“Nagging just sounds so negative, and I am not a negative person. Truth is, I’m the kind of person you’d ask for directions if you were lost, or tell your life story to while waiting in line at the grocery store, which has happened on more than one occasion, believe me.”
Sure, Ella Boudreaux is great at nagging–in fact, she’s the best—but where has it gotten her?
Nowhere, that’s where.
…
Nowhere, that’s where.
She can’t hold onto a job and she can’t find her true calling, but she knows it’s out there. Could a handsome stranger help her find her destiny? Or maybe he was her destiny…
more
Another funny story that kept me giggling from start to finish. Fun to get these glimpses into a different genre of writing by an author that you already liked before. I like the quick, light reading that this story offered. I like the glimpse into a very different way of life than I am used to.
I would recommend this book for a quick, light, entertaining read.
Barbara Venkataraman’s If You’d Just Listened to Me in the First Place… is a wonderful short story that you should absolutely read as an introduction to this author and her literary style. I first read a few of her mystery novellas (the “Jamie Quinn” series) and found myself intrigued and laughing over their conversational tone and engaging prose. But when I learned of these other fiction works, I quickly wanted to dive in for a read — especially when the author has been extremely friendly and charismatic across a few social media platforms.
In this story, Ella provides little snippets of her relationship with a man named Charlie (not giving away any spoilers!) and various short-term jobs that very few of us would ever want to hold. She’s funny, charming and someone you would enjoy talking to — especially when the narrator crosses that invisible line and talks directly to the person who is reading her words (another spoiler, you should just go read it to see what I mean). It’s a great opportunity to take a break from reality for 20 to 30 minutes and see the world from someone else’s perspective. So give her a chance.
I have a few others she’s written on my list but I am purposely saving them for that day when I need a little pick-me-up. Kudos!
Ella Boudreaux, a self-confessed nag, may nag but never in a negative way. She has a positive outlook on her life even though she could not keep a job. She is confident there was a job out there that would be her calling.
Ella’s positive outlook is wonderfully refreshing. I really enjoyed reading about her story of meeting a man she believes is her future husband and finding a job that she was meant to do. I find this book to be a fun, fresh, realistic tale of how we “nag” those we love and believe our opinions can help solve problems in our loved ones’ lives.
I recommend this book to anyone that has ever been accused of nagging, LOL. I also recommend to anyone who enjoys a short humorous tale. I was given a copy of this book in hopes I would give a review. All thoughts and opinions are that of my own and in no way have been influenced.
Barbara Venkataraman – A Smidge of Crazy – Quirky Essays for Quirky People – If You Would Have Listened to Me in the First Place – Reviewed 2/22/21 – Read 2/12-17/21
Humor is the cure-all for almost anything, and Ms. Venkataraman can give it as good as it gets!
A Smidge of Crazy
This is a collection of thoughts that sometimes drives people crazy… I mean have you ever looked down and seen a key on your keyring and thought to yourself, “What the heck does that go to?” Or do you get those ads on your cell or computer that you just cannot figure out how in the world you would get something like that sent to you? This and many other quirky things that people think about, but never talk about are discussed in this humorous collection of thoughts.
Quirky Essays for Quirky People
This is a collection of all her Quirky essays in one book. There are two in here that hit me in the heart. A Trip to the Hardware Store is about Barbara’s father and his handiness around the house. It reminded me of my father. My dad was a great person that could build a big rig, run a trucking company, have dozens of men working for him, remake the best toys from Christmas to Christmas, help with the pets especially the rabbits, take me hunting, riding and so many other things, but please do not ever hand him a hammer and nails! The other one was the sleep clinic. Mine was the birth of my second son. I knew that I was in labor and so off we went to the hospital. But when we got there, they told me that I was not even ready to be admitted. Rather than drive clean across town again, my mother and I decided that we would have lunch and just wait around and see what happens. Wouldn’t you know it, right in the middle of the best grill cheese sandwich I ever had, my son decided it was time…. You know when we went back, they still said it was too early. Well, my mom had had enough and for a little gal of under 5 foot, she proceeded to have me admitted, much to the staff’s dismay. Less than an hour later my son made his debut, to the amazement of the staff! You know I never did get to eat the rest of that darn grill cheese sandwich! LOL
If You’d Just Listened to Me in the First Place
This is all about Ella Boudreaux and how she became a bill collector. One of the funniest stories that I have read since I finished Quirky Essays. I loved this story! There were quite a few places that I could apply my own similar situations, but we will not go into that. I do not think anyone that I know would call me great at nagging…
What did I like? All three of these books had me in stitches! There were so many places that I could apply these circumstances to myself, as I am sure you will too. Barbara puts them in black and white and lets us laugh at ourselves. One of the things that I love about Barbara’s books is the way that she uses words to make us happy, but I never fail to learn something that I had never in my life thought I would ever use.
What will you like? Barbara loves words and laughter, maybe not in that order but she enjoys making people happy. Her love of writing has been a joy to the world, and you will find that you too will learn something, if not but the fact that you do have that belly laugh in you. Do not forget to check out her other books and her Flash Fiction on Holidays. They will keep the laughter rolling around all year long. In addition to her funny books, she also is the author of the Jamie Quinn Mystery Series. Plus, her son, Josh, and Barbara wrote a book together, “Accidental Activist” which is certainly amazing. All about how a college assignment became a battle. Check them all out, you cannot go wrong, and you just might laugh along the way.
@ddeegott