Haven Kimmel, Jennifer Crusie

She Got Up Off the Couch

Haven Kimmel

Haven Kimmel is an incandescent writer. When I picture the scenes in her books, I always visualize them filled with light. Her first book, A Girl Named Zippy, was about her young childhood. She Got Up Off the Couch is the sequel she never thought she would write. Taking place during the years leading up to her adolescence, as her life and family are changing dramatically. One of the most dramatic changes is the one made by Zippy's mother Delonda. For most of Zippy's life she's been ensconced on the couch with her bags of snacks and numerous dogs, but one day she gets up. She resolves to go back to school. After Delonda finds ways to deal with transportation, tuition, and clothing, she's off the couch for good. It turns out, Zippy's mom is brilliant. Her father is less than supportive, and even hostile to the change in his placid wife.

Among with the big changes in her family, Haven writes about the small things as well. A run-in with a mother cow. Her broken arm, and how it happened. When her family begins the finale stages of disintegration, her eye and voice remain clear, with wry humor, and pride in her mother's accomplishments, as well as love for her father. I will look forward to anything she writes, fiction or non-fiction, but I hope she continues her memoirs someday. I want to know what happens next.

UUUUU

*

Bubble Bath Book Tip #2 - Bookholders designed for tubs don't work. They are likely to come unstuck right in the middle of the bath, and give your book a dunking.

Anyone But You

Jennifer Cruisie

This book was published previously. Even with the limitations of the series romance format, Jennifer Cruisie's storytelling will make you laugh out loud. If you're a fan of romantic comedy, I would recommend any book by her. Her characters are sympathetic, but definatly not perfect, her stories just weird enough to ring true. Anyone But You is known to her fans as "Fred's book." She explains in her forward, and it's a fact; the dog steals the show. Fred, the smelly, garbage stealing mutt Nina rescues from the pound is a winner. We may like the main characters; 40 year old Nina, just escaped from a boring life as a corporate wife. Hot, 30 year old downstairs neighbor Alex, the kind of guy that runs like a rabbit at the first sign a girl is getting serious. Alex's brother Max, even more of a ladies man, and Nina's "loser at love" best friend Charity add to the fun. One of the things I like about Jennifer Cruisie is her secondary characters are as interesting as her primaries, no cardboard cut-outs here. While "Anyone But You" is not her most complex book, it's certainly a fun read, and I was very happy to find it on my "Soon to be Released" list.

UUUUU 5 Tubs