Humor Books

I consider buying a Pearls collection to be a health investment. Doctors say that laughing is good for your heart, and Pearls Before Swine has to have added at least a year to my life. I think this collection is all of 2005 comic strips, and I would recommend reading the previous 2 books BLTs Taste So Darn Good, and This Little Piggy Stayed Home. Or better yet, get the treasury Sgt. Piggy's Lonely Hearts Club Comic, which has both (and the Sunday strips are in color). I haven't read the "Lions and Tigers and Crocs, Oh My!" treasury yet but I suspect it has all the strips in this book.

Ever since I discovered PBS in our local paper I have been a devoted fan of Pastis' different? sense of humour. I have turned my friends and relatives on to PBS as well. I have made it a goal to buy all his books so I will have a complete collection that I can put beside my 'The Complete Far Side' and 'The Complete Calvin & Hobbes Collection'. PBS has earned the right to be in this great company.
Buy this book, in fact buy all his books; a mind this warped deserves to be rewarded.

Very funny, so much so that I read it through 3 times before I gave it to my parents to laugh and enjoy. I still get a smile when I thumb through it. Of all Mr Pastis books, you should have this one for sure.

Mandatory reading for Pearls fans, plus you'll gain new insights into the secret lives of condiments.

I am a huge fan of Pearls Before Swine, and bought this book to add to my collection. The comics are great!

My only complaint is, I already owned one of his anthologies: Lions and Tigers and Crocs, Oh My! All but about three of the cartoons in this book (Ratvolution) are in Lions and Tigers and Crocs. It was really disappointing to spend another seven or eight dollars for all the same cartoons.

Otherwise, it's great, classic Pearls.

Real Men Don't Rehearse: Adventures In The Secret World Of Professional Orchestras by Justin Locke is an informed and informative look into the life and intriguing history of orchestral musicians and the inner workings of their secret society. As an interesting and original concept, Real Men Don't Rehearse is highly recommended to all students of the musical trades, as well as the non-specialist general reader.

I liked this book a great deal. It reminds me of an older book "A Little More Dolce, Gentlemen" by Harry Ellis Dickson, about his experiences with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. A similar mix of love of music, humor, and the foibles of orchestral musicians and conductors.

Well, I got "Real Men Don't Rehearse" yesterday afternoon and it was finished by bedtime. It was GREAT! I couldn't put it down as I related to so many of the experiences Justin wrote about (I'm a freelance oboist). I was in tears reading about the charter plane emergency procedures. "BUCK-LE, BUCK-LE......OOOOOOOH" HAHAHAHAHA Now, I have never had the pleasure of touring with a group (I'm in South FL and there just aren't many touring groups, if any, from this area). The closest I have come to "touring" so far is a high school band trip (MANY years ago) to D.C., and the airplane ride Justin described sounded like what the clowns in band would pull. They never grow up, do they?

Thanks for a great book. It was a nice way to unwind last night.

I loved this book! I myself am a musician and bought this for one of my musician friends for Christmas. I started flipping through the book and knew I had to get a copy for myself. Lots of fun stories that both musicians and non-musicians would enjoy. Gives you an "insider's look" at the world of professional musicians. The chapters are short enough that you can read one or two before bed. (Although I just wanted to keep reading!)

My husband and I just love this book! We laughed and laughed, since the stories were so similar to our years in a professional symphony orchestra.
Buy lots of them for your friends, even the non-musical ones, as it's a delightful read.

This is another great book from Pat McManus, he was the only reason I used to read Outdoor Life. Pat's ability to take outdoor situations and put a clever dry twist to them is the best.

Real Ponies Dont Go Oink by Patrick F. Mcmanus is about a whole bunch of outdoor humor stories. He tells about different things that happend in his life but he uses other peoples names. The humor that Patrick Mckmanus puts into the stories makes the book hilarious. Patrick Mckmanus not only showed that he could write a funny book, but it was also easy to read. His style in the book would like you're seeing it from different angles. One minuite it feels like you are in the book , the next minuite it feels like you're watching other people. Patrick Mckmanus went from funnny to hilarious. Overall, this book was the funniest book I have ever read. I highly recomend that you take the time to read this book and enjoy it. It will make you lagh untill you cry.

Real Ponies Dont Go Oink by Patrick F. Mcmanus is about a whole bunch of outdoor humor stories. He tells about different things that happend in his life but he uses other peoples names. The humor that Patrick Mckmanus puts into the stories makes the book hilarious. Patrick Mckmanus not only showed that he could write a funny book, but it was also easy to read. His style in the book would like you're seeing it from different angles. One minuite it feels like you are in the book , the next minuite it feels like you're watching other people. Patrick Mckmanus went from funnny to hilarious. Overall, this book was the funniest book I have ever read. I highly recomend that you take the time to read this book and enjoy it. It will make you lagh untill you cry.

Wow!!! This is the funniest book I have ever read. The way McManus writes is so unique, subtle humor along with out right hiariousness (if that's a word). Both men and women, country and city will enjoy this outdoor humor. I liked the fact that it was a bunch of short stories that you could read like a novel. It had the same main characters so you didn't have to always learn new people, but you could set the book down for days(if you could last that long)and not get confused. This is my first book of his and I cant wait to read more.

'Pass out laughing' funny

I have always thought that Patrick McManus is the funniest writer on the planet. I read his stories when I need to laugh or relax. Sometimes I irritate my wife by reading it in bed. I try not to laugh out loud, but I only succeed in sounding like I am trying to muffle continuous sneezes.

However, not everyone gets it. I have been shocked by watching people read McManus without so much as a smile (though most start snorting like wild pigs on acid) . My only guess is that getting McManus requires a couple things. First, it requires some understanding of his experiences. He absolutely nails all of the stupid things 'outdoorsmen (outdoors people)' do and think, but don't want anybody to know about. Second, you have to see the self-deprecating aspect of his humor. Third, you can't look for great literature in integrated books. Patrick McManus is an excellent writer, if you see these as independent stories simply collected in a volume. They are meant for adults who want to laugh at themselves. So, If you are willing to or already meet the above three criteria, you will love this book.

By the way, I am a professor of clinical psychology and (other than worrying a little about McManus) I sometimes recommend this and other McManus books. I do this with people who have racing thoughts and anxiety at bedtime, and when I believe they have the necessary experiences to find it funny. It often works quite well. I think of his stories as little pieces of happiness. (Oh, that even makes me sick to hear. Sorry)

Red and Rover has become one of my favorite comic strips. They are an adorable pair and they make me smile. It's a simple and heartfelt relationship that is a great escape from today's world. This collection tells of how the two meet and the title really says it all, it's all about a time and a feeling - one that we all wish we were a part of.

This is a wonderful little book. There is a warmth of emotion shared between animal and human that I just love. A great read and I'll enjoy it over and over again.

There is nothing better than a comic strip to take your mind of work for a while, and Red & Rover accomplish thisw task with flying colors... One of the best since Calvin and Hobbes

Red's awful cute, but I just can't help loving Rover. The relationship between Red & Rover certainly reminds me of the relationship I had with my dog when I was a child. Rover is also an embodiment of the three dogs I have now. I love the comic strip, and I look forward to more compilations of the stip in book form. Thank you!!!

If Red and Rover doesn't give you the warm fuzzies, you must be a cat person. This collection of comics is so sweet and adorable, you just want to give it a hug. The simple retro-style artwork perfectly matches this nostalgic story of a young boy with NASA aspirations and a dog who would follow him to the moon and back. These faithful companions are joined by Martin, Red's terrible teen brother and their parents. If you ever had a canine best friend when you were growing up, this book will definitely bring back memories.

After reading and reviewing Fire Fell From Heaven by E. Don Harpe, I went back and re-read this great story. Redneck Riviera is absolutely as good, or maybe even a bit better, than any of the redneck humor you will find on the market today.

None of the famous comedians have anything in their acts any better than this story, and I'm surprised that at least a few of them haven't read this and commented on it.

Redneck Riviera is a very funny, very well written story, and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.

The idea of a redneck from Tennessee meeting an alien that may be even more of a redneck is something that is new and refreshing, and the twist at the end will have you nodding in agreement, while laughing at how ironic it truly is.

Hilarious and well-written is this clever short story by E. Don Harpe. What an incredible imagination and ingenious play on words that keeps readers looking for more and laughing along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed Redneck Riviera and can't wait to see what other adventures JorG and Billy Joe may go on in the future.

5/17/06

I grew up reading Stephen King and have quite an appetite for well written, keep you coming back to the book, fiction.

This is one of those reads that will not only interest you but keeps your interest.

Mr. Harpe's work on the Harpe Brothers is also amazing and a great true story of two of the most infamous brothers in our nation's history but a story not told.......................and there is a reason why it is still whispered.

Both pieces are deservedly worth the read.

Angela T. Taylor
Charlotte, NC

A sidesplitting Amazon Short well worth every read twice or thrice. Already a fan of E. Don Harpe's Stubian green and in love with the Southern drawl, I read Redneck Riviera after Talladega Twostep. What a laugh. JorG's experiences in NayesBul and subsequent DromBo episodes were enough to get me going. When lil' green fella crashes into Gurm12, commonly known as Earth, he surprises Billy Joe, who thinks the concussed alien bears ugliness close enough to brother-in-law Jack's. A story unfolds and, with it, an unlikely alliance. Characters are fleshed rather well here and I am tempted to re-read Talladega Twostep just for the heck of it.
Eugen M. Bacon
Author: The Hybrid/ The Firemaker: A Hybrid Story

REDNECK RIVIERA shot out of the literary sky with an easy, entertainingly simple style, capturing the reader through JorG's disgust with himself for taking a short-cut home, disgust with his spaceship for being a used rattletrap on its last jig.

After chuckling through the read of REDNECK RIVIERA, I would speculate that this series of 4 Amazon Shorts has earned the gorgeous graphics on the square gem covers, each owning its unique squiggly road/path heading up the right side of the design.

The humor popped percolation with:

>> JorG didn't really like the music, but he'd learned to live with it, especially after he had a few glasses of DromBo. To be honest, the naked part wasn't so bad either. That is, after one had grown accustomed to seeing the NayesBul's rather ugly blimp shaped bodies hopping wildly about in all their eight-legged splendor. <<

JorG's unique perspective of Earth caught my interest:

>> JorG had heard that the people of Gurm 12, or Earth, were an ugly and violent race of huge beings, with hairy skin of a great many colors and great white fangs in their mouths. He might overlook those things, he thought, but he'd also heard that the inhabitants had the irrational idea that they were the only intelligent life in the universe. <<

More low-key, dry humor which I lapped up (Burp!):

>> It was anybody's guess as to whether she was talking (on her cell phone) to her insurance company, her attorney, or just someone she had met on line. Trouble was, she was still sitting in her car, apparently not hurt, but unaware that the car was on fire. <<

A little longer than the other 4 Amazon Shorts (by other authors, see my Listmania) I've reviewed so far, this one began to settle in at the point above, magnetizing my interest with the feel of a real story with a solid plot, a "tall tale" setting out beyond a crisp situational quip in a bare story snip.

(Please do not take the above comment as an implication of lack in Shorts of other styles. As I've attempted to describe in my reviews, each Short has a unique, "clear-and-present" appeal. Be sure to take note of the variety of styles in The Amazon Shorts Collection, which include fiction, nonfiction, serials in sequence of longer works, and more.)

More sudden guffaws continued... These weren't just cucumber laughs; they were cut-up-chuckles and go-along-giggles:

>> At that moment Billy Joe's hand slipped off the wire and he went flying through the air, landing some ten feet away from the ship. He slammed into a tree and his Braves' ball cap turned half way round on his head. <<

More crisp colloquialism fun:

>> "...BillyJoeWhitecomeoverhereandtellmewhatthe...isgoinon." Cindy was very close to being hysterical, and the words came out loud, fast, and angry, like bullets from a machine gun on an old late night gangster movie. <<

Enough samples. Click on REDNECK RIVIERA, # 1 in this series. Get a run of 25 pages of the above type of fun.

Me?

I'm headed to click the 49 cent button on TALLADEGA TWOSTEP, # 2 in the series. Gotta see where these guys go (and do) next!

The flashes of sunshine reflecting from JorG's "tin can" space ship are welcome on my face,

Linda G. Shelnutt

Hilariously funny. I read many of the pages aloud to my husband during a roadtrip. I wanted to print every single phrase,every single quote, notation and thought in 180 point font and hang them up on my refrigerator. Loved it.

This is a delightful funny book about parenting. Sure, a lot of us have been there and done that but few with such hilarity. Even the title makes me laugh. And, if you want more chuckles about parenting, order ParentLaughs: Quips, Quotes, and Anecdotes about Raising Kids ASIN:0517228173

Need a good belly laugh? Amy delivers the goods! Hilarious quips all parents can relate to and tender thoughts we share. A great gift for a new mom or a constant Mom!

This was very funny and I've recommended it to several other Mothers. However, do not spend your money on her "Book of Eleven" as it does not compare to this book!

I bought this book for my wife for Christmas. By the time I wrapped it, I had read the whole thing. I'd pick it up, read a little, laugh a lot, put it down and do other things. I kept coming back to it and eventually I found I had finished it.

Rosenthal's notes are dead on and she writes with a style that makes the most mundane things humorous. Sort of a Seinfeld for parents, except as parents you'll really understand what she's talking about. You may even get a little absolution from the book - for example, in a list of confessions she admits she has let sucking the toothpaste off a toothbrush pass as "brushing". Having kids myself, I can completely understand and picture that situation...

Great stuff...it was a perfect stocking stuffer. Guys, this would be a great book to surprise your wife with for no reason.

...even if you're not a middle-aged Jewish hip, sexy mom who works in entertainment and knows the author and also has a big, crazy 'meshpucha!' Go ahead. Read. Enjoy. Eat.

prjayne

This is a good book to pick up and enjoy.

This was such a fun review of insider, contemporary politics - even though we all know there are trials and tribulations in the political arena, Iris offers such a refreshing insider review of what it takes to be a true "Schlepper". My entire family has read this book and loved it. My new motto is "Have you read my resume?" I plan to use it in a meetng or two in months to come.
She meets the challenges with the chutzpah I only wish I had! Thanks for the enjoyable read. BTW, read this while on a cruise to Alaska and shared your tales with many folks we met. Wish you could have been there.

Schlepper is a smart, sassy look behind the scenes of presidential politics. I always wondered what went on in those smoke filled rooms. Now I know.

Prepare for the campaign season -- read Schlepper.

This is a book about the people in Presidential camapigns and what they go through. What Iris Burnett doesn't know about campaign politics isn't worth knowing. And, yet, she sees the humanity of it all. And still she loves it for what can be accomplished to help ordinary people. She made me laugh out of sheer recognition of the truth. Buy this book today. You will be hooked by the end of page two.

Great read from one of my favourite webcomic authors. Nicely printed and lots of interesting bonus content.

All right. The title might sound over the top, but Schlock Mercenary DID change my life in a very real way. Before I found Schlock Mercenary, I thought that all web comics were terrible. Schlock Mercenary opened my eyes to a new world of entertainment, and now I read webcomics every week.

Schlock Mercenary is my homepage.

That said, Schlock Mercenary is a masterfully constructed story. Howard has managed to create a captivating cast of characters that cover every role in a sci-fi mercenary unit. This allows him to tell entertaining stories from every possible point of view. The story is riveting and honest, in it's own bizzare way.

And did I mention FUNNY?

I've been a regular reader of the online strip Schlock Mercenary - if you aren't, you really owe it to yourself to start reading - and finally getting my hands on a print version was a long awaited joy.

For the unfamiliar, Schlock Mercenary follows the mercenary combat Tagon's Toughs as they gleefully resort to violence on behalf of the highest bidders across the Galaxy. The story is smart, coherent, action-packed without being graphic and consistently funny. Schlock Mercenary is also very family friendly without being dumbed-down or banal. The book is a very high quality item, with glossy pages and many extras for the reader - the margins are filled with early concept art and the visual evolution of the artist's designs, and including the footnote commentary to selected strips. As a bonus, there is a short origins story that is not available online, existing only in this book collection.

This is a worthwhile addition to any bookshelf.

Howard Tayler is producing great work in the comic medium for the SF genre.

He offers science fiction hard enough to please the SF purists and technophiles but like any good comic artist puts his engaging plot first. He leads readers through an interesting setting populated with delightful characters and lays the final touches to a foundation for a surprisingly intricate plot in this volume.

It's unique. It's hilarious. Stuff blows up.

That's just one of the many rules of Highly Effective Pirates.

Go buy this book.

What, you need more?

Howard Taylor is probably one of the funniest comic strip authors on the face of the earth. Sci-fi humor is very difficult to get right (to my knowledge, only Douglas Adams was ever able to pull it off, and even his work started to lose something after it hit the fifth book of the trilogy), but Schlock Mercenary is consistently funny. Howard Tayor manages to blend geek humor (name me another author who can work a dyson sphere into a joke, and it's actually funny), military humor (because it's funny when the right things blow up, and even funnier when the wrong ones do), and bad puns all into one nifty package. And now you can own his work in two (so far-- more please) volumes.

Under New Management chronicles the adventures of the mercenary company Tagon's Toughs as they hunt down their former owner and commander Breya Andreyasn. Or, at least, that's the plan of their latest employer. We'll see who actually gets hunted.

Foremost in the story is Sgt. Schlock, a carbo-silicate amorph who looks like a pile of crap but acts like a violently antisocial pile of crap. He likes to hurt people and break things, and he's very good at it. You don't think you'll like him, but you will.

The story is crisp and funny, the artwork is crisp and funny, and the jokes are crisp and funny. The whole book reads like a bag of fritoes being eaten by a monkey in a pirate costume-- but with more explosions.

Now, having said all that, buy this book. Don't make Sgt. Schlock deploy his sawed off multicannons. (Yes, I copied and pasted much of my review of The Blackness Between for this review. It applies equally well to both)

"We were talking, about all the space between us." -- George Harrison, 1967

"The shortest distance between two or more minds is that of one's real voice." -- BeatleBangs1964

Robert Rummel-Hudson chronicles his life alongside that of his daughter, Schuyler. Schuyler, who was born on December 21, 1999 was the high note to a new and happier point in Rummel-Hudson's life. At that time, Rummel-Hudson had recently remarried after a marriage he described as being devoid of passion to a "perfectly nice" woman who was not his soulmate. From all outward appearances, his marriage to Julie appeared to be on rock solid footing.

Readers learn a lot about Rummel-Hudson. One of 3 siblings, he unflinchingly describes his mercurial relationships with his siblings and their late father. He takes a forgiving tone when he said that his immediate family "used the tools" they had at the time, but the end results were the fault of no one. I like that.

Rummel-Hudson, unlike Julie wanted to know his baby's gender. While Julie was convinced they'd have a son whom she'd name Jasper, Rummel-Hudson never divulged that he had the medical staff tell him Schuyler's gender from the sonogram. As a concession to Julie, Rummel-Hudson buys a large toy bear whom they call Jasper in anticipation of their first child.

The name Schuyler was chosen for a daughter as a nod to her Dutch heritage. As she grew into her first year and not into speech, her name became even more meaningful. She was the unexpected trip to Holland when the travelers were planning to go to Italy. She was the unexpected source of treasures when another type of treasures were expected.

I thought it was so adorable that Schuyler had an aversion for stuffed toys during her infancy. She had an adverse reaction to Jasper the Bear and refused to have anything to do with it. I also thought it was quite adorable when Schulyer "coldly" tossed a doll back into a Christmas gift box her first Christmas. In time, she appeases her father by playing with Jasper. Even then, she carries the toy in an inverted position, never seemingly sure quite how he wants her to play with it. Since she didn't like stuffed toys, it would have been a better idea not to get them for her and to put the ones she had away instead of leaving a few out. I didn't like the way the stuffed toys were seemingly pushed on her. She was very adamant in how she felt.

Schuyler's absense of speech and speech development became alarming over the course of her first year. Tests failed to yield any diagnosis or treatment plan that seemed viable. By 2003, Schuyler got to do some traveling - a move from her native Michigan to New Haven Connecticut and a later move to central Texas. It was in 2003 that Schuyler was diagnosed with the congenital condition of polymicrogyria, which Rummel-Hudson calls her "monster." A monster is a fear of the unknown; often, an amorphous or grotesquely shaped oddity that inspires fear. The "monster" in this case was a rare condition that robbed Schuyler of her ability to speak.

One cannot help but feel cheered by Rummel-Hudson's love for and final acceptance of his child. Julie mourns Schuyler not having siblings as she fears any subsequent child will have polymicrogyria. In addition to the delayed speech, Schuyler shows some developmental lags as well. She was nearly 5 before she mastered toileting and other self-care skills.

Schuyler appears to accept herself as she is and her peers in the various schools she attended appear to enjoy her as well. One setback Schuyler encountered was when her speech teacher refused to learn sign language so that Schuyler would have this method of communication. Another setback Schuyler encountered was when her school refused to buy a device called the "Big Box of Words." The device involved typing on its screen, which then activated the "voice" that the words trigger. Rummel-Hudson's faithful network of bloggers on his website band together and raise money for the Big Box.

Schuyler and family find their niche in Plano, Texas which is in the Dallas area. Schuyler is described as thriving in the Plano school district and even has fun with her Big Box. Schuyler's humor develops as she jokes and plays with expressions and things she found funny. She fills the metaphysical space between herself and others with her newfound voice! She liked making monster noises with it and even unleashed anger at another child who mocked her on a playground. At last, Schuyler found her own voice!

Having one's own voice is a large part of one's identity. Being able to communicate by whatever means necessary one's true thoughts and feelings and reactions instead of merely echoing the party sentiment is very empowering. It also engenders respect and helps one to forge their own identity.

"Within You, Without You," a 1967 masterpiece by George Harrison is the soundtrack that underscores this book. Schuyler's story is about acceptance and paternal love. "When you've seen beyond yourself, then you may find that peace of mind is waiting there. " -- George Harrison, 1967

This is a great book, surprisingly funny and heartbreaking. A detailed look at what's it's like for a parent to face the "monster" of a child's disability and through his speechless daughter learn of a different way to look at the world.

In July of 2001, when Schuyler Rummel-Hudson was eighteen months old, her pediatrician noticed that the little girl did not imitate grown-up speech. In fact, "she wasn't trying to put together any sounds at all." This discovery led the doctor to schedule a number of medical tests, but no immediate revelations were forthcoming except for the fact that Schuyler was not hearing impaired. When Schuyler's condition was finally identified, her parents were devastated; their already shaky marriage was about to be tested in ways that the couple could never have imagined.

"Schuyler's Monster" was given a name when the child was three and her MRI photos were studied at the Yale University Medical School's Department of Neurology. On the surface, Schuyler looked fine; she was a pretty and sociable child who made friends easily. However, she could not utter a single word. Her diagnosis: a rare "brain malformation known as polymicrogyria. Her particular form is called bilateral perisylvian syndrome." The affected areas of the brain include those that control fine motor skills and speech. The doctor concluded by saying, "Schuyler's speech may never progress further than it has right now." The little girl's father, Robert Rummel-Hudson, and his wife, Julie, were horrified to contemplate the prospect of their daughter trapped in a prison of silence. Schuyler's situation could have been worse. Some patients with her disorder are even more profoundly impaired: they develop cerebral palsy, cannot eat without the aid of a tube, and may experience debilitating seizures. Except for Schuyler's speech deficit, difficulty chewing certain foods, weak facial muscles, and slight fine motor impairment, she remains a vibrant, lively, and active little girl.

One positive development has been the heartwarming response to Robert's blog, on which he documents his family's experiences. Readers have sent hundreds of supportive emails as well as generous donations that help defray the family's medical expenses. Robert and Julia's arduous journey would take them through the special education maze; time and again, they would tackle cumbersome bureaucracies with fierce determination. In desperation, Schuyler's parents took her to Chicago to consult with Dr. William Dobyns, a giant in the field of genetics. (The cause of Schuyler's condition is thought to be both genetic and environmental.) After examining her, Dr. Dobyns said, "I think it's time to face the fact that Schuyler's going to need to develop alternative ways to communicate....But she's probably never going to talk. I'm sorry." Because of her lack of dexterity, sign language is of limited usefulness. After several false starts, a breakthrough finally came when the little girl was five. At that time, she started using an augmentative and alternative communication device that enables her to express herself. Schuyler found her "voice" at last.

In the hands of a less capable author, "Schuyler's Monster" could have been unbearably dour and depressing, but Rummel-Hudson avoids that pitfall in a number of ways. First, he writes in a puckish and smart-alecky style that is both lighthearted and fun. Second, he goes off on engrossing riffs about his early life, his relationship with Julie, the various places they have lived, the friends who have meant so much to them, and his fears, insecurities, guilt feelings, and core beliefs. This book is like an organized and extensive blog/memoir. The writing is so honest, conversational, and down-to-earth that the author might as well be sitting across from us in our living rooms. "Schuyler's Monster" is a touching valentine to a beloved daughter from her doting father; it is also a battle cry for all parents of special needs children. Nothing will come easily, Rummel-Hudson is telling these beleaguered moms and dads, but you owe it to your children to do whatever you can to help them survive and even thrive.

Schuyler's Monster: A Father's Journey with His Wordless Daughter

An excellent touching account of a father's struggle with himself and his daughter's disability. I found this book hard to put down.I think this book would resonate with anyone who may have a disabled child.

It wasn't until I actually met Schuyler and her parents that I was interested in this account. After that disclaimer, I must report that I cannot put Rob's book down. The agonizing and constant nagging feeling that something is just not right with your daughter, and the worlds--no universes--that a father would move to fix "It," are so clearly and rawly portrayed in Rob's journals. Nothing is prettied up for the audience. We ache and hope against hope that everything will turn out okay for this mesmerizing child who has so much to teach us.
Just spending an April afternoon with Schuyler and her ready, trusting spirit (revealed in her quick, engaging smile) truly enriched my life. God speed.

The Southern Girl's Guide to Surviving the Newlywed Years is a cute little pink and green book that will match most gift-wrap at the next bridal shower you may attend. Humorously delving into such topics as Mother-in-Laws, moving in together, household chores, decorating, husband hygiene, and feeding and fighting this book provides a comic relief to many newlywed dramas.

The delightful and interesting thing about this book is the Southern spin Annabelle Robertson gives to age-old situations. While she's not quite the female version of Jeff Foxworthy, she is good for a few chuckles. I particularly like the small graph/tables she includes to reinforce her points such as the Color Code for Disposal of Husband's Possessions:
Color Code for Disposal of Husband's Possessions
Red Stickers: Items to dispose of before the move
Orange Stickers: Items to lose and/or break during the move
Green Stickers: Items to keep temporarily

I also enjoyed some of the recipes in this book such as Everyday Chicken Casserole and Southern Sweet Tea; however, an index would have been nice, so that you can find them again once you've read through the book.

Written like a self-help book, The Southern Girl's Guide to Surviving the Newlywed Years is easy to flip open and begin reading from any point. Like wise it is easy to read a section, set it down for, oh say, 7 to 9 months, and then pick it back up again. At times the humor is a bit redundant and more like the Southern Girl's Guide to being high maintenance than it is to surviving a marriage. Of course, I might not get all of the humor, being a Yankee in all. One thing about this book that is universal is how funny being married can be. It makes the perfect gag-gift and should be read as such.

Treat yourself to an easy read of Annabelle's fun stories this summer. You'll be glad that you did! She makes the mundane and even annoying adventures in matrimony funny. Enjoy!

I read this book in the Greensboro, North Carolina airport at 6am while waiting for an 8 am London flight. I was laughing out loud so much that the man beside asked what I was reading and I told him. I ended up reading it out loud, and we both laughed our buns off!

True Southern Girls are not to be confused with southern girls. Southern Girls are natural-born beauties who never fail to write thank-you notes, and understand the importance of a little unsolicited advice. Whereas, southern girls were born and raised in the south, but sadly, they don't have the charisma, breeding or anything else that might remotely resemble the charm of a true Southern Girl.

In The Southern Girl's Guide to Surviving the Newlywed Years, Ms. Robertson teaches us the difference between Southern Girls and southern girls, and talks about all sorts of important issues to beginning married life with your significant other. Looking for a love shack? Ms. Robertson shows us the pros or cons to moving into your place, his place, or getting someplace entirely different.

With fun titles for the chapters, such as:

-- Men and Food: Help Me, Rhonda
-- Cleaning and Chores: I Say a Little Prayer
-- The Mother-In-Law: I Wanna Be Sedated
-- Conflict Resolution: Saturday Night's All Right for Fighting
-- Babies: In the Year 2525

Ms. Robertson addresses all issues of married life. As a veteran of ten years of marriage, she knows what she's talking about. She also discusses how difficult divorce is on all concerned--and she knows that first hand too, as her parents have gone through multiple divorces.

All newlyweds or those going to be married, Southern Girl or not, should pick up a copy of The Southern Girl's Guide to Surviving the Newlywed Years. It will truly teach you how to stay sane once you've caught your man.

Armchair Interviews says: Wonder if there is a difference between northern girls and Northern girls?

I had the great pleasure of meeting Annabelle while arranging for her to speak at a spouse function. I knew almost instantly that she was a witty, intelligent woman however nothing prepared me for the real deal. She is downright F-U-N-N-Y and proved to be quite the entertainer. While I am definitely not a newlywed, I truly enjoyed this book and was unable to put it down as I was anxiously awaiting the next fit of laughter. The longer you have been married, the funnier as we have all "been there, done that" at least a time or two. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone! Thank you Annabelle for this literary dose of fun and giggles... I look forward to the next great reading adventure!