Tag Archives: humorous

Book Review of The Four Gs, by Leigh Parker

The 4 GsAuthor, Leigh Parker sent me a PDF copy of her newest novella, The 4 Gs. It’s number 13 on my Taking Care of my Own challenge.

Description from Goodreads:
After an incident involving the Chav Triplets, a canal and the police, Dominic Barrett is forced to have 10 sessions of therapy with Jo, an San Franciscan who doesn’t quite seem to grasp the concept of listening.

Review:
This is the sort of book that’s fun to read because of its basic random craziness and sideways social critiques. You simply never know what is coming, but you can sadly relate to the ridiculous ironies once they appear…and can’t help laughing at them either.

True to Parker’s style, the writing is sarcastic and the Northern (Yorkshire) voice readily apparent. It’s always a pleasure to read and this is no exception.

I also really appreciated recognising Alex’s place of employment and one particular dinner scene from the 10 Ways series (which I love). That sort of crossover always amuses me.

Final word: well worth the 90 minutes or so it too me to read.

Find Big Fat Fanny Fast

Book Review of Find Big Fat Fanny Fast, by Joseph Bruno

Find Big Fat Fanny FastI picked Find Big Fat Fanny Fast, by Joseph Bruno off of the KDP free list.

Description from Goodreads:
Since the start of the 20th Century, the Italians and Chinese in the Little Italy/Chinatown area in New York City have endured an uneasy truce. In the first three quarters of the century, the Italians ruled the neighborhood with an iron fist. But starting in the 1970’s, the dynamics began to change, as more Italians moved out and droves of Chinese began flowing into Chinatown from China. This did not bode well for Italian mob boss Tony Bentimova (Tony B), so he enlisted the help of his most trusted killer, Big Fat Fanny Fanelli, all six foot six inches and six hundred and sixty pounds of her, to ensure the Italians maintained control of all the illegal rackets in Little Italy, which was slowly, but surely being transformed into Chinatown.

Review:
I’m not sure exactly what I just read. I suppose it was a satire of some sort. And I suppose as a spoof it was pretty funny. But I have to admit it left me scratching my head a bit. For example, though there is a character called Big Fat Fanny Faneli, she isn’t by any means a main character. She shows up in chapter one, then the book jumps back tree generations and the next 45% of the book is dedicated to history. Fanny shows up again in the latter 1/3 of the book, but is still on the sidelines. So, other than sounding snazzy, why is she the title character?

I’m not just being snippy here. It’s a legitimate question. I’m not entirely sure I was able to pick out the point of the events that occurred, i.e. the plot. I’m not claiming it didn’t have one. It did. But just like the title of the book is focused on an insignificant character, the events leading up to the culmination of the novel seemed less than focused. Amusing, worth reading, but scattered and a little too far reaching.

Again, I do have to admit the book is funny. There is a lot of irony in it and anyone who enjoys mob stories would recognise the themes here, purposefully exaggerated as they may be. So for a fun, fast read it’s worth picking up…as long as you aren’t easily offended. I don’t think there is a group or race that isn’t insulted here. At least it is equally spread, so at no point does it feel as if any one grouping is being targeting for racist commentary, but there is no shortage of it.

Lastly, it had a perfectly good ending in place. It had wrapped up nicely and everything. Then it had to ruin it by going and tagging on a cliffhanger for book two. Grr. Still, the few hours it took me to read the book weren’t wasted.

incorrigibility banner

Book Review: Incorrigibility, by Rayme Michaels

incorrigibility cover

This is a wacky, dialogue-driven novella of bawdy, screwball, irreverent a surreal runaway train of guys talking the way men often do when women aren’t around or saying what they often have on their minds but are too bashful, due to the politically correct status quo, to actually speak, although it is very hyperbolic as well. It is a quirky relationship/sex comedy, where the boundaries of the mundane are mocked, bent, ridiculed, pushed, pummeled, pulverized, pounded, picked on and provoked. It is a tad bit existential as well and does have its serious and sappy, yet genuine, moments. It also holds within it the most riotous courtroom trial you’ll ever encounter! Enjoy the ride!

My Review:
Yeah, so… Matt, Brent, and Jessie are average guys? I don’t know if I believe it, but then I’m a woman, so what would I know? The book does have its funny moments, its existentialist moments, and more than a few surreal moments, but it is about as realistic as the hit TV show FRIENDS. Friends is funny, but most people understand that it is not a realistic depiction of the lives people in New York actually live. In the same way, Incorrigibility is funny, but I have a hard time imagining anyone having such brutal and blunt conversations. It feels more like an exaggeration of the conversations men have. This isn’t a criticism since I don’t think the book is aiming for realism. I’m just saying.

Matt is possibly the most repulsive man on earth, as he is meant to be. Brent and Jessie are a little hard to tell apart at times, but they are both generally good guys looking for the meaning of life and a worthwhile and legitimate love. The women are mere shells, hollow cutouts for the men to project their sexual frustrations upon. I would be offended, but this is a book about men’s perspectives on love and sex. I think it is meant to be one-sided.

I had no strong feelings about the book, one way or the other. It didn’t top my faves list, but I didn’t hate it either.