YES PLEASE

By: Amy Poehler

Plot: I don't know. Do these celebrity written memoirs really have plots?

Thoughts: I really hate this celebrity book fad (don't even get me started on the YouTubers who have "written" books). BUT I do like to read the ones by actual writers. I know people like Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, and Mindy Kaling (ect.) can actually write all by themselves so I'm more willing to pick up their books. Especially if I think they really are hilarious. It took me a while to really get into this book, because all she does at first is write about how hard it is to write a book and that was just annoying. Why write the book then? No one is making you! You've got enough money.

She, of course, writes about how she got to where she is today. I never watched SNL when she was on it but I liked reading about it. I also really enjoyed her confession about going through people's things at their house and I really hope it's true. I was excited to read about Parks and Rec. because I love it, minus that last season. It didn't disappoint. The best part was her notes to everyone on the cast. There was one part that did make me laugh out loud and it's down below.  Side note: would she please just get back together with Will Arnett because I like those two complete-strangers-to-me together.

Favorite Quote: "But how can you deny such hilarious gems as 'Most men fear getting laughed at or humiliated by a romantic prospect while most women fear rape and death'? I mean, who doesn't want me spouting that kind of stuff at their Christmas party?"

My Rating: 3/5 I like Amy Poehler and if she's a terrible person in real life I'd be bummed. I mean not really, why should I care?

AMERICAN SNIPER

By: Chris Kyle (With Jim DeFelice and Scott McEwen)

Plot: Autobiography of Chris Kyle.  He was a Navy Seal sniper and has the most recorded kills in U.S. history. The book focuses mainly on his time spent in the military, including multiple deployments to Iraq.

My Thoughts: It was kind of sad reading this with the knowledge that he has since passed away. To read about all the things that he went through and survived, only to be murdered back in the states when he was only trying to help someone out. So sad.

He starts out the novel with his background and how he got into the military. I thought it was interesting that he was turned away at first. The story really picks up when he starts training.

I loved reading the inserts from his wife's side of the story. The only problem is they were just so random and sometimes had absolutely nothing to do with what he was talking about at the time. So even though I enjoyed reading them, they kind of took me out of his story. I wish they had been better placed throughout the novel.

I'm not sure how I felt about his attitude throughout the novel. I can understand his views on all the lives that he took. I believe that he killed a lot of truly terrible people. He didn't (and probably couldn't) feel any regret. Which I think is understandable being in the position he was in, otherwise how could you live with all that remorse? I did wish he would have shown more compassion about certain things though. When he punch the mentally handicapped boy for example. But at the same time I've never been in a war and have no idea what it would feel like in that situation, so in his mind it was probably justified. It's not like he purposely did it. I mean when you hear about men who hide behind their daughters or send a child out to pick up a weapon it's understandable how he only saw them as the "bad guys".

I really didn't like how he made his wife feel. He seemed to have such a caviler attitude about death at first and didn't understand how much it would hurt his wife if he were to die. That definitely bugged me. It was also heartbreaking to read about how he would value his service over his family. Obviously he loved his family, but he loved being a Seal more.

Favorite Quotes: "Why a ball cap? Ninety percent of being cool is looking cool. And you look so much cooler with a ball cap."

"Great way to fight a war - be prepared to defend yourself for winning."

"I signed up to protect this country. I do not choose the wars."

Rating: 3/5 Very fascinating read. I learned more about what was happening in Iraq from this book than I ever could from any news broadcast. He is definitely an American hero in my eyes.