A review by cnoelle
Dear Bob and Sue by Karen Smith, Matt Smith

2.0

I wanted to love this book, and if it was just Matt Smith writing it, I'm sure I would have! His "journal" entries are insightful, informative, and inquisitive. He truly enjoys the wonder of the park and spends time talking about the history of the park, it's wildlife, or stunning vistas. He's humorous and notices the small things.

Karen Smith comes off as, well, a real Karen. By about page 60, I started to get annoyed when the journal entries started off with her name at the top. Everything about her annoys me. Her journal entries seem to mostly consist of calling husband "pathetic" and claiming he has OCD and it's like living in a scene from Rain Man...because he wants to collect all the park maps and likes to go through his photos every day. She carries lipstick in her hiking bag, can't stand the thought of peeing outside so she insists the hikes be short or have a toilet, and doesn't seem to think the wildlife is interesting....it must be over 2 lbs and not be a deer or deer like animal, or she gets annoyed if Matt stops to take a pic of it.

I'll be finishing the book off, but definitely won't be reading book two. Not with her as one of the authors. Matt is a gem and I'd love to read more of his thoughts and observations. But Karen should just stay home and leave her pessimism, complaining, and belittling to herself and not publish it!