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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
This was a quick read, although I don't think it was that great. This semester is almost over (finally!) and since my brain has been overly preoccupied with yield curves and bond pricing theories, it was nice to let my brain rest and read the recollections of an elementary age kid as she grew up in a small town in Indiana (or was it Iowa? I'm one of "those people" who considers a large part of the Midwest states virtually interchangeable; not one of my better sides, I admit).
The reviews made it sound like it would be an insightful, broadly applicable, charming story about Zippy's childhood in a quainter, less complicated time. In reality, methinks Zippy's childhood was a tad more dysfunctional than one that could be considered either charming or quaint. Unless you think a kid who sleeps on the couch in a sleeping bag because she doesn't have a bedroom, lives next door to a kid who routinely tortures animals (someone should do a follow-up on him; dollars to donuts says he's been convicted of some sort of felony), whose dad has a drinking problem, and whose mom likely suffered from sort of depression is cute and/or quaint. I don't happen to think so, but perhaps you might.
It almost felt like one of those chain emails that lists all the old by-gone rituals and norms - we didn't wear seatbelts and turned out fine! we could play outside without being worried about child predators! if we were hyperactive our parents just knocked us upside the head! - that make you want to remind the sender that these were also the good ol' days when segregation was considered right, women were considered the property of their father or husband, when things like abuse and alcoholism were shameful secrets to be kept hidden at all costs, and kids had to practice bomb drills during school. Ah... those were the good times, huh?
Obviously, this is tangential to Kimmel's book, but it's the overall sentiment it invoked in me. Overall, the stories felt disjointed and flat; more than once I had the niggling feeling that I had accidentally to wondered into the wrong family reunion since the entire book was basically a recounting of random anecdotes, most of which weren't even that funny (maybe you had to be there?) or seemed to have a point.
Or perhaps I'm just cranky since there are still 4 more weeks until the semester is over. Your call.
P.S. - Just saw the overall rating on this book is almost 4 stars. Am slightly flabbergasted. This book makes me realize why the memoir trend ended; just because you have memories (root word of memoir for those who are a bit slow on the uptake) doesn't qualify you to write a book anymore than having a brain qualifies you as a brain surgeon.
P.P.S. - Really, the more I think about it, the more I think it's a wonder Zippy didn't grow up and need massive amounts of therapy. And if animal cruelty stories aren't your thing, I would recommend you steer clear. There are numerous incidents (5+, as I recall) where some disturbing $^%& goes down. Note to self: am happy that cruelty to animals is now a crime (point for present day vs. good ol' days); it seemed to be normal and (dare I say it?) expected in Zippy's neck of the woods.
The reviews made it sound like it would be an insightful, broadly applicable, charming story about Zippy's childhood in a quainter, less complicated time. In reality, methinks Zippy's childhood was a tad more dysfunctional than one that could be considered either charming or quaint. Unless you think a kid who sleeps on the couch in a sleeping bag because she doesn't have a bedroom, lives next door to a kid who routinely tortures animals (someone should do a follow-up on him; dollars to donuts says he's been convicted of some sort of felony), whose dad has a drinking problem, and whose mom likely suffered from sort of depression is cute and/or quaint. I don't happen to think so, but perhaps you might.
It almost felt like one of those chain emails that lists all the old by-gone rituals and norms - we didn't wear seatbelts and turned out fine! we could play outside without being worried about child predators! if we were hyperactive our parents just knocked us upside the head! - that make you want to remind the sender that these were also the good ol' days when segregation was considered right, women were considered the property of their father or husband, when things like abuse and alcoholism were shameful secrets to be kept hidden at all costs, and kids had to practice bomb drills during school. Ah... those were the good times, huh?
Obviously, this is tangential to Kimmel's book, but it's the overall sentiment it invoked in me. Overall, the stories felt disjointed and flat; more than once I had the niggling feeling that I had accidentally to wondered into the wrong family reunion since the entire book was basically a recounting of random anecdotes, most of which weren't even that funny (maybe you had to be there?) or seemed to have a point.
Or perhaps I'm just cranky since there are still 4 more weeks until the semester is over. Your call.
P.S. - Just saw the overall rating on this book is almost 4 stars. Am slightly flabbergasted. This book makes me realize why the memoir trend ended; just because you have memories (root word of memoir for those who are a bit slow on the uptake) doesn't qualify you to write a book anymore than having a brain qualifies you as a brain surgeon.
P.P.S. - Really, the more I think about it, the more I think it's a wonder Zippy didn't grow up and need massive amounts of therapy. And if animal cruelty stories aren't your thing, I would recommend you steer clear. There are numerous incidents (5+, as I recall) where some disturbing $^%& goes down. Note to self: am happy that cruelty to animals is now a crime (point for present day vs. good ol' days); it seemed to be normal and (dare I say it?) expected in Zippy's neck of the woods.
Finally a memoir worth reading. This is lighthearted...no deep dark secrets no skeletons in the closet no smoking gun...no hypnotherapy to remember repressed memories.
Zippy is a delightful girl who grows up in the small town of Moreland, IN. Her exploits with the witch lady across the street the drug store owner who is always yelling at her and who's wife is her teacher, her friend who has a creepy teacher and her religious conversations with her dad...i all thoroughly enjoyed reading. Her mom is a religious quaker who can spin a great yarn about Zippy being traded from gypsy's and her daddy...well he's not religious, but he sure knows how to take care of the neighbor complaining about their barking dogs, and how to build a new bike and a shrine for the old one, and how to pack for camping and a natural disaster all at the same time.
It was a fast read and i'd recommend it to anyone who just wants to have an enjoyable couple of hours. I hope she writes more. Especially since her writing style (from the perspective of a child) is very effective. It was almost as if you could see the thoughts spinning around in that little brain. I was wonderful to see the interesting ways a child sees the world around them and how they interpret it. It seemed very point on. :)
Zippy is a delightful girl who grows up in the small town of Moreland, IN. Her exploits with the witch lady across the street the drug store owner who is always yelling at her and who's wife is her teacher, her friend who has a creepy teacher and her religious conversations with her dad...i all thoroughly enjoyed reading. Her mom is a religious quaker who can spin a great yarn about Zippy being traded from gypsy's and her daddy...well he's not religious, but he sure knows how to take care of the neighbor complaining about their barking dogs, and how to build a new bike and a shrine for the old one, and how to pack for camping and a natural disaster all at the same time.
It was a fast read and i'd recommend it to anyone who just wants to have an enjoyable couple of hours. I hope she writes more. Especially since her writing style (from the perspective of a child) is very effective. It was almost as if you could see the thoughts spinning around in that little brain. I was wonderful to see the interesting ways a child sees the world around them and how they interpret it. It seemed very point on. :)
It was ok. Having grown up in Indiana until I was 12, I didn't think some of the "funny" parts were so funny....they were just the way things were!
I don't read much in this genre, but this book was very entertaining. It's especially appealing if you are a woman who grew up in the 1960s/70s. There were many things in this book that I recognized. And unlike many memoirs, the book didn't make me want to kill myself. There were some serious moments, but mostly the books funny and fast paced. Zippy is a hilarious, quirky character.
3 1/2 stars
I just reread this book. I saw it at the library and even though I knew I had read it, I couldn't remember anything about it. So I thought, "why not?"
It was amusing and poignant, both. I'm a couple of years older than Kimmel but basically grew up in the 60s and 70s. I'm from Indiana! Though not the small town rural Indiana of Kimmel's tale, rather the cold, hard, industrial Great Lakes north. Life was a bit different for us kids up there.
I can't believe all the 1 and 2 star ratings. I thought it was fine. It was laugh out loud funny in spots. The tales about animals and the blythe ways they were dealt with, that so many people objected to, is just the way it was back then for a lot of families. Rural and farm people weren't too soft and fuzzy about them critters. We were city slickers but we just about never brought our cats to the vet unless they were almost dead and it wasn't until I was a teenager that we ever got an animal "fixed".
A good read if you are looking for something nostalgic that doesn't ask a lot from you. Unless you get easily upset about the way animals are treated... Then beware.
I just reread this book. I saw it at the library and even though I knew I had read it, I couldn't remember anything about it. So I thought, "why not?"
It was amusing and poignant, both. I'm a couple of years older than Kimmel but basically grew up in the 60s and 70s. I'm from Indiana! Though not the small town rural Indiana of Kimmel's tale, rather the cold, hard, industrial Great Lakes north. Life was a bit different for us kids up there.
I can't believe all the 1 and 2 star ratings. I thought it was fine. It was laugh out loud funny in spots. The tales about animals and the blythe ways they were dealt with, that so many people objected to, is just the way it was back then for a lot of families. Rural and farm people weren't too soft and fuzzy about them critters. We were city slickers but we just about never brought our cats to the vet unless they were almost dead and it wasn't until I was a teenager that we ever got an animal "fixed".
A good read if you are looking for something nostalgic that doesn't ask a lot from you. Unless you get easily upset about the way animals are treated... Then beware.
fun, but nothing special. david sedaris has ruined my expectations on these types of books.
such an amazing memoir (which i do know how pronounce, Claire!)
A few cute stories, but nothing I really got into. The stories often ended before I wanted them to finish.
I absolutely loved this book! It was quirky, laugh-out-loud funny, endearing and all-around fun. I love the way she set it up and think it would be so fun to pattern my own memoir (for personal use of course) after.
I read a couple chapters out loud to the whole family and they loved it, I'm sad it's over.
9/20/22 I listened to this and loved it again.
I read a couple chapters out loud to the whole family and they loved it, I'm sad it's over.
9/20/22 I listened to this and loved it again.