Tell Me Why, Mummy: A Little Boy’s Struggle to Survive. A Mother’s Shameful Secret. The Power to Forgive. by David Thomas

Add to Goodreads

Title: Tell Me Why, Mummy: A Little Boy’s Struggle to Survive. A Mother’s Shameful Secret. The Power to Forgive.

Author: David Thomas

Genre: Memoir

Length: 321 pages

Published: 2007

Publisher: Harper Element

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) 'Most of the time, I thought I had the best mummy in the whole world. But then she'd change...'
A heartbreaking story of abuse, betrayal and ultimate redemption.

From the age of four, David Thomas carried with him the most terrible secret of all-his mother was sexually abusing him every time she got drunk.

When sober, David's mother was the perfect mum, baking cookies and playing games. David adored her. But when drunk she turned into the monster of David's worst nightmares. Half dressed, she'd rampage around the house, accidentally set things on fire and nearly always abuse David. 

Confusingly, when she sobered up, David's mother could never recall anything she'd done. David was completely alone with the daily horror. But things soon became even worse when his stepfather started beating him senseless. 

Locked in a downward spiral of self-loathing, David did anything to try to forget life at home. Even if it meant breaking the law. 

Then, one night, he saw a programme on TV that changed his life. Suddenly he found the strength to turn his back on his past and make his future worth fighting for.

My Review:

I give this book a 3 out of 5. 

OK. So this man's story is heartbreaking. Addiction is horrible. The reason this only gets three stars is that I felt like he was all over the place in relating different aspects of his story, like there wasn't a very good order to the stories he was telling. I wasn't too fond of his writing style, though it was easy to read.

You can purchase Tell Me Why, Mummy: A Little Boy’s Struggle to Survive. A Mother’s Shameful Secret. The Power to Forgive. through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Tell Me Why, Mummy: A Little Boy’s Struggle to Survive. A Mother’s Shameful Secret. The Power to Forgive.? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire by James Lowder

Add to Goodreads

Title: Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire 

Author: James Lowder

Genre: Non Fiction Essays

Length: 220 pages

Published: 2012

Publisher: BenBella Books, Inc.

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Go beyond the Wall and across the narrow sea with this collection about George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, from A Game of Thrones to A Dance with Dragons.

The epic game of thrones chronicled in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series has captured the imaginations of millions of readers. In Beyond the Wall, bestselling authors and acclaimed critics offer up thought-provoking essays and compelling insights:

Daniel Abraham reveals the unique challenges of adapting the original books into graphic novels. Westeros.org founders Linda Antonsson and Elio M. García, Jr., explore the series’ complex heroes and villains, and their roots in the Romantic movement. Wild Cards contributor Caroline Spector delves into the books’ controversial depictions of power and gender.

Plus much more, from military science fiction writer Myke Cole on the way Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder shapes many of the leading characters to author and television writer Ned Vizzini on the biases against genre fiction that color critical reactions to the series.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

Most of these essays were pretty interesting. They explore the world of Westeros through varying topics: feminism, PTSD, redemption, and psychology, among many others. There were a few that I found boring which led me to lower my rating for this book. Otherwise, I really enjoyed the essays that really delved into the world and characters of Westeros. Definitely a must-read for fans of the series. 

You can purchase Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

America's Hidden History by Kenneth C. Davis

Add to Goodreads

Title: America's Hidden History: Untold Tales of the First Pilgrims, Fighting Women, and Forgotten Founders Who Shaped a Nation

Author: Kenneth C. Davis

Genre: Non-Fiction, History

Length: 292 pages

Published: 2008

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Kenneth C. Davis, author of the phenomenal New York Times bestsellerDon't Know Much About History, presents a collection of extraordinary stories, each detailing an overlooked episode that shaped the nation's destiny and character. Davis's dramatic narratives set the record straight, busting myths and bringing to light little-known but fascinating facts from a time when the nation's fate hung in the balance.

Spanning a period from the Spanish arrival in America to George Washington's inauguration in 1789, America's Hidden History details these episodes, among others: The story of the first real Pilgrims in America, who were wine-making French Huguenots, not dour English Separatists The coming-of-age story of Queen Isabella, who suggested that Columbus pack the moving mess hall of pigs that may have spread disease to many Native Americans The long, bloody relationship between the Pilgrims and Indians that runs counter to the idyllic scene of the Thanksgiving feast The little-known story of George Washington as a headstrong young soldier who committed a war crime, signed a confession, and started a war!

Full of color, intrigue, and human interest, America's Hidden History is an iconoclastic look at America's past, connecting some of the dots between history and today's headlines, proving why Davis is truly America's Teacher.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

All in all this book was pretty good. It was easy to read (which some history books are not), and I feel like I learned more about George Washington and other prominent figures in our nation's history than I ever learned in school. 

Some parts were a little boring and tough to get through, which is why I had to rate this at four stars instead of five. For the most part, however, it had some really great information. Definitely worth the read for the history buff out there. 

You can purchase America's Hidden History: Untold Tales of the First Pilgrims, Fighting Women, and Forgotten Founders Who Shaped a Nation through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read America's Hidden History: Untold Tales of the First Pilgrims, Fighting Women, and Forgotten Founders Who Shaped a Nation? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir

Add to Goodreads

Title: Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir

Author: Jenny Lawson

Genre: Memoir

Length: 318 pages

Published: 2012

Publisher: Amy Einhorn: Putnam

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) For fans of Tina Fey and David Sedaris—Internet star Jenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess, makes her literary debut. 

Jenny Lawson realized that the most mortifying moments of our lives—the ones we’d like to pretend never happened—are in fact the ones that define us. In the #1 New York Times bestseller,Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, Lawson takes readers on a hilarious journey recalling her bizarre upbringing in rural Texas, her devastatingly awkward high school years, and her relationship with her long-suffering husband, Victor. Chapters include: “Stanley the Magical, Talking Squirrel”; “A Series of Angry Post-It Notes to My Husband”; “My Vagina Is Fine. Thanks for Asking”; “And Then I Snuck a Dead Cuban Alligator on an Airplane.” Pictures with captions (no one would believe these things without proof) accompany the text.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

This was HILARIOUS. There were several times where I literally ended up in tears because of some of the random things that happened to her and how she presents them. The book was a little disjointed though because she'd go off on some random tangent before getting back to the main part of the story, but I actually think I liked it that way. It showed how her mind works and I can definitely relate to her to some extent. Fans of her blog will definitely want to read this!

You can purchase Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston & Mario Spezi

Add to Goodreads

Title: The Monster of Florence

Author: Douglas Preston & Mario Spezi

Genre: True Crime

Length: 322 pages

Published: 2008

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) In the nonfiction tradition of John Berendt ("Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil") and Erik Larson ("The Devil in the White City"), New York Times bestselling author Douglas Preston presents a gripping account of crime and punishment in the lush hills surrounding Florence, Italy.

In 2000, Douglas Preston fulfilled a dream to move his family to Italy. Then he discovered that the olive grove in front of their 14th century farmhouse had been the scene of the most infamous double-murders in Italian history, committed by a serial killer known as the Monster of Florence. Preston, intrigued, meets Italian investigative journalist Mario Spezi to learn more. This is the true story of their search for--and identification of--the man they believe committed the crimes, and their chilling interview with him. And then, in a strange twist of fate, Preston and Spezi themselves become targets of the police investigation. Preston has his phone tapped, is interrogated, and told to leave the country. Spezi fares worse: he is thrown into Italy's grim Capanne prison, accused of being the Monster of Florence himself. Like one of Preston's thrillers, The Monster Of Florence, tells a remarkable and harrowing story involving murder, mutilation, and suicide-and at the center of it, Preston and Spezi, caught in a bizarre prosecutorial vendetta.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

I love true crime books. I've always been fascinated about what causes people to murder others. So this book was right up my alley. 

The first part of this book tells the history of the "Monster of Florence", along with several of the theories behind who could be responsible. It also shows some of the blunders that were made (for example, not securing the crime scenes) early on in the investigation before it was determined that they had a serial killer on their hands. There were some parts of this that were kind of dull and some parts that were hard to follow and I had to constantly refer to the beginning of the book where there was a list of people involved and who they were. 

The second part of the book follows Douglas Preston as he moves to Italy with his family. Eventually he meets Mario Spezi, the reporter who had been following the case of the Monster from the beginning. Together they come up with their own theory of who the Monster was. However, through politics, the people in charge of the investigation had changed a few times and the investigation went its own way. Eventually both Spezi and Preston are targeted by the police and Preston has to leave the country or risk arrest. Spezi is arrested eventually, so Preston does whatever he can to try to get him freed. 

It seems that nobody will ever know the truth of who the Monster of Florence was, but the authors outline all of the theories in great detail, leaving the reader to determine which is the most likely scenario. (I know which way I'm leaning!) Fans of true crime books will enjoy this. The writing is engaging, unlike some non-fiction books where I find myself bored because the writing is just not engaging enough.

You can purchase The Monster of Florence through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read The Monster of Florence? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Happy Accidents by Jane Lynch

Add to Goodreads

Title: Happy Accidents

Author: Jane Lynch

Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir

Length: 304 pages

Published: 2011

Publisher: Hyperion

Brief Synopsis: In the summer of 1974, a fourteen-year-old girl in Dolton, Illinois, had a dream. A dream to become an actress, like her idols Ron Howard and Vicki Lawrence. But it was a long way from the South Side of Chicago to Hollywood, and it didn't help that she'd recently dropped out of the school play, The Ugly Duckling. Or that the Hollywood casting directors she wrote to replied that "professional training was a requirement."

But the funny thing is, it all came true. Through a series of Happy Accidents, Jane Lynch created an improbable and hilarious path to success. In those early years, despite her dreams, she was also consumed with anxiety, feeling out of place in both her body and her family. To deal with her worries about her sexuality, she escaped in positive ways such as joining a high school chorus not unlike the one in Glee but also found destructive outlets. She started drinking almost every night her freshman year of high school and developed a mean and judgmental streak that turned her into a real- life Sue Sylvester.

Then, at thirty-one, she started to get her life together. She was finally able to embrace her sexuality, come out to her parents, and quit drinking for good. Soon after, a Frosted Flakes commercial and a chance meeting in a coffee shop led to a role in the Christopher Guest movie Best in Show, which helped her get cast in The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Similar coincidences and chance meetings led to roles in movies starring Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, and even Meryl Streep in 2009's Julie & Julia. Then, of course, came the two lucky accidents that truly changed her life. Getting lost in a hotel led to an introduction to her future wife, Lara. Then, a series she'd signed up for abruptly got canceled, making it possible for her to take the role of Sue Sylvester in Glee, which made her a megastar.

Today, Jane Lynch has finally found the contentment she thought she'd never have. Part comic memoir and part inspirational narrative, this is a book equally for the rabid Glee fan and for anyone who needs a new perspective on life, love, and success.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

There were moments in this memoir where I laughed, and many moments where I actually cried. I do admit that I expected it to be wittier, but I got over the 'let down' rather quickly once I got into the story a bit. I told myself "Just because she's a comedian doesn't mean that her life story is going to be filled with hilarious witticisms", and found myself really enjoying it. It was a quick read and shed some light on one of my favorite comedic actresses and how she came to be who she is today. Definitely recommend this for fans of Jane Lynch who have even a remote interest in learning more about her. 

You can purchase Happy Accidents through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Happy Accidents? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

The Story of My Life by Helen Keller

Add to Goodreads

Title: The Story of My Life

Author: Helen Keller

Genre: Biography/Memoir

Length: 400 pages

Published: 1902 (original); 2004 (version I read)

Publisher: Modern Library

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) The Story of My Life, a remarkable account of overcoming the debilitating challenges of being both deaf and blind, has become an international classic, making Helen Keller one of the most well-known, inspirational figures in history. Originally published in 1903, Keller’s fascinating memoir narrates the events of her life up to her third year at Radcliffe College.

Helen Keller’s story of struggle and achievement is one of unquenchable hope. From tales of her difficult early days, to details of her relationship with her beloved teacher Anne Sullivan, to her impressions of academic life, Keller’s honest, straightforward writing lends insight into an amazing mind. Like the original, this centenary edition of The Story of My Life includes letters Keller wrote to friends throughout her childhood and adolescence that chronicle her intellectual and sensory progression, as well as assistant John Macy’s commentary on her interpretations of her surroundings.

In addition to reprinting Keller’s long-lost original work, this edition contains excerpts from her little-known, deeply personal memoir The World We Live In, which give readers a detailed look into an otherwise unimaginable existence, as well as an excerpt from Out of the Dark, a political commentary Keller wrote during her years as a socialist.

Deftly edited and prefaced by scholar James Berger, this comprehensive anniversary edition celebrates a century of readers’ enthrallment with one of the most powerful figures in history.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

This was definitely a very interesting read. It's set out in three parts: Part 1 was Helen Keller telling her life story, Part 2 was a series of letters that she sent to friends and acquaintances, and Part 3 was a lot of supplemental information using letters from her teacher telling about how she taught Helen language, writing, history, and to speak. It was quite fascinating to learn about how Helen learned to do the things that come naturally to so many people. She was truly a very inspiring woman and very determined to be like everyone else and not be viewed differently.

You can purchase The Story of My Life through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read The Story of My Life? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail by Malika Oufkir, Michèle Fitoussi

Add to Goodreads

Title: Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail

Author: Malika Oufkir, Michèle Fitoussi

Genre: Biography, Memoir

Length: 294 pages

Published: 2002

Publisher: Hyperion Books

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Born into a proud Berber family in 1953, the eldest daughter of the King of Morocco's closest aide, Malika Oufkir was adopted at the age of five by King Muhammad V to be brought up as the companion of his daughter, Princes Amina. When he died, his son Hassan II became King and took charge of rearing the two girls as well as his own children. Malika spent eleven years living at the court, in the seclusion of the harem, until she left the palace, at the age of 16, as one of the most eligible heiresses in the kingdom and tasted a couple of years of a heady jet-set lifestyle. On August 16th, 1972, her father, General Muhammad Oufkir, was arrested and executed after an attempt to assassinate the king. Malika, her mother, and four siblings were imprisoned in a penal colony.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

This is the tale of a girl and her family who have everything, and how that was ripped away from them the day their father tried to assassinate the king. Malika tells their story and gives voice to her siblings, mother, and the two women who chose to go with them, in this memoir. For their father's botched attempt at assassination, the Oufkir family was made to "disappear", for twenty years. 

At first it was closer to a house arrest, they still had advantages: books, radio, clothing, fresh food. Eventually they got moved to a horrible place where they were separated, lived in horrible conditions, ate rancid meat and rotten vegetables, received no medical attention, and somehow survived for years through their own ingenuity and hope. Malika became a mother figure to her siblings as well as a teacher and confidant. 

Then the day came where Malika, one of her sisters, and her two brothers managed to escape. Together, the Oufkir family managed to stick together, stay strong, and escape their bonds. This was definitely a great memoir to read.

You can purchase Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail through Amazon in hard copy format. 

Have you read Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi

Add to Goodreads

Title: Reading Lolita in Tehran

Author: Azar Nafisi 

Genre: Biography, Memoir

Length: 347 pages

Published: 2003

Publisher: Random House

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Every Thursday morning for two years in the Islamic Republic of Iran, a bold and inspired teacher named Azar Nafisi secretly gathered seven of her most committed female students to read forbidden Western classics. As Islamic morality squads staged arbitrary raids in Tehran, fundamentalists seized hold of the universities, and a blind censor stifled artistic expression, the girls in Azar Nafisi's living room risked removing their veils and immersed themselves in the worlds of Jane Austen, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Henry James, and Vladimir Nabokov. In this extraordinary memoir, their stories become intertwined with the ones they are reading. Reading Lolita in Tehran is a remarkable exploration of resilience in the face of tyranny and a celebration of the liberating power of literature.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

This was a very good memoir. Azar Nafisi is a married literature professor living in her home country of Iran. After she leaves her job, she finds her time spent reading English literature and eventually decides to start up a class with some of the female students she had previously taught. She kept this class for two years before finally deciding to leave Iran with her family and move to the U.S. to avoid the heavy handed Islamic regime and the laws which basically treated women like they were nothing. 

There was a lot of very interesting information about her experiences in Iran through the 1980s and 1990s and how people had to live in fear of their own government. Drawing on her literary background, she uses quotes and specific books to help make her opinions to her students known and to help the reader understand why she did many of the things she did. 

The main thing I did not like was that the story almost seemed out of order and it was hard to follow the correct timeline of events. She breaks her memoir out into four different parts, detailing classes she gave about certain authors and their works, so it was definitely hard to completely follow when certain things happened.

You can purchase Reading Lolita in Tehran through Amazon in either hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Reading Lolita in Tehran? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho by Stephen Rebello

Add to Goodreads

Title: Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho

Author: Stephen Rebello

Genre: Biography / History

Length: 224 pages

Published: 2010

Publisher: Open Road Media

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) First released in June 1960, Psycho altered the landscape of horror films forever. But just as compelling as the movie itself is the story behind it, which has been adapted as a movie starring Anthony Hopkins as Hitchcock, Helen Mirren as his wife Alma Reville, and Scarlett Johansson as Janet Leigh.

Stephen Rebello brings to life the creation of one of Hollywood’s most iconic films, from the story of Wisconsin murderer Ed Gein, the real-life inspiration for the character of Norman Bates, to Hitchcock’s groundbreaking achievements in cinematography, sound, editing, and promotion. Packed with captivating insights from the film’s stars, writers, and crew members, Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho is a riveting and definitive history of a signature Hitchcock cinematic masterpiece.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

This was a random book I found while perusing Amazon. It was fairly cheap so I was definitely intrigued and picked it up (the kindle version). All in all it wasn't too bad. It gave a lot of great information about how Hitchcock came across the story of Psycho (a novel by Robert Bloch), how the censors of the 1950s worked with movies, and how he directed this cult classic. 

There were a lot of references to other films, actors, directors, etc. and that made for some of the information to be a little distracting, but I can see why those references were necessary. I loved reading about Hitchcock's quirks. He was definitely a brilliant filmmaker. It was sad to see how he struggled after the success of Psycho. 

Definitely a must read for fans of the movie!

You can purchase Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho through Amazon in either hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

The Little Locksmith by Katharine Butler Hathaway

Add to Goodreads

Title: The Little Locksmith

Author: Katharine Butler Hathaway

Genre: Biography/Memoir

Length: 237 pages

Published: 1943

Publisher: Coward-McCann Inc, NY

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) The Little Locksmith, Katharine Butler Hathaway's luminous memoir of disability, faith, and transformation, is a critically acclaimed but largely forgotten literary classic brought back into print for the first time in thirty years. The Little Locksmith begins in 1895 when a specialist straps five-year-old Katharine, then suffering from spinal tuberculosis, to a board with halters and pulleys in a failed attempt to prevent her being a "hunchback." Her mother says that she should be thankful that her parents are able to have her cared for by a famous surgeon; otherwise, she would grow up to be like the "little locksmith," who does jobs at their home; he has a "strange, awful peak in his back." Forced to endure "a horizontal life of night and day," Katharine remains immobile until age fifteen, only to find that she, too, has a hunched back and is "no larger than a ten-year-old child." The Little Locksmith charts Katharine's struggle to transcend physical limitations and embrace her life, her body and herself in the face of debilitating bouts of frustration and shame. Her spirit and courage prevail, and she succeeds in expanding her world far beyond the boundaries prescribed by her family and society: she attends Radcliffe College, forms deep friendships, begins to write, and in 1921, purchases a house of her own in Castine, Maine. There she creates her home, room by room, fashioning it as a space for guests, lovers, and artists. The Little Locksmith stands as a testimony to Katharine's aspirations and desires-for independence, for love, and for the pursuit of her art. We tend to forget nowadays that there is more than one variety of hero (and heroine). Katharine Butler Hathaway, who died last Christmas Eve, was the kind of heroine whose deeds are rarely chronicled. They were not spectacular and no medal would have been appropriate for her. All she did was to take a life which fate had cast in the mold of a frightful tragedy and redesign it into a quiet, modest work of art. The life was her own.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

This is a touching memoir about a woman who was afflicted with spinal tuberculosis as a young child. In order to prevent her back from having a horrible hump, she was strapped to a board for 10 years of her life. She still ended up with a deformity, but probably not as severe as what she would have had without this treatment. 

Her time as an invalid taught her to enjoy all of the little things around her, things that most people take for granted. This story tells how she rose above her deformity and became the woman she thinks she was meant to be. I found the writing to be a bit flowery and perhaps overly descriptive in some aspects, but as she spent her childhood and young adulthood writing poetry, I suppose this is to be expected. This is truly a touching tale and definitely worth the read!

You can purchase The Little Locksmith through Amazon in either hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read The Little Locksmith? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Nightmares in the Sky by f-stop Fitzgerald, Stephen King, & Mark Pollard

Add to Goodreads

Title: Nightmares in the Sky

Author: f-stop Fitzgerald (Photography), Stephen King (Text), & Mark Pollard (Design)

Genre: Architectural Reference

Length: 128 pages

Published: 1988

Publisher: Viking Books

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) This book will be a collection of fantastic and horrifying photographs of gargoyles taken by avant-garde photographer f-stop Fitzgerald (yes, that's his name and the spelling is correct), with a wonderful text by none other than the master of horror, Stephen King. F-stop has captured gargoyles in all manner of poses, made all the more striking by the design by Mark Pollard. Through the use of gatefolds and full-bleed illustrations, these awesome creatures will seem practically to leap off the page.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

Stephen King was probably the best person to write the essay for this coffee-table book. Gargoyles are truly grotesque and frightening works of art. The images in this book are haunting. The text is short, so most of the book is filled with the photographs of these grotesque gargoyles. There are some truly haunting images. The only downfall to the book (and why it got 4 stars instead of 5) is that there is no real historical information beyond a few brief mentions by King as to things he thinks he knows about gargoyles. This would have been even better if there had been some real information on the origins of gargoyles and why they were created to appear so grotesquely.

So if you want a quick book to scan through and don't mind being left with the thought that these creatures are always watching you even if you don't see them, definitely pick this up. 

You can purchase Nightmares in the Sky through Amazon in hard copy format. 

Have you read Nightmares in the Sky? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter

Add to Goodreads

Title: J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography

Author: Humphrey Carpenter

Genre: Biography

Length: 287 pages

Published: 1977

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) One day while grading papers, J.R.R. Tolkien inexplicably wrote "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit" in the margin - thereby setting out on the path that would bring him fame, fortune, and the devotion of millions. A veteran of the Battle of the Somme, he was a close friend of C. S. Lewis and an editor of the OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY before becoming the Merton Professor of English at Oxford.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

This is a great biography of one of my favorite authors. Not much can be said, except that I found it extremely interesting and I now feel like I have a much better handle on who J.R.R. Tolkien was. I loved the way Mr. Carpenter would describe a typical day in Tolkien's world, as it helped me to really understand how he worked.

The only reason this is being given a 4 instead of a 5 is that there were several instances where I grew bored with what was being talked about or grew a little confused as to what was happening. These confusing/boring parts were mostly chapters where he talked about philology in more depth or had a lot of letters to and from Tolkien and his friends. Otherwise this is a great book to learn more about one of the greatest fantasy authors (at least in my opinion) ever.

J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography is not currently available for purchase but here is the page for it on Amazon. 

Have you read J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

There and Back Again: An Actor's Tale by Sean Astin

Add to Goodreads

Title: There and Back Again: An Actor's Tale

Author: Sean Astin

Genre: Memoir

Length: 320 pages

Published: 2004

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) The fascinating memoir of a Hollywood life and an inside look at a life-changing role and the groundbreaking Lord of the Rings films that captured the imagination of movie fans everywhere.

The Lord of the Rings is one of the most successful film franchises in cinematic history. Winner of a record eleven Academy Awards--a clean sweep--and breaking box office records worldwide, the trilogy is a breathtaking cinematic achievement and beloved by fans everywhere.

For Sean Astin, a Hollywood child (his mother is Patty Duke and stepfather is John Astin) who made his feature film debut at 13 in the 1980s classic The Goonies and played the title role in Rudy, the call from his agent about the role of Samwise Gamgee couldn't have come at a better time. His career was at a low point and choice roles were hard to come by. But his 18-month experience in New Zealand with director Peter Jackson and the cast and crew of The Lord of the Rings films would be more than simply a dream-come-true--it would prove to be the challenge of a lifetime.

There and Back Again: An Actor's Tale is the complete memoir of Sean Astin, from his early days in Hollywood to the role that changed his life. Though much has been written about the making of the films, including the techniques and artistry employed to bring Tolkien's vision of life and the various relationships between castmembers, the real story of what took place on the set, the harrowing ordeals of the actors and the unspoken controversy and backstage dealings have never been told.

Sean's experience and candid account of his time filming in New Zealand is unparalleled. More than a companion guide to the Ring films, There and Back Again filled with stories from the set and of the actors involved that have never been revealed before and is an eye-opening look from a Hollywood veteran at the blood, sweat and tears that went into the making of one of the most ambitious films of all time.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

The only reason I am giving this memoir a 4 is that it took several chapters to really get into it and get used to Sean's humor and writing style. Otherwise, this is really an incredible book. He talks a lot about his own insecurities, which makes him instantly relatable. I have always loved The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, so getting an insider's view on the making of the The Lord of the Rings movies was really nice. 

There was also a lot of good insight early on with how Hollywood works that I really enjoyed. I will admit I cried through several parts of the book and I do not regret that one bit. 

If you're a fan of the movies, definitely check this book out. It's driven me to put a few books on hold so that I can re-read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, which is something that I've been wanting to do for a long time, but just hadn't found the time to do it. I'm reading a biography on J.R.R. Tolkien next, and then it's on to The Hobbit.

You can purchase There and Back Again: An Actor's Tale through Amazon in either Kindle format. 

Have you read There and Back Again: An Actor's Tale? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen Degeneres

Add to Goodreads

Title: Seriously...I'm Kidding

Author: Ellen Degeneres

Genre: Humor and Satire

Length: 241 pages

Published: 2011

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) "Sometimes the greatest things are the most embarrassing." Ellen Degeneres' winning, upbeat candor has made her show one of the most popular, resilient and honored daytime shows on the air. (To date, it has won no fewer than 31 Emmys.) Seriously... I'm Kidding, Degeneres' first book in eight years, brings us up to date about the life of a kindhearted woman who bowed out of American Idol because she didn't want to be mean. Lively; hilarious; often sweetly poignant.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

I remember watching the show Ellen when I was a teenager. I remember being both surprised and sad that her show was cancelled not long after she came out - both in real life and as a character in her show. I've always harbored a love for her humor, and this book did not disappoint. I have to admit I haven't really watched her talk show and I don't pay too much attention to celebrity news, so I didn't even realize that this was her third book! I definitely intend on reading the other two at some point.

This book was more than funny - it was hilarious. As I was reading, I could "hear" Ellen's voice. It reads like she talks, and that makes it all the better. I'm looking forward to grabbing her first two books!

You can purchase Seriously...I'm Kidding through Amazon in either hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Seriously...I'm Kidding? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

The Secret Holocaust Diaries by Nonna Bannister

Add to Goodreads

Title: The Secret Holocaust Diaries

Author: Nonna Bannister

Genre: Memoir, History

Length: 299 pages

Published: 2009

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Nonna Bannister carried a secret almost to her Tennessee grave: the diaries she kept as a young girl experiencing the horrors of the Holocaust while learning compassion and love for her fellow human beings. Nonna's writings tell the remarkable tale of how a Russian girl, born into a family that had known wealth and privileges, was exposed to the concentration camps and learned the value of human life and the importance of forgiveness.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

Nonna Bannister spent her life after WWII keeping the secret of her heritage from her husband and children. Some time before she died, she showed her husband everything: the secret diaries she had kept throughout her youth and WWII which she had painstakingly translated over the years. After her death, the diaries were published.

A lot of the book focuses on her youth and the happy times with her family. There are a lot of very interesting facts about Russian culture and history that I did not know prior to reading this book. the book starts out with a few chapters about how her mother and her ended up on the train heading west into Europe. After a heartbreaking scene, it delves into Nonna's family history and diary entries from her youth. It resumes with everything that happened to her and her mother in WWII. 

You can really see the bubble of innocence that Nonna lived in growing up and how that bubble was shattered by the war. She ended up coming through stronger than ever. Most memoirs from WWII seem to be mostly written by Jewish survivors of the Holocaust, so this was a refreshing change since it gave insight on WWII from the perspective of a Russian labor worker. 

You can purchase The Secret Holocaust Diaries through Amazon in either hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read The Secret Holocaust Diaries? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.