by AK Turner ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 28, 2012
When this sometimes superficial collection hits, which it does more than it misses, it’s very funny.
In her first solo work, Turner (co-author: Drinking With Dead Women Writers, 2012) shares a series of essays on being normal—where normal involves copious amounts of alcohol, dreams of becoming a secret agent, and the sometimes-gratuitous use of the word “bitch.”
Turner’s story starts with a glancing look at a birth family that’s broken, swapped or blended, depending on how you define the three. She grows up to glory in her own imperfections. This makes for a likable, sometimes startling, read except when traces of overwrought language—like “only in movies had we caught sight of this medical unicorn called the ultrasound”—distract from the core plot: An unusually honest woman navigating a world that’s not always sure how to respond to her. Turner endures a Caesarean section and a vaginal birth, strips in public (sort of) and admits to faking a Russian accent to buy booze as a teen (it worked). Every once in awhile, a comment—like her husband’s appreciation for the painkillers she received after birthing her children—makes you wonder whether the statute of limitations applies. At other times, Turner seems flat-out angry; perhaps she’s forgotten the point she wanted to make when she writes about problem girls: “Everyone present can see that the princess is a little bitch, with the exception of the little bitch’s parents, because they are bitches themselves.” When Turner does hit the right note, she’s gut-bustingly hilarious, like when she describes the aftermath of an encounter with recreational drugs gone wrong: “I need cleaning supplies, all of them.” But the near-complete lack of detail about Turner’s childhood and relationship with her husband, whose only appearances are as the straight foil to her zaniness, leaves readers wishing she’d turn her engaging honesty on her interior motivation instead of just her exterior antics.
When this sometimes superficial collection hits, which it does more than it misses, it’s very funny.Pub Date: June 28, 2012
ISBN: 978-0985583903
Page Count: 200
Publisher: Fever Streak Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 28, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Share your opinion of this book
by M.B. Wood ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 26, 2012
Wood’s tale of greed and violence versus decency is best when revved up and rolling, not just spinning the tires.
A young engineer finds himself in hot water when the bigwigs at his workplace start cutting corners, ignoring his advice and playing dirty.
Daniel Robles is an upstanding, ethically sound engineer who quickly learns that his employers are more interested in the bottom line than the wellbeing of their employees. They often ignore his creditable advice when it comes to safety matters, especially at financially fragile Schirmerling Tire and Rubber Company. Wood capably draws some gratifyingly rude characters: O’Brien, head of security and overseer of a meth lab secreted away at the tire plant, and Hodges, who would rather save a dime than worry about a worker being steamed like a lobster by the company’s dangerously flimsy boilers. Wood also colorfully depicts Robles’ girlfriend, Carol, a deeply manipulative woman not afraid to pull the Lysistrata trick on him in order to get her way. But when Wood uses italicized letters to let readers into his characters’ heads, things get stilted. It’s difficult to imagine Robles thinking to himself, “He says there’s a position at Schirmerling Tire & Rubber in Akron, Ohio, a nice, respectable company. It’s time for a change, a time for something better. And Akron is near Kent, where Hector, my brother lives. Yes, it’s time.” The enjoyable complexity of this thriller—at one point, Robles is being framed in more ways than one—is handled with aplomb by Wood, though certain side plots fail to get the attention they deserve, such as O’Brien’s gambling issues and Hector’s delamination after the Kent State shootings (the story takes place in 1970). Nor does Wood conjure the ambiance of the time, which surely could have cast the evildoers in an even harsher light. The story’s precarious balance keeps readers involved, particularly with Robles’ gathering tribulations, the company’s vileness and a bracing denouement in the boiler room. The sex scenes, on the other hand, are flaccid: “Carol liked his long hair. And he liked to please her, for when he did, she pleased him in ways he really liked.” Like, please.
Wood’s tale of greed and violence versus decency is best when revved up and rolling, not just spinning the tires.Pub Date: March 26, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-387-09251-2
Page Count: 227
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2017
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Share your opinion of this book
More by M.B. Wood
BOOK REVIEW
by M.B. Wood
BOOK REVIEW
by M.B. Wood
by Donna J. Grisanti ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 19, 2012
An uplifting story of personal sacrifice amid historical significance.
Grisanti’s novel combines history, family heritage and love to present the poignant tale of a young African-American woman’s struggle for civil rights.
It’s 1967, and Ruth Yuell is being treated in a Chicago emergency room after police officers invaded a peaceful demonstration she was attending. While waiting for medical treatment, Ruth recounts the story of her life to her white friend, Norma, a journalist, with the plot flashing back to 1939 for Ruth’s birth in St. Louis. Ruth’s father was a respected doctor in the community, yet he couldn’t afford for his wife to give birth in a hospital. So begins Ruth’s childhood and part of her eventual inspiration to join the cause of nonviolent social justice. Grisanti’s writing style flows well but provides scant physical description of characters, and the plot unfolds slowly, with occasional commentary reading like a textbook instead of a novel. For example, while discussing the church’s role in the African-American community, Ruth states: “In the pre-Civil Rights era the church was both a place to worship and a town hall of sorts to get community work done. Truth was there was no representative government for most Negroes. In the South especially, the church was the only place where Negroes could really gather in large numbers on a consistent basis to meet each other at all.” Grisanti’s more memorable scenes show the horror of racism: When teenage Ruth goes out for a drive with friends and while they’re changing a flat tire, white police officers accost them. Police leave Ruth’s pregnant friend lying on the ground in the middle of her miscarriage. Eventually, Ruth enters an integrated college up north where she isn’t harassed or threatened, although she encounters more racism and ultimately goes south to help with the civil rights cause. The strength of the book is in Ruth: Like the biblical Ruth, Grisanti’s heroine is devout and hardworking; she remains brave in the face of hardship. While trying to stop her fiancé’s sister from having sex with an evil man, Ruth is raped by the same man. He’s shot and killed, and Ruth takes the blame in court to save the reputation of her fiancé’s sister. Although the love story aspect can feel a bit contrived, readers will enjoy the sweetness of Ruth’s final revelation.
An uplifting story of personal sacrifice amid historical significance.Pub Date: March 19, 2012
ISBN: 978-0970886019
Page Count: 348
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 24, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Share your opinion of this book
More by Donna J. Grisanti
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.