best seller lists. According to Gildiner's blog, a follow-up memoir called The Long Way Home will cover ages 21-25.

Recommended. I plan to track down her first book, while I anxiously await the publication of her third memoir.

Want to read more reviews? Check out Colleen's at Lavender Lines, Jonita's at The Book Chick and Marci's at Serendipitous Readings.

For more information about this book, please visit the Random House website.

For more information about the author, her other books and her blog, please visit Catherine Gildiner website.

Review copy provided by Random House via Just Another Online Book Club on Facebook. Thank you.

After the Falls by Catherine Gildiner, Alfred A. Knopf Canada (Random House), ©2009. ISBN 9780307398222 (Uncorrected Proof), 344p.