Ogden Nash's Zoo

My family seems to love Ogden Nash but I am just so-so about him. He's like a Dr. Seuss poet for adults. His poetry is irreverent and "funny" and geared towards adult humor. This collection features a bunch of ridiculous animal poetry. Some of it rhymes, some of it doesn't, much of it is nonsensical. The best part of this little collection is the cute illustrations accompanying each poem. Maybe I don't understand or appreciate Ogden Nash at this stage in my life but I will try revisiting him another time.

The Wit and Wisdom of Tyrion Lannister

A wonderful collection containing the best of Tyrion Lannister's quips, retorts, and comebacks. Easily one of the favorite characters in the book series and the tv show - he also has some of the best lines in the series. This cute little gift book has over 150 pages of quotes and illustrations from throughout the Game of Thrones book series. Broken into sections: on drinking, on being a dwarf, on warfare, on music, on family values, and more - this collection of quotations is perfect for any Game of Thrones fan. 

Monster Stew

Man this book sent me right back to my childhood! A nine year old boy is having the creepiest night of his life. It starts off with his mom making corned beef and turnip stew with lima beans (yuck!) and only gets worse from there. He has to eat nine bites of it! Even the dog won't touch it! His brother gets a stomach from eating it and then there is a huge storm! His mom tells him to go to bed but he swears the bright lights in the sky aren't lightning flashes but rather space monsters. Filled with lots of great illustrations kids will eat up this adorably "creepy" story. Great for young readers. 

...And Then You Die of Dysentery

 

A cute little coffee table book that is sure to garner some laughs and inspire some conversation about the fucked up past time of playing the Oregon Trail. Everyone remembers their first death - this book  combines adulting with life skills we learned from playing the classic computer game, The Oregon Trail. The illustrations/graphics go along hilariously well with each maxim and this cute book will make a great stocking stuffer. I wouldn't mind having some of these "life lessons" framed and hanging. A quick but fun read. 

Dogs Think That Every Day is Christmas

Short and sweet - I was thinking that this was going to be something else entirely - but this book is straight outta left field. That isn't to say that I didn't enjoy it - I did - it was just so unexpected. The book opens with a with an introduction and confession about how he wronged his dog Pete when he was a child and has never fully been absolved for it - then follows the poem "Dogs Think That Every Day is Christmas" that is not as child friendly as these amateurish illustrations would lead you to believe. An odd but endearing little book from the master of sci-fi.

Trust

Phenomenal. Mayor Pete does an excellent job of breaking down a seemingly easy concept like trust and applying to American politics, life, and culture, that makes the reader think hard about how and why we got where we are. As he mentions at the onset - this book isn't a map so much as a signpost and his goal isn't too preach at us - but to make Americans understand how important trust is in each other, in our daily lives, and in our government. He talks about how trust used to be so high, how we lost it (or in some cases never received it), and what we can do to gain it back. Mayor Pete's examples, research, and insight into American trust is astonishing and really makes readers think how different our lives could really be. Fantastic.

The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop

A book with no plot may not sound fun - but for fans of "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe" this book was like catching up with old friends. It takes all the "lose ends" from the previous book and creates new stories for all the surviving characters. Weaving back in forth in time the new stories help flesh out the old and we get to learn more about some of our favorite people. Bud, Peggy, Ruthie, Evelyn Couch, Dot, and more. It is light, funny, and wholesome; it's like coming home. An excellent companion to the first.