Planet Funny: How Comedy Took Over Our Culture by Ken Jennings

Title: Planet Funny:  How Comedy Took Over Our Culture

Author: Ken Jennings

Read by:  Ken Jennings

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 11 minutes

Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster.  Thank-you!

I need more humor in my life, and I was very happy to review Planet Funny by Ken Jennings.  In this non-fiction work, Jennings chronicles the history of humor and how it has changed over time.  I found it to be both enlightening and funny.

Ken Jennings was born in 1974 and is only four years older than me.  His path through his love of comedy parallels my own growing up and he has the same Gen X sensibilities. I knew most of his references and discussions. I had not realized I really knew so many comedians before listening to this audiobook, but I do seek out humor every day.

I enjoyed the entire book, but towards the end of the book, racism and sexism in humor was discussed and it was very interesting.  Especially how jokes like “Polish jokes” were used to be relatable as Polish people were something we could all laugh at . . . but there is a line there where you go from humor to racism and it’s hard to find that line at times.  It was interesting to discuss how minstrel shows were such an important part of entertainment in the past and were considered quintessential American humor but are verboten now.

Humor in politics was discussed through President Obama’s appearance on Between Two Ferns to how President Trump used humor to become president.  Political humor from Will Rogers through Jon Oliver was discussed as well. I love political humor shows and have since my college days, so I really enjoyed this section.  Although I was frankly disturbed thinking about how some people don’t understand the difference between real news and satire and believed the over the top Stephen Colbert persona on the Colbert report.

Author Ken Jennings narrated this audiobook and I liked it.  It was relatable and very an interesting listening experience.  Jennings own timing and telling of experiences and jokes worked well together.

Overall Planet Funny was an interesting look at humor historically and in modern times that you will find humor in as you read along or listen to the audiobook.

Little Women (2018)

I have loved Little Women since I was a child.  I used to watch a cartoon version that I realized when I became an adult was a Japanese Anime version.  I also watched every movie version that existed and read the book numerous times.  I love Little Women and Louisa May Alcott.

I was excited to be able to preview the new movie, Little Women, that will be in theatres this Friday.  It stars Lea Thompson from Back to the Future as Marmee and sets the iconic story in modern times.

I’ll admit that I have not only read a modern take on Little Women in the past but have also watched another modern movie take on Little Women. Both ventures failed as they missed the essences for what makes Little Women a great story.  I’m happy to report that I really enjoyed this new version of Little Women.  It did a fantastic job of modernizing the story.  The March Patriarch is away in the military to explain his absence and Marmee is still a wonderful mother who cares for the downtrodden.  The girls have their personalities intact and updated slightly for modern times.

What I loved the most was that the set-up of this movie solved one of the essential woes I’ve always had with Little Women – you love Laurie and want him together with Jo only to have Professor Bauer appear out of left field at the end of the novel or movie.  In this 2018 production, Professor Bauer is introduced before Laurie and it works wonderfully.  Jo is an aspiring author of fantasy fiction and Professor Bauer is trying to help her out with her writing while their relationship develops.  Flashbacks tell the story of the March family as Jo was growing up and Laurie is introduced at this time. He had more of a dorky brother vibe while Professor “Freddy” Bauer was obviously more the love interest.  I LOVED this set up.

This is a Christian movie and I was glad to see that the March sisters weren’t made into “slut sisters” as I’ve seen in other modern takes.  I watched this with my ten-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter.  There is alcohol consumed at a party and some bad behavior, but my kids realized it was bad behavior.  It was in keeping with the original novel as Meg was from a temperance family and does drink at a party.

Overall, this 2018 version of Little Women does an excellent job updating the story to modern times, while keeping true to the original characters.  I highly recommend it!

More information about Little Women:

In theaters this fall, LITTLE WOMEN—starring Lea Thompson (BACK TO THE FUTURE) —brings the same sisters to a new generation to celebrate dreams, family and unconditional love.

LITTLE WOMEN also stars Sarah Davenport as "Jo," Melanie Stone as "Meg," Taylor Murphy as "Amy," Allie Jennings as "Beth," Ian Bohen (Teen Wolf) as "Freddy," Lucas Grabeel (High School Musical, "Family Guy") as "Laurie," and Bart Johnson (High School Musical) as "Papa March."

Official website: www.littlewomenthemovie.com.
All-new trailer: https://www.facebook.com/littlewomenfilm/
Facebook/Instagram: @LittleWomenFilm
Twitter: @LittleWomenFilm
 

Runaway Heiress (Dare to Defy #1) by Syrie James

I’ve enjoyed historical fiction novels from Syrie James in the past and was delighted to have a chance to review her new historical romance, Runaway Heiress.  Runaway Heiress is a Victorian historical romance involving the American invasion of heiresses to England trying to snag a titled husband.  Think Cora from Downton Abbey or all the ladies in The Buccaneers by Edith Wharton.

Alexandra Atherton has attended college in America and wants an independent life full of learning.  Her mother has other plans and has brought her to England to use her father’s wealth to lure a titled husband.  This will help the family social standing in America.  Alexandra is horrified when the suiter her mother has chosen tries to have his way with her in the garden.  She runs off to try to return to America to live her own independent life.  During her escape, her money is stolen, and she is left alone and penniless.  Help from some kind strangers allows her to grasp a new opportunity and become the governess to Thomas Carlyle, a handsome artist with two younger sisters.  Their governess has just left Mr. Carlyle in a bind and he quickly hires Alexandra.

Alexandra may be posing as a governess, but Mr. Carlyle is really, Thomas Carlyle, Earl of Longford.  When Alexandra arrives at his estate, she is stunned.  Thomas is earning money as a portrait artist to try to support his family and crumbling estate after his late father and grandfather squandered away the family inheritance.  Working for money is not done by an aristocrat so Thomas must hide his work and identity.

Alexandra learns to loves Thomas’s sisters, Julia and Lillie and becomes quite a good governess.  She also falls in love with Thomas and they have a charged atmosphere between them.  But when the truth comes out about Alexandra’s identity, will Thomas be able to put aside his prejudices against wealthy American heiresses to find true love?

I loved this novel.  I loved the gentle nods to one of my favorite all time Victorian novels, Jane Eyre with Alexandra’s work as a governess and love of the novel.  The chemistry between Alexandra and Thomas fairly leapt off the page – I loved their romance.  I especially loved that Alexandra was an independent woman who was not going to settle as her mother wanted her too but was working towards finding her own path in life.   I loved her relationship with Julia and Lillie.  The next two books in this series follow Alexandra’s sisters, but I hope that Julia and Lillie eventually get their own story as well.

Favorite Quote:

“’Resentment and hatred are wounds that only fester as time goes by’ she pointed out gently, ‘but they can be healed by forgiveness.’

Overall, Runaway Heiress is a well written Victorian romance with a strong independent heroine and great chemistry between the leads.  Jane Eyre and romance fans should take note.

Book Source:  Review Copy from Avon and author Syrie James.  Thank-you!