Review: Light, fun read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 9, 2011
I received this book as a gift, and immediately started on it.  There are 4 sections, with maybe 4 or 5 newspaper columns in each section.  The selections are grouped based on a general topic or storyline; each one is self-contained, and they don't follow a strict temporal sequence, though taken together, they do tell a story. The articles are 'good, clean fun', though some language or imagery used is sort of borderline - it didn't bother me in the least, but I was hoping to share this book with my 90-year old grandmother, who is VERY conservative, and I don't think I will be able to do so.The articles are all well-written and show a wry, offbeat humor that had me laughing out loud in a few places.  This author was referenced as 'a new Erma Bombeck', and from what I can remember of Erma, I would say that that is only partially true - I remember Erma's stories being superficially about herself and her family, but having a much wider application if you read between the lines.  Mr. Kirkland's humor is more firmly centered around his life and misfortunes, and his family, with less general application.  This is just an observation based on reviews, and should not in any way be construed as a negative comment about this book!Highly recommended.  This is pretty much family fare, though younger readers may not appreciate the type of humor Mr. Kirkland shows in his writing.Note on Kindle formatting:  Excellent.  I did not notice any issues whatsoever.