Genre: Humor/Memoir

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Tina Fey makes me laugh.  She made me laugh on SNL, she made me laugh in 30 Rock, and she made me laugh in Bossypants.  Her sarcasm hits my funny-bone every time, and I felt it as I turned the pages of this surprisingly warm memoir of a woman who has gotten high up on the career ladder by believing in herself.  She was a "change of life" baby, and her family and friends gave her the strength to believe she could do whatever she wanted to do.  It is all in the way you look at something, and Tina looks at the positive.  When she was five she was attacked with a knife by a stranger and left with a scar on her face.  Her family and those around her made a fuss over her - giving her the extra candy and attention - and somehow what could have made her feel self-conscious made her feel beautifully special. That is the way she continues to look at life...as special.

Through the humor in this book we also feel the inspiration.  I loved her reaction to the pamphlet "Growing Up and Liking it."  I remember my mother handing me the same pamphlet when I hit puberty.  My best friend Harriet and I secreted ourselves away for two days reading it as if it was a porno magazine.  Looking back, the advise was silly and the descriptions far from understandable, but as Ms. Fey explained, a girl knew she reached womanhood when her mom handed her that book.

I loved reading about her growing up, jobs in show business, dating and marriage. Her descriptions about the differences in men and women in show business are hilarious.  She even managed to make her honeymoon interesting to the reader. It is not just one joke after another though.  She lets us see her struggles to balance her family and work life...a struggle most women face daily.  She doesn't let us in on major shocking Tina Fey secrets; instead she lets us know, with great humor, what her life is all about.

It may be me, but I think we all need a bit of Tina Fey humor in our lives.

- Beverly


Publisher - Reagan Arthur Books
Date of Publication - April 5, 2011

Genre: Non-Fiction/Humor

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This is the second non-fiction book that Rosenfelt somehow related to Tara.  Tara was his wife's dog when David and she met, but Tara soon became an important part of the author's life.  When Tara died, too young and early on in David and Debbie's life together, part of David's heart went with her.  He keeps her memory alive by writing about her in his non fiction books, and gives Andy Carpenter a doppelgänger dog named Tara in his fictional series.  Rosenfelt's ability to personify Tara keeps me laughing through all of his works.

David and Debbie became dog rescuers after Tara died of cancer, and they couldn't face replacing her right away.  They volunteered at a shelter and were introduced to the terrible realities that face shelter dogs.  Suddenly their house was filled with dogs who had no where else to go. Most of the dogs were big, and to hear David's version of the story, they all slobbered buckets full.  The chapters in this book are themed, and he attributes the lessons he learned and the stories he tells to Tara.

As in every story David Rosenfelt tells, these are hysterical.  You don't have to own dogs to appreciate the love and laughter they bring to most situations, and you certainly don't have to own a dog to thoroughly enjoy David's stories about them.  The settings, mostly Maine with a bit of California sprinkled in, add to the description of a family that lives with over thirty dogs at any given moment.

Sit down with this book and laugh your cares away.

- Beverly


Publisher - St. Martin's Press
Date of Publication - July 21, 2015

 Genre: Humor

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I love The Big Bang Theory!  It never fails to make me laugh while humbling me with my painfully weak knowledge of science. Don't misunderstand, I do know the basic facts, but when the boys of TBBT start talking I feel more like Penny than Amy Farrah Fowler.  This book seemed perfect for me from the start.

The foreword is written by a guy who went to Radio Shack for advise from a genius nineteen year old name Bill Prady.  Together they began a small and successful computer company until Bill's love of comedy led him on another path.  Ultimately, Bill moved to Hollywood, met Chuck Lorre and pitched a show about four nerds. We all know the rest, except for the phone call Bill made to his original business partner asking if he could use his name for one of the four main characters. Now this man's moniker is as well known as any on television...Howard Joel Wolowitz.

The book that author Zobel  wrote is both informative and humorous.  Each episode of Big Bang introduces theories and terms that seem completely made up, yet each theory and term is checked for validity before being presented.  This book explains the process to us, and then it goes on to explain what it all means.  It tells us that while these four scientists are often less than serious, the Institute that they work for, CalTech, is ALWAYS serious and ahead of the game.

I enjoyed reading the quotes from the various episodes as the author tried to explain some of the titles and some of the theories.  Don't get me wrong, this is not a particularly easy book to read.  I am reading it very slowly as I try to fully understand these explanations.   I love the puns interspersed throughout the science and the peek into the minds of the "nerds" who are such an important part of our lives.

Although I am still a couple chapters from finishing this book, I can highly recommend it to anyone who wants to have enough knowledge to share a meal with Sheldon and the gang. I am hoping the show stays around long enough for Dave Zobel to write a sequel to The Science of TV's The Big Bang Theory.

- Beverly


Publisher - ECW Press
Date of Publication - June 1, 2015

Genre: Non-Fiction/Humor 

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If you have been following Madderly Review, you know that David Rosenfelt is one of those authors whose books I anxiously wait for each year.  He averages two a year...one a stand alone thriller and one a book in his Andy Carpenter series.  Somewhere along the way he must have realized that he had five minutes a day free, because he decided to add non-fiction to his repertoire. Dogtripping: 25 Rescues, 11 Volunteers, and 3 RVs on Our Canine Cross-Country Adventure  takes us on a journey into the experiences of a couple who have devoted themselves to the saving of dogs.

The preface of this book explains how they met and introduces the dog that started this adventure.  Tara was wife Debbie's dog when Rosenfelt met her, and they (Debbie AND Tara) quickly stole his heart.  In fact,  Rosenfelt fans know that Andy Carpenter has a Golden Retriever named Tara in his series, and that dog is my favorite character. Obviously modeled after the real Tara, this fictional one seems wiser than most humans and never shy about voicing her opinions.

As the book starts, David and Debbie are moving from California to Maine. They are in a three RV caravan with eleven people (some they just met) who offered to help them transport their 25 rescue dogs to their new home. Most of us would be overwhelmed by that number but not David, who, at times, housed 42 of these canines in need. The trip is an interesting one, and Rosenfelt tells it in his own heartwarming style. His humor, often at his own expense, never fails to make me smile...and often laugh out loud. 

Some chapters tell of the dogs' backgrounds and some tell of their lives now, but every chapter helps even those who are not dog fanatics think about going down to the shelter and bringing home a dog.  I rarely have a bad word to say about a Rosenfelt book, and this is no exception.  His humor and obvious warmth cover any tiny flaw that might be found.  Do yourself a favor and grab a copy of Dogtripping.  It might just lead to a doggie adoption in your life, and even if not, it will surely give you a few good laughs.

-Beverly


Publisher - St. Martin's Griffin; Reprint edition
Date of Publication - July 22, 201

Genre: Memoir/Humor

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I really enjoyed this book, and it made me like Amy Poehler more than I did before I read it. Her television series, Parks and Recreation, is a "grown-up comedy" that uses words rather than sight gags to make us laugh. Don't get me wrong, there are some very funny physically driven scenes in the show, but those with an appreciation for sarcasm and irony get the most out of this weekly sit-com.  Yes Please is written with a tongue-in-cheek maturity that keeps the reader's attention without talking down to him/her.

Ms. Poehler got my attention when she chose a quote from Wordsworth while trying to set the book's tone - "Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquillity." She amends it slightly by saying that the book is a spontaneous overflow in the middle of chaos, not tranquility.  I realized at this point in the book that she was not just writing a typical performer's memoir.  She wanted to dig deep and write more than a fluff piece.

Amy Poehler is as complicated as her humor, and this book gives us insight into her childhood (near perfect student, young performer), life (marriage to Will Arnett and two much loved children) and her career. She explains it all with honesty, telling the reader about her experiences with drugs and the withering of her marriage.  She doesn't try to cover things up or make excuses.  She is what she is...a very funny, very talented lady. I enjoyed the snippets from Parks and Rec, and I enjoyed seeing her succeed as a woman in a " room filled with men."

The book does have its slow parts, but on the whole it was fast and enjoyable reading. I really enjoyed reading it and learning more about Amy and recommend it to you.

- Beverly


Publisher - Dey Street Books
Date of Publication - October 28, 2014

Genre: Biography/Humor

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Joan Rivers made everyone laugh, even when they didn't want to admit that she was funny. Her humor was a bit raunchy and didn't spare the feelings of others, but there was a genuineness about her that was captivating.  She was having fun!  She loved making people laugh, and she loved her daughter Melissa...not always in that order.  According to Melissa, Joan believed that making an audience laugh was the reason she was put on earth.
Maybe that is why she was spared the horror of a long and drawn out death.  Death is always unexpected and tragic, but this might have been the way she wanted to leave...quickly and having work done.  Melissa Rivers, who shared a part of Joan's career, decided to come to terms with this tragedy through writing this book.  It is obviously written with love and gives us snippets of information about Joan that we might not have known. For example, I never knew that she had a degree in English Literature from Barnard College, or that her first real job was at Bond Clothes in Manhattan. 

The book strings together little bits of information and lots of Joan's humorous wisdom.  Melissa shares stories about her mother's love of flying first class...especially the food and chocolates.  She talks about Joan's support of those she loved.  The book definitely gives us a look at Joan through the eyes of the person who knew her best.  I still have a few chapters to read, but I am saving it until tomorrow.  I read most of it in one sitting.

It is not an epic, not a deep read, and certainly not  an unforgettable piece of literature.  What it is, in my opinion, is a memoir from a daughter to a mother who she will always love and deeply miss.  I am glad Joan had that in her life and glad Melissa shared a bit with us.

- Beverly


Publisher - Crown Archetype 
Date of Publication - May 5, 2015

Genre: Fiction

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For many years I was hooked on espionage novels, serial killer novels and historical novels.  Over the last few years I decided to lighten it up a bit. I still love a good mystery though, be it legal, political, historical or medical.  I also enjoy reading a few books just for fun, and Dog Day Wedding is just that...a romantic comedy that kept me smiling.  Somehow author Rich Amooi even had me smiling when poor Giovanni Roma was left at the alter...for the second time as the story begins.  The bantering between his friends about what could have happened to keep the bride away was funny enough to set the light hearted tone of what could be a pretty dismal experience.

We meet Giovanni's somewhat pushy mother in the first chapter too and quickly realize the role she will play in the story.  This is just not a good day for Giovanni who leaves the wedding and finds himself stopping traffic when he leaves his car in the middle of the street to save a run-away dog.  Of course the police woman who is writing a ticket for disrupting traffic is quite attractive and decides to give him a warning rather than a ticket when she hears his story.  This was not subtle foreshadowing, and no one is surprised when these two meet again.  No surprise, although she is engaged, Natalie is falling for Giovanni.

The story is cute, the characters are charming and this is a perfect novel to read during a bout of insomnia or a wait in a doctor's office. It won't depress you or scare you.  Like any good, old fashioned romantic comedy, it will keep you smiling while you root for the good guys.

- Beverly


Sold by - Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Date of Publication - January 30, 2015

Genre: Humor

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We can all relate to looking at a pet, be it dog, cat, hamster or even a goldfish, and wondering if it was actually trying to communicate with us.  Are they smarter than we think? Do they have something to teach us?  Brian, the protagonist of this humorous novel, first realizes he can communicate with animals when he is six.  His dad brings home a goldfish in a plastic bag that was left on a bus seat, and it keeps total eye contact with Brian for five minutes. What follows is a relationship that ands with Brian releasing the fish in the wild.  At twelve Brian saves a woman from a pack of dogs by "speaking" in a tone and frequency that they can hear and understand.  He is a child who most definitely can communicate with animals.

Meanwhile, Wet and Wild is a pet shop in North London. The animals who reside there get into mishaps and become known in the town. There is a cat who manipulates minds, a terrier who can climb walls and ceilings and a chameleon who loves to dance. The shop owner, Roderick, has issues of his own, and when Brian begins working as his assistant things became even more interesting. Each chapter kept my interest, and each animal's unique talent makes this an interesting, if weird, book to read.

I do not usually reach for fantasy novels, but this one caught my attention.  It is quite humorous in parts, but when the reader buys into Brian's communication with the animals, things get more than a little troubling.  I believe that if you decide to read Wet & Wild you will get a few laughs and an interesting read, but you will never look at your (or your neighbor's) pet in the same way again.

- Beverly


Publisher - Austin Macauley Publishers
Date of Publication - July 29, 2014

 Genre: Humor

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Sometimes I need a break from the more serious side of life, and I turn to the essays of Dave Barry.  We saw him speak at a seminar once, and he made the otherwise boring event something to remember.  He is very relatable, and the audience couldn't get enough.  His speech, much like his essays, center around his family and events in their lives.  When I noticed this book while browsing Amazon, I couldn't resist downloading it.

Barry tells you straight up that the book, You Can Date Boys When You're Forty: Dave Barry on Parenting and Other Topics He Knows Very Little About, has little to do with child rearing. It is filled with essays on various topics, and when looking for a title, his publishers decided people would gravitate towards a book about raising children.  He does write about taking his daughter to a Justin Bieber concert in Miami, but even that one leaves the reader searching for the fatherly advice.  That being said, who cares!  Anything Dave Barry discusses is worth reading because if laughter is indeed the best medicine then Barry is one heck of a doctor.

His thoughts on Fifty Shades of Gray, a trip to Israel, and Viagra commercials, resonate with the Barry sense of humor.  He loves using his wife and her love of shopping to coax a laugh out of his readers.  Of course no one is off limits.  I have to assume the Bieber concert that he took his daughter to was a cheap price to pay for using her for joke material.

Do yourself a favor...buy any one of this funny guy's books and forget about the world's problems for a change of pace.  Life is too short to miss out on a good laugh.

- Beverly


Publisher - Putnam Adult
Date of Publication - March 4, 2014

Genre: Humor

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When an author explains that his qualifications for writing a book about food are non-existent except for being "a little fat," I become intrigued. When he explains that “choking on bacon is like getting murdered by your lover," I am totally convinced.

Gaffigan loves food and loves making fun of it.  He obviously did a great deal of "research" for this book and enjoys sharing his viewpoints almost as much as he enjoys eating. His discussion about hot peppers made me smile and think of Art's mom.  My mother-in-law never met a pepper that didn't seduce her...and then cause her hours of regret.  Gaffigan says he probably needs a support group because he has an abusive relationship with hot peppers.  He simply can't resist them and then pays the price in the morning.

His feelings about vegetables are a bit extreme. " I am sure we can all agree that vegetables should be removed from their classification as actual food." Since about 80% of my diet is vegetable and grain, I can't say I agree with him, but I can say he makes me laugh.

He also tends to discount any recommendation given to him (about food) by a thin person. His explanation about why he doesn't trust their judgment on tacos says it all.  If they are so thin they probably eat only one taco, and no one can judge a good taco after eating just one.

Jim Gaffigan writes like he talks...comfortably and with humor.  Give yourself a Thanksgiving non caloric treat and buy Food: A Love Story today.

- Bev

Publisher - Crown Archetype
Date of Publication - October 21, 2014