And the Tony Awards go to the books....

The Tony Awards on June 7 were filled of all the magic of theater-going and Broadway. One of my favorite things to do (it comes close to reading books) is go to the theater. So, you can imagine my happiness when the two shows that tied for the most awards were based off of books that I have read.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon was adapted into a play and Fun Home by Alison Bechdel was adapted into a musical. Both won for the best production in their respective categories. They also both won for best actors in their categories. Besides that they won many other awards.

The fact that these two plays were based on books is great for the literary world. Yes, both of these books have already been popular to a wide audience, but the audience has been expanded now.

I am guessing by now that every die-hard Bechdel, Bechdel Test, and graphic memoir fan has read Fun Home. I wasn't a big fan and am surprised that it was turned into a musical, based on the book's content. I loved graphic novels and think that this one got a lot of praise because it was written by Allison Bechdel (similar to Bossypants being popular because it's by Tina Fey. Review here). Even though I wasn't a big fan of the book, I am a huge Bechdel fan and I am glad this musical won and will hopefully increase her exposure. Although I haven't seen the play, I am guessing that they most likely pulled a Wicked, changed the story completely, and Broadway-ized it.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime was Mark Haddon's debut novel and I fell in love with it. At the time, I was a teenager who was interested in learning a lot about Autism for personal reasons and relationships. I have never been a conventional learner, so, a fiction novel through the eyes of someone with Autism was perfect for learning about it. Autism is a highly misunderstood disorder and is very prevalent in our society, so, bringing it to the stage will only help to educate the world.

Although I may be too hopeful, I can only hope the recent success of these two plays will boost publishing sales. Maybe next year we will see even more beloved books on stage.

Review: Bossypants by Tina Fey

**

Worth the Read: If you are a drop-dead Tina Fey fan, yes. Otherwise, skip it and read a Chelsea Handler book.

I was not a fan of this book. I didn't hate it, but I expected so much more from it. Sorry, Tina Fey. Although you dazzle me in most of your on-screen roles, you failed to dazzle me in this book.

I don't read too many memoirs of comedians/actors. About a year ago, I was looking for something fun and different to read and a friend suggested Chelsea Handler's books. I WAS HOOKED.

Now, I know it wouldn't be fair to say that I was expecting a Chelsea Handler hit out of Bossypants, but I was expecting something on the same playing field. 

I think something that disappointed me was that I was expecting it to be more feminist. I can't put my finger on why. Maybe I was unfairly looking for some feminist ranting.... the one part that I loved and think that every woman should read was the breast-feeding section.

Besides that, it feels like this is a book that is just full of punchlines. It was punchline after punchline after punchline with very little anecdotes, in my opinion.

I hope you found this review helpful. I would love to know your thoughts and opinions. 

Reading Challenges Update

I have added a few more books to both lists, but I have been unsuccessful in my attempts to read books set in multiple states and starting with multiple letters. I keep repeating ones.... I need to stop that.

A-Z Challenge Update:

E - Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave (review here)

P - Pericles by William Shakespeare

S - Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell 

Z - Zoo by James Patterson (although I haven't finished it and wasn't able to renew it so it may be a while)

Previously completed:

B- BADD by Tim Tharp

C- Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanna Fluke

D- Dead End by Jason Myers

F- Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

L- Like Water for Chocolate by Briana Esquivel

M- The Missions by Jason Myers

R- Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

T- This is How You Lose Her by Junot Díaz

U- Underwire by Jennifer Hayden

Needed: A, G, H, I, J, K, N, O, Q, V, W, X, Y

As far as states go, the books I added above successfully completed California and New York, two states which I already had.

The only new one I get to add to this list is:

Pennsylvania - Bossypants by Tina Fey (review to come) (The letter B was already taken and it might not be fair to put this book in Pennsylvania since only a part of it takes place there, but I'm stretching my imagination.

I am also reading Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover, which may or may not be set in Texas. I will have to double check. Until then, hang on to your hats.

Completed:

Iowa, Alabama, California, New York, Oregon, Nebraska, and New Jersey.

I have a list going of books I want to read, but I am always looking for recommendations as well, so, any book you want to recommend, I want to read.