Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered: The Definitive How-To Guide by Karen Kilgariff, Georgia Hardstark

Synopsis

Sharing never-before-heard stories ranging from their struggles with depression, eating disorders, and addiction, Karen and Georgia irreverently recount their biggest mistakes and deepest fears, reflecting on the formative life events that shaped them into two of the most followed voices in the nation.

In Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered, Karen and Georgia focus on the importance of self-advocating and valuing personal safety over being ‘nice’ or ‘helpful.’ They delve into their own pasts, true crime stories, and beyond to discuss meaningful cultural and societal issues with fierce empathy and unapologetic frankness.

Being a big fan of the My Favorite Murder podcast, it was a no-brainer to pre-order their book when they announced it.

I didn’t know what to expect. Would it be funny? Touching? Overly edited? Way under-edited? But I was pleasantly surprised. Their chapters were written in their own voices and I could hear them in my head as I read.

It was actually a pretty insightful book. I was thinking it would probably be a little cheesy, but it wasn’t really. It had their comedy littered throughout it, of course. But it fit in with the rest of the book. There was actually solid advice in here and that surprised me. I also cried – so, there’s that too.

Not all of the stories were new. We’ve heard a lot on the podcast. But this was a different way to take them in and there were different tidbits of info throughout.

Solid book. I really enjoyed it 4/5 stars!

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I Can Barely Take Care of Myself: Tales From a Happy Life Without Kids by Jen Kirkman

Synopsis:

"You'll Change Your Mind." 

That's what everyone says to Jen Kirkman—and countless women like her—when she confesses she doesn't plan to have children. But you know what? It's hard enough to be an adult. You have to dress yourself and pay bills and remember to buy birthday gifts. You have to drive and get annual physicals and tip for good service. Some adults take on the added burden of caring for a tiny human being with no language skills or bladder control. Parenthood can be very rewarding, but let's face it, so are margaritas at the adults-only pool. 

Jen's stand-up routine includes lots of jokes about not having kids (and some about masturbation and Johnny Depp), after which complete strangers constantly approach her and ask, "But who will take care of you when you're old?" (Servants!) Some insist, "You'd be such a great mom!" (Really? You know me so well!) 

Whether living rent-free in her childhood bedroom while trying to break into comedy (the best free birth control around, she says), or taking the stage at major clubs and joining a hit TV show—and along the way getting married, divorced, and attending excruciating afternoon birthday parties for her parent friends—Jen is completely happy and fulfilled by her decision not to procreate. 

I Can Barely Take Care of Myself is a beacon of hilarious hope for anyone whose major life decisions have been questioned by friends, family, and strangers in a comedy club bathroom. And it should satisfy everyone who wonders if Jen will ever know true love without looking into the eyes of her child.

After finding her comedy specials on Netflix, Jen Kirkman became my favorite comedian. Now, I am an avid I Seem Fun listener (her podcast), and I bought both of her books. I figured I should read them in order, so this one was up first.

As a fellow person who doesn’t have kids and possibly won't have them, this book was hilarious. It’s so true that as a woman you always get questioned about if/when you’re having kids.

We aren’t machines, people!

If you like comedy and enjoy autobiographical essays, you’ll likely enjoy this book. Even more so if you’re a woman without kids.

5/5 Stars

Memorable Quote: “I think that people confuse a woman with empathy with someone who has the emotional means to raise a child. I’m not mother material but I’m a nice person, sure. And I’m a nice person because I’m usually in a good mood and I’m in a good mood because I’m not responsible for raising a child I don’t want.”

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Unbearable Lightness by Portia de Rossi

I have been wanting to read this book for a long time. I bought a nook this weekend, so I figured why not have that be my first e-book?
I bought it, and I could not put it down. 
Now, some people don't liek to read autobiographies because they think they are boring, and indeed, some of them are. 
Unbearable Lightness, however, was written beautifully. It flowed well to make it a great/fast read, and you could really tell how much of an emotional roller-coaster she was going through. 
If you dont know, the novel is about Portia's struggle with her weight, anorexia, and her being a lesbian. All of them tie in together. 
It really gives you an inside look into the Hollywood lifestyle and what actresses and models go through on a daily basis. 
As the story started becoming more climactic, I found myself read faster and faster. In my opinion, that is the job of a good writer. They are taking you on THEIR journey, and making you feel what they felt. 


I think the only think I expected more from this book were more stories involving her and Ellen. She doesnt really explore their relationship until the epilogue. 
Don't get me wrong, that's how it was written to be. It was a documentation of her struggle, not her relationship, I guess I just expected there would be more than what she gave. 


overall rating 4/5
There were a few slow parts, but over all, well written, and mainly short chapters which kept my attention.