Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea By Chelsea Handler

Just because one can, doesn’t mean one should. This adage certainly applies to Chelsea’s role as a writer and a narrator. In this garbled collection of memories and experiences, her overenthusiastic voice does not compensate for the irrelevance and frivolousness that is this book, maybe a Hollywood flick might just cut it. Anecdotes cover a range of topics from sex to sibling rivalry to parental humiliation, all showcasing how smart and witty she can be-in hindsight. Ramblings about how she’s freaked out by red-headed men or whining about her arrest and short stint in prison, attempts to be funny fall a little flat and her valley-girl persona wears quickly. Her lively voice has the potential to do well with audiobooks and once again maybe a movie, but the overall tone and ecstatic energy she emits only emphasizes the inconsequential prose. Readers may find themselves asking for a double hit of Mr. Vodka to help reach the end of this one.

As should be clear from the title, this book isn’t for kids and the content can be pretty racy. If you aren’t easily offended, however, it will probably be the best mindless book of banter you read this year.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao – Junot Díaz

The story opens by exploring the life of a Oscar, a promising young Dominican child growing up in Jersey who morphs into an overweight, unpopular nerd who is desperate to lose his virginity.

The story then proceeds to explore the lives of Oscar, Oscar’s mother, sister and Mother’s family (persecuted by Dictator). The first half of the book is a little bit irritating as the author uses footnotes and many Spanish language phrases that are not translated. Besides these language issues and the jumping back and fourth in time and among characters the book beyond where the main characters develop very nicely. Awesome integration of the political, social and economic history of the Dominican Republic and how the environment shaped many of the lives of the generations who migrated to the U.S.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Greg Heffley is a 6th-grade weakling trying to make his mark in the middle school world. His family includes a mom, a dad, a heavy metal big brother, and a whiny, tattling little brother. His best friend is Rowley, another odd 6th-grader with overprotective parents and the world-class ability to annoy. Trudge alsong with Gregs’ adventures in trying to be cool and dealing with bullies… A good read for anyone teaching or studying in middle school.

The life of Python – Perry George

The Life of Python reads like a biography of a rock band. The basic material of the book is to try to track each member of the group from their comedic beginnings to the formation of the troupe and then to the work following the cancellation of the TV series, all interwoven by time. Sounds like a mess, but it works. Perry interviewed all the members, sometimes more than once, and the book is liberally sprinkled with quotes. Color photos as well as black and white, which fills the book (every page has a picture on it).