Review: Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

If you've ever wondered what helped shape popular blogger, Jenny Lawson, into the woman she is today, wonder no more. The genius behind The Bloggess (like Mother Teresa only better) shares some her most memorable and pretty terrifying adventures as a shy awkward girl growing up in rural West Texas all the way through fifteen years being married to her unbelievably patient husband Victor.

Prior to reading Let’s Pretend This Never Happened I wasn't a follower of Jenny's blog but the cover of this book just said something to me. A mouse dressed as Hamlet complete with a miniature skull? Who could resist that. Every now and then I reflect back on growing up and wonder just how I came to be the woman I am today and now that I have a little insight into Jenny's upbringing this book makes perfect sense.

Jenny had to endure a father who ran taxidermy business (think Chuck Testa) who always felt the need to share his love of dead animals with his small girls. But not just the dead ones. I'm totally jealous that Jenny had a pet raccoon named Rambo that she got to dress in Jams, the popular 80's clothes.

From West Texas, to Houston to the Texas Hill country Jenny struggles through one crazy adventure after another. She shares story after story that would be hard to believe without the proof in the pictures sprinkled throughout the book. Now before I hunt down my own 5 foot tall rusted metal rooster I'm going to highly recommend this book for anyone who thinks they grew up with strange parents or anyone who loves a memoir full of laughs that will have you giggling, "oh no she didn't!"

Review: Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2012/04/review-lets-pretend-this-never-happened.html

Review: Here's the Story by Maureen McCormick

“Marcia, Marcia, Marcia.” Oh how this line has plagued Maureen McCormick for years. Inside this book Maureen shares her life in shocking detail. To outsiders she was perfect. Cute, smart and stylish with the talent to match. To outsiders she was Marcia Brady. But few people were privy to the real person with real fears who spent a lot of time literally hiding in closets to escape her demons.

From her humble beginnings as the voice of the Chatty Cathy Doll to her impressive win on Celebrity Fit Club, Maureen’s life is chronicled with nothing held back. “Haunted by the perfection of her television alter ego, Maureen landed on the dark side, caught up in a fast-paced, drug-fueled, star-studded Hollywood existence that ultimately led to the biggest battle of her life.”

I’m amazed at how open Maureen was in this book. As she learned later in life, being open and sharing was the solution to bringing her the peace she never had growing up and even into adulthood. Her story of triumph over the demons that tore her live apart for so many years is encouraging in so many different ways. I highly recommend reading this book especially if you were a Marcia Brady fan or even just casually knowing the character as I did.

Review: Here's the Story by Maureen McCormick

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2008/11/review-heres-story-by-maureen-mccormick.html

Review: Through the Storm by Lynne Spears with Lorilee Craker

Thomas Nelson Book Page I’ll be the first one to admit it… I was hoping for a juicy tell-all before I started reading this book but right in the intro Lynne tells us that’s not what this book is. It’s mostly a look into her life that led her to make the decisions she did in regards to her children.

Overall it was an okay read but I found the book disjointed and the stories jumbled. I understand the Lynne is not a professional writer but I’ve read other memoirs with co-writers that were put together much better than Through the Storm was. All lot of what’s written is repeated a couple of times in the book and oftentimes within the next paragraph.

I felt Lynne’s emotion trying to burst through the pages but it just didn’t quite make it and this made a lot of the writing seem forced and unnatural. I also felt this way about the Christian aspects of the book. Her faith just didn’t ring true to me.

**SPOILER ALERT**
What was especially shocking to me, was how Lynne glossed over the fact that at aged twenty-one while driving her brother to the ER she accidentally hit a twelve year old on his bike and he later died. To me this would have been a devastating, life changing event but it was mentioned over one or two paragraphs then not mentioned again.
** END SPOILER**

Reading this book did change my view on the Spears family and I’m glad I read it but I just wish it was put together in a more organized fashion. As far as my recommendation goes I’d say read it if you come across it but don’t run out and pick it up expecting and “insider’s look” at the Britney’s life.

Review: Through the Storm by Lynne Spears with Lorilee Craker

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2008/11/review-through-storm-by-lynne-spears.html

Review: Dewey by Vicki Myron

DEWEY'S WEBSITE

VISIT DEWEY'S BIO PAGE AT SPENCER LIBARY

Dewey is the story the small-town library cat who touched the world. The story begins on the morning after the coldest night of the year. Library director, Vicki Myron, checked the book drop box only to find that someone had dropped an 8 week old kitten into the slot. With temperatures reaching minus fifteen degrees plus the added factor of spending the night in a metal box with the lid propped open, the kitten was a scared, frozen mess. After a hot bath and some TLC that kitten became Dewey Readmore Books, the beloved library cat of Spencer, Iowa.
For nineteen years Dewey greeted library patrons at the door, made people laugh, brought shy children out of their shell and wormed his way into the hearts of many people. With a sixth sense he could always tell who needed an extra bit of loving and he never failed to make people feel better after visiting with them. Visitors would come from near and far to visit the famous Dewey. He even stars in two documentaries; one featuring library cats and even one in Japanese. Along with Dewey’s adventures and antics Myron shares in heartfelt detail her family struggles and tells of life in a small town.

I’m a cat lover but I don’t think I’m being biased when I say that Dewey was a truly incredible cat. From life with such a cruel beginning it’s amazing to read what a trusting a sensitive cat Dewey became. Vicki Myron and Dewey will do for cat lovers what Marley and John Grogan did for dog lovers. I had to keep the tissues handy while reading this one and I recommend it to all animal lovers.

Review: Dewey by Vicki Myron

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2008/10/review-dewey-by-vicki-myron.html