Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari (audiobook) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Author: Yuval Noah Harari
Year Published: 2015

Narrator: Derek Perkins
Audiobook Length: 15 hours 18 minutes


Synopsis: 100,000 years ago, at least six human species inhabited the earth. Today there is just one. Us. Homo sapiens. 

How did our species succeed in the battle for dominance? Why did our foraging ancestors come together to create cities and kingdoms? How did we come to believe in gods, nations and human rights; to trust money, books and laws; and to be enslaved by bureaucracy, timetables and consumerism? And what will our world be like in the millennia to come? 

In Sapiens, Dr Yuval Noah Harari spans the whole of human history, from the very first humans to walk the earth to the radical – and sometimes devastating – breakthroughs of the Cognitive, Agricultural and Scientific Revolutions. Drawing on insights from biology, anthropology, paleontology and economics, he explores how the currents of history have shaped our human societies, the animals and plants around us, and even our personalities. Have we become happier as history has unfolded? Can we ever free our behaviour from the heritage of our ancestors? And what, if anything, can we do to influence the course of the centuries to come? 

Bold, wide-ranging and provocative, Sapiens challenges everything we thought we knew about being human: our thoughts, our actions, our power ... and our future.

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Review: This book is so eye-opening. I come from a science background. I have a degree in marine biology. Many of the subjects in this book were touched on in various classes I took like Sociology and Evolutionary Biology, but this book goes into more depth and makes it simple to follow. The economic chapters had my jaw dropping. The origin of money. So many things in the world only work because we all believe that they work.

This book follows the timeline of humanity. It is broad enough that I think most people would be able to follow. There are both simple and complex topics, but the more elaborate ones have excellent analogies and guides to understanding them better. 

I recommend every human on Earth to read this book. It gives you a perspective of all the things humans have done in the small blip we have been on this planet. I give this book a 5/5.   


--PAUL

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor (audiobook) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Binti
Author: Nnedi Okorafor
Year Published: 2015

Narrator: Robin Miles
Audiobook Length: 2 hours 15 minutes


Synopsis: Her name is Binti, and she is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to accept the offer will mean giving up her place in her family to travel between the stars among strangers who do not share her ways or respect her customs.

Knowledge comes at a cost, one that Binti is willing to pay, but her journey will not be easy. The world she seeks to enter has long warred with the Meduse, an alien race that has become the stuff of nightmares. Oomza University has wronged the Meduse, and Binti's stellar travel will bring her within their deadly reach.

If Binti hopes to survive the legacy of a war not of her making, she will need both the gifts of her people and the wisdom enshrined within the University, itself - but first she has to make it there, alive.

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Review: This audiobook kept me at the edge of my driver's seat. This is a novella so it only lasts a little over two hours as an audiobook. I wanted more of this world. You are dropped into a futuristic world where humans are just one of the many alien species occupying the galactic society. Binti is the first of her people to go to this prestigious university, but things go wrong on the trip there. 

It was nice to read a sci-fi book that didn't focus on humans with a European ancestry. There are so many questions I had about this world. A sequel came out earlier this year called Home and I'm hoping to listen to it in audiobook format sometime soon. 

This is the first Nnedi Okorafor book I've read and now I want to start going through her catalog. I give this novella audiobook a 5/5. 


--PAUL

Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson (audiobook) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Aurora
Author: Kim Stanley Robinson
Year Published: 2015

Narrator: Ali Ahn
Audiobook Length: 16 hours 55 minutes

Synopsis: A major new novel from one of science fiction's most powerful voices, Aurora tells the incredible story of our first voyage beyond the solar system.

Brilliantly imagined and beautifully told, it is the work of a writer at the height of his powers.

Our voyage from Earth began generations ago.

Now we approach our new home. Aurora.

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Review: If you liked The Martian, I highly recommend Aurora. Science is at the forefront of this science-fiction novel. I liked that it wasn't just physics and engineering, too. There's a lot of population genetics and sociology. So much science goes into maintaining a generation ship, especially when things go wrong. 

There are a lot of great characters in this book, including the computer system. 

I listened to this book in audiobook format and I found it really interesting and when I got lost, it didn't take me too long to get back on track. 

I give this book a 4/5. If you're into hard science-fiction, this is a must-read. 

--PAUL

Updraft by Fran Wilde (audiobook) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Updraft
Author: Fran Wilde
Year Published: 2015

Narrator:  Khristine Hvam
Audiobook Length: 12 hours 6 minutes


Synopsis: In a city of living bone rising high above the clouds, where danger hides in the wind and the ground is lost to legend, a young woman must expose a dangerous secret to save everyone she loves.

Welcome to a world of wind and bone, songs and silence, betrayal and courage. 

Kirit Densira cannot wait to pass her wingtest and begin flying as a trader by her mother's side, being in service to her beloved home tower and exploring the skies beyond. When Kirit inadvertently breaks Tower Law, the city's secretive governing body, the Singers, demand that she become one of them instead. In an attempt to save her family from greater censure, Kirit must give up her dreams to throw herself into the dangerous training at the Spire, the tallest, most forbidding tower, deep at the heart of the City.

As she grows in knowledge and power, she starts to uncover the depths of Spire secrets. Kirit begins to doubt her world and its unassailable Laws, setting in motion a chain of events that will lead to a haunting choice, and may well change the city forever - if it isn't destroyed outright. 

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Review: There's some really cool worldbuilding in this book. Spires made of living bone. An interesting caste-like system of job assignments. Flying through the clouds. But, I found I had more questions that were never answered about the world. 

I listened to this book in audiobook format and it took me awhile to finish it. I couldn't really get into the book. There were many slow parts. 

Overall, it was a fun, enjoyable book. But, it could have been so much more. I give this book a 3/5.


--PAUL

Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull (audiobook) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Creativity, Inc.
Author: Ed Catmull
Year Published: 2014

Narrator: Peter Altschuler
Audiobook Length: 12 hours 52 minutes


Synopsis: Creativity, Inc. is a book for managers who want to lead their employees to new heights, a manual for anyone who strives for originality, and the first-ever, all-access trip into the nerve center of Pixar Animation - into the meetings, postmortems, and "Braintrust" sessions where some of the most successful films in history are made. It is, at heart, a book about how to build a creative culture - but it is also, as Pixar co-founder and president Ed Catmull writes, "an expression of the ideas that I believe make the best in us possible."

For nearly 20 years, Pixar has dominated the world of animation, producing such beloved films as the Toy Story trilogy, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Up, and WALL-E, which have gone on to set box-office records and garner 30 Academy Awards. The joyousness of the storytelling, the inventive plots, the emotional authenticity: In some ways, Pixar movies are an object lesson in what creativity really is. Here, in this book, Catmull reveals the ideals and techniques that have made Pixar so widely admired - and so profitable.

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Review: This book covers a combination of topics: business, creativity, and managing. It's also an autobiography. It covers the creation of Pixar and how it became the huge entity in entertainment it now is. I really enjoyed every aspect of this book. I found it so intriguing. Steve Jobs shows up as well as other big names that effected Pixar throughout the years. 

I give this audiobook a 5/5. I recommend it to creative types interested in how to merge the business and art of entertainment. Also, fans of Pixar, who like to see behind the scenes, will love this!


--PAUL

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (audiobook novelization) by Alan Dean Foster - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Star Wars: The Force Awakens (novelization)
Author: Alan Dean Foster
Year Published: 2015

Narrator: Marc Thompson
Audiobook Length: 10 hours 21 minutes


Synopsis: Set years after Return of the Jedi, this stunning action-packed adventure rockets us back into the world of Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2,and Luke Skywalker, while introducing a host of exciting new characters. Darth Vader may have been redeemed and the Emperor vanquished, but peace can be fleeting, and evil does not easily relent. Yet the simple belief in good can still empower ordinary individuals to rise and meet the greatest challenges.

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Review: Recently, I've been reading as much Star Wars as I can. I chose to read the novelization of The Force Awakens through my ears. I really enjoyed the music and sound effects that were added to this reading by the wonderful Marc Thompson. He does a great job with all of the characters' voices, especially Han Solo's. 

I've only seen the film twice in theaters so far, but listening to this audiobook brought the imagery back with added color. There were times where scenes seemed to be lengthened and dragged on more so than the speedy movie, but I enjoyed added scenes that delved more into aspects of characters not featured as much in the film. Leia is more fledged out in the novelization. The force vision has some added bits. The Finn and Poe bromance/romance was even more there. Stormpilot!

I have to admit, I got stuck in the middle of the book. The arrival of Han and Chewie plus the rathtar scene took me forever to listen to. 

If you are starving for more Star Wars, especially the new characters, I definitely recommend this. I give this novelization a 4/5.


--PAUL

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda (audiobook) by Tom Angleberger - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda
Author: Tom Angleberger
Year Published: 2010

Narrators: Mark Turetsky, Greg Steinbruner, Jonathan Ross, Julia Gibson, and Charlotte Parry
Audiobook Length: 2 hours 13 minutes


Synopsis: IT TAKES THE WISDOM OF YODA TO SURVIVED THE SIXTH GRADE

Meet Dwight, a sixth-grade oddball. Dwight does a lot of weird things, like wearing the same T-shirt for a month or telling people to call him "Captain Dwight." This is embarrassing, particularly for Tommy, who sits with him at lunch every day. 

But Dwight does one cool thing. He makes origami. One day he makes an origami finger puppet of Yoda. And that's when things get mysterious. Origami Yoda can predict the future and suggest the best way to deal with a tricky situation. His advice actually works, and soon most of the sixth grade is lining up with questions.

Tommy wants to know how Origami Yoda can be so smart when Dwight himself is so clueless. Is Yoda tapping into the Force? It's crucial that Tommy figure out the mystery before he takes Yoda's advice about something VERY IMPORTANT that has to do with a girl.

This is Tommy's case file of his investigation into "The Strange Case of Origami Yoda."

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Review: I am a huge fan of Star Wars books. This book is interesting in that Yoda is a big part of it, but it doesn't take place in the Star Wars universe. It takes place in an American middle school in modern times. And Yoda is made of paper. 

I listened to the audiobook, which has multiple narrators. The voices are all done well, allowing the listener to differentiate easily. 

There are many different middle school aged children featured in this book. I think any kid of that age would enjoy this book and be able to find different parts of themselves in different characters. Dwight is at the center of the story, having created Origami Yoda. He is a different kid who plays by his own rules. The author himself identifies as having Asperger’s. It appears many of his own school experiences were used in this book. 

I think kids who may be considered weird and kids who know other kids they call weird will enjoy this book. It can provide a means of empathy. There are multiple perspectives shown throughout the book. I personally found some of the things the bullies were saying harsh, but that's the point.

I give this book a 4/5. It is great for middle-school aged kids, especially those who may find themselves a little different than everyone else. 


--PAUL

Grace & Style: The Art of Pretending You Have It (audiobook) - Paul's Review

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Title: Grace & Style: The Art of Pretending You Have It
Author: Grace Helbig
Year Published: 2016

Narrator: Grace Helbig
Audiobook Length: 4 hours 11 minutes


Synopsis: From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Grace’s Guide and the host of The Grace Helbig Show on E! comes a beautifully illustrated, tongue-in-cheek book about style that lampoons fashion and beauty guides while offering practical advice in Grace Helbig’s trademark sweet and irreverent voice.

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Review: This book opens up with a very personal story from Grace. I was unsure if a book about style would be my cup of tea. I'm a huge Grace Helbig fan, but I'm also a 27 year old man. Although there were some sections that didn't really apply to me, most of the stories are relatable. 

My favorite part of the book was the narrative from the perspective of a pair of sweatpants. It's the diary of a pair of sweatpants that gets a scholarship to the Mall of America. I definitely want to see more fiction from Grace! She knows how to write emotional  outrageous comedy.

I listened to the audiobook of this book. I really enjoyed that Grace narrates it herself. The personal stories really have heart. She was brave to open up about her own experiences with eating disorders.

I give this book a 5/5. There were some parts that I had to just wade through, but the parts I enjoyed I reaaaaaallllllyyy liked. I never thought a diary written from the perspective of clothes could be such an emotional epic. 


--PAUL

The Sword of Shannara (audiobook) by Terry Brooks - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: The Sword of Shannara
Author: Terry Brooks
Year Published: 1977

Narrator: Scott Brick
Audiobook Length: 26 hours 


Synopsis: Long ago, wars of ancient Evil ruined the world and forced mankind to compete with many other races - gnomes, trolls, dwarfs, and elves. In peaceful Shady Vale, half-elfin Shea Ohmsford knows little of such troubles until giant, forbidding Allanon, with strange Druidic powers, reveals a supposedly-dead Warlock Lord plots to destroy the world. 

The sole weapon against this Power of Darkness is the Sword of Shannara, only usable by a true heir of Shannara. On Shea, last of the bloodline, rests the hope of all the races. Soon a Skull Bearer, dread minion of Evil, flies into the Vale to kill Shea. To save the Vale, Shea flees, drawing the Skull Bearer after him.

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Review: There were a few reasons I wanted to read this book. A tv series on MTV, which actually follows the second book not this one, recently came out. The Sword & Laser book club is reading it this month. And, it's a classic fantasy novel that I want to have read so I can have a valid opinion of it. For those reasons, I stuck to it and finished the book. I took it as a challenge.

This book started out very slow. There is so much exposition and history. It is highly influenced by The Lord of the Rings. There are some scenes, characters, and plot points that are directly pulled from or parallel precisely those in Tolkien's works. Some of them change just enough for it to be a comment or allusion to the world's most well known fantasy trilogy, but others seem like fan fiction dreams. 

I was listening to the audiobook version of this book. By the time I was a third in, I had increased the speed to 3x. I have never even listened to a book at 1.5x speed. Surprisingly, I could understand it perfectly and things seemed to start happening a lot more often. I'm not sure if it was just the speed increase or if the book actually did get better as it continued. 

One of the biggest differences between Brooks's and Tolkien's works is that the Shannara Chronicles take place in a far future after the fall of man. I thought that aspect was interesting, but this book didn't delve into it much. I also wanted a better explanation for the different races. It seems like they were supposed to have all evolved from humans, but the evolutionary theory behind it did not make any sense. 

I know this book is almost forty years old, but there was only one female character. There was even a fake-out where a woman ended up just being an illusion. There were a lot of characters and I found myself not remembering. When the story focused on smaller groups I enjoyed it more. Panamon Creel was my favorite character. If this book was written in 2016, there would definitely have been more romantic tension between him and Shea Ohmsford. I ship it!

I did not enjoy this book. I found it interesting, but at this moment I have no desire to continue this series. The book was far too long for how simple it was. I don't regret reading it. Now I can participate in discussions about this book. I give The Sword of Shannara a 2/5. It has not aged well. I don't recommend this to anyone unless they fully know what they're getting into. It's long. There's action, but a lot of exposition. There's an abridged audiobook version that somehow shaves twenty hours off the book. That shows how much fluff and unnecessary elements are in this book.  The world overall was interesting, but the way it was introduced was snore-inducing. I'm still deciding on whether I want to check out the tv show.


--PAUL

The Mermaid's Sister by Carrie Anne Noble [audiobook] - Ashley's Review

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Title: The Mermaid's Sister
Author: Carrie Anne Noble
Publication Date: March 1st, 2015

Synopsis: There is no cure for being who you truly are…

In a cottage high atop Llanfair Mountain, sixteen-year-old Clara lives with her sister, Maren, and guardian, Auntie. By day, they gather herbs for Auntie’s healing potions; by night, Auntie spins tales of faraway lands and wicked fairies. Clara’s favorite story tells of three orphan infants—Clara, who was brought to Auntie by a stork; Maren, who arrived in a seashell; and their best friend, O’Neill, who was found beneath an apple tree.

One day, Clara discovers shimmering scales just beneath her sister’s skin: Maren is becoming a mermaid and must be taken to the sea or she will die. So Clara, O’Neill, and the mermaid-girl set out for the shore. But the trio encounters trouble around every bend. Ensnared by an evil troupe of traveling performers, Clara and O’Neill must find a way to save themselves and the ever-weakening Maren.

And always in the back of her mind, Clara wonders, if my sister is a mermaid, then what am I?

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Review: I am a huge sucker for stories about sisters, especially if they involve magic and fantasy, and especially mermaids. When I first saw this book, I immediately knew that I had to read it. And then I saw that it was an Audible Daily Deal, and I got even more excited, because then I could listen to it on my drive to and from work!

The audiobook starts out kind of slow, I think. It took me a while to get into the story since there's kind of a lot of necessary set-up, and I found myself zoning out and having to rewind and listen to sections over again. I think the narrator does a good job, I just have a problem paying attention when it comes to audiobooks. Eventually though, the story picks up and things settle in to a nice pace. It isn't fast, but it isn't slow either, and I found myself not wanting to turn the car off because I was enjoying the story so much. 

I also had a little bit of trouble connecting with Clara. She's kind of annoying and needy, and I just didn't really care about her problems. I mean, I know Clara wants to help, and I know she doesn't want to lose her sister at the same time, but she just spends so much time whining. And then there's the romantic aspects, where Clara keeps trying to convince herself that she isn't really in love with O'Neill because he's her "almost brother." Like we get it, please stop telling us. 

You would think that since Maren is the one who started all of this by beginning her transformation into a mermaid, we would see much more of her. At the beginning, when she's still mostly human, she does get plenty of screen time. But as she becomes sicker and weaker, the focus shifts from her to Clara and we see less and less of her. I kind of wish the chapters had alternated between Maren and Clara so that we could see more of what Maren is thinking and feeling, but I do understand that the book is called The Mermaid's Sister and we're probably supposed to care more about Clara. 

Overall, I did really enjoy this story. Clara's love for her sister is so strong, and she's willing to do whatever it takes to save Maren - even if it means she'll never see her again. She constantly has to fight with her own fears of what she'll become, but she never lets those get in the way of her goal of saving her sister. I would love to see more stories set in this world, and although the book ended very nicely, a companion novel would be fantastic! I'll be keeping an eye out for more of Carrie Anne Noble's books in the future! 4/5.


--Ashley

The Dystopia Chronicles (Atopia #2) (audiobook) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: The Dystopia Chronicles (Atopia #2)
Author: Matthew Mather
Year Published: 2014

Narrator: Nick Podehl
Audiobook Length: 11 hours 19 minutes

MY REVIEW of The Atopia Chronicles


Synopsis: Cast out from Atopia, Robert Baxter undertakes a globe-trotting quest to find his friend Willy's lost body, which just may hold the key to understanding the dangers facing his home and Jimmy Scadden's role in the disasters that are spreading across the world.

As Robert pieces together the puzzle, he realizes that mankind's ravenous consumption of natural resources is no longer the most immediate threat to this world. As full-scale global war erupts and an ancient apocalyptic threat resurfaces, Robert must risk losing the ones he loves to save the planet from destruction.

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Review: This book has a different feel than the first. The first was completely a sci-fi novel, showing the possibility of technologies in the future. This book has some fantastical elements and confusing spiritual things. There's an Apocalyptic prediction and I won't reveal how that goes, but I just didn't get the thought-provoking sci-fi feel I got from the first one. If The Atopia Chronicles was about technology and sociology, The Dystopia Chronicles is about humanity and mythology.

Religion is very present in this novel. All opinions of religion are showed from the far skeptic to the priest. This story is far more fantastical than its processor.

I give this novel a 3/5. I enjoyed it, but definitely not as much as the first book. The ending is interesting, but it's a very slow way to get there. 


--PAUL

A Darker Shade of Magic (audiobook) by V.E. Schwab - Paul's Review

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Title: A Darker Shade of Magic
Author: V.E. Schwab
Year Published: 2015

Narrator: Steven Crossley
Audiobook Length: 11 hours 34 minutes


Synopsis: Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit. 

Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London—but no one speaks of that now.

Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her 'proper adventure'.

But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive—trickier than they hoped.

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Review: Victoria Schwab is such an excellent writer. She has such fantastic ideas and creates imaginative worlds. In this book, there are multiple worlds connected in unique ways. Only certain types of people can travel between them. Magic is present in different amounts in each world. And one world was completely destroyed by magic.

The worldbuilding in this book is excellent. The imagery is all there. The magic system is wonderfully unique. 

I highly recommend this book to fans of fantasy. London is at the core of this novel, but the Londons are so different. I give this book a 5/5. 


--PAUL

Why Not Me? (audiobook) by Mindy Kaling - Paul's Review

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Title: Why Not Me?
Author: Mindy Kaling
Year Published: 2015

Narrator: Mindy Kaling
Audiobook Length: 4 hours 57 minutes


Synopsis: In Why Not Me? Kaling shares her ongoing journey to find contentment and excitement in her adult life, whether it's falling in love at work, seeking new friendships in lonely places, attempting to be the first person in history to lose weight without any behavior modification whatsoever, or, most important, believing that you have a place in Hollywood when you're constantly reminded that no one looks like you.

In "How to Look Spectacular: A Starlet's Confessions", Kaling gives her tongue-in-cheek secrets for surefire on-camera beauty ("Your natural hair color may be appropriate for your skin tone, but this isn't the land of appropriate - this is Hollywood, baby. Out here, a dark-skinned woman's traditional hair color is honey blonde"). "Player" tells the story of Kaling being seduced and dumped by a female friend in LA ("I had been replaced by a younger model. And now they had matching bangs"). In "Unlikely Leading Lady", she muses on America's fixation with the weight of actresses ("Most women we see onscreen are either so thin that they're walking clavicles or so huge that their only scenes involve them breaking furniture"). And in "Soup Snakes", Kaling spills some secrets on her relationship with her ex-boyfriend and close friend B. J. Novak ("I will freely admit: my relationship with B. J. Novak is weird as hell").

Mindy turns the anxieties, the glamour, and the celebrations of her second coming of age into a laugh-out-loud funny collection of essays that anyone who's ever been at a turning point in their life or career can relate to. And those who've never been at a turning point can skip to the parts where she talks about meeting Bradley Cooper.

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Review: This is another great comedy book by another great modern comedian. I really enjoyed Kaling's first book and this one continues delivering the funny. There are a lot of stories that follow Kaling's rise in Hollywood. 

I love listening to these comedy audiobooks read by their authors. If you are looking for a great listen, I recommend this one. I give it a 4/5!


--PAUL

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things (audiobook) by Jenny Lawson - Paul's Review

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Title: Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things
Author: Jenny lawson
Year Published: 2015

Narrator: Jenny Lawson
Audiobook Length: 8 hours 20 minutes


Synopsis: In Furiously Happy, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jenny Lawson explores her lifelong battle with mental illness. A hysterical, ridiculous book about crippling depression and anxiety? That sounds like a terrible idea.
But terrible ideas are what Jenny does best.
As Jenny says:

"Some people might think that being 'furiously happy' is just an excuse to be stupid and irresponsible and invite a herd of kangaroos over to your house without telling your husband first because you suspect he would say no since he's never particularly liked kangaroos. And that would be ridiculous because no one would invite a herd of kangaroos into their house. Two is the limit. I speak from personal experience. My husband says that none is the new limit. I say he should have been clearer about that before I rented all those kangaroos.

"Most of my favorite people are dangerously fucked-up but you'd never guess because we've learned to bare it so honestly that it becomes the new normal. Like John Hughes wrote in The Breakfast Club, 'We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it.' Except go back and cross out the word 'hiding.'"

Furiously Happy is about "taking those moments when things are fine and making them amazing, because those moments are what make us who we are, and they're the same moments we take into battle with us when our brains declare war on our very existence. It's the difference between "surviving life" and "living life". It's the difference between "taking a shower" and "teaching your monkey butler how to shampoo your hair." It's the difference between being "sane" and being "furiously happy."

Lawson is beloved around the world for her inimitable humor and honesty, and in Furiously Happy, she is at her snort-inducing funniest. This is a book about embracing everything that makes us who we are - the beautiful and the flawed - and then using it to find joy in fantastic and outrageous ways. Because as Jenny's mom says, "Maybe 'crazy' isn't so bad after all." Sometimes crazy is just right.

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Review: This second book by Jenny "The Bloggess" Lawson is a great sequel to her first. More stories of Lawson's life that are so ridiculous they must be true. Lawson has dealt with a lot in her life. Some of the stories are lighthearted, while others deal with some pretty deep stuff.

If you've read her first book or just follow her wonderful social media or blog, this is a must read! I really enjoyed the audiobook, which is read by the author herself. 

I give this audiobook a 4/5! It's a comical and emotional book. A great addition to the memoirs of the modern comedy woman. 


--PAUL

What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions (audiobook) - Paul's Review

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Title: What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
Author: Randall Munroe
Year Published: 2014

Narrator: Wil Wheaton
Audiobook Length: 6 hours 36 minutes


Synopsis: Randall Munroe left NASA in 2005 to start up his hugely popular site XKCD 'a web comic of romance, sarcasm, math and language' which offers a witty take on the world of science and geeks. It's had over a billion page hits to date. A year ago Munroe set up a new section - What If - where he tackles a series of impossible questions: If your cells suddenly lost the power to divide, how long would you survive? How dangerous is it, really, in a pool in a thunderstorm? If we hooked turbines to people exercising in gyms, how much power could we produce? What if everyone only had one soulmate? From what height would you need to drop a steak to ensure it was cooked by the time it reached the ground? What would happen if the moon went away? This book gathers together the best entries along with lots of new gems. From The Lord of the Rings, Star Trek and the songs of Tim Minchin, through chemistry, geography and physics, Munroe leaves no stone unturned in his quest for knowledge. And his answers are witty and memorable and studded with hilarious cartoons and infographics. Far more than a book for geeks, WHAT IF explains the laws of science in operation in a way that every intelligent reader will enjoy and feel the smarter for having read. 

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Review: I am a sucker for any audiobook read by Wil Wheaton. I was not that familiar with xkcd before listening to this audiobook, but I had read a few links from it before. 

This book takes seemingly nonsensical questions and answers them with science. Some of them are quite heavy on the math and physics, but others focus on sociology and biology. Wil Wheaton's voice helps get through the ones that drag on with numbers. 

I found this a great audiobook to listen to while at work. Whenever I had time, I could just listen to one chapter. I give this audiobook a 3.5/5. I recommend it to fans of science!


--PAUL

The Perfect Weapon (Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens) by Delilah S. Dawson (Audiobook) - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: The Perfect Weapon (Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens)
Author: Delilah S. Dawson
Year Published: 2015

Narrator: January LaVoy
Audiobook Length: 1 hour 57 minutes


Synopsis: There are plenty of mercenaries, spies, and guns for hire in the galaxy. But probably none as dangerous and determined as Bazine Netal. A master of disguise—and lethal with a blade, a blaster, or bare handed—she learned from the best. Now it’s her turn to be the teacher—even if schooling an eager but inexperienced recruit in the tricks of her trade is the last thing she wants to do. But it’s the only way to score the ship she needs to pull off her latest job.

An anonymous client has hired Bazine to track down an ex-stormtrooper and recover the mysterious package he’s safeguarding. Payment for the mission promises to be astronomical, but the obstacles facing Bazine will prove to be formidable. And though her eager new sidekick has cyber skills crucial to the mission, only Bazine’s razor-sharp talents will mean the difference between success or failure—and life or death.

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Review: : "You can't hide bombs in flat shoes."

I have been devouring all things "Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens." This short story is less than 2 dollars in either audiobook or digital format. The story follows a background character from the upcoming movie. 

I liked how Dawson fledged out the character from what will most likely only be a brief glimpse we see in the film. There is an explanation for her choice of clothing, accessories, and make-up. Bazine Netal is one badass gun for hire. 

An added benefit of listening to the audiobook is the production of it. There's music. There's sound effects. It has been arranged very nicely. 

The story was a thrilling adventure, but I didn't find anything extra special about it. It was enjoyable, but I wouldn't classify this one as a must-read like some of the other new canon books. I give this short story audiobook a 3.5/5.


--PAUL

You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day - Paul's (Audiobook) Review

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Title: You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost)
Author: Felicia Day
Year Published: 2015

Narrator: Felicia Day
Foreword: Joss Whedon
Audiobook Length: 6 hours 17 minutes


Synopsis: From online entertainment mogul, actress, and “queen of the geeks” Felicia Day, a funny, quirky, and inspiring memoir about her unusual upbringing, her rise to Internet-stardom, and embracing her individuality to find success in Hollywood.

The Internet isn’t all cat videos. There’s also Felicia Day—violinist, filmmaker, Internet entrepreneur, compulsive gamer, hoagie specialist, and former lonely homeschooled girl who overcame her isolated childhood to become the ruler of a new world…or at least semi-influential in the world of Internet Geeks and Goodreads book clubs.

After growing up in the south where she was "homeschooled for hippie reasons", Felicia moved to Hollywood to pursue her dream of becoming an actress and was immediately typecast as a crazy cat-lady secretary. But Felicia’s misadventures in Hollywood led her to produce her own web series, own her own production company, and become an Internet star.

Felicia’s short-ish life and her rags-to-riches rise to Internet fame launched her career as one of the most influential creators in new media. Now, Felicia’s strange world is filled with thoughts on creativity, video games, and a dash of mild feminist activism—just like her memoir.

Hilarious and inspirational, You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) is proof that everyone should embrace what makes them different and be brave enough to share it with the world, because anything is possible now—even for a digital misfit.

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Review: I am a big fan of Felicia Day and everything she does. I watched each season of The Guild as it released and really enjoy what she has created with Geek and Sundry. When it was revealed that she was writing a book I got super excited. I love listening to memoir-ish books on audiobook when they're read by the author. 

This book has stories from Felicia's childhood all the way up to the present. There are light humorous tales and reveals of some pretty heavy things. Although Felicia does strip down with many issues in this book, she finds a way to still keep private about many things. Unfortunately because of things she's gone through, her current life can't be that open. 

Felicia Day had a unique childhood. How she ended up being homeschooled is an interesting story. And everything that followed has led her to the place in nerd culture she holds today. She acted as a child, played violin, entered college without a high school diploma, and so many other things that made her different. 

I found myself with watery eyes a few times while listening to this book. I was expecting it. Some things I just really connected with. The full gambit of emotions are in this book. 

I give this book a 4/5. It doesn't have as much focus as other memoir/comedy books I've read/listened to, but it is packed full of entertaining and enlightening tales. If you are in need of inspiration, this is a wonderful read. 


--PAUL

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison (Audiobook) - Paul's Review

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Title: The Goblin Emperor
Author: Katherine Addison
Year Published: 2014

Narrator: Kyle McCarley
Audiobook Length: 16 hours 25 minutes


Synopsis: The youngest, half-goblin son of the Emperor has lived his entire life in exile, distant from the Imperial Court and the deadly intrigue that suffuses it. But when his father and three sons in line for the throne are killed in an "accident," he has no choice but to take his place as the only surviving rightful heir.

Entirely unschooled in the art of court politics, he has no friends, no advisors, and the sure knowledge that whoever assassinated his father and brothers could make an attempt on his life at any moment.

Surrounded by sycophants eager to curry favor with the naïve new emperor, and overwhelmed by the burdens of his new life, he can trust nobody. Amid the swirl of plots to depose him, offers of arranged marriages, and the specter of the unknown conspirators who lurk in the shadows, he must quickly adjust to life as the Goblin Emperor. All the while, he is alone, and trying to find even a single friend... and hoping for the possibility of romance, yet also vigilant against the unseen enemies that threaten him, lest he lose his throne – or his life.

This exciting fantasy novel, set against the pageantry and color of a fascinating, unique world, is a memorable debut for a great new talent.

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Review: I heard of this book from the Sword and Laser book club. I enjoyed listening along with their pick of the month, although it took me longer to finish this audiobook. 

The pacing of this book is very slow. I have no idea how to spell so many things in this book. I could pronounce them as I was listening to the book, but I can't even remember them now. The language in this book is most definitely creative and exotic, but it is difficult to get used to. I used context to remember what most names and things were. 

This is a political story, but from the perspective of someone who isn't familiar with the system. This makes it easy for the reader to understand and learn as the protagonist discovers new things. The protagonist is very likable and his personality helps the book to be digestible. 

There are many interesting topics brought up within this book. Change is the main idea, how different people respond to it. Royalty and family are also at the forefront of this novel. 

I really enjoyed the literary use of bridges and building them. "The Bridge Builder"

The magic in this book is almost nonexistent. It is used in only few dire situations. The people are elves and goblins, but it really only serves as a parallel to race relations. The airships add a steampunky feel to this world. 

Kyle McCarley does an excellent job at reading this audiobook. His performance of so many characters is done so well. I loved his different voices. 

The first few hours of this book went by so slowly, but by the end I had been drawn in. I give this book a 3.5/5. I was entertaining, but heavy. If you enjoy political intrigue that addresses an old system and how to move forward, you'll like this. This is a fantasy novel, but there's hardly anything fantastical in this book. 


--PAUL

Uganda Be Kidding Me (audiobook) by Chelsea Handler - Paul's Review

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Title: Uganda Be Kidding Me
Author: Chelsea Handler
Year Published: 2015

Narrator: Chelsea Handler and friends
Audiobook Length: 5 hours 14 minutes


Synopsis: Wherever Chelsea Handler travels, one thing is certain: she always ends up in the land of the ridiculous. Now, in this uproarious collection, she sneaks her sharp wit through airport security and delivers her most absurd and hilarious stories ever.

On safari in Africa, it's anyone's guess as to what's more dangerous: the wildlife or Chelsea. But whether she's fumbling the seduction of a guide by not knowing where tigers live (Asia, duh) or wearing a bathrobe into the bush because her clothes stopped fitting seven margaritas ago, she's always game for the next misadventure.

The situation gets down and dirty as she defiles a kayak in the Bahamas, and outright sweaty as she escapes from a German hospital on crutches. When things get truly scary, like finding herself stuck next to a passenger with bad breath, she knows she can rely on her family to make matters even worse. Thank goodness she has the devoted Chunk by her side-except for the time she loses him in Telluride.

Complete with answers to the most frequently asked traveler's questions, hot travel trips, and travel etiquette, none of which should be believed, UGANDA BE KIDDING ME has Chelsea taking on the world, one laugh-out-loud incident at a time. 

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Review: If you're familiar with Chelsea Handler, you know exactly what to expect. Unlike her earlier books, Chelsea's well-deserved celebrity is at the front and center of this book. The book follows a few of Chelsea's ridiculously crazy vacation stories from Africa to the Bahamas. Her inability to function as a lone human being is at the forefront of this book. Her reliance on others makes for many of the jokes. 

Listening to this audiobook at work, I found myself stifling many laughs although a few ear-to-ear smiles definitely escaped. I love when comediennes read their own audiobooks. Chelsea even imitates accents and the voices of her friends. My life has been missing some Chelsea handler in it since her show ended so this audiobook filled that void. 

I give this audiobook a 4/5. I highly recommend it to fans of Chelsea Handler. If you're not as familiar with her, you'll still find a lot of laughs in this book. 


--PAUL

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling (audiobook) - Paul's Reviews

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Title: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)
Author: Mindy Kaling
Year Published: 2011

Narrator: Mindy Kaling
Audiobook Length: 4 hours 37 minutes


Synopsis: Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck–impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence “Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I’ll shut up about it?” 

Perhaps you want to know what Mindy thinks makes a great best friend (someone who will fill your prescription in the middle of the night), or what makes a great guy (one who is aware of all elderly people in any room at any time and acts accordingly), or what is the perfect amount of fame (so famous you can never get convicted of murder in a court of law), or how to maintain a trim figure (you will not find that information in these pages). If so, you’ve come to the right book, mostly!

In Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy invites readers on a tour of her life and her unscientific observations on romance, friendship, and Hollywood, with several conveniently placed stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls. Mindy Kaling really is just a Girl Next Door—not so much literally anywhere in the continental United States, but definitely if you live in India or Sri Lanka.

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Review: I love reading these comedienne's books that give you a sneak peak into what happens behind the scenes. Kaling was a writer on SNL and The Office. I really liked all the industry stories, but that's not all Kaling has to offer. 

Kaling's wit is strong in this book. I love her snappy comments. Since I listened to the audiobook, Kaling really added her own personality to her written words. 

I probably knew the least about Kaling than other comediennes I've read recently. I enjoyed learning of how she got into the industry. It made me google a lot of her earlier things and now I want to catch up on The Mindy Project. 

I give this audiobook a 4/5. It is a great addition to the wonderful comedy books by awesome current comediennes out there. 


--PAUL