The Myth Of Mr. Mom - Book Review

The Myth of Mr. Mom
by Jeremy Rodden, Sonny Lemmons, Christian Jensen, Shawn Scarber, Toby Tate, Leo Dee, Charlie Andrews and Gerhi Feuren

What is it about:
The Myth of Mr. Mom is a collaborative non-fiction essay anthology written by stay-at-home dads that shares the personal stories of eight men from around the world.

The goal of the book is to help bring awareness to the fact that men are just as capable as women of being the primary caregiver, homemaker, and stay-at-home parent. We feel that there is a societal bias against stay-at-home dads that does not exist for stay-at-home mothers and seek to bring our stories to the public.

Filled with humorous anecdotes and eye-opening personal experiences, The Myth of Mr. Mom is simultaneously inspiring and entertaining.

What did I think of it:
This is not a book I would normally read, but because I really enjoyed Jeremy Rodden's Toonopolis: Gemini I decided to give this collection of essays a try.

And yet again I was reminded how rewarding it can be to step outside of your reading comfort zone once in a while.

This is a fun and interesting book to read. Being an open minded person myself when it comes to gender roles and such, I never would have thought there were so many prejudices against stay-at-home dads. The humorous way in which the authors in this anthology write about the prejudices and difficulties they encounter, show that they don't let themselves be taken down though. I think this book would be a great help to all those stay-at-home dads who suffer from the same kind of prejudice if only so they know they're not alone.

Other readers will certainly enjoy this anthology as well. It has many funny anecdotes and it will get you thinking about your own look at life and what hidden prejudices you might have.

As for the writing:
I enjoyed the writing of all the authors in this anthology. Because these are essays it's not a clear indication of their overall writing, but I'm going to investigate what other things these authors have written and see if there's anything that fits my reading tastes.

Why should you read it:
It's an interesting and fun collection of essays about stay-at-home dads


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Toonopolis: Gemini - Book Review

Toonopolis: Gemini (Toonopolis Files, #1) by Jeremy Rodden (illustrations by Cami Woodruff)

What is it about:
Toonopolis is a cartoon city that is home to the thoughts and ideas of all sentient beings in the universe. As the center of the Tooniverse, it acts as an other-worldly rest stop for these creations.

Gemini is a teenage human boy who is thrust into Toonopolis through his father's scientific research program. He loses part of himself in the process and immediately begins a quest to regain his lost memories with the help of his Tooniverse guide named Jimbob the Talking Eggplant.

After an altercation with a mysterious Shadowy Figure, Gemini's mission is changed, an he begins a new quest to defeat Shadowy Figure and protect Toonopolis from his nefarious destruction. Along the way, he meets new friends, discovers just how diverse and strange Toonopolis is, and learns lessons about compassion, forgiveness, redemption, and being true to oneself.

What did I think of it:
An original and fun story.
Rodden has a pleasant, descriptive writing style and he paints a colourful, quirky world with many very recognisable elements for those who read comics and manga and for those who play roleplaying games. I really liked Gemini, but I liked his travel companions even more I will confess, especially Jimbob, the talking eggplant who's perfectly cast as Gemini's guide as well as comic relief. The story is funny, suspenseful and full of action, leading to a conclusion that leaves you hungry for more. All in all this is a very enjoyable and exciting adventure, set in a fantastical world and I can advice it to anyone who's looking for a fun read.

Why should you read it:
It's a very original YA read.