Out of the Corner by Jennifer Grey

Book #32 in 2025
3.5 out of 5 (photo from Goodreads)

I liked and didn’t like this book at the same time. Parts of it I enjoyed. But I felt like there was too much talk about Grey’s libido, her insecurities (which I understand are part of who she is and how she got to where she is). In general I’m not a follower of celebrity gossip. I didn’t know that she and Patrick Swayze didn’t hit it off in Red Dawn and had tension in the beginning of Dirty Dancing. I didn’t know she dated Matthew Broderick.

I do admire her resilience. She knows who she is and what she wants. She wants to lead, by example for her daughter. She has learned from things she has experienced in the past. I’m happy that I read this and learned more about Jennifer Grey but I don’t think she’s someone I’d hit it off with if we met in person.

Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I’d Known About Menopause by Naomi Watts

Book #31 in 2025
4.0 out of 5 (photo from Goodreads)

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. While there’s some advice in it, I focused more on talking about menopause and what women have to go through. I found it relatable even though I haven’t experienced all of the things the author has in her journey.

I find that the topic of menopause is much like my hearing loss. Everyone’s journey is an individual one but it helps to connect with others to know that you’re not alone.

Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton

Book #30 in 2025
3.0 out of 5 (photo from Goodreads)

I wanted to like this book more. But I felt like I was listening to an essay than an engaging story. The author, by chance, takes care of a hare and tells her story. She did a lot of research into what to do and made it a point to not try and domesticate the animal so that it would be able to return to the wild. Even after the hare was on her own she returned to visit the author.

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

Book #29 in 2025
3.0 out of 5 (photo from Goodreads)

I’ve seen this book come up as a recommendation based on what I’ve read. Some of my friends have also read it or want to read it. So I decided to pick it up. I wasn’t that impressed. But maybe because I’m not familiar with the author at all.

Yes, the author went through a lot dealing with her mom and being a child star. It’s great that she came out in the end, learning a lot and in a better place. However, I didn’t really connect with her while reading the book.

The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival by John Vaillant

Book #28 in 2025
3.5 out of 5 (photo from Goodreads)

This was an interesting book but I wish there was more about the tiger and not the history of the area or such detailed back stories about the people involved. What happens when a tiger is seemingly targeting humans?

I once again found myself thinking that we can learn a lot from animals and that they are smarter than most give them credit for. Did a tiger know when it came across a human that had harmed it in the past? Can it decide to hunt a human as a form of payback or revenge?

Due to what I felt was some extra content that wasn’t necessarily needed I didn’t score this as high as I might have but it was still a decent read.

Lucky Loser: Adventures in Tennis and Comedy by Michael Kosta

Book #27 in 2025
2.5 out of 5 (photo from Goodreads)

I wanted to like this book more than I did. I’ve seen the author on the Tennis Channel. My husband and BIL also know of him because they went to the same high school (Kosta was a freshman when my husband was a senior) and all of them played tennis.

But I felt like the author just wanted to brag about himself and let people know how much sex he has had. There are some times of reflection and I did like the beginning of the book when he talked about his family and beginnings in tennis. But it went downhill after that.

I don’t know the author as a comedian so I don’t know if his style of comedy is somtrhing I’d like. When he tried to be funny in the book (or audiobook in my case) he sometimes was but it often felt forced.

Catch Me If You Can by Frank Abagnale

Book #26 in 2025
3.5 out of 5 (photo from Goodreads)

Years ago I watched the movie version of this book. I was curious about the book. It’s definitely interesting learning about the different scams the author pulled off. Some seemingly simple and others more elaborate. He also seemed to care enough to not want to scam individuals and just companies.

Between the movie and the book I wanted to read more about the author. That’s where I started to wonder how true his tales are. Muliple sources indicate that what’s portrayed in the book and movie aren’t all correct. This makes me wonder if the scam artist scammed readers and Hollywood with a good story. My rating of the book is lower because of this.

Raised by a Serial Killer: Discovering the Truth About My Father by April Balascio

Book #25 in 2025
3.5 out of 5 (photo from Goodreads)

I can’t even begin to imagine the life of this author as she was growing up. She didn’t have supportive parents. In fact her father was horrible to her. She was afraid of him all of the time. He made her do things just to see her reaction. He made her and her siblings fight for his own pleasure.

Once she was older she wonders if her father has murdered people. Not just one person but multiple. She also has to try and continue on with her own life as she gets married herself and has her own kids.

I listened to the audiobook and had to have it on 1.5 speed just so that it sounded like it was a normal pace. Much like when I listened to Danny Trejo’s book, this author reads at an odd pace.

I also felt like too much of the book focused on the author’s early life. Many things were repeated and it felt like parts weren’t edited enough. It wasn’t until about 3/4 of the way through until the author starts writing about how she put pieces together about just how bad her father was. I was expecting more of the book to be about how she discovered the truth about her father.

I still found this to be an interesting read.

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

Book #24 in 2025
4.0 out of 5 (photo from Goodreads)

I thought this was an interesting book. Not a typical subject to read about though! It was interesting to read about what human bodies are used for as far as practicing medical procedures. I can understand wanting a more real life experience in operating before having to do it on a live person.

At times I felt like the author was trying to hard to be humorous and it didn’t come off well. Or perhaps I didn’t appreciate it. Still a decent read and I’m curious about the other books she has written.

What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe

Book #23 in 2025
4.0 out of 5 (photo from Goodreads)

This was interesting and humorous. I listened to the audiobook which is read by Wil Wheaton. The author answers odd questions as truthfully as possible using scientific data. Tackled are the what ifs like how fast you can go over a speed bump and not die and what would happen if all of the lightning strikes for one day happened at the same time in the same place.

This book reminded me a bit of Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs by Caitlin Doughty, who answers questions people have about death.

A lot of the questions weren’t things that I would have thought of, but the answers to the questions were interesting. There’s a second book that I’d like to read or listen to at some point.