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Title: Welcome to My Planet: Where English Is Sometimes Spoken by Shannon Olson ISBN: 0-14-100177-1 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: 05 June, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.81 (85 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Literary--Not a "Beach Read"
Comment: I've read Shannon Olson's book twice now. The first time I thought it was hilariously funny and I sympathized with "Shannon." The second time I realized that the comparisons between this book and Bridget Jones wannabes are totally off the mark. Olson has a piece of literature here, not a fluffy funny beach read.
The style is different, yes. Instead of a linear plot progression, Olson has short pieces (which are actually nonfictional with fictional additions) woven together, skipping over time periods and connecting back to the root of the story. This makes for interesting comparisons (in characters, in theme, etc.) and pushes the reader to think about the placement of these pieces--not just plug along, expecting and getting the same old story. It's not the high-power, high-class world of contemporary women's fiction. Instead, it's a tale of a 30-something Minnesotan woman who grew up watching cows and expecting order in life.
Perhaps I'm biased because Shannon Olson taught my creative writing nonfiction class at my university in Minnesota, and perhaps I'm biased because she was a great storyteller in class, and perhaps I'm biased because once she made a reference to adults films and then sang a cheesy-sexy bass line which caused an eruption in laughter in class, or perhaps I'm biased because she gave me an A.
For whatever reason, I really enjoyed this book. It's super!
Rating: 5
Summary: A realistic, relatable, and funny character
Comment: The reviews I had read of this book, both in People magazine, here on Amazon, and elsewhere had led me to believe that this book was a laugh a minute- sorta like Bridget Jones. Well, it is, but it isn't. The Bridget Jones books are cartoons, really- exaggerations of life.
This book is really more realistic and less extreme. Shannon (the main character here) doesn't obsesses and worry about her body every second, but those worries about her thighs and breasts do exist and are a part of her character.
She is 30, she is single, hates her job, dates a loser who treats her like crap and tries to have sex with her while she's asleep, her younger sister does get married out from under her, she is depressed, she does love Target (I hear ya, sister)- but those are the superficial elements of the story.
The way I see it, this story is best exemplified by this: her mom is sick, and needs surgery. Her mom says to Shannon, "Sickness is a part of life. I look at this as an adventure, an opportunity to learn." And Shannon replies, "I hate learning. I wish we could all be dumb and happy." Really, this book is about Shannon's recognition that you can't just stay dumb and happy- that you have to learn and stop making the same mistakes with men and career because otherwise, you'll have the same unhappiness over and over again.
This book is about growing up and realizing that life isn't fair, and people aren't fair, and you have to quit expecting fairness and trying to control things that you have no control over. And it's about recognizing how you got those expectations. Her mom (Flo), asks Shannon, "Did your father and I do this to you? Is it something we didn't do?" And Shannon replies, "Women's magazines did this to me. Watching Love Boat did this. I did this to myself."
I really liked this book- it's quiet and normal- Bridget is chaotic and drunk and smoking and I laughed my way all the way through Bridget. But I could relate to Shannon because she was real, in a way very much like the character in The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing (except not placed in ubiquitous New York).
This does NOT mean that this book isn't funny- it's hilarious. Shannon's sense of humor is extremely dry, and she is really a great writer. I can't wait for her next book.
I really see this book and "Getting Over It" as sort of the next evolution in what could best be described as the Single/30 literature.
Rating: 5
Summary: Welcome to My Bookshelf
Comment: This book is fantastic. I've read it 4 times -- honestly. The only other books I've read 4 times are Pride and Prejudice, The Great Gatsby and a few other classics. This book IS a classic. It's not fluff, it's substantially funny and I absolutely love it.
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Title: Children of God Go Bowling: A Novel by Shannon Olson ISBN: 0670032816 Publisher: Penguin USA Pub. Date: 29 January, 2004 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: In the Drink : A Novel by Kate Christensen ISBN: 0385720211 Publisher: Anchor Pub. Date: 01 August, 2000 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
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Title: Mail by Mameve Medwed ISBN: 0446673757 Publisher: Warner Books Pub. Date: 01 May, 1998 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: Babyville by JANE GREEN ISBN: 0767912233 Publisher: Broadway Pub. Date: 27 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $21.00 |
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Title: Thirty Nothing by Lisa Jewell ISBN: 0452282128 Publisher: Plume Pub. Date: 02 January, 2001 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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