Ellen Degeneres

Advantages: Hilarious
Disadvantages: Your Cheeks may ache from laughing too much

...I found this book lying around whilst staying in a hostel in Alice Springs. My friend had gone on a day trip to Ayres Rock, so I was left to entertain myself. At first I presumed it was an autobiography, it didn't look particularly grabbing and I had never seen or heard of it before. However, it was worth a read to see if it could conquer my boredom. I spent the whole day reading the book, and unaware as my friend returned I was practically giggling my pants off and she was intrigued to know what was so funny. Who is Ellen DeGeneres? I had previously only known Ellen as an short actress in an American sitcom modestly named after hers truly. I had watched it only half heartedly a few times, and truthfully speaking I had never found it particularly funny. I have since learnt that she is indeed a rather busy lady and has her fingers... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Everything
Disadvantages: Nothing

...I just have to say in advanced that I am not the best book reviewer ever so please bare with me. Who is Ellen Degeneres? Born in Metairie on January 1958 Ellen Lee Degeneres was a reasonably quiet child, and as she grew older worked a couple of odd jobs, her main one being a vacuum saleswoman. She first discovered her gift to make people laugh at an amateur hour at her local coffee shop. She was very well received and decided that comedy was a route she would like to travel. Less than a year later she had won ‘Funniest Person In America’ and her career was on an all new high. With her new found success she moved to San Francisco, The place to be, if you were a new comedienne. Her main area of expertise was observational humor, something she found came naturally, but when a very close friend died, she wanted to make her comedy more... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Enlightening opinion from a mothers point of view
Disadvantages: Couldn't help but wonder....Is she on the band wagon ?

...A brief synopsis. Love Ellen by Betty Degeneres is a true story of how a mother dealt with her famous daughter coming out as a lesbian. What made me want to read this book ? Personal experience. When I came out to my mum 13 years ago the response wasn't great and it still isn't after all this time. I thought maybe reading this book would help me understand why. The result was in fact the opposite. How it is written. The book is written from Betty's (the mum in the story) point of view. It is semi diarised and autobiographical. What it's about. It briefly looks at Betty's childhood and upbringing. Explaining some traditional family values and how she was brought up to understand how a 'normal' life should be. Very quickly the book moves on to how Ellen told her mum she was gay and the initial response that she received. While... Read review

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