It’s pretty obvi why the banning bastards don’t want this one on the shelves since it not only is about highly horny teens in a camp where
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It’s pretty obvi why the banning bastards don’t want this one on the shelves since it not only is about highly horny teens in a camp where the counselors all seem to be accepting of the fact that smexuals will be occurring, but said sexy times also are fully on page in detail. (I’ll be the first to admit, I tend to prefer my fictional intercourse to be of the fade-to-black style, unless it involves motorcycle men or werewolves, but also I don’t judge others’ reading proclivities.)
So like I said, this story is about a group of kids all attending queer camp for the summer. They do the usual camp stuff like capture the flag and color wars and a talent show. This one also features a big end-of-camp musical in the form of Bye Bye Birdie. Randy has been coming to camp for years now and was always a theater kid who secretly pined for the affections of the jock, Hudson. In the past year Randy has morphed into “Del” – not only dropping some pounds, but also morphing into Hudson’s “masc” type of potential paramour. Randy . . . er, Del hopes this summer will be the one where he finally gets Hudson to fall for him – and also break Hudson’s playboy cycle of only dating boys until they’ve become another notch in his bedpost. But mainly the moral of the story is you shouldn’t have to change who are you to make someone like you along with a side of . . . .
Really my only complaint about Camp is it was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long for as simple a tale as it was telling. Randy’s friends and their cabin counselor were all great (as was Hudson’s friend, Brad). This would have worked a lot better for me if more their individual stories had been told as well instead of focusing only on Randy and Hudson.
I had really high hopes for this collection and I am not one of the aforementioned jerks who believe women to be less funny than men. I mean just look at SNL – who run that world????
It’s unfortunate there wasn’t more of that content. I need to try and get my hands on the original collection by funny females Titters that served as inspiration to this one. I have a feeling Gilda Radner, Phyllis Diller, Candace Bergen and the like would not disappoint.
Merged review:
If you’re looking for a book to prove to some jerk in your life that women are indeed funny, I hate to break it to you, but . . . .
I had really high hopes for this collection and I am not one of the aforementioned jerks who believe women to be less funny than men. I mean just look at SNL – who run that world????
It’s unfortunate there wasn’t more of that content. I need to try and get my hands on the original collection by funny females Titters that served as inspiration to this one. I have a feeling Gilda Radner, Phyllis Diller, Candace Bergen and the like would not disappoint....more
“Never get in the car. That’s what they tell you. Once you get in the car, yoFind all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
3.5 Stars
“Never get in the car. That’s what they tell you. Once you get in the car, you’re dead. They used to teach us that at school. How you shouldn’t talk to strangers. How if a car drives up alongside you, you turn and walk in the other direction. But whoever taught us that never had someone threatening their best friend with a knife.”
I requested Amy Chelsea Stacie Dee during Banned Books Week and ended up reading it in early October when my turn at the library came around. I suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck at reviewing - therefore I’ll keep this one short and sweet. This book gets 4 Stars because it was marketed appropriately – as Young Adult. I appreciate envelope pushing subject matter, which this one definitely has. But for adults who don’t often read YA, you may find yourself reacting like this before you finally get to the big reveal . . . .
And an ending that gets tied up with a pretty bow. If you choose to read this, just remember it was really written for kids so shut ya old ass up. Just kidding!
“Never get in the car. That’s what they tell you. Once you get in the car, you’re dead. They used to teach us that at school. How you shouldn’t talk to strangers. How if a car drives up alongside you, you turn and walk in the other direction. But whoever taught us that never had someone threatening their best friend with a knife.”
I requested Amy Chelsea Stacie Dee during Banned Books Week and ended up reading it in early October when my turn at the library came around. I suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck at reviewing - therefore I’ll keep this one short and sweet. This book gets 4 Stars because it was marketed appropriately – as Young Adult. I appreciate envelope pushing subject matter, which this one definitely has. But for adults who don’t often read YA, you may find yourself reacting like this before you finally get to the big reveal . . . .
And an ending that gets tied up with a pretty bow. If you choose to read this, just remember it was really written for kids so shut ya old ass up. Just kidding!...more
I used to be someone who would end up reading challenged books all year long, but over the past couple of years I tend not to pick up young adult stories as much so now I really make an effort to read at least one on purpose during this particular week each year. Many thanks to my friend TL for providing several different links/articles rather than the “Top 100” which I’ve sort of exhausted at this point.
The story (or storIES, as the case is here) are all about various young adult relationships. While I realize as an oldster I am not the target demographic here, I’m still a reader and allowed to express my opinion. And my opinion mainly falls in the form of this REALLY didn’t stand the test of time. 20 years ago, this collection was probably groundbreaking – and apparently that’s true since it won a Coretta Scott King Award. But in 2024? I sure as hell hope authors know better than to present Black girls as all boy crazy, boyfriend stealing, only want to date white boys, “get what’s coming to them” when they wear short skirts and heaven forbid don’t ever mention maybe liking another girl romantically or identifying as male themselves. Not to mention the boys being “dogs” at best and “thugs” at worst who have zero respect for the opposite sex, objectifying them and looking at them only as another notch on their belt.
So yeah this one wasn’t a winner for me, but I have no idea what kind of delulu you have to be to think it should ever be banned. Freaking weirdos.
It’s come to my attention that not only have I never reviewed this book, but I didn’t even mark it as currently reading. James was a copy I was lucky It’s come to my attention that not only have I never reviewed this book, but I didn’t even mark it as currently reading. James was a copy I was lucky enough to receive as an advance and proceeded to gobble it right up only to apparently call it a day. In honor of Banned Books Week, I figured what a better time to say just a little tiny something about a modernization of a classic, which the book banners would review as . . . .
This reimagining tells things from Jim’s (or James’) perspective and like everything else I’ve read by Percival Everett, it’s brilliant. Retellings aren’t your thing? Well, good news for you is you can either pick up the novel Erasure or watch the film version American Fiction for a completely fresh 5-Star experience which covers many of the same themes contained in this one.
Everett has quickly become one of my favorite authors and I am so happy that he has an extensive backlog.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review....more
If you follow me you are well aware that approximately 97.8% of the time I fail at loving the romance novels everyone else has gone ga-ga for, but not only did Mother Nature smile upon me yesterday by going from literally 92 degrees the day before to low 60s with leaves beginning to instantly drop from the trees, but oh my word I. FREAKING. LOVED. THIS.!!!!!!!!
The hubs and I dropped by the library to pick up one hold (the new Liane Moriarty, if you’re nosey like me) and this title caught my eye on the New and Notable rack (note to authors, it really IS all in the name sometimes). The story here is about Molly and Seth (I’ll pause for a moment to allow you to absorb the fact this author used completely normal human names). The two were high school sweethearts who had a painful split on prom night – never to speak again. Now it’s their 15-year reunion and sparks fly for a one-night stand and a friendly wager on which of five couples will still be together at their 20th class reunion – which just so happens to include the two of them. Obviously the rest of the story progression is the goings on of Molly and Seth over the next five years.
I’m giving this one every Star. The characters were great, the humor was great, the pacing was great, the smexies were juuuuuuuuust a little spicy, but didn’t go into page after page of squicky make me barf detail. Even the third act required break up/make up didn’t irritate me too much. If you love love, definitely check this one out!
I’ve had a lot of success with Peter Swanson’s stuff in the past, so when I saw this on the first come/first served new release shelf at the library II’ve had a lot of success with Peter Swanson’s stuff in the past, so when I saw this on the first come/first served new release shelf at the library I snatched it right up. Then I vaguely recalled it being part of a series and got a little scared, because when it comes to my recollection of something I read literally two days ago I tend to be a little like . . . .
Plus, this was BOOK THREE and I had not read book two, so WTF am I even doing???? Good news is the term “series” is used real loosely here. While the characters repeat from the first you can definitely jump into this as a standalone because enough backstory is provided to fill you in (but also doesn’t spoil anything, which is great because that first one was a Strangers on a Train reboot with several twists and turns).
The story here is about Martha and her traveling salesman husband who she thinks might just be a serial killer. Martha enlists the help of her old college friend Lily to assist in a deep dive into the husband's potential pastime – and that’s all you get because momma don’t provide no spoilsies.
This was super fun and a great way to spend a nice Autumn afternoon while the hubbo hollered at the football playing on the boob tube in the background. I loved the name dropping of books (that wind up on my bottomless TBR), loved that Martha was a librarian so it seemed so effortless and loved that this one was just a little bit of an homage to another Highsmith novel - The Talented Mr. Ripley. I’m a solid Swanson fan and will continue singing his praises....more
The problem is it’s hard to know exactly which Young Adult selections I’m going to feel too old for. It’s especially hard with blurbs that say things like . . . .
“Get ready to die laughing” . . . “outrageously funny”
Being that there was already a #2 in this series, it was pretty obvious that I would not be experiencing Denton Little’s death. I’ve also read enough YA/dystopia/whateveryouwanttocallit to not be real blown away by the premise that in the future nearly everyone has a predetermined expiration date. However, I still figured I would enjoy things aiiiiiight. What I did not plan on was a character who kept trying to convince me that . . . .
The mom in me doesn’t give cheating on your girlfriend a pass. And momma sure as hell doesn’t give having sex with a completely hammered/possibly passed-out boy a pass . . . .
Rape is rape. Even if it’s not happening to a female. I want to give this 1 Star because I hate when a book makes me feel like a buzzkill or the morality police. However, like so many other Young Adult novels, Denton’s best friend Paolo was a saving grace and deserves a star all for himself.
The problem is it’s hard to know exactly which Young Adult selections I’m going to feel too old for. It’s especially hard with blurbs that say things like . . . .
“Get ready to die laughing” . . . “outrageously funny”
Being that there was already a #2 in this series, it was pretty obvious that I would not be experiencing Denton Little’s death. I’ve also read enough YA/dystopia/whateveryouwanttocallit to not be real blown away by the premise that in the future nearly everyone has a predetermined expiration date. However, I still figured I would enjoy things aiiiiiight. What I did not plan on was a character who kept trying to convince me that . . . .
The mom in me doesn’t give cheating on your girlfriend a pass. And momma sure as hell doesn’t give having sex with a completely hammered/possibly passed-out boy a pass . . . .
Rape is rape. Even if it’s not happening to a female. I want to give this 1 Star because I hate when a book makes me feel like a buzzkill or the morality police. However, like so many other Young Adult novels, Denton’s best friend Paolo was a saving grace and deserves a star all for himself....more
Once again I’m eighty bazillion reviews behind, so keep your expectations low when it comes to what I am puking out in attempt to get things under conOnce again I’m eighty bazillion reviews behind, so keep your expectations low when it comes to what I am puking out in attempt to get things under control. Lisa Jewell has become a must read sort of author for me so when I saw this “new” release I instantly put my name on the library waiting list. Then I realized this was actually just a re-pub of an older book and I have had some not-great experiences with those in the past and was a little hesitant to even begin this one when my time came up. Not to mention, I did take a gander at the blurb and the idea of a sperm donor wanting to meet his “children” before dying did not sound like my idea of a great time. But then . . . .
The story here is as I said above – Daniel is nearing the end of his life and opens up about being a sperm donor which amounted to fathering four children that he would potentially like to meet before passing away. Narratives are provided by the children and Daniel’s friend in order to bring the story (and eventually the characters) together.
Jewell normally writes family stores with a healthy heaping of some thriller or stabby aspects, and this was definitely more “chick lit” (for lack of a better term). But I love that genre too and ended up pleasantly surprised that I really enjoyed this one....more
After Oz takes the familiar tale of Dorothy Gale and gives it a little twist. After a tornado hits Aunt Emily and Uncle Henry’s town their
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After Oz takes the familiar tale of Dorothy Gale and gives it a little twist. After a tornado hits Aunt Emily and Uncle Henry’s town their niece winds up missing. Four days later she’s discovered in a field talking about this strange new world she visited while gone and even more frightening, confessing to accidentally killing a witch. When the local curmudgeon is discovered dead apparently by way of a lye dousing, Dorothy’s wild tales of her adventures – particularly the “melting” of the witch are taken seriously and she is locked in the Topeka Insane Asylum. Then enters Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford, a psychologist hoping to get an explanation behind Dorothy’s rantings.
I’ll take partial blame for my not loving this one because I am an avid fan of dark retellings of super familiar childhood stories and that’s what I was expecting here (see Christina Henry if you are looking for that sort of genre). I didn’t realize this was going to end up being a whodunnit with Dorothy barely even being a blip in the pages. As far as mysteries go, what’s that old saying? If you hear hoof beats don’t look for a zebra???? Something like that. The murderer was pretty easy to peg even without the backstory providing the why. The pacing was also way off on this one too which made a real slim novel sort of a slog to get through at times. And don’t even get me started on all of the bible verses, the addition of the Greek chorus sort of narration and the last-minute info dump about Dr. Evelyn Grace Wilford’s personal history. So not necessary.
This was a case of a great idea that just didn’t pan out for me.
I just realized this one doesn’t come out until freaking JANUARY, so please accept my apologies on this super early review. What can I say – I either I just realized this one doesn’t come out until freaking JANUARY, so please accept my apologies on this super early review. What can I say – I either read the ARCs I receive months in advance or I don’t read them at all. Oops.
I was willing to make a deal with a witch to get my hands on this one for several reasons. #1 – Grady Hendrix. I’ve dug several of his previous offerings so I wasn’t about to hit snooze on his latest. #2 – a pregnant girls’ home??? Ummmm, yes please. And #3 . . . .
The penis of America! You set a book in Florida and somehow it just works out that Imma like it.
As I said before, this book is about a group of pregnant girls who have all been sent away “to tend to an ill aunt” which actually is code for Wellwood House . . . .
“You are here for a single purpose, which is to shed your sin and face your future.”
Although strongly encouraged to never disclose any information about their personal lives – so much so that each girl is given a false name to go by – they manage to form the strongest of bonds while each awaiting their due date. Forced to stay out of sight in the confines of the Home, the only thing to look forward to is the visit from the Bookmobile every couple of weeks. And that is where Fern, Rose, Zinnia and Holly are given a special loaner that opens up opportunities they never could have imagined . . . .
As an oldster, I don’t get down with hour-long standup specials so I was only familiar with Ali Wong because she was on Fat Housewife (I’m fat, so donAs an oldster, I don’t get down with hour-long standup specials so I was only familiar with Ali Wong because she was on Fat Housewife (I’m fat, so don’t come at me – I am also so happy Katy Mixon has been on my television both as a bombshell and remained employable as a plus-size gal because I think she’s a real gem). This book informed me that Ali was also a writer on Fresh Off the Boat which was another sitcom I enjoyed watching before all things Housewives, 1000 lb people and 90 Day become the entire repertoire of my television experience. And after listening I now know she is totally raunchy and absolutely hilarious. Presented as sort of a how-to (or how-to-not, as the case may be) to her young daughters, this one will definitely have some declaring . . .
To which I say, just move on to the next. Not everything is for everyone. Personally I never knew I would find butthole, overgrown bush and camel toe jokes so funny, but there I was laughing out loud like a complete lunatic on my daily walks....more
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