inthecommonhours's review
4.0
For me, it was the right book at the right time.
I saw Markoe interviewed by Jon Stewart, and it was clear how much he enjoyed her, especially her essays on her difficult mother. I went searching for her essay immediately after the show.
That essay, and the others dealing with her parents, were easily the best of the book. In many ways, the book was sadder, more depressing, than it was funny. She reminded me of my family in her pride/condescension on the river trip.
I turned to the book to escape the wildfire descriptions of The Big Burn, and then one chapter of hers was all about the wildfires in California. She kept referring to "uniformed firemen"...as if to clarify that they were clothed?
I saw Markoe interviewed by Jon Stewart, and it was clear how much he enjoyed her, especially her essays on her difficult mother. I went searching for her essay immediately after the show.
That essay, and the others dealing with her parents, were easily the best of the book. In many ways, the book was sadder, more depressing, than it was funny. She reminded me of my family in her pride/condescension on the river trip.
I turned to the book to escape the wildfire descriptions of The Big Burn, and then one chapter of hers was all about the wildfires in California. She kept referring to "uniformed firemen"...as if to clarify that they were clothed?
mirage811's review
4.0
Merrill is the best combination of smart and funny with a side order of damaged psyche. She talks about her troubled relationship with her mother, her failed relationships (including a thinly veiled chapter about her relationship with David Letterman) and her never-ending favorite topic: her dogs.
srlemons42's review
3.0
I got this book through Goodreads First Reads program, and was very "meh." about the whole book. It is a collection of essays from the authors life.
Perhaps it's just because I'm not a fan of this type of book, but although I had a good enough time reading it, this is not a book I'll read again.
It's ok for what it is, and people who like this type of book (or the author) will probably love it. I just wasn't a fan.
Perhaps it's just because I'm not a fan of this type of book, but although I had a good enough time reading it, this is not a book I'll read again.
It's ok for what it is, and people who like this type of book (or the author) will probably love it. I just wasn't a fan.
trike's review
2.0
This feels like a collection of essays rather than a straight-forward, purpose-built memoir, as there's no real throughline between the stories. Each chapter is a different episode in Markoe's life and thee are a few imagined conversations with her dogs. I remember enjoying her earlier book [b:What the Dogs Have Taught Me |11822731|What the Dogs Have Taught Me 6-copy|Merrill Markoe|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-673c574e721a5d4c3fd6e25b74d42bf2.png|16777178], but that was more than 20 years ago and memories fade. Except Merrill's, apparently. She's still kind of pissed at her mom. But then, who isn't, really? Well, according to Merrill, every single comedian ever.
Which actually results in some very funny exchanges about moms and disappointments. As the joke goes, "If it's not one thing, it's your mother."
Unfortunately, it doesn't maintain this level of interest throughout. I found myself skimming certain chapters, despite the occasional clever quip or humorous observation. Ultimately there was less I liked than was disinterested in. The good bits weren't quite enough to carry it.
Which actually results in some very funny exchanges about moms and disappointments. As the joke goes, "If it's not one thing, it's your mother."
Unfortunately, it doesn't maintain this level of interest throughout. I found myself skimming certain chapters, despite the occasional clever quip or humorous observation. Ultimately there was less I liked than was disinterested in. The good bits weren't quite enough to carry it.
boygirlparty's review
4.0
This collection packs a punch. Highly recommended.
The strongest chapters in this one for me were the camping/female bonding, first apartment and "Bobby" chapters. Not funny, just strong writing and strong storytelling. Her essay about celebrity-crime evolution was right up the alley of my trashy celebrity bio book club; her rules for how to spot an asshole pretty much took the words out of my mouth ("There are so many socially acceptable ways for someone to exhibit a pathological lack of empathy nowadays that this is a very easy symptom to misread. I am here to tell you that if someone is texting, Twittering, and/or checking facebook while you are talking to them, they are telling you as clearly as they can that they are an asshole. You have the right to command the full attention of the people who are sharing your immediate physical space on any social occasion. And you have the right to expect the attention they give you to be free from lengthly contact with acquaintances at other locations. This kind of behavior is analogous to channel surfing in the middle of a heart-to-heart talk or screaming out someone else's name in bed.")
"Cool, Calm & Contention" is refreshing change for me from several other female memoirs I've been reading lately (like Sloane Crosley's and Rachel Shukert's) which are written with flair by English majors but ultimately have nothing to say; while they use every hyperbole possible in telling otherwise generic stories about quitting a dead end job or being a bridesmaid, Markoe tackles storytelling about unique experiences (both funny and sad) that the reader probably hasn't shared, but Markoe tells in a way that the reader will deeply empathize with. Here's where she had a relationship with Letterman that got tucked into a time capsule and reopened in a tabloid 20 years later, here's where she was sexually assaulted at the advent of her independence, here's her rapidly disintegrating relationship with her mother, and, regrettably, here's another chapter where she absurdly anthropomorphizes her dogs.
She probably does a lot of dog writing. I probably am supposed to know who she is and who her dogs are, but I don't, so those were the most skippable parts.
Everything else was gold.
The strongest chapters in this one for me were the camping/female bonding, first apartment and "Bobby" chapters. Not funny, just strong writing and strong storytelling. Her essay about celebrity-crime evolution was right up the alley of my trashy celebrity bio book club; her rules for how to spot an asshole pretty much took the words out of my mouth ("There are so many socially acceptable ways for someone to exhibit a pathological lack of empathy nowadays that this is a very easy symptom to misread. I am here to tell you that if someone is texting, Twittering, and/or checking facebook while you are talking to them, they are telling you as clearly as they can that they are an asshole. You have the right to command the full attention of the people who are sharing your immediate physical space on any social occasion. And you have the right to expect the attention they give you to be free from lengthly contact with acquaintances at other locations. This kind of behavior is analogous to channel surfing in the middle of a heart-to-heart talk or screaming out someone else's name in bed.")
"Cool, Calm & Contention" is refreshing change for me from several other female memoirs I've been reading lately (like Sloane Crosley's and Rachel Shukert's) which are written with flair by English majors but ultimately have nothing to say; while they use every hyperbole possible in telling otherwise generic stories about quitting a dead end job or being a bridesmaid, Markoe tackles storytelling about unique experiences (both funny and sad) that the reader probably hasn't shared, but Markoe tells in a way that the reader will deeply empathize with. Here's where she had a relationship with Letterman that got tucked into a time capsule and reopened in a tabloid 20 years later, here's where she was sexually assaulted at the advent of her independence, here's her rapidly disintegrating relationship with her mother, and, regrettably, here's another chapter where she absurdly anthropomorphizes her dogs.
She probably does a lot of dog writing. I probably am supposed to know who she is and who her dogs are, but I don't, so those were the most skippable parts.
Everything else was gold.
jschumann3's review
3.0
A series of essays, most of which were interesting. A few too many dog-life metaphors for me (and I love dogs!). The stories about her mom, the later ones about the rafting and wildfires were really interesting.