Category: humor

dogs, humor

Ask Anna

Bergers Book Reviews

Ask Anna
Author: Dean Koontz & his dog Anna
Publisher: Center Street
Genre: Humor / Dogs
ISBN: 978-1-4555-3079-3
Pages: 96
Price: $20.00

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Dean Koontz was surprised to find that his dog, Anna, was giving advice to other dogs. In Ask Anna, she shares her advice with the furry and forlorn.

Trouble with the cat next door? Anna can help. Body image problem – legs too short, tongue too long? Anna knows exactly what to do about it. Behavior issue – digging, chewing, scratching? Anna has the answer.

Filled with photos of dogs along with their various questions, Ask Anna is the perfect Christmas gift for your canine companion. And if you’re curious what he’s thinking, it might be wise to get yourself a copy, too. This adorable book is perfect for anyone who loves dogs.

100% of what the author receives from the sale of Ask Anna will be donated to Canine Companions for Independence, the nonprofit organization that trains service dogs for people with disabilities.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

cats, humor

Copycat and a Litter of Other Cats

Bergers Book Reviews

Copycat
Author & Illustrator: David Yow
Publisher: Akashic Books
Genre: Humor / Cats
ISBN: 978-1-61775-270-4
Pages: 160
Price: $23.95

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The letters “C-A-T” form parts of dozens of words in the English language. Using this as his premise, David Yow has combined his love of both cats and puns in Copycat and a Litter of Other Cats. This unique book shares a cat-inspired phrase with Yow’s drawings of cats in situations representing the pun.

Grumpy Cat, Felix the Cat, Top Cat and Sylvester the Cat make guest appearances, joining Alley Cat, Tomcat, and Bobcat in this parade of bright-eyed cats. Copycat is a fun and whimsical book that any cat lover will enjoy.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

cartoon, cats, humor

Zombie Cat: The Tale of a Decomposing Kitty

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Isabel Atherton
Illustrator: Bethany Straker
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Genre: Horror / Humor
ISBN: 978-1616088842
Pages: 32
Price: $12.95

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Tiddles was once an ordinary cat. He chased mice, caroused with the lady cats, and spent time with his owner, Jake. But when a nuclear power plant spill wreaks havoc on the city, Tiddles finds himself in a dire predicament. He is now Zombie Cat.

As zombies take over the city, Tiddles just wants to go home. But Jake isn’t so keen on bringing him back into the house. After all, Jake has no desire to join the undead. A truce is finally reached, at least for the moment.

Although poor Tiddles is reduced to rotting body parts and oozing insides, he’s still a loveable character. Zombie Cat would be a cute addition to any cat or zombie lover’s book collection.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

humor

Kids Say the Cutest Things When They’re Drunk

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Dan McQuinn
Publisher: Fauldhouse Publishing
Genre: Humor
ISBN: 978-0-9832553-0-7
Pages: 220
Price: $12.95

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The title to this book may be an immediate turn-off for some readers. I thought it impossible for someone to go so far as to actually write about such an outrageous topic. Thankfully, the title is not indicative of the book’s contents, at least not to that extent. As the cover indicates, it is “a book of pointless satire and vulgar humor.” This is McQuinn’s first published work, and he does indeed hit that mark with perfect accuracy.

McQuinn covers a myriad of topics in a variety of ways. Subjects such as Christmas, parenting, and celebrities, are touched upon through letters, conversations, daily schedules and short paragraphs among others. The consistent item throughout is, of course, the low-brow, sophomoric humor.

With that, I suppose those who enjoy this type of thing may find it amusing.

Reviewer: Gene Berger

health, humor

Are You My Guru?

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Wendy Shanker
Publisher: New American Library
Genre: Health
ISBN: 978-0451229946
Pages: 304
Price: $15.00

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Wendy Shanker was living the high life in Manhattan. Working in television, she had landed with the Oxygen channel, hoping for the chance to host her own show. But when an annoying sinus infection turns out to be a rare auto-immune diseases called Wegener’s granulomatosis, her world suddenly spins out of control.

Initially optimistic that she might have a mild case of Wegener’s and live a mostly ordinary life, Wendy takes the prescribed steroids to help her condition. But the Wegener’s has other ideas, and she’s forced to take more drastic measures, including a nasty chemotherapy drug she endures on a daily basis.

Over the six year period this book covers, Wendy shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about dealing with Wegener’s. While mostly following her doctor’s orders, she also explores some natural healing techniques, and good doses of Madonna help her keep a better attitude.

Somehow, Wendy keeps her sense of humor about the things that happen as a result of the Wegener’s. Her body and face bloat due to the steroids, her hair falls out when she starts chemotherapy, and her bowels never quite function correctly. But she has good friends and family in her life, and somehow she smiles through her pain and attempts to keep going on.

Are You My Guru? is irreverent and incredibly funny at times, but Wendy also shows us her softer side. The reader will laugh and cry along with her as she shares her thoughts and struggles, and by the time we reach the last page, we feel as if we’ve known her forever. Before reading this book, I had never heard of Wegener’s, and I hope to never know someone who suffers from this debilitating illness. I applaud Wendy Shanker for sharing her story at a time when most people would crawl under the covers and stay there. I highly recommend this enjoyable and enlightening book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

humor, men

Bigger Damner Book of Sheer Manliness

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: von Hoffmann Brothers
Publisher: QNY
Genre: Men / Humor
ISBN: 978-0843-717846
Pages: 256
Price: $29.99

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Men’s tastes are different from women’s, and the von Hoffmann brothers know it. So to celebrate men and the things men like, they created a compilation just for men.

This wonderful coffee table book covers a century of men’s interests, grouped into categories. These include sports like boxing, racing, football, and the world’s strongest man contest. Movies feature strong male characters and heroes, as well as their sexy leading ladies. Hobbies like gambling, fishing, smoking cigars, and drinking – and even pumpkin launching trebuchets – are all in this volume.

Check out some of these classic movies. Try a cocktail or chili recipe. Laugh at the Darwin Award winner, or offer tribute to man’s best friend, the dog. Whatever your taste, if you’re looking for a real man’s book, Bigger Damner Book of Sheer Manliness is the perfect addition to your collection.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

bilingual, children, humor, poetry

Scrambled Breakfast

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Celina Penovi
Illustrator: Dario Salvi
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Genre: Children / Spanish bilingual
ISBN: 978-1-4490-2743-8
Pages: 20
Price: $14.99

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The breakfast table is set and waiting. But what happens when the fork insults the napkin? In his haste to retaliate, the napkin misses hitting the fork, and this triggers a series of events that lead to quite a mess!

In Scrambled Breakfast, Celina Penovi tells this morning tale in rhyme in both Spanish and English. I can’t say if the Spanish version of the rhyme works well, since I have a very limited vocabulary in that language. The English version is amusing, although sometimes the rhyme is a little confusing. But the general premise of the story comes through clearly and is enjoyable to read.

Dario Salvi has done a wonderful job of illustrating this breakfast scene. These food items and silverware have expressive faces, and their actions come to life on the page in a fun way. Kids will enjoy the idea of these inanimate objects getting caught up in a morning squabble. And if they read along with the language that’s foreign to them, they’ll get to learn something new.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

humor, poetry

On the Edge With Coolhead Luke

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Jennifer White
Illustrator: Colin White
Publisher: BookSurge Publishing
Genre: Poetry / Humor
ISBN: 978-1-4392-5983-2
Pages: 58
Price: $14.99

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What do you get when you team up a son who likes to draw faces with a mom who’s a whiz at poetry? On the Edge With Coolhead Luke, which combines the best of both.

When Jennifer White saw her son’s drawings, they sparked the idea to work on a book together. She then matched her own poetry to the faces with surprising results. In this sequel to Coolhead Luke, patrons visit a restaurant with an operatic chef, the Metta Four sisters share a lesson, and Uncle Marvin presents a Thanksgiving feast fit for a king.

Most of these poems are written in some form of rhythmic meter, with some more unusual styles thrown in for fun. There is a glossary of terms included, as well as discussion questions about the overall messages and styles of verse.

These are fun and well-written poems, with quirky and unique drawings accompanying them. I admire what Jennifer White and her son, Colin, have achieved in On the Edge With Coolhead Luke. Not only have they created interesting works of literature, but they’ve also nurtured the creative bond between them. Now that’s about as cool as it gets!

Reviewer: Alice Berger

humor, poetry

Coolhead Luke

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Jennifer White
Illustrator: Colin White
Publisher: BookSurge Publishing
Genre: Poetry / Humor
ISBN: 9781419661624
Pages: 54
Price: $14.99

Author’s website
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What do you get when you team up a son who likes to draw faces with a mom who’s a whiz at poetry? Coolhead Luke, which combines the best of both.

When Jennifer White saw her son’s drawings, they sparked the idea to work on a book together. She then matched her own poetry to the faces with surprising results. A big nose on a pedestal is Ebenezer Nooze. Chef Mahoney has only some macaroni, but he needs to make up some Beef Bourguignoney – and that’s no baloney! And the Freaky Bus full of strange passengers rides out every day at nine o’clock.

Most of these poems are written in some form of rhythmic meter, with some more unusual styles thrown in for fun. There is a glossary of terms included, as well as discussion questions about the overall messages and styles of verse.

These are fun and well-written poems, with quirky and unique drawings accompanying them. I admire what Jennifer White and her son, Colin, have achieved in Coolhead Luke. Not only have they created an interesting work of literature, but they’ve also nurtured the creative bond between them. Now that’s about as cool as it gets!

Reviewer: Alice Berger

humor

Everything Hurts

Bergers Book Reviews

hurts
Author: Bill Scheft
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 978-1-4165-9934-0
Pages: 288
Price: $24.00

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Phil Camp never intended to become a self-help guru. All he wanted to do was come up with the money to pay off his ex-wife. But when Where Can I Stow My Baggage? becomes an instant hit, his career suddenly takes off.

Phil doesn’t want anyone to know he’s the genius behind the pseudonym of Marty Fleck. Everything is going fine, as the book turns into a regular column, Baggage Handling. But then one day Phil develops a strange and unexplained limp, and he’s forced to turn to a real self-help guru for answers.

His journey through the layers of pain lead him to the Irish Shrink, who helps him unravel his past and try to make sense of it all. Phil uncovers several disturbing and shameful events, and an undercurrent of rage runs through it all–the rage that’s causing him so much pain.

Everything Hurts is the humorous account of how Phil Camp comes to terms with his past and his pain. But there’s more to this story than just laughs, as he delves into the healing of age-old family rifts. After reading this book, you’ll never look at your past, your family, or your pain the same way.

Reviewer: Alice Berger