Book Club Mondays: "Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang"

 

The only reason why I read Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang in the first place was because the Kindle I'd rented from the Milwaukee Public Library was pre-loaded with memoirs, and it seemed like an interesting book to try out.

I have never watched Chelsea Handler's show, and would not even consider myself a fan - she just has a great way of putting words together in an entertaining way - and I'm sure that she wouldn't be a celebrity if she didn't, right?

In any case, Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang is a collection of essays, all humorous, about certain parts of her life from childhood to a hilarious wedding date - each story more vulgar and entertaining as the last, although once you get pretty far in, it seems like it wouldn't be possible to laugh out loud anymore.

One thing I can say about Chelsea Handler after picking up this book and knowing barely anything about her is that she can write an interesting book with her hands tied behind her back, basically - I was thoroughly entertained with each page I turned in the book, and hesitated to put it away each night when I was done reading, even though I was ready to pass out most nights.

Look out for a review of another of Chelsea's books, My Horizontal Life, coming soon!

Book Club Mondays: "Running With Scissors"

 

Since getting a Kindle of my own as a birthday gift from my parents back in December, I have found a new appreciation for e-book reading that I never thought I would have. Of course, life has a way of screwing us out of the best laid plans so I haven't been able to use it much, but I'm attempting to get back into it. Prior to that, I'd rented an older version Kindle from our local library and read several books, both old and new, and figured it was a good enough time as ever to get back into a normal posting schedule, as well!

Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs is one of the most well-known novels of my time, at least, and spawned not only eight weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, but many conversations about how some individuals treat their children, which I believe is what was intended. The book tells the story of his downright bizarre childhood, in which his mother sent him away, to live with her psychiatrist. It was good enough to spawn a film, which was released in 2006.

For me, Running With Scissors is the kind of book I could (and have) gone back to two times, even three times, and still enjoy every second of reading. There is always something new to find out, and a different facet to the story. I believe that's a big reason I keep going back to it - as an adolescent (the first time I read the book), I could see myself in the same position - granted my mother was a crazy person - and I believe that's what has always made the book that much more real to me.

If you want a story that can put a chill in your bones and a thought in your head, look no further than Running With Scissors or any of Burroughs' other novels.