Mini Reviews [19]

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told 

by Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman

Synopsis (via Goodreads): At last, the full story behind Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman's epic romance, including stories, portraits, and the occasional puzzle, all telling the smoldering tale that has fascinated Hollywood for over a decade.

The year: 2000. The setting: Los Angeles. A gorgeous virtuoso of an actress had agreed to star in a random play, and a basement-dwelling scenic carpenter had said he would assay a supporting role in the selfsame pageant. At the first rehearsal, she surveyed her fellow cast members, as one does, determining if any of the men might qualify to provide her with a satisfying fling. Her gaze fell upon the carpenter, and like a bolt of lightning, the thought struck her: No dice. Moving on.

Yet, unbeknownst to our protagonists, Cupid had merely set down his bow and picked up a rocket launcher. Then fired a love rocket (not a euphemism). The players were Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman, and the resulting romance, once it ignited, was . . . epic. Beyond epic. It resulted in a coupling that has endured to this day; a sizzling, perpetual tryst that has captivated the world with its kindness, athleticism, astonishingly low-brow humor, and true (fire emoji) passion.

How did they do it? They came from completely different families, endured a significant age difference, and were separated by the gulf of several social strata. Megan loved books and art history; Nick loved hammers. But much more than these seemingly unsurpassable obstacles were the values they held in common: respect, decency, the ability to mention genitalia in almost any context, and an abiding obsession with the songs of Tom Waits.

Eighteen years later, they're still very much in love, and have finally decided to reveal the philosophical mountains they have conquered, the lessons they've learned, and the myriad jigsaw puzzles they've completed, in a book. Featuring anecdotes, hijinks, interviews, photos, and a veritable grab bag of tomfoolery, this is not only the intoxicating book that Mullally's and Offerman's fans have been waiting for, it might just hold the solution to the greatest threat facing our modern world: the single life.

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I rarely read non-fiction, but my interest was piqued when I saw of clip of Megan and Nick reading from their new book. It was hilarious and enjoyable, so I decided to borrow the audiobook from my library. They deviate from the physical copy a little, and there's an extra chapter at the end, so I would recommend listening to the audiobook. However, the physical copy has pictures, which the two were only able to describe for the audio version.

The Greatest Love Story Every Told made me feel like I'd grown up with Nick and Megan. It wasn't just a story about how they met, but discussions about their childhoods and families. There were also some really random comments made throughout the book, and sometimes they weren't relevant to the topic they were discussing, but I liked how conversational everything felt.

Megan and Nick obviously have a good time with each other, and their back-and-forth banter was fun to follow. It was also interesting to listen to them describe their lives, and how simply they choose to live. I love the idea of doing puzzles with my husband while listening to an audiobook! They disregard their phones and other electronics in favor of quiet and togetherness. I think they have a really positive outlook on life, and they make sure their marriage is a priority.

Additionally, there is a lot of below the belt talk, if you know what I mean (wink wink). I thought it was crazy when the two of them mentioned having sex (or just getting frisky), in really random places like the Sistine Chapel.

I highly recommend this one if you're a fan of either person, or just want to read something that's hilarious, honest, and extremely heartfelt.

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The Night Knights by Gideon Sterer,

Cory Godbey (Illustrator)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Nighttime can be scary. Every bump, thump, or scratch could be a monster lurking under the bed or in a closet. But if that’s the case, then why haven’t we ever seen a monster? You might think that’s because monsters don’t exist. But maybe monsters do exist . . . but so do something else: The Night Knights. And when night falls, they take their place, protecting us all from the terrors lurking in the dark.

With a lyrical text reminiscent of the bestseller Dream Animals, The Night Knights introduces reluctant sleepers to the many fantastical warriors who will protect them while they slumber, from the Guardians of Gates to the Midnight Flock.

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I grabbed this book solely based on the cover, and I'm happy to say I was not disappointed! The illustrations were vivid, beautiful, and really complemented the story. Our son has recently started talking about monsters and being afraid of the dark, so this book was perfect!

The Night Knights was an enjoyable story about monsters and the knights that fight them. "But if this is true, is it not strange that not once, not once, has a child ever been taken, or gotten, or bit? Is it not strange that not once, not once, has a monster ever actually been seen?"

I love that the author never confirms or denies the existence of monsters, but continues to describe the knights and their unseen battles. I know I've said this already, but the illustrations were breathtaking. We read this one multiple times in a row, and it's definitely one we will be adding to our shelves at home.

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The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson, 

Rafael Lopez (Illustrator)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): There will be times when you walk into a room
and no one there is quite like you.

There are many reasons to feel different. Maybe it's how you look or talk, or where you're from; maybe it's what you eat, or something just as random. It's not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet, but somehow you do it.

Jacqueline Woodson's lyrical text and Rafael Lopez's dazzling art reminds us that we all feel like outsiders sometimes-and how brave it is that we go forth anyway. And that sometimes, when we reach out and begin to share our stories, others will be happy to meet us halfway.

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I thought The Day You Begin was a wonderful story about acceptance, and would be perfect for children who are worried about fitting in. I really enjoyed the writing, and liked that the author mentioned multiple scenarios, including, but not limited to, appearance, speech, and heritage.

"This is the day you begin to find the places inside your laughter and your lunches, your books, your travel and your stories, where every new friend has something a little like you -- and something else so fabulously not quite like you at all."

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Shades of Magic #1 The Steel Prince

by V.E. Schwab, Andrea Olimpieri,

and Enrica Angiolni (Illustrators)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): The acclaimed fantasy phenomenon comes to comics with a new prequel story from award-winning creator and New York Times bestseller V.E. Schwab!

In a gaslamp world where magicians navigate alternate Londons, the prince of Red London pursues a dark version of his beloved city – and faces worse than exile...

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I haven't read the Shades of Magic series even though it's been on my list for a few years now. I've loved V.E. Schwab's other books, so I'm confident it will be equally, if not more, enjoyable! However, not reading the books didn't deter me from grabbing this comic when it was released.

I had no prior knowledge of the world, but thought Schwab did an awesome job explaining everything at the start. It was concise but not overwhelming, which is always a bonus. New worlds can sometimes be overexplained, but I only know the basics. There's still so much to see and learn!

Despite being unfamiliar with the world and the characters, I really enjoyed this comic! I'm curious to learn more about Maxim, the reasons for his exile, and why his father is so against reuniting the different worlds. If you know something, don't tell me!