Post #10: Book Review

Through the use of oxymorons, stream of consciousness writing, and fabricated life experiences, Ellen DeGeneres allows readers to kick back and relax with Seriously... I'm Kidding.

Ellen DeGeneres is a comedian and host of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Her show features celebrities, musical performers, games, and more. It's fun and fast-paced, much like the book. Ellen is known for her distinct comedic voice. She aims to entertain her audience on the show and relieve stress and tension. This is also a goal of Seriously... I'm Kidding. 

Sarah Hann, from The Saturday Evening Post, said, "She’s as funny in her book as she is on the air (if not more so). Every page is better than the next; I raced through it, eager to see what else she had to say." This review couldn't be more accurate about the book. It keeps readers flipping the pages, and every page is packed-full with Ellen's humor. Sometimes, it felt like Ellen was right there in the room!

Describing the plot is an impossible task. There are no underdog heroes that face adversity, there isn't a guy who gets the girl in the end- it's just Ellen and her thoughts! Ellen did not craft a literary masterpiece filled with complexity and hidden meaning when she wrote this book. In fact, it was her goal to craft just the opposite! On page 3, she said, "I let my mind wander through some of the biggest moments in my life and then I realized what I needed to do. Since I don't know specific things about each and every one of you... I decided to include a little something for everyone in this book. You're going to find some short stories for adults, coloring pages for kids, and many things for all ages in between." Ellen didn't try to craft a novel that would be studied in classrooms for centuries, she just wanted to write something that everyone could enjoy.

Ellen pokes fun at things that are a part of our everyday lives. On page 17, she talked about the humor that can be found in lotion. "There's lotion for your face, lotion for your hands, lotion for your feet, lotion for your body. Why? What would happen if you put hand lotion on your feet? Would your feet get confused and start clapping? Each kind says it has something special in it for your skin- aloe, shea butter, coconut, cocoa butter, vanilla, lemon extract. That's one ingredient short of a Bundt cake." By poking fun at simple, universal items, all readers can relate to what Ellen is saying.

Ellen keeps the flow of the book moving by including short chapters after long ones. She followed a chapter ironically titled "The Longest Chapter" (only five pages long) with a 140 character Tweet. Her goal was not to tie readers down with hours and hours of reading, but to supply them with something to read while lounging by the pool, flying on an airplane, or taking their lunch break.

While the book is enjoyable and easy to read, at times, it's almost too simple. In the chapter called "The Longest Chapter", Ellen rambles on and on about how she has something important to say. She'll get close to telling the readers, then veer off on another subject, then come back to the important item, then get off topic again, then come back- almost like this sentence. In the end, Ellen tells readers that the thing that changed her life forever was the Swiffer. The chapter was pointless and somewhat obnoxious. However, there are only a few other instances in the book like this, so it's still enjoyable.

Hectic but soothing, confusing but restful, this book deserves 4.5 out of 5 stars. Readers are encouraged to "kick off their Sunday shoes" and laugh a little as they take a whirlwind tour through the brain of Ellen DeGeneres.