The Next Best Book Club discussion

Please welcome our group discussion leader Dani!

Hey Gang!

I hope that everyone had a great April Fool's day yesterday.

To start off this discussion, I'm curious about how many people are familiar with the author's blog, Hyperbole and a Half? For those that don't know this is where the book originates. If you haven't heard of the blog or haven't spent any time on it, what drew you to read this book?

Secondly, I want to know which story or section was your favourite and why? Mine personally is "The Party". For those that know the blog, were there any favourites that were not in the book that you wished had made it in there? I know I was sad to see that "The Alot" story had not made in there.

Looking forward to everyone's responses!

A friend sent me a post from the Hyperbole and a Half blog a year or so ago. I loved it, then forgot all about it until I saw a mention of the book somewhere recently.

I haven't read the entire book yet, but so far, my favorite section is "Dogs Don't Understand Basic Concepts Like Moving." Having seen how my own dogs respond to moving, I think she pretty much nailed it.

I've been a devoted reader of Allie's blog for the last four years, so this was a highly anticipated read for me. I remember the day she posted about her depression and then left the blog for a substantial amount of time. I think my favorite chapter in the book was "Depression Part Two," not because it was humorous, but because she showed great courage and transparency in her battle against something very difficult and personal in her life.

Moneypenny wrote: "A friend sent me a post from the Hyperbole and a Half blog a year or so ago. I loved it, then forgot all about it until I saw a mention of the book somewhere recently.

I haven't read the entire b..."

Haha I thought so too! I used to do a lot of work with animals and have a few of my own and her descriptions and understanding of dog behaviour is hilarious and likely very accurate.

Ashley wrote: "I've been a devoted reader of Allie's blog for the last four years, so this was a highly anticipated read for me. I remember the day she posted about her depression and then left the blog for a sub..."

I recently discovered the blog and loved it instantly, which is what drew me to the book. It was actually her posts on depression that really drew me in. Allie has a gift to explain her feelings and all of those weird thoughts that most of us can't articulate. I feel that her pieces on depression are some of the best depictions of the journey of depression and the hope that is exists on the other side of it.

I've only read her posts on depression, and I really admire her for her honesty and her ability to frame such a personal story in a humorous yet serious way. Those posts are great in raising awareness about depression and helping non-sufferers understand a little better what goes through the minds of people with depression.

I noticed that she hasn't updated her blog in a while. I haven't looked through her blog beyond the last few posts, so I'm wondering if these long breaks are a common thing?

I love Allie Brosh's blog and all of her stories and drawings Alot.. :-) I reread this book and love the cake story.

Maggie wrote: "I've only read her posts on depression, and I really admire her for her honesty and her ability to frame such a personal story in a humorous yet serious way. Those posts are great in raising awaren..."

She does joke about not being able to keep up with emails and such so I suspect that it takes her a while to update her blog as well.

Sookie, yes "The God of Cake" is also one of my favourites. I laughed out loud with that one.

Was there anything that you didn't like about the book? I know that I had to take breaks while reading the book because I found that all of the stories were running together and that I wasn't able to appreciate them all if I didn't take a break after a few of them. My preferred format for Allie's work is still the blog and while I like that she made this book I think her content still reads better in a blog.

I liked when her mother got lost in the forest. I can just see a mom not wanting to scare her children. The parrot was funny too.

She really has a knack for hitting the nail on the head with depression and dog behavior too.

I don't like how I look, so I am all aboard with the cone ponytail and tadpole body.

If you could ask Allie, the author, any questions about her work or her personal life, what would it be?

Dani wrote: "Hey Gang!

I hope that everyone had a great April Fool's day yesterday.

To start off this discussion, I'm curious about how many people are familiar with the author's blog, Hyperbole and a Half? F..."

Hi! I just picked up this book from the library last night. It's quite funny! I've only read the beginning, and the 1st chapter (notes to her former self), so far.

I was aware of her blog before, but only as far as this page:

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com...



^^^^ This image makes me laugh and laugh, every! time I see it :D


I'm still reading last month's book ( Ireland, by Frank Delaney https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... ), which seems to be suited to reading just a bit at a time, so the stories don't get mushed up in my brain. I suspect that's the way I'll read Hyperbole too, but quicker, because the library is going to want this one back, eventually ;-).

MK wrote: "Dani wrote: "Hey Gang!

I hope that everyone had a great April Fool's day yesterday.

To start off this discussion, I'm curious about how many people are familiar with the author's blog, Hyperbole ..."

Haha I can't tell you how many times I've used that image in internet memes. It makes me laugh too!

From my own experience, I would recommend reading it a bit at a time. I think you'll get the most pleasurable experience that way as each story is like it's own blog post and aren't always meant to mesh together.

Dani wrote: "Haha I can't tell you how many times I've used that image in internet memes. It makes me laugh too!

From my own experience, I would recommend reading it a bit at a time. I think you'll get the most pleasurable experience that way as each story is like it's own blog post and aren't always meant to mesh together.
"

It's awesome ... heh :). And, yes, that makes sense, on the stories.

I'm also close to finishing The Scarlet Letter. This one is a lovely change of pace, to lift the mood, after dwelling too long among the Puritans ;-)

I am only up to Chapter 4 (the one about cake). This thing is friggin hilarious !!!!!!!!!!!

MK wrote: "I am only up to Chapter 4 (the one about cake). This thing is friggin hilarious !!!!!!!!!!!"

Haha, yeah that one is one of my favourites. I actually laughed out loud reading that one!

For those of you that have animals, how do you feel about her depictions of her dogs?

Honestly, I worked with animals for a lot of years in both care and health and I don't think I've found anyone that can describe what is likely going on in some dogs heads as well her. She just made it, make sense!

I've never owned a dog or even a pet but from the little I know about dogs, her descriptions were spot on. Through a combination of the text and the pictures she managed to perfectly depict things that I wouldn't have known how to capture, and that goes for other chapters of the book too besides the parts about dogs.

I loved her drawings of dogs too. I think they were the best in the book!

I'm so glad we're reading this book here, otherwise I might have never discovered it. I haven't heard about it or the blog before, so thanks for this one guys! I really enjoyed it and I'm planning to turn to the blog now.

The dog chapters are brilliant.
I wish all dogs could read "Dogs' Guide to Understanding Basic Concepts" and maybe decide to stop jumping at people and digging holes everywhere and I agree, the descriptions are spot on.

My favourite one is "Dinosaur (the Goose Story)". It was absolutely hilarious and brought back my first encounter with a goose back from when I was five (ah! memories).
Geese are pure evil!

That's the chapter I just read, Gwen! So funny

I started reading this book on a crowded train last night. I was literally laughing out loud. Not only is it a quick read (which I desperately needed), but it's hilarious and very relatable.

I'm waiting until I'm finished to pick a favorite story, and if I had a chance to ask her a question, I would want to know her favorite books.

Thanks for mentioning the blog. I didn't know anything about it!

Thank you so much for making me read this book, I absolutely loved it! I had two dogs in my childhood, and although I believe they would perform better in the IQ-test (hopefully), I can relate to so many of the stories.

Bridget, I'm really glad you've enjoyed the book and her blog. It's not often that a piece of written work has the capabilities to make us actually laugh out loud. That's a really good question, I'd like to ask her that myself. You can email her from her blog but, as you've likely read from the book, she has trouble keeping up with her emails haha.

Kaia, I'm so glad that you've also enjoyed this book. I would like to try that IQ test on my families dogs and see how they would fare. I'd like to think they would do better as well.

This book was SOOOOOOOOOO funny. I laughed out loud in almost every chapter. Just finished the last two, Identity Part One, and Identity Part Two. Yep, laughing again. My husband came to peek over my shoulder, he was laughing also (even though he'd already stolen the book from me the weekend after I checked it out of the library and read it cover to cover in one sitting :D).

I need to buy my own copy. And leave it on my desk for easy reaching. So funny.

I saw the group was reading this book, so when I ran across it at the library I checked it out. I must admit that after reading the first several chapters, I was having serious doubts as to the group's sanity. Reading these posts and realizing the author is an establish blogger put that in perspective ... I will have to start again keeping that in mind.

lol ~

I hope it makes you laugh, too, Alycia :D

Alycia wrote: "I saw the group was reading this book, so when I ran across it at the library I checked it out. I must admit that after reading the first several chapters, I was having serious doubts as to the gr..."

Haha! My sanity is questioned all the time :P

Amazon just delivered my very own copy to keeep ^_^. I guess I can return the library's copy now ;-)

I finished the book last night but never really connected with it as most of you have. I tried to think of the chapters as short stories, but the graphics tended to steal the show. It brings to mind the saying: "the tail wagging the dog" ... which could be a funny idea for the author to write about (and draw).

loved her stories! sometimes I felt like it kinda dragged but loved the pictures :)

Dani, thanks so much for hosting this month's group read!

And thank you to everyone who participated. The discussion can continue for as long as you wish to you discuss it :)

My pleasure!

Dani--Thanks for hosting!

I finished the book last night (only a little late), so I thought I would post that my favorite section was "Thoughts and Feelings." I laughed so hard that I cried, drawing some very strange looks on the train.

Haha, I think we all had moments like that Bridget :) Glad you enjoyed it!

The author just posted this update:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/hyperb...

She is working on another book!

Will it have ALOT? *grin*

It won't!!!! :-o

This makes me sad too MK :(