Con/Artist

I love a good true crime story, but I was so unprepared for Con/Artist.

This was amazing.

Tony Tetro wrote Con/Artist about his time as an art forger. His attention to the most minuscule detail is why he's considered the world's greatest art forger. He was passing off hundreds of his paintings as "lost art" for some massive names like Dali, Rembrandt, Chagall, even Rockwell. He even went so far as to forge a Ferrari. Yes, like a real ass Ferrari and he actually did it.

Reading about how and why he got into this life of crime was so interesting because the man has immense talent. But what struck me as the most interesting part is that his first forged art sale he actually sold under the guise of another art forger. He created a piece, signed a known art forger's name to it, and sold it almost as a novelty item.

This was just absolutely insane to read and I loved every second of it.

BadAsstronauts

This book was comedic gold.

BadAsstronauts was originally published under the title, Occupy Space. But last year, Grady Hendrix revamped his first self-published book and re-released this absolute masterpiece.

Grady is known for his quirky, campy, horror books and this is not that at all. This book has all the quirky elements of his horror books, mixed with his firsthand knowledge of the south. That being said, I understand why this book didn't take off the way he wanted it to in 2012. I also know that I am 100% his target audience for this book. So do with that what you will.

This novella is only about 160 pages of pure southern anarchy.

Local boy turned astronaut, Bobby Jr., gets stuck in space. NASA isn't really doing anything to help bring him home. But dammit, his South Carolina family will find a way to bring him home to his Momma. A ragtag team of almost astronauts, community college students, and extreme couponing grandmothers are determined to bring Bobby Jr. home....they just have to figure out how to build a rocket.

This was just so absurdly realistic. The Redneck NASA, the small town police, the acres of ramshackle land for their launch site. It was just hilarious and exactly what I would expect if a group of normal ass people were attempting to shoot one of their own into outer space.

Looking for other books by Grady Hendrix?

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires

My Best Friend's Exorcism

Horrorstor

The Final Girl Support Group

We Sold Our Souls

How to Sell a Haunted House

Dear Freedom Writer

I was in grade school when I first learned about The Freedom Writers. Every since then, I've been obsessed with reading published journals and diaries. Every single person has a story to tell, they just need somebody to listen. That's what Erin Gruwell and The Freedom Writers set out to do in Dear Freedom Writer.

 

Dear Freedom Writer features letters from people all over the world. They began writing to The Freedom Writers with their issues, ranging anywhere from sexuality, to covid, to wars going on in their own backyard. The Freedom Writers wrote back to each of these people with their own experiences. They offered advice, forgiveness, and a shoulder to cry on. Many of the letters were written by people who were just kids when Ms. Gruwell started teaching in Room 203, which quickly became a sacred oasis for many.

Some of these stories were hard to read, but all of them needed to be heard.

Looking for other books by The Freedom Writers?

The Freedom Writer's Diary