hilarious

Immediately after finishing the downloadable audiobook of Bad Feminist, crisply narrated by the inestimable Bahni Turpin, I placed the print book on hold. There are just too many interesting, important and often hilarious moments to absorb in one go. Turpin's reading is too good to pass up, so I wholeheartedly recommend the audiobook, but on this second time through, I'd like the luxury of reading and then rereading those paragraphs that give me the most to think about.

Roxane Gay is both a fiction writer and an essayist, as well as a social media cultural commentator. Bad Feminist was my

If you’re expecting something akin to Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid, you will be in for a disappointment. Lydia Millet’s Mermaids in Paradise is both hilarious and heart-wrenching. Narrator Deb has just gotten married to Chip, her positive, gregarious partner. They are on their honeymoon in the Caribbean when they become involved in a mermaid sighting, a questionable death, corporate greed, a kidnapping, and a myriad of other activities. The supporting cast of characters includes best friend Gina (“Everything’s performance art with her, she lives in a world of irony”), a hipster

Similar to Tina Fay’s Bossy Pants, William Shatner’s Shatner Rules might possibly be better in audio than written form. Narrated by the great Captain Kirk himself, the audio version feels as if you’re watching a personal interview with Mr. Shatner. Whether reading or listening, if you’re in the mood for a humorous, informative biography on a TV legend, this is the book for you.

When one thinks of William Shatner, it is likely that his role as Captain James Tiberius Kirk on Star Trek comes to mind first. In this, his thirty eighth book (yes, you read that correctly), we get a glimpse of the

If you are a fan of the TV shows White Collar and Leverage,  The Heist might be the book for you. FBI Special Agent Kate O’Hare has finally gotten her man. After five years of chasing after con man Nick Fox, Kate has put him away. Or has she? Like any good con man, Nick makes a deal with the FBI and is partnered up with Kate to track down other criminals on the FBI’s dime. In this first case, the criminal is investment banker turned swindler, Derek Griffin. Kate and Nick must develop the con, set up a team, and recover $500 million dollars.

The Heist is a collaboration between Stephanie Plum

Skulduggery Pleasant is an ace detective and master of elemental magic. With his sharp sense of style, razor wit, and snarky sidekick, he is ready to take on any challenge and stop any threat. He is also technically dead. But that doesn’t stop him from doing his job. When a fabled weapon of great power is discovered, threating the world’s existence, it is up to Skulduggery and his sidekick to prevent the end of the world. As a walking, talking, fire-throwing and gun-wielding skeleton, Skulduggery is prepared to do just that. More or less. Probably less. I loved this book.  Though technically a

If you are a resident of Julia Quinn’s London, you know the one social event of the Season to avoid is the Smythe-Smith musicale. Every year, four unmarried Smythe-Smith cousins gather together to form a string quartet and badly perform Mozart for the ton. Just Like Heaven is the first in this series.

Honoria Smythe-Smith has known Marcus Holroyd since childhood, ever since her brother brought him home on holidays. With her brother Daniel out of the country, Marcus has taken the role of surrogate brother to watch out for Honoria. But like any good romance novel, the childhood affection

Reasons I enjoyed this book

A. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE STAND-UP COMEDY. I listen to it on XM radio, watch Comedy Central and visit the comedy clubs as often as possible.

B. I am a female. I enjoyed reading about these comedians and why some women did not find their shtick so funny.

C. I have been with the same (awesome) dude for 14 years and like to live vicariously through books.

D. Nothing beats a good, deep belly laugh. I love a good, deep belly laugh.

I wholeheartedly believe that New York Magazine was right when they said "If you've laughed in the last ten years, Ben Karlin was