Land of the Free

America, You Sexy Bitch

Michael Ian Black and Meghan McCain

Political

I could usually care less about political books, but when I saw that my fave comedian, Michael Ian Black, had come out with a book about touring the US with Meghan McCain, I knew I needed to read it.

You might think I’d have some sort of strong feeling towards Ms. McCain since she grew up in my homestate and everything, but I do not. I read her book when it came out because I was mildly curious, but I couldn't get into it. She’s a decent writer, however, so I figured this book couldn’t be too bad. And it wasn’t, if you’re really into politics.

Ms. McCain and Mr. Black start talking on Twitter one night about how they should tour the US to talk to different folks about politics and voila! A few months later, they find themsevles awkwardly meeting each other’s families and getting ready to hit the road. She’s a die-hard Republican and he’s a slightly wavering Democrat. It was nice to have the two different points of view all throughout the book, because when I disagreed with something, the other person tended to voice my thought (usually it was Mr. Black). 

If reading about gun control and government spending puts you to sleep, I would skip this book. Otherwise it’s an entertaining read.

Right Back Where We Started From

Not Taco Bell Material

Adam Carolla

Memoir

This is actually Adam Carolla’s second memoir, and now that I’ve read it, I definitely plan to pick up his first one, In Fifty Years We’ll All Be Chicks.

While not as hilarious as Michael Ian Black, Mr. Carolla still made me laugh out loud quite a few times. He told most of his story in his first book, so in this one he takes a different approach by centering each chapter around all the houses and apartments he’s ever lived in. My only squabble with his material is that he tells a lot of scatalogical stories. So if you’re not into tales of pooping and passing gas, you might be skimming a lot. He’s also pretty liberal with his language. Basically, you shouldn’t read this book if you’re easily offended.

I would recommend Not Taco Bell Material to anyone who enjoys comedy memoirs and gross-out humor.

I See Right Through to You

You Can’t Lie to Me

Janine Driver

Psychology

If you’re tired of being lied to, this book is for you! And hey, who isn’t sick of all the deception these days?

Janine Driver is a former federal law enforcement investigator who shares her tips and tricks for figuring out if someone in your life is lying. This isn’t your typical avoiding-eye-contact-means-he’s-lying-to-you shtick. She goes into great detail about everything that can give away a person who’s fibbing—their voice, what they say, how they carry themselves, and more. It’s all really interesting and by the time you finish You Can’t Lie to Me, you’ll be an expert in detecting if someone’s telling you the truth or not.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys spotting a fake.

Welcome Back

Slouching Towards Adulthood: Observations From the Not-So-Empty Nest

Sally Koslow

Psychology

Anyone know someone between the ages of 25 and 35 that’s still living with their parents? I think we all do, and in this book that is part memoir, Ms. Koslow examines what is going on with the post-college crowd coming back home.

Ms. Koslow begins by talking about how both her adult sons eventually lived with their parents again well past the teens year and how it impacted her, her husband, and their kids. She also interviews other kids and parents about returning to the nest and why it’s been happening so much these last few years. If you’re a child learning to adjust to living at home again, you will nod along with much of Ms. Koslow’s observations. If you’re a parent who has his or her child back in their childhood room down the hall, you will also nod along. 

Ms. Koslow makes a lot of good points and I recommend this book to anyone who wonders why so many post-college grads can’t seem to move beyond the nest (hint: it has nothing to do with missing mom’s home-cooking).

Twisted

Beautiful Disaster

Jamie McGuire

Fiction

I’d say the title of this book pretty much sums up how I feel about it.

Beautiful Disaster is the story of Travis and Abby. Abby, a freshman, meets Travis, another freshman, at a Fight Club-style event when he sprays his blood on her cardigan. Their eyes lock and it’s love at first sight. How romantic, right? Oh, but it gets worse. Abby knows Travis is a ladies man and refuses to be another notch on his bedpost. To her surprise, he agrees that they should just be friends. Except she doesn’t really want to be friends, but she doesn’t tell him that. So she gets jealous when he sleeps with random skanks. And he’s jealous when she dates other guys. Finally, after endless back and forth, they have sex and start dating. But Travis’ jealousy and Abby’s past trust issues start to tear them apart and she has to decide if their drama-filled relationship is worth the hassle.

Good lord. This book is sick. I thought for sure that one or both of them would end up dead in the end, but no (spoiler alert). Instead, they get freaking married! Idiots, both of them. But Abby, especially, for not realizing or caring that Travis’ obsession with her and love for punching out any other guy who even looks in her direction is worrisome. Also, he calls her Pidgeon and Pidge (and it’s never explained why). I'm pretty sure he doesn't ever call her Abby at any point during the book, even after they get hitched. That annoyed me so much. All the other characters’ weird names annoyed me, too—America (seriously?), Shepley, Finch. 

I’ll give Jamie McGuire credit in that she’s a pretty good writer who managed to keep me reading despite being horrified by what was on the page. If you’re looking for a train wreck, you have found it.