Review: Bossy Pants by Tina Fey

 

Title: Bossypants by Tina Fey
Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books
Published: April 5, 2011
ISBN: 9780316056861
Pages: 288


       Bossypants is the memoir of Tina Fey of Saturday Night Live, Mean Girls, and 30 Rock fame.
We get to learn about her childhood, teenage shenanigans, and personal and professional path that lead to SNL.  Fey talks about her feelings regarding women as comics, motherhood, beauty, and breastfeeding.
Where she talks about breastfeeding, her inability to ask her nanny not to clip her kid's nails close, or her dad, you get to see real Tina.  Many of the other stories feel like they have been massaged for comedic effect.  I rarely watch SNL; lately, it has been so not funny.  I very much enjoyed Mean Girls, for which she wrote the screenplay.  There were definitely parts that were laugh till you choke funny.That said Tina's writing can seem like one long gag the entire book. 
      While Fey give us glimpses into her family and behind the scenes work life, the almost nonstop jokey feel to the book keeps a wall between her and her reader.  You learn some interesting things about her as a person but you are definitely not getting a true feel of her as a person just a facsimile.  I guess it's hard to write a memoir when you are still in the thick of things and trying to avoid offending anyone or saying anything that can bite you in the butt later.

Review: The Keepers of the Rose

 

Title: The Keepers of the Rose by D. J. Dalasta
ASIN: B004U2VCII
Available via Amazon Kindle Store


    Hidden for three centuries on Oak Island off the Canadian coast, Captain Kidd's bounty has taunted treasure evaded treasure seekers.  Captain Kidd failed to hide the treasure prior to his capture for piracy.  He was able to pass the mission on to his son Captain Robert Ryder.  Ryder assembled a crew of architects and workmen to build a enclosure to ensure the treasure remained hidden from humans until the year 2012.  Why  2012?  Part of the treasure is vital to humanity's fate.  Several organization -- the CIA, Delega Corporation, and the Keepers of the Rose -- would love to be people with the knowledge and thus the most powerful on earth.  A path of bloodshed, betrayals, and clues that span centuries lead to the point where we begin to understand the secrets of the rose.
    I'm sure you've heard of the ancient Mayan predictions regarding the year 2012.  Rock and his crew realize that the bounty has clues to what the Mayans really meant with their 2012 predictions.  The immense power of the knowledge is further reinforced by the lengths the three groups go to secure the knowledge for themselves.  Who should possess the information that decides the future of humanity?
     If you like suspense and mystery with a touch of  Mayan prophesy lore, this is the book for you.  The book delves into Mayan prophesy and origins and gives an interesting idea of what could be if we were able to understand and harness the Mayan prophesy.  Makes you think.
  
*This book was provided by the author in exchange for my honest opinion.  *

Book Swag

First, I had a couple of posts that didn't post. The review for The Keepers of the Rose will be up for tomorrow. 

Look what I got.  I belong to one of those mail order book clubs and they had a big sale.  And to be perfectly honest, I chose all these books based on the covers.  Intriguing artwork lures me in.

Also, you might have noticed the POC reading challenge on my sidebar.  I joined because I support their goal of spreading the word about books by and about people of color.  I'll link later to the main site.  Yesterday's post will be my first submission for POC.

As always, any suggestions, comments, or requests feel free to contact me at bibliophagista at gmail.com.

Blog Tour: The Buterfly's Daughter by Mary Alice Monroe

 

Title: The Butterfly's Daughter by Mary Alice Monroe
Publisher: Gallery Books
Published: May 2011
ISBN: 9781439170618
Pages: 400

           Abuela (Grandma) Esperanza raises Luz after her mother dies.  She spends many years in cold Wisconsin far from her Mexican home working to give Luz a good life.  After receiving some news  from her daughter Maria, Esperanza plans a road trip to San Antonio to see her daughter Maria and then to Mexico to take Luz to visit family, see winter home of the monarch butterfly, and complete a family tradition.  Abuela dies before she can complete her mission.
           Truly alone for the first time in her life, Luz decides to go on the trip Abuela planned for them.   Leaving her home and her boyfriend Sully, she drives southward to fulfill this commitment to herself and her Abuela.  Her cross-country trip becomes a journey of self-discovery; she meets people along the way that seem to appear at the perfect time for their mutual growth and progress.
           In San Antonio at her aunt's house, she finds out the real reason for Abuela's urgency in making this "pilgrimage".  The life-altering secret cause her to rethink her Abuela and her upbringing.  Continuing southward to Abuela's birthplace and the winter home of the monarch butterfly, Luz meets family and participates in cultural traditions for the first time. Eventually Luz has to make a decision whether to embrace the future or cling to her past ideas about her life.
            Each chapter of the novel is preceded with a fact about monarch butterfly's life that correlates with the events of that chapter.  The butterflys are the ties that bind all the characters in the book together.   Just like later generations complete the original butterfly's pilgrimage, Luz completes the path set by her ancestors.  Despite all the obstacles, she emerges from her chrysalis (comfort zone) and sees the long, daunting journey through.
         
*This book was provided by the publisher Gallery Books in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Blog Tour: Dakota: A Work in Progress

Title: Dakota: A Work in Progress by Bill Rosecrans
Publisher: Diversion Press
Published: December 2008
ISBN: 9781935290018
Pages: 192     



    Dakota: A Work in Progress is author Bill Rosecrans book about his rambunctious golden retriever, Dakota.  Starting from the day Dakota was added to the family.  Dakota's distinct personality makes for hilarious stories.  He also details Dakota's antics such as hiding in the bathroom during a thunderstorm, knocking people over affectionately, refusing to play fetch, stealing food and coffee, resisting all attempts to train him, and licking people's feet. Pets, especially larger pets, can have larger than life personalities and character traits.  Part of the fun of having a pet is to see how they change or become more strong minded as they grow.  Despite all the trouble Dakota can cause, he seems to brighten up Bill and his family's life.

      This is a great book for people who love dogs or just need some short stories to cheer their day.  Bill manages to capture Dakota's strong personality. I am not a dog person but I found these stories interesting and quick, fun reading at the end of a long day. 

This review is based on a book provided by the publisher Diversion Press in exchange for my honest opinion.

See my Q&A with the author Bill Rosencrans

Q & A with Bill Rosencrans & Some Picture of Dakota

Hi Bill! Could you tell us a little about yourself?

Sure, I have always enjoyed writing in one form or another. I began writing poetry, and then later got into writing screenplays because I didn’t think I had what it took to become a novelist. That was in part because I was reading novels by Pulitzer Prize winners and the like. I thought that in order to be successful at it I needed to be able to write like them instead of just being myself. So, I wrote screenplays instead. In doing so, I acquired a writers guild agent in Hollywood, California that still represents my work. And then Dakota came into my life. Dakota: A Work in Progress is one of those books that wasn’t meant to be a book. I began jotting down Dakota’s unusual behavior, all of those things that he did that left me laughing out loud. Those same notes became essays or short stories that are one to four pages in length. There are seventy-two of them in Dakota: A Work in Progress. They are those moments that were too good to forget.

Why did you choose the name Dakota for him?
Coming up with Dakota’s name was easy. He’s from South Dakota. He was crated and shipped to a pet store in Upstate, New York State. That was where I found him, and my life hasn’t been the same since.

Have you been able to find a trainer for Dakota?

No. Dakota has had two failed attempts with dog trainers. They walk away shaking their heads in awe at him. Another author, George Nowak who read the second book - Dakota: Still a Work in Progress, wrote a blurb for the second book that read - “The book is a joy, and reminds me of an old saying - When properly trained, a man can be a dog’s best friend. I think that just about sums up how the training went.

Who takes care of Dakota if you go on vacation?
My nephew and his girlfriend come to house to stay with Dakota while we’re away. They’re very good with him. They’re lots of fun and give him tons of attention.

How old is Dakota now?

Dakota is five. It’s hard to believe. Time flies when you’re having fun.

Is Dakota your first pet or is he the most memorable because of his antics?

I’ve had other dogs. But, I’ve never had a dog like Dakota. Everyone loves Dakota because he’s so much fun to be around. Friends of mine, who own two golden retrievers, Jack and Rosie, said they can’t even mention Dakota’s name in their house without their dogs going bonkers. So, they refer to Dakota as “D”. He’s a popular little guy. He has more friends than I do. And, I do think it’s because of his antics. He’s not your average dog. Not by a long shot.

I see that you also write screenplays and plays. Have you thought of doing a screenplay about Dakota?

No, but that’s an excellent idea. Right now I am in the process of rewriting Dakota: Still a Work in Progress which will be in the same format as the first book. It’s a lot of fun going through it again. Dakota sure gives me plenty to write about.

Bill Rosencrans


 

I COULDN’T BE HAPPIER that BETTER READ THAN DEAD has decided to host my book, Dakota: A Work In Progress on the first Dakota: A Work In Progress blog tour on MAY 4TH 2011. Join in on the fun. I will be available throughout the day to answer any questions you may have. You may reach me at Dakotathebook@gmail.com or at wrosencr@nycap.rr.com

 Bill Rosencrans

Dakota: A Work in Progress is a very funny book about the world's most neurotic dog and it is appropriate for all ages. You will be laughing out loud as you read each short story about this one of a kind golden retriever named Dakota. Stanley Coren - author of How Dogs Think and The Intelligence of Dogs wrote Dakota: A Work in Progress is a cheerful and amusing romp through the life of a manic but sweet and endearing dog. If you love dogs and need a smile this book is for you. Sonny Brewer - author of Cormac, The Tale of a Dog Gone Missing wrote - Bill Rosencrans' book about his wonder dog Dakota is a long love letter, really. It's a treat for the rest of us that we get to read of Dakota's doings over Bill's shoulder, reminded on every page why we ourselves love our own doggies. This book has been published by Diversion Press and you can order it through any bookstore. The price is $14.95

View my complete profile
 

Blog Tour: The 17 Day Diet: A Doctor's Plan Designed for Rapid Results

 

Title: The 17 Day Diet: A Doctor's Plan Designed for Rapid Results by Dr. Mike Moreno
Publisher: Free Press
Published: March  2011
ISBN: 9780615419176
Pages: 256

     The 17 Day Diet by Dr. Mike Moreno promises to help you lose weight fast by changing your metabolism so you are constantly burning fat.  The diet is divided into four 17 day cycles: accelerate, activate, achieve, and arrive. Dr. Moreno includes a handy weight chart to give a general idea weights for each height.
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     The cycles are mainly to change the way you eat and to get your metabolism on track. 

• Accelerate -- Improves digestion, gets rid of excess sugar in blood, teaches you to recognizes the signs of hunger and fullness, and reduces body's storage of fat
• Activate -- Resetting metabolism by changing calorie intakes and further cementing changes made during the accelerate cycle
• Achieve -- Cementing diet and weight loss by adding more foods to diet and increasing exercise (particularly aerobic), and add more good foods to diet
• Arrive -- Maintaining weight loss but still allowing free days for where you can eat anything 

    There are only 17 minutes of required exercise every day and it can be any form you choose. The doctor also lists the effects diet on the body for a time frame from 15 minutes after breakfast to 6 months after the main part of the diet.

    During each cycle, you are encouraged to eat lean proteins like chicken, fish, and other foods.  You are allotted different vegetables and fruits for each phase of the diet and told which fruits and vegetables actually slow your metabolism.  The doctor outlines which carbs are acceptable for consumption during each cycle, which fats to indulge in, foods rich in various minerals, the benefits of probiotics, and the benefits of water, coffee, and green tea while on the plan.

   Dr. Moreno also includes tips for following this diet while still enjoying your cultural foods.  Tips include reducing portion size, boiling or steaming or sauteing in a little oil rather than frying, avoiding butter sauces, using whole grains, etc.   He includes tips for women with PMS that can foster weight loss or maintenance of weight loss while providing relief from some PMS symptoms.  There are tips for enjoying a restaurant meal without falling off the wagon.  Another chapter details how to avoid saboteurs (intentional and unintentional), survive holidays, shift work, and travel situations.

   I'm actually on the activate portion of the diet and have actually seen some weight loss (about 3 lbs).  I've started eating breakfast or at least a small meal before leaving the house and have added some fruits while giving up others.  I waited until after Easter to start since there is about a month before another holiday loaded with food.  As far as weight loss goes, my Achilles heel is soda (especially Coca-Cola). I've been gradually weaning myself from soda; I'm down to about a liter every two weeks.  I like this diet plan and have had pretty good results in the week or so I've been doing it.    I appreciate that he included a section for different cultural diets and doesn't assume that everyone is "meat and potatoes" American.  For me, the section on family and potential sabotage will likely be most helpful.  I'll keep updating.


*This book was provided by the publisher Free Press in exchange for my honest opinion.*