Book Review: Sounds Like Me

Katie October 23, 2015 0 Comments

Sounds Like Me: My Life (So Far) in Song is a collection of essays from singer Sara Bareilles.  The book contains 8 essays, one of which she gets some friends to help her out on writing and speaking of friends – the book starts off with a forward by Ben Folds.  It took her 2 years to finally write this book and in that time she even wrote a musical!  There are pics throughout of Sara on stage, Sara growing up, etc.  Each chapter starts with a photo and lyrics to the song that the chapter is named after.  Some fun things… she went to college with Maroon 5 which is how she ended up opening for them, it tells the real, full story about Love Song – which was a bit more indepth than what I had heard previously (that her record label wanted her to write a love song so she wrote love song for them) and not so fun, about how she was opening for Sugarland when the stage collapsed a few years back.  My favorite chapter was the one where she wrote “Dear Sara” letters back to her younger self.

Overall a great book and one that I think anyone will enjoy whether they are familiar with Sara’s music or not.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

With refreshing candor, Sounds Like Me reveals Sara Bareilles, the artist—and the woman—on songwriting, soul searching, and what’s discovered along the way.

Sara Bareilles shares the joys and the struggles that come with creating great work, all while staying true to yourself. Imbued with humor and marked by Sara’s confessional writing style, this collection tells the inside story behind some of her most popular songs. Most recently known for her chart-topper “Brave,” Sara first broke through in 2007 with her multi-platinum single “Love Song.” She has released five albums that have sold 2.5 million copies and spawned several hits. More than a privileged view inside the experience of a remarkable musical talent—this is a moving tribute to the universal search for growth, healing, and self-acceptance.

Book Review: Baseball Dads

Katie October 23, 2015 0 Comments

From the beginning of the book, when the author wrote a note that if you are easily offended you should shove the book up your anus, I knew I was about to be taken on a wild ride.  And that I was.

Baseball Dads tells the story of 4 guys who became friends because their kids all play on the same little league team together.  Now they hang out and golf and do drugs and talk about their sexcapades.

What starts with someone seeing the umpire kill a guy and trying to black mail him into talking some sense into the kids baseball coach so they stop playing “daddy baseball” (where the kids get to play where their suck up parents want them to play, regardless of how good they are) and start playing “winning baseball” (you know, where you play ball to win) ends up with a death count that I lost track of after, oh, nine.

Things got so crazy at times I was expecting the main character Dwayne to wake up and realize it was all just a bad trip and none of it really happened.  But instead of that happening… things just get more and more ridiculous.

I can’t really talk too much about it for fear I am giving too much away but if you love serial killers like Dexter, are familiar with little league baseball (maybe because you’ve been involved with it – as a coach, parent or in my case, working the concessions) and are looking for something fun to read – this is it.  (If you’re not into reading about murder and drugs and sex and other offensive thingsthen I would say this is NOT the book for you, hence the author’s note in the beginning of the book)

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

An irreverent black comedy about sex, drugs, murder…and children’s baseball.

Dwayne Devero is just like you and me, except he simply doesn’t give a s**t any more. He’s had enough. He’s done with people living life wrong. You’ll do it right, or he’ll bury you under the bases at the ballpark where he coaches. It’s just that simple.

Tired of poor decisions being made all around him, from the politics of player positions on his son’s little league baseball team to the philandering of his wife in his own bedroom, Dwayne decides that breaking is better than bending. What follows is a wild ride full of carnage and revenge, led by a man who will stop at absolutely nothing to bring honor back to his family, his community… and children’s baseball.

Baseball Dads is a pitch black comedy in which one man takes on the duty of bludgeoning honor back into a sometimes dishonorable world.

Book Review: Daron’s Guitar Chronicles Volume 1

Katie October 23, 2015 0 Comments

Daron is 19, plays guitar and is on tour.  He’s a bit of a prodigy and has been playing since he was a kid. It’s the 1980s. Things were a bit simpler then – no phone for his Dad to track him down on… but at the same time things weren’t as simple. Daron is in the closet. Volume 1 chronicles the beginning of his career – writing songs, playing guitar, helping out on a tour.  I have Volume 2 to read next, and I’m glad because 1 did end with a cliffhanger of sorts when it comes to the rest of Daron’s career.

I received a free e-copy in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

Sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Coming out and coming of age in the days of AIDS, MTV, Reaganomics, and Just Say No.

Daron Marks is a young guitar player with a dream, make it big like the guys he grew up idolizing in New Jersey–or at least escape his dysfunctional family. He makes it as far as music school in Rhode Island, and the rock clubs of Boston beckon him. But it’s hard to succeed from the closet.

A story of how finding one’s self is key to finding love, and loving one’s self is key to loving another.

Book Review: Uneasy In New Orleans

Katie October 23, 2015 0 Comments

I picked this book because I was going to be going on a trip to New Orleans. And then it ended up getting scheduled to be posted when I am there.  Although, after reading it I think I maybe should have waited until I got home to start it 😉

Uneasy in New Orleans is about Finn Jones.  The book starts while Finn is giving one of her walking tours of New Orleans and the cemeteries and haunted houses.  She spots of dead body. And then it disappeared. And where she saw it, a voodoo doll appears that seems to be in Finn’s likeness.  Fortunately, her good friend Jack is a detective. But she is of course in the middle of the investigation now.  Jack’s brother Tommy is a PI and Finn has been taking some photos for him.  She ends up realizing that one of the women that she had just taken photos of is on the FBIs most wanted list and ends up getting kidnapped by her.  And the guy she was in the photos with is after her as well.

Finn seems to find trouble wherever she turns. And her younger sister is living with her for the time being and she ends up trying to hook up with the neighbor boy while Finn is out.  Meanwhile, Finn is also trying to go to culinary school and keeping it a secret from everyone because she is worried that her family will think she is a failure that can’t finish anything.  Then she ends up getting suspended from the class…

New Orleans seems to be a great backdrop for this story what with the voodoo and the curses that seem to be going on around Finn. Or to Finn.  A lot of action and a bit of mystery, this was a great read.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

FINNIGAN JONES HAS A PASSION FOR COOKING AND A PENCHANT FOR TROUBLE.

Dead bodies aren’t on Finn’s New Orleans walking tour of cemeteries and haunted houses. Ditto disappearing bodies. Now she has to explain to Detective Jack Boyle how her missing corpse has turned up in the Mississippi putting her smack-dab in the middle of a murder investigation.

Unfortunately, another of Finn’s odd jobs is taking questionable photos for Jack’s PI brother, Tommy. After she snaps shots of a dubious pair of lovebirds, they stalk her, then kidnap her. Now Finn’s dealing with two lunatics intent on killing her. Or driving her crazy. She’s not sure which.

Because lunatics and smokin’-hot brothers aren’t enough trouble, she’s gossiping, yes gossiping, with a chef ghost at culinary school, cat-sitting her aunt’s six felines and attempting to corral her wayward teenage sister.

All Finn wants is to survive school and become the best chef in the world.

FINN’S LIFE IS ABOUT TO GET EVEN MORE COMPLICATED.