Are You There, Vodka?

The Book:
Are You There, Vodka? It's Me Chelsea by Chelsea Handler

Summary from the Chelsea's website:
(http://www.chelseahandler.com/)

When Chelsea Handler needs to get a few things off her chest, she appeals to a higher power -- vodka. You would too if you found out that your boyfriend was having an affair with a Peekapoo or if you had to pretend to be honeymooning with your father in order to upgrade to first class. Welcome to Chelsea's world -- a place where absurdity reigns supreme and a quick wit is the best line of defense.
In this hilarious, deliciously skewed collection, Chelsea mines her past for stories about her family, relationships, and career that are at once singular and ridiculous. Whether she's convincing her third-grade class that she has been tapped to play Goldie Hawn's daughter in the sequel to Private Benjamin, deciding to be more egalitarian by dating a redhead, or looking out for a foulmouthed, rum-swilling little person who looks just like her...only smaller, Chelsea has a knack for getting herself into the most outrageous situations. Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea showcases the candor and irresistible turns of phrase that have made her one of the freshest voices in comedy today.

What I Thought:
Because I am generally a fan of Handler's E! show, Chelsea Lately, I had an interest in reading one of her books. I found the tone of the book to be similar to that of her show, with some hit-or-miss humor. While some of the situations Handler describes from her life are humorous, I found some parts to be unnecessarily vulgar. I think it really comes down to tastes in comedy -- If you like Handler's style of comedy, you will probably enjoy her essays on life experiences. On the other hand, if you don't enjoy Handler's style, this book is surely not for you.

Rating: 5/10

Shiver

The Book:
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Summary from the author's website:
(http://www.maggiestiefvater.com/)

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human... until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

What I Thought:
I thought this would be another Twilight-ish book, but I was pleasantly surprised. Unlike Stephine Meyer's werewolves, Stiefvater's werewolves change because of the weather - more specifically the cold. I enjoyed the twist on the traditional werewolf story and the main character's troublesome romance seemed to fit very well in the dark YA tale. Though I felt the book dragged a bit in some parts, the desire to find out what happens to the characters kept me reading. I found the last few chapters left me heartbroken, surprised and eager for the next installment, Linger.

Rating: 9/10

Nerds Like It Hot

The Book:
Nerds Like It Hot by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Summary from the author's website: (http://www.vickilewisthompson.com/)

As the sole witness to a mob-related murder, mousy makeup artist Gillian McCormick needs to disappear if she wants to stay alive. With the help of her octogenarian film star friend Cora Bledsoe, Gillian transforms into a Marilyn Monroe look-alike and books passage on a Nerd cruise headed for Mexico. She also brings along backup; P.I. Lex Manchester and his partner Dante Fiorello, who agree to work undercover as nerds to protect Gillian until the cruise docks.

But once aboard ship, things are far from simple. The cruise is loaded with unusual and suspicious characters, from lusty nerds to cross-dressers, making it nearly impossible to identify a real threat. And when things begin to heat up between Gillian and Lex, will he be able to keep her safe when all he wants to do is keep her for himself?

What I thought:

This book is what you expect from a typical modern romance novel -the characters were likable, the plot line was somewhat predictable, the main couple find themselves in some interesting encounters. I felt the ending was a little sudden and awkward though.

This book it isn't for those looking for a deep read, but it is a cute, light and fun read. Great for beach/pool reading!

My Rating: 6/10

Finally!

I have just finished my master's degree in library science and will finally be able to pick up a book to read for fun! I have plenty to read and hope to document some of my reading on this new blog. I will be keeping track of all the books I read each year on separate pages at the top and try to highlight good reads in blog entries. Can't wait to read my way through all the new-to-me books on my shelves!