In a League of Her Own by Kaia Alderson

Rating: 3 of 5 stars 

Pages: 352 pages
Published: August 2024

In a League of Her Own is my second read by author Kaia Alderson. I really enjoyed Sister in Arms, and highly anticipated her sophomoric, historical fiction novel. In this story, we learn about Effa Manley, a Black business-minded woman who wanted more for herself than to be someone’s wife or mother. In this, I could relate. The book synopsis teases that she becomes a pivotal figure in the male-dominated industry of baseball and, to date, the only woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Effa Manley the person seems larger than life, but this dramatized retelling of her life fell short for me. 

While the writing is solid, the structure of the novel didn’t flow very well, and I think the reader should have walked away with an appreciation of Manley’s glass-breaking efforts. However, she was presented in a disappointing way. The relationship with her husband was odd, and I’m not sure what value it added to this story. The main character seemed a little self-absorbed and more focused on her name, pride, and reputation than the good of the community. 

I also thought the book would be more focused on her career in the baseball industry, but two-thirds of the story focused on her career in fashion and local civil rights. So, the title almost seems to be a misnomer. Additionally, because the author took so many liberties with the story, additional research is required to determine which parts are fictional and which are historical. 

Recommendation: I did enjoy picking up on some of the cross-over characters from Sisters in Arms, and I do want to know more about Manley’s real life, but perhaps because my expectations were high, this one was a bit of a letdown for me. I think if you know what you’re getting before reading this, it could be a more enjoyable read. I am hopeful this review helps with that. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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BOSSYPANTS BY TINA FEY

Image Credit: goodreads.com 

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

So, Ms. Fey, about that scar? ... If you think that's what this book is going to be about, it's not. Bossypants is the autobiographical account of Tina Fey's rise to fame from humble, middle class beginnings. And it's much more than her physical appearance. In the book, Fey takes us on her journey from childhood to college to her gig as a receptionist at the YMCA before getting her big break. We learn about her as a talented writer, actor, performer and loving daughter, wife, and mother. What I took from her story is that she's more than the jokes she tells, she is, indeed, a multi-faceted woman.

In my quest to consume more audiobooks, I had the pleasure of listening to Fey tell her stories and the benefit of her tone, technique, and delivery. She was just as funny in performing the personal stories of her life as she was delivering those unforgettable Sarah Palin impressions on Saturday Night Live.

I truly enjoyed some of the motivational messages Fey provided about success, motherhood, and surviving as a working woman in America. One of my favorite quotes from the book:

"Don't be fooled. You're not in competition with other women. You're in competition with everyone." 

I appreciated Fey's quick-wit and sarcasm. I think she's an excellent actress and improvisationalist. I liked that we, as readers, get to know more about her private life. (My favorite chapter is the tribute to her dad, That's Don Fey.) Having said this, I didn't quite enjoy the book as much as I thought I would, hence the rating. Maybe my expectations were too high. I can't really put my foot on it exactly, but it wasn't as laugh-out-loud funny as some other audiobooks I've enjoyed. However, I still think it's worth a listen. I mean, it is a multi-year bestselling book.

My main critique of this book would be that at times, Fey would seem to lose her place and repeat an opening line twice. I'm not sure if that was a delivery or editing flaw. Several times throughout the book she references a PDF. I wasn't really sure how to access the file until I Google'd it. (On a side note: How did we ever manage before search engines?). Here's a tip if you use Audible.com for listening, log on to your audible.com account from the desktop site, go to your book library, then the book in question, there are all kinds of goodies there including the PDF with photos. I took a look at these after I finished listening to the book as it was nearly impossible to do so while listening as I most often listen while driving or running.

Recommendation: This book was selected by my book club, Richly Read, for a lighthearted comedic read in December. If you've followed Fey's career or enjoyed any of her skits on Saturday Night Live or 30 Rock, you will probably enjoy this hilarious behind-the-scenes peek into her life. I recommend partaking the audiobook, which is read and performed by the author herself.

Until next time ... Read on!

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