And Now This: A Memoir in Essays
by Rick Bailey
5 out of 5 stars
I was fortunate to have author Rick Bailey reach out to me last week through my website.
He told me a bit about himself and sent me a digital copy of his new book, "And Now This: A Memoir in Essays," which I could download to my Kindle app. So, naturally, I promised Rick a read and review.
This book will be published and available for Kindle on February 1, 2023.
I am always nervous when I have a rapport with an author and agree to read and publicly review their work.
You never know if you will enjoy their style or if it will be well written. If that weren't nerve-wracking enough, then, along with considering the writer's overall competence, is reader preference. The memoir genre, I admit - is not one in my regular rotation.
I'm more of a fiction reader; I prefer to get lost in a new world, get to know the characters, and dissociate from my life for a while. Not that my life is bad, quite the contrary, but I think we can all use a recharge every now and then. I just so happen to bounce back better with a book.
Finding the next great read and experiencing it for the first time - ah, well, there is nothing like it.
In my earlier statement, I shared that I usually read fiction because I like to get lost in another world. With the memoir genre, it isn't all that different, really - because I found myself lost in the mind of Rick Bailey.
Rick is very well-written, so I have no concerns about competence to report, except maybe on the little league field (which he touches on in an early essay).
Bailey's clever observations and perspectives on various situations made me feel like I was in an episode of Seinfeld -- which is one of my top 5 favorite shows for those who may be keeping track at home.
It is refreshing to experience the world through someone else's words. We, mankind, all have unique life experiences and come from different walks of life. However, reading the memoir genre, and specifically for me, Rick's new book has solidified that we still share many things in common.
In one of my favorite essays, "Give Us This Day," Rick talks about going to the doctor, antibiotics, and peat moss on mushrooms that is definitely NOT dirt. This is one of the shorter essays, but he talked about three things I have thought about similarly within the past few weeks.
Rick's writing is captivating, from his thoughts on ketchup and its various spellings to his stories from his travels, to his resentment for Tupperware.
I suggest branching out, especially if Memoir is not a familiar genre.
I truly enjoyed this book and will add Rick's other works to my TBR list.
Buy or Pre-Order (if before 2/1/2023) "And Now This: A Memoir in Essays" on Amazon for Kindle.
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