Hard...

Hard...and easy to really dislike Tinaca Jones.  I absolutely loved Retta's reading of this book.  She is an incredible talent.  But this man, Matt Boren, has filled a story with many stereotypes and it just made me feel strange that a white man was writing in this voice.  And then I felt do I have a right, as a privileged white woman to feel angry about Boren?  I just don't know...so I couldn't give this book any kind of rating at all.  But without a doubt, Retta is remarkable in all that she does. 

I Didn't Know Him

but Adam Wade seems like a really nice guy.  You Oughta Know Adam Wade was my introduction to him.   Here is why I couldn't be too enthusiastic about Mr. Wade.  I think I am jealous.  I have tried my hand at stand-up and I enjoy it and I have done well.  But more than telling jokes I am most successful when I tell stories.  Well, as you can imagine, when I found out that Adam Wade makes a living telling stories, my shadow self was on fire! 
"I am so much funnier than he is!"
"I could do better!"
Truth is, I am not!  And Mr. Wade is where he needs to be.  So if you enjoy laughing and love a good story, and your shadow self is in check, you will thoroughly enjoy getting to know Adam Wade. 

Don't Know Much 'bout Current Pop Culture

but I do know that Joan Crawford and Bette Davis didn't like each other at all and that sisters, Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland didn't feel much family love and that Judy made Lena mad because Judy was kinda last minute and Lena liked to be prepared.

But I didn't really know much about Kathy Griffin until my mom started saying how much she loved her.  Mom is a big Anderson Cooper fan, as am I, and Griffin and Cooper's mom, Gloria Vanderbilt are best friends, or at the kids say today, "besties."  Well, maybe not best friends, but super good friends.  And I also think that I knew that Griffin and one of my all-time heroes, Joan Rivers were close.
So I bought my mom Griffin's new book, Kathy Griffin's Celebrity Run-Ins:  My A-Z Index and she is loving it.
I then saw Official Book Club Selection:  a Memoir According to Kathy Griffin on one of the downloadable sites from the library and listened to it and loved it.  Then I bought A-Z on audible and blew through that, too!
Very funny lady.  Very hard-working.  I know that some people find her mean, but they said that about Joanie, too.

We Still Miss You

It has been nearly two years since the passing of the great Joan Rivers.  The Book of Joan:  Tales of Mirth, Mischief and Manipulation by her daughter, Melissa Rivers, was such a wonderful, wonderful read.  The two year anniversary of her death is September 4.  I loved listening to this book.  I just loved everything about it.  Melissa is honest and sincere and very funny on her own.
Yes, Joan Rivers did offend people, but I think they were people who didn't really take the time to explore all who Joan Rivers was.  And I know that Joan wouldn't care if she offended them or not.  Joan's style is not my style, but that is because I am not as brave.  And because I am not as funny!  No one is.  Joan Rivers, we will always miss you.

What a Good Idea!

If you are Joan Rivers, the whole idea built around things that you hate is a great idea.  I Hate Everyone...Starting with Me is a book that no one but Joan Rivers could have written successfully.
There are some brilliant lines in here.  And I enjoyed every bit of this book. Especially now, after learning what I always suspected, that Joan was a truly loving woman, who gave so much to so many.
Next week I am hosting a comedy show.  Hosting isn't so bad.  I am not a very funny stand-up comic and while the host needs to be entertaining, the host should never overshadow the real comics.  I never need to worry about the overshadowing part, but standing up to do storytime makes me nervous and stand-up always makes me super nervous.
At first I was going to say that stand-up shouldn't make me more nervous than preaching because preaching is far more important...but you know...preaching makes me very nervous, but ultimately, hopefully, what I say is what God wants me to say that day.  I don't always say it well, but that is what I am doing.
Hmmm....now that I think about it...shouldn't I try, shouldn't we ALL strive to say what God wants us to say?  In stand-up, in storytime, in conversation?

Joan Rivers is on the Tonight Show!

I remember being a kid and being so excited when Johnny Carson, who I really didn't like, was off and Joan was filling in for him on The Tonight Show.  That was the only time I never watched the Tonight Show, as  I am a David Letterman girl.  When I was 13 I bought The Life and (hard) Times of Heidi Ambromowitz at Waldenbooks in Northway Mall and I loved it!  So I have good memories of Joan Rivers.  I know she is offensive and rude and awful, but she is a part of my childhood.  I read a comment somewhere online that Joan's day has come and gone because her comedy is outdated.  He wasn't being critical, really.  Just stating a fact, in fact, this commenter wrote that he enjoyed her, but yes, her time is over.  That is probably true.  Joan Rivers' comedy is more of the age of Dean Martin's Celebrity Roasts and Don Rickles.   Not a lot of people remember Sunny von Bülow.  Well, I can't help it.  I love Joan.  And I did find myself laughing out loud several times, but yes, cringing many times, too.

The Hot Pocket Guy

Until I got Sirius/XM Radio, I really didn't pay much attention to stand up comedy.  I happened to hear this joke and oh my gosh...so true...so funny!  Jim Gaffigan is one gifted comic and he doesn't need foul language and sexual content to bring a laugh.  I am not a parent and this whole book is about parenting, but I had a great time listening to it.  It was exceptionally funny and I recommend it highly!