Monday, December 17, 2012

A Grorn-Up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson. Read by the author.

Love, love, love this audiobook! I just put the rest of the audiobooks by this author on hold!

The Slocumb women are known for being teenage mothers and a family full of drama. When a dead baby's body is found buried under the willow tree in the back yard, Ginny is terrified that Mosey isn't her "real" granddaughter. Her real granddaughter is buried under that tree. Unfortunately she can't ask her daughter any questions because Liza had a stroke. Ginny and Mosey both try to figure out the mystery. The summary sounds boring, but Mosey's voice is unforgettable. The Southern accents are great and the phrases are unforgettable!

Friday, December 7, 2012

Sometimes a memoir hits home and this one did. I laughed, I teared up a bit, and, in the end, I was so HAPPY for Jane getting her life straightened out. It's rare for a celebrity memoir to be this well written without a co-author, too! But Jane the actress is also Jane the storyteller and all her years in improv and therapy helped her to tell her story well.

Jane grew up in Dolton, Illinois, and always wanted to be an actress, even through she quit her freshman play because she was scared of failure. In her early years, she suffered with alcoholism and was unable to hold down a relationship for more than 2 months. She finally came out as gay, started going to AA meetings, and met some therapists and friends who really helped her with anxiety and self-esteem.  I LOVE that her friends, family, and therapists were able to get her to realize that she's a good person who has the right to be confident in her abilities. I kinda knew Jane Lynch from Glee, but now I'm a fan for life. I wish her the best!

Monday, December 3, 2012

I laughed my way through this audiobook (and Newbery Medal winner)! Young Jack Gantos suffers from nosebleeds and can never make BOTH his parents happy. He mows his mom's corn to make room for his dad's airfield and gets grounded for the entire summer! Luckily an old woman who writes the town's obituaries befriends him. The plot isn't what makes this book--the storytelling is. You'll laugh--promise!