"Big Little Lies", by Liane Moriarty

In the past year, I've joined a lovely group of like-minded ladies in a book club affectionately called Book Nerds. Most of what we've been reading since I joined has been the sort of material only to be read on a Kindle if you're out in public, because it's pretty racy stuff. *hubba hubba* LOL

Lately, though, we've turned to several less erotic choices, when said choices were being brought to life either on the big screen or for prime time entertainment. The most recent of these is Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty, which is also currently being aired as a miniseries on HBO. Having seen the premiere episode of the miniseries, I can confidently say that the book is better. (YES, already! I knows it when I sees it.)

Big Little Lies opens up with a confrontation, which leads to a rather unlikely friendship between three women in a small Australian town. We soon learn that not all is as it seems in picturesque Pirriwee, and a great majority of the book is spent exploring backstories and jumping between storylines. It does start off slowly, as the details of the character personalities are filled in and connections made between them. But once the action picks up, you're certain to find yourself swept away in the intricacies of the approaching climax. When that climax arrives, it will shock you to your core -- I literally screamed out loud! Once I reached that point, there was no putting it down until I had read every last word. The betrayals, the secrets being laid bare, the intrigue, and the feeling of being amongst friends all combined to create a book I liked immensely! It's difficult not to find yourself rooting for Madeline and Jane, as they battle against injustices and petty gossip to protect young lives from being destroyed. Loyalties and bonds are tested and broken, and even those you think are without hope of even a scrap of redemption prove themselves trustworthy in the end.

I do wholeheartedly recommend this read, and can't wait to add more of Moriarty's work to my To Be Read pile.

Rating: ★★★★☆

"The Vasectomy Diaries", by Rodney Lacroix -- A MAIDEN VOYAGE

Hello all, and welcome to my newest foray into the Blogosphere! Since reading is a YUGE passion of mine, I've turned my focus to book reviews to share my thoughts with an unsuspecting public. (Hardy-har-har)

I've been following Rodney Lacroix since his salad days, when his blog was the only thing I knew about who he is as a person. Anything that goes by the name of Mental Poo is bound to tickle my funny bone, and he certainly succeeded at that! These days, the published purveyor of the hilarity of human foibles is all grown up, married to a smoking hot catch of a woman, and co-parenting a small gaggle of kids and teens who appear to be primed to give him a run for his money in the laughs department. His newest book, The Vasectomy Diaries, is set to be published this week, and it is this newest gem that bwings us here togevvah, today. I was sent an ARC in exchange for an honest review, which follows here.

The Vasectomy Diaries is a hard-hitting novella packed full of advice and anecdotes for those who are considering a turn under the knife, as well as a commiseration with those who have already taken one for the team. In his usual winning style, Rodney creates a tale that is easy to fall into...and impossible to put down! I laughed until I cried, and had a coughing fit that left me without a voice for a good half hour.

The true genius of his work is the brutally detailed honesty he puts into every sentence, no matter how inappropriate it may happen to be. (Inappropriate is my bread and butter, so I find all of his books enormously entertaining.) The book is also the lucky home to a host of utterly fantastic illustrations by the talented Noreen Conway. These drawings serve to hammer home some of the finer points in a way that had me cackling like Broomhilda from old episodes of Looney Tunes!

I honestly can't recommend this feisty nugget of a book highly enough, and I hope that all of you reading will find it as hysterical as I did.

I would caution that it's NSFW, and probably not the best choice of reading for children and small-minded adults. That said, I was charmed by this novella, and I'm certain that you will be too!

Rating: ★★★★★