El Deafo Review

El Deafo. Cece Bell. 2014. Harry N. Abrams. 248 pages.

Rating: 4/5

This is a really good book. It's meant for younger kids, so some elements, like the toilet humor, might not appeal to older readers. The focus on what it means to be deaf, especially for a young girl that was able to hear until she got sick, is fantastic though. It's scary to think that this kind of thing could happen to anyone.

There are a mix of uplifting and discouraging moments. I enjoyed seeing how the other characters try to help, whether they are successful or not. And it was awesome to learn about the Phonic Ear. This is something that I never knew existed and reading about how much it was able to help is wonderful. The interactions with the other kids and the illustrations would appeal to the intended readers in particular. But the overall experience of reading this book is enlightening.

Andre the Giant: Life and Legend Review

Andrew the Giant: Life and Legend. Box Brown. 2014. First Second. 240 pages.

Rating: 4/5

I'll admit that I picked this up because I love The Princess Bride. Sure, I watched Andre wrestle when I was younger too. And the book came with some pretty high recommendations. Those were just bonus reasons for me to read this book though.

This is an excellent biography. Given the format, some information is going to have to be cut. Box Brown does a wonderful job of creating a narrative from Andre's life. It shows the hardships he had to deal with beginning at a very young age. This is reinforced throughout the book. I don't think it was overused. There was just enough to make sure the reader doesn't forget about it. The book gives a fair portrayal of Andre. Brown isn't trying to show him as anything other than a real person with good and bad moments mixed in.

I have some mixed feelings on the art. The style fits in with the other books I've read from First Second. It tends to be more cartoonish, which I don't always like. Brown uses the art to portray Andre as this larger than life person. This may not have been possible with a different drawing style. All in all, this is a great book. I learned a lot from it.

The Stranger in the Woods Review

The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit. Michael Finkel. 2017. Knopf. 224 pages.

Rating: 4/5

An interesting tale of a man that hid in the woods for 27 years. Finkel does a great job of walking the line on this story. He doesn't praise or condone Chris Knight's actions. Instead, he tries to give a fair representation of events with historical information peppered in. I feel like the additional information about historical hermits added to the story because it reveals some similarities and differences between Knight and others that have separated themselves from society in the past.

I think the pacing on the book is good. It grabbed my attention, so I kept wanting to come back to it even when I only had short periods of time to read. The only real problem I had with it is the abrupt ending. Considering Knight's right to privacy it makes sense that Finkel isn't able to reveal a lot about what happened to him after he is released from prison. It just left me wanting more, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo Review

The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo. Amy Schumer. 2016. Gallery Books. 336 pages.

Rating: 4/5

Disclaimer: I received a free copy via Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review.

I'll be honest, I didn't know anything about Amy Schumer when I read this book. I was curious about it because I had heard her name numerous times over the past year. Her book was insightful and fun to read. There are events from throughout her life presented here, both before and after her comedy career took off.

The best part about this book is that it was able to make me laugh. It was genuinely funny, especially after I got used to her sense of humor. It's not all a chuckle fest though. There are some tough topics that she talks about, which probably don't get discussed enough. I suppose that could make the book uncomfortable to read at times. After the first time, I was better prepared for the couple of other rough parts. The book mixes the good and bad elements of her life to make an enjoyable read, even if it isn't always fun.

Fans of Schumer's other work will definitely enjoy this. Yet, I think this provides a necessary voice for women that should not be limited to those already familiar with her. Will I check out her comedy after reading this? I doubt it, but I enjoyed the book none the less.

Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future Review

Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future. Ashlee Vance. 2015. Ecco. 400 pages.

Rating: 5/5

This book is awesome. Sure, Vance's writing style has a bit to do with that. It is incredibly easy to read and is just fascinating in general. What really makes the book pop is the subject: Elon Musk. Vance clearly has an affinity for Musk, but he doesn't shy away from the man's negative qualities either. This provides for a fairly balanced view despite some bias.

It gives some information on Musk's early life and the first couple companies that he was involved with. The main focus is on Tesla, which makes electric cars, and SpaceX, which builds rockets, though. The approach that Musk took to these industries is so different from the norm. It pretty much garnered one of two reactions: awe or doubt.

It all boils down to his vision for mankind and how he can play a part in helping us achieve that goal. Whether you agree with his end goal or not, this book is worth reading to see what inspires this behemoth in the tech industry. It certainly made me want to explore ways that we can work to protect our species now and in the future.