Monday, May 25, 2015

Nobody's Cuter Than You - Teaser Tuesday and First Paragraph / First Chapter

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Nobody's Cuter Than You: A Memoir About the Beauty of Friendship arrived in the mail as a surprise gift from my good friend Sandra Allen, co-author of I.O.U. Sex, and I've just started reading it. So far, it's sweet and funny, and I've seen lots of passages that I can identify with. The book is a memoir about friendship, especially the author's friendship with Amy Gulley. It's classified as "Christian Living" on its Amazon page, but it isn't preachy so far. Thanks for a delightful gift, Sandra! 
      Here's how the memoir starts (after an introduction):

First Paragraph:
      I dropped off my daughter, Caroline, at camp for the first time ever yesterday and am in the midst of what can only be described as an emotional hangover. Perry and I helped her get her room for the week all set up, and then I hugged her good-bye as her little eyes filled with tears. At that point I basically had to sprint down the hallway without daring to cast a look back over my shoulder lest I be like Lot's wife and dissolve into a pillar of salt. Or maybe just tears. 

Teaser Tuesday (from Page 29 - trade paperback):
(FYI: Melanie has started a new school in seventh grade.)
Junior high girls aren't generally known for their kind and welcoming ways, and my experience proved to be no exception to this rule. These are the years that are a bad cocktail of insecurity, hormones, and believing you know all there is to know about life while you incessantly worry about whether your boobs are ever going to show up. 

Genre: Memoir / Christian Living
Length: 200 Pages (plus Appendices)
Amazon Link: Nobody's Cuter Than You
Melanie Shankle's Blog: Big Mama


Synopsis (from Amazon):
There is nothing as precious in life as a friend who knows you and loves you in spite of yourself. Yet over the last couple of decades, we’ve substituted the joy of real friendship with cheap imitations. We settle for “community” on Facebook and Twitter and a series of text messages that allow us to communicate with someone without the commitment. We like each other’s beautifully filtered photos on Instagram and delude ourselves into believing we have a community. But real friendship requires effort. It’s showing up, laughing loud, and crying hard. It’s forgiving and loving and giving the benefit of the doubt. It’s making a casserole, doing a carpool pickup, and making sure she knows those cute shoes are 50 percent off. Written in the same comedic style as the New York Times bestsellers Sparkly Green Earrings and The Antelope in the Living RoomNobody’s Cuter than You is a laugh-out-loud look at the special bond that exists between friends and a poignant celebration of all the extraordinary people God had the good sense to bring into our lives at exactly the right moments. From the friendships we develop over a lifetime to the ones that wounded us and the ones that taught us to love better, Melanie Shankle reveals the influence our friends have on who we were, who we are, and who we will become. And on a day when our jeans feel too tight, our chins have decided to embrace hormone-related acne reminiscent of our teen years, and our kids have tested the limits of our sanity, they are the ones who will look at us and say, “Nobody’s cuter than you!”

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Miz B of A Daily Rhythm. Post two sentences from somewhere in a book you're reading. No spoilers, please!
Link at ADailyRhythm.com





First Chapter/First Paragraph/Tuesday Intros is hosted by Bibliophile By The Sea. To participate, share the first paragraph (or a few) from a book you're reading or thinking about reading soon.


35 comments:

  1. Oh, that first paragraph brought back some old memories. I remember crying all the way home from the camps. Yes, I'd keep reading.

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  2. I like this opening, and it does bring back some memories... thanks for sharing, here is my Tuesday post https://cleopatralovesbooks.wordpress.com/2015/05/26/first-chapter-first-paragraph-may-26/

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  3. I think this sounds lovely. I suspect this might make me cry.

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    1. I've come across several touching moments already, and I've barely started the book.

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  4. Sounds so sweet! And I love that in explores the depth of friendship...it takes showing up! Thatt hit a chord with me.

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  5. I love that intro, so I'd keep reading -- enjoy Sandy.

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  6. A very nice intro and I do remember those days, both as a mother and a friend. I like the sound of this book. Thanks for sharing it!

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  7. I can certainly relate to that opening! Hope you enjoy the book :)

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  8. Melancholy and sweet... I just saw my adult son off for two months in Europe and I'm ambivalent about how I feel: happy for his wonderful experience abroad, and selfishly depressed for myself. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. I had the same experience with my adult son many years ago. Even though we know they're grown up, it's still hard to let them go!

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  9. I like the opening for this book. Happy Reading! Girl Who Reads

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  10. Both excerpts feel very familiar to me....who doesn't remember those precious and emotional moments? Thanks for sharing...and here's mine: “APRON STRINGS”

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  11. Thanks for sharing this one Sandra! I have had Sparkly Green Earrings:, on my TBR list for quite awhile now and just keep sending it to the backburner. No more, I am going to check it out and this one too. Thanks again.

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    1. I read more last night, and I'm enjoying the book.

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  12. Sounds like it has some good moments, but in general, I don't enjoy memoirs, so I'd probably pass on this one. Hope you enjoy it, though!

    Today I'm featuring The Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank.

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    1. My experience with memoirs has been mixed. (I loved ANGELA'S ASHES.) This one is an easy and fun read.

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  13. I want to read this one! I've read Melanie's blog for years.

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    1. My friend Sandra, who sent me this book, is also a follower of Melanie's blog, so she knew I'd enjoy this story. And she is right!

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  14. I read another of Melanie's books. It was cute. Enjoy!

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  15. Sometimes I worry that because I move around so much I don't get to develop such deep friendships and that's where FB for example comes in handy because I can be there for their highs and lows despite not living close to them. I love the sound of the intro and teaser though so I might have to see whether I can get my hands on it, although the 'Christian living' is slightly throwing me off! Thanks for sharing :) I hope you have a great week and that I see you at ABEA!
    My Tuesday post
    Juli @ Universe in Words

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    1. I don't enjoy books that preach, which is why I included that disclaimer in my opening paragraph. Although the author refers to her religious belief, she doesn't dwell on it. The subject of the book is friendship, and she does a great job of relating her experiences.

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  16. The introduction really pulls you in! I just recently finished reading a wonderful inspiring story about friendship with my little girls, and they are hungry for more! I'll look into this one for sure! Thanks for sharing :)

    Claudia @ My Soul Called Life

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  17. Friendship does have its ups and downs. I fear that I'm often too reclusive, and don't talk to people often enough to form a real bond.

    My Teaser.

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  18. Great choice! The synopsis is really captivating. Definitely adding this one to my TBR list. Thanks for sharing.

    Orie @ Let's Take A Shelfie

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  19. This sounds like a great book. Hope you are enjoying it. Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  20. It sounds like a good book but I'm not for memoirs though. I hope you enjoy reading it! :)

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  21. I really like the sound of this - especially the bit in the synopsis about how friendship is about showing up. How many of our FB friends would really do that?

    Thanks for visiting Write Note Reviews.

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  22. Very interesting teaser! And it definitely captures the junior high experience perfectly! Thanks for stopping by my teaser earlier.

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  23. I love the cover! Although I can't say I relate to that experience - I was in the same school from Primary school to Secondary school, so it was fairly smooth sailing for me :p

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  24. This looks like a really lovely book. I love the blurb and the opening, so I'd keep reading! What a nice gift!

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  25. Your teaser shows that the author has a good grasp on those teenage years, Sandra! So true that we thought we knew it all, while being more worried about hormones and physical changes than school...

    Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

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  26. Have to admit the "Christian living" tag would probably have steered me away from this one, but it does sound like a good read. Thanks for sharing!

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