I Am Ozzy

Honestly more enjoyable than I thought it would be. Thankfully he had a writer help him out so it wasn't all unintelligible gibberish, it was actually quite interesting. I shouldn't be surprised, he's an interesting and crazy guy and this book really highlights the insanity of his life. He starts with his childhood, formation of Black Sabbath, his first marriage, his obscene amount of alcohol and drug abuse, his marriage to Sharon, his solo career, his second family, his TV show, and getting sober. He's accomplished a lot and how he isn't dead I have no idea. My nose was literally itching from the amount of waffle dust and drugs used. I didn't enjoy all the animal abuse, cheating, or domestic abuse, but at least he owns up to those and doesn't make excuses for himself. Overall an interesting fucked up enjoyable read.

David Bowie: A Life

Not the greatest biography on Bowie, and certainly not the worst. The collection is just so so. This oral history biography recounts collections from Bowie's closest friends, family, band members, partners, and more; unfortunately it doesn't shed much new light on his life. If you're a seasoned Bowie lover you can pass by this, however if this is your first Bowie biography it's not bad. It can get a little repetitive at times and the format of the oral histories takes some getting used to , but it's still pieced together pretty well. Best read while listening to Bowie's music on repeat for the full effect.

The Tommy Gun Dolls

This book was beautiful and badass and I CANNOT WAIT for the next volume. After waiting years to get my hands on this I was not disappointed. The illustrations are out of this world good and I couldn't stop reading until I was done. I had to know how these dames got out of their mess. Mix together some burlesque, flappers, mafia, vengeance, and general feminist badassery and you have an idea of how great this graphic novel is. Check it out, you won't regret it!

Beauty and the Beast

I'm not going to lie, I'm giving this 5 out of 5 stars simply because this book is so gorgeous. The illustrations are divine and the interactive elements are beautiful. I honestly can't recall the last time I was so bowled over by how pretty a book was. The text and story are quite different from what most people remember in the Disney version. The text in this book is used from one of the original French translations, so there are some big notable differences. Beauty has lots of siblings, there is no Gaston, no talking household items, lots of fairies, and trickery, and more. It's not bad, just different. The text can also be a little clunky, but I think that's due to the translation and time period it was written. Kids (and adults) will be enthralled enough in the illustrations and interactive elements to not care. A beautiful book that will light up any bookshelf.

Going Clear

LORD HELP ME! This book was outta control. I wish it was science fiction. You ever read a book and it lifts the curtain and it's like you can see clearly for the first time? That's what this was. Obviously I'm familiar with the controversy surrounding Scientology and I know that this religion was created by the Science Fiction legend, L. Ron Hubbard, but other than that... I didn't know anything. Reading this was eye opening and terrifying. All religions are unique, but this "new one" is pretty freaking scary. Lawrence Wright does an amazing job outlining L. Ron Hubbard's life, early stages of Scientology, its ties to Hollywood, and the terrifying reality for those that get sucked into it. Scientology is INSANE. I get all belief systems are a little "unique" but this one is out of the ballpark. You have to read it to believe it.  After reading this I cannot wait to watch some of the documentaries and read more. It's almost unbelievable.

The Road Through Wonderland

This was definitely an unsettling, upsetting, and heartbreaking memoir. Dawn Schiller had a rough childhood to say the least. With a deadbeat dad, and lots of crime and drugs she had to grow up very quickly. When she finds herself in California at 15 she meets the enigmatic Porn King, John Holmes (aka Johnny Wadd). He quickly seduces her even though he is already in his mid thirties and she isn't even close to legal. Their relationship quickly escalates and he moves her in to his wife's house to live with them. Things start to spiral out of control quickly though when they start heavily using crack. Not content to just snort it they start freebasing it as well. John's porn career is over and he finds himself heavily in debt as his drug usage mounts. He starts beating Dawn and forces her into prostitution to get more money for drugs. Things take a dark turn when Dawn realizes that he has somehow been involved in a murder in Wonderland. All the reader wants is for Dawn to leave John. He is LITERALLY THE WORST! But that is abuse for you, not only is it physical but mental too. Dark and unreal, the movie version stars Val Kilmer and Kate Bosworth.

The Bad Beginning

I'm probably the last person in the world to have started this series. And I've never seen the movie or the Netflix original series. I am seriously late to the game. But! Better late than never! I decided to try out the audiobook because it's narrated by Tim Curry and that is a total no brainer. He has the voice of a god. A terrifying god, but that is what makes him so perfect to take on this darkly funny series. The Bad Beginning introduces to three poor orphans who have just lost their parents in a horrible fire. As if that isn't bad enough the will states they must live with whatever relative is closest and that turns out to be the horrible Count Olaf who has some nasty tricks up his sleeve. The will the orphan's parent's left states that the large inheritance can't be used until the oldest daughter turns of age. But that does nothing to stop dastardly Count Olaf. Witty and dark, this is a fun children's series that I definitely plan on reading more of!

Elizabeth I

I haven't read historical fiction in a minute and I will admit that I was first daunted by the size of this book. However I was quickly captivated and this book was all I could think about. I had to know more! I vaguely remember learning about Queen Elizabeth I in history class, but what did I really know about her, so much was a mystery about her private life.

This 600+ page novel doesn't start during her childhood or even during her early reign. It starts when the Queen is in her mid-fifties and follows her through the end of her rule. It was utterly FASCINATING! The plot is told through the Queen's perspective and through her cousin, Lettice. Together they know an impressive cast of characters; Shakespeare, Francis Bacon, Grace O'Malley and more. I learned so much and was kept utterly charmed. I couldn't believe how wonderfully this was written and how much research the author put in to flesh out the queen's life. I can't wait to read more by this author.

God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater

I definitely appreciated this much more on the second go around. Admittedly it's not my favorite Vonnegut novel, but I still think it's pretty solid... in an off the wall kind of fucked up way. This black comedy satire novel, pokes fun at everything: the wealthy, how Americans view poverty, science fiction, family trees, foundations, and more. Eliot Rosewater is the head of the insanely rich Rosewater Foundation and since he's been head he's been mostly drunk and not altogether sane. He'll write out grants for morphine, poetry, whatever anyone in his crazy community asks for. Shit hits the fan when it turns out that there is another Rosewater relation who might be more legally sane and responsible to take over the foundation since Eliot has no children. It's zany, over the top, and filled with the Vonnegut charm.

The Great Passage

Miura, Shion. The Great Passage. 6 CDs. unabridged. Brilliance Audio. 2017. ISBN 9781536631852. $14.99.

"A dictionary is a ship that crosses the sea of words." In this charming Japanese translation (translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter), an unforgettable cast of characters; eat, breathe, and live words. Their pursuit of the perfect dictionary, The Great Passage, is a long arduous journey but no one seems to mind. While working together they discover, love, friendship, passion, and a sense of purpose. Over the years their passion for lexicography never dims, if anything it only grows stronger as they share their passion with new recruits and employees in the dictionary editorial department. Narrator, Brian Nishi does a wonderful job bringing authenticity and feeling to the forefront, never stumbling over Japanese phrasing and words. His warmth greatly adds to the feeling and charm of the story. A quick, intriguing, and unique story certain to attract readers. Perfect for fans of "A Man Called Ove," literary translations, and heartwarming tales. - Erin Cataldi, Johnson Co. Public Library, Franklin, IN

Atomic Blonde

The only thing I had to go off of was the previews for the action packed movie adaptation, other than that I had no idea what this book was actually about. The movie looks like Charlize Theron just kicking a lot of ass, but the book there isn't so much of that. It's about spies in Germany during the Cold War before the wall fell. When shit hits the fan and a very sensitive document goes missing M16 sends a tried and true officer (Lorraine) to recover the item and sort out the mess. She quickly realizes that not everything is as it seems and that some agents may have gone native, playing more than one side. She uses her skills to get to the bottom of the rabbit trail, but where will it lead her... A spy thriller as a graphic novel, I'm sure the movie adaptation, will make this gem more sought over.

Modern Romance

Even though this is non-fiction, it is also straight up comedy gold. Aziz makes an interesting topic more engaging and easy to read by inserting his trademark wit and humor. Modern Romance is exactly what the title implies, it's all about love, dating, and relationships in the modern era. It's not all conjecture though, he consults top researchers in a variety of fields to provide statistical analysis, charts, and graphs and also conducted tons of focus groups to see how people today view romance in the age of technology. There is some interesting new trends on how we meet soul mates, judge potential candidates, and view love now that we have access to a wide variety of dating apps, social media, and expanded friend groups. Definitely an interesting read that is sure to start great conversation.

She's Come Undone

I have strong feelings about this book I just don't know what they are. I'm honestly kind of speechless. I think it was great? Hell, what happened? What did I read? How do you describe such a complex and... uncomplicated book? It's a coming of age story, an awakening, an odyssey of emotional and mental health. It's all over the place. It all centers around Dolores Price, a young girl who isn't the most emotionally stable. She starts off as a fragile little thing and balloons up into a fat, depressed cynic, and then spends the rest of her life roller coasting around until she finds some sort of balance. It's a discussion of women's rights, religion, mental health, family dynamics, romantic relationships, and more. She is a complex, intriguing heroine/villain/comedic actress. Honestly I can't describe this book and do it justice. It takes a little to get into, but once you do... buckle up.

All the Dirty Parts

I was definitely intrigued by this book when I realized it was written by the author of the Series of Unfortunate Events (Lemony Snicket) and it was all about sex and horny teenagers. I mean, obviously I had to give this book a shot. It wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either. I didn't know what to expect honestly. It's a bunch of short passages about a horny teenage boy discussing his love and appreciation for the female body, pornography, and sex. Cole has  bit of a reputation around his high school, he chases after the ladies, he can't help it. He just wants them all. When in between ladies, he watches porn with his best friend Alec. One day things get all hot and awkward and the two boys start fooling around. It's just innocent exploration. Until suddenly it's a little more and Cole is getting concerned. Is he gay? What does this mean? At the height of his existential crisis a new girl comes to school and the two start having crazy awesome sex, much to Alec's dismay. Is he bi? Is he in love? Is it just sex? All this book contains are the dirty parts. That and confusion. It's a quick read, and I'm not sure what I gained out of it, but I didn't hate it.

Drunks

I was expecting a more light hearted funny non fiction book about the history and plight of the American drunks, but instead got the in-depth history of drunks (starting with American Indians) trying to reform and become sober. It's my bad for not reading the complete description! Every chapter goes into detail about a different method of obtaining sobriety from gold cures to workhouses to temperance society to prohibition to the birth of AA. It's pretty interesting actually and I learned quite a lot, even if it did get a little too bogged down in details. There is a small insert with some pictures and drawings to shed light on some of the different cures and methods discussed. An interesting read, but will mostly be useful for college students, those interested in the history of alcoholism, and those trying to stay sober.

A Record of My Vinyl

This gorgeous journal is perfect for the music lover in your life. Whether they're a vinyl junkie or just starting to collect, this journal is a great way to record, organize, and mark favorites in your collection. The cover itself is beautiful, but it only gets prettier when you open it up. Inside there are tips for cleaning and maintaining your vinyl collection, lists that can be easily torn out and taken with you as you shop for more vinyl to add to your collection, loads of space to catalog your collection and room to make notes and memories of each. Overall, it's a great gift to give or receive.

Monstress

Beautifully illustrated and complex, I haven't seen a graphic novel like this in ages. Filled with beautiful illustrations, a little bit of manga, and comic art this new series is sure to attract a wide audience. The storyline can be a little hard to follow at times, but overall I think it's worth checking out. Mix horror, manga, steampunk, and fantasy and you have Monstress. It's dark, gorgeous, and twisting and I wouldn't even begin to do it justice by trying to write a summary for it. Just check it out for yourself :)

The Girls in the Picture

I adored this book. For some unknown reasons I didn't have high expectations, maybe it was the cover? Who knows, but despite my initial misgivings, I am happy to say that I was instantly hooked. The story was wonderfully crafted and the chapters alternated between Mary Pickford, America's Sweetheart, first "celebrity," and silent movie star and Frances Marion, the famed screenwriter. I had heard of Mary Pickford but I didn't really know about her or the silent film era either. Readers get a wonderful glimpse of what life was like for women in early Hollywood through the unique lens of two women who actually existed (although their narratives are in this book are fiction). The history of silent film and the birth of Hollywood is fascinating and this book offers an in depth look at not only these two women, but the men surrounding them, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, studio heads and more. One of the best historical fiction reads I've read in a long while and a must read!

Changes

Wow, this book really helped tie together so much of the series. And if I'm being honest, it's one of the best ones in a while. Dresden finds out that he had a daughter with Susan and that she's been kidnapped by the red court who want to murder her to complete a blood sacrifice. So once again, stupid Susan is on my list. UGH. Obviously shit hits the fan and it takes a whole crew to help Harry out because he is in waaay too deep. It's a non-stop action ride with everyone's favorite wizard kicking ass and cracking jokes. I can't wait to read the next in the series because this one totally ended on a cliffhanger. Amazeballs!