I can't say that I really like this book nor that I really disliked it. Recollections of her childhood and life some very funny and others were just kind of groaners. The author definitely has a voice of her own though. ( )

she's funny, has a distinct and solid voice, and is mostly a decent writer. this is a pretty fun read, nice to read for a break. my issues with it are that it's a little repetitive and many of the essays aren't wrapped up well at all. she either tries too hard to go full circle or doesn't get there satisfyingly at all, and the transitions throughout need work. still, though, it's enjoyable as a fluff read, i just wanted some improvement in those transitional areas from her first book.

but, good for me to remember sometimes: "Adults forget that something they say once on a bad day when they should have just given up whatever they were doing and taken a nap - and spoke to a small child instead - may be the one thing that child will remember, in full and gloriously unforgiving detail, forever." ( )

There is much to love in this book. Writing teachers are forever talking about "finding your voice". Its not something you can actually teach, more like something a writer falls into naturally or stumbles upon and with any luck, someone is there to point and cheer and say "That's it!". For those who have it, it seems obvious (what other voice would I write with?) and for those who don't, it seems like some elusive, mystical gift. I mention this now, because Cheryl Peck is one of those writers whose voice is so specific and so strong, that five pages into "Revenge of the Paste Eaters", I wanted to offer her another cup of tea, insist that she stay for dinner and ask her to be my friend forever.

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Very funny book with little snippets from Peck's life, both as a child and as an adult. ( )

This was an O.k. memoir. I really didn't feel that engaged. There were a couple of moments that I really liked the book and the rest I didn't really like it that much at all. So, I am ambivalent about recommending it. It was Ok. It wasn't great.
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