Review of "The Fundies"

Making a book based off of a series of comedy videos doesn't sound like it would be interesting, but this hilarious book on hockey fundamentals, or "fundies" will make hockey fans laugh long and hard.  Here is my review of "The Fundies"

Title/Author:

“The Fundies: The Essential Hockey Guide from On the Bench” by Olly Postanin and Jacob Ardown

Tags:

Ice Hockey, advice, humor

Publish date:

October 22, 2019

Length:

248 pages

Rating: to

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Two minor hockey coaches, Steven Campbell (Olly Postanin) and Ryan Russell (Jacob Ardown) have created a series of hockey videos titled "On the Bench" and they have developed a large following in Canada.  The videos are meant to be both instructional and entertaining.  They have brought the subject to book format in this book that is very entertaining to read and may even leave hockey fans a little more knowledgeable.

Something to know before opening the book is that a reader will encounter a lot of words ending in "y" or "ie" that are shortened versions of commonly used words. A few examples are "celly" for celebration, "tendy" for a goaltender, "bisscy" for the biscuit (a slang term for the puck) and of course, in the title, "fundies" for fundamentals. These were a bit confusing at first, but as one progresses through the book, they make more sense, as does the purpose of the book.

While there is some great information about some of the basics and even more abbreviations, such at "T.J." for tape job on one's stick, be warned that not all of the advice should be taken as a player.  One such example is in Chapter 5, when the object of all players should be to get their names in the scoresheet as much as possible.  If that means taking more penalties, especially for the ones who don't score often, then so be it. Their objective should be to get those scouts to notice you.  Whether a forward, d-man or tendy, the more you are seen, the better you are at the game. This is especially true for your celly – the more outrageous the better.  In fact, the authors state this is especially important for the tendy.

If this review makes you chuckle, then this would be the book for you if you are looking for a book with some humor, as this is the main draw of "On the Bench."  Whether that comes from this book or the videos, the comedy is excellent, entertaining and will leave you laughing very hard.  It is recommended to have tissues handy if a reader is prone to crying when laughing, as that will be the dominant emotion when reading this book.  When finished, the reader will be ready to show off that wild celly.

I wish to thank Penguin Random House Canada for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.      

                                                    

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Fundies-Essential-Hockey-Guide-Bench/dp/0735236984/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Review of "Tri-Mom"

I stumbled across this title online, and was intrigued by the title - what the heck is a Tri-Mom? After a couple of emails to the author, I was given a copy to review. This was a quick and enjoyable read. Here is my review of Tri-Mom: 

Title/Author: 
“Tri-Mom: Swimming, Biking and Running Through Motherhood” by Debra Hodgett with contributions by Lindsay Zucco, Carla Hastert, Jennifer Garrison, Christine Palmquist, Elizabeth Waterstraat, and Jennifer Harrison 

Tags: 
Running, biking, swimming, women, memoir, advice 

Publish date: 
April 15, 2013 

Length: 
222 pages 

Rating: 
4 of 5 stars (very good) 

Review: 
When an athlete in any sport undergoes a major lifestyle change such as getting married, having a child or undergoing a career change, this will also change how that athlete trains and competes. Debra Hodgett shares her tales of what it takes to balance family life and her athletic goals in this quick and easy read. 

The book is targeted to women who are training and competing in triathlete events while trying to also be a wife, mother and friend. It is not an easy balance to maintain, and Hodgett’s stories about some of her adventures with her husband and sons will leave the reader laughing out loud. I especially loved the story about the shark bites while she was swimming and had to bring her sons to the training session. That was one of the many times I was laughing out loud while reading this book. The humor of Hodgett and her co-authors make this book fun to read.

There are many practical tips that can be adapted by any woman who is trying to balance various aspects of her life with something else, not just being a triathlete. The stories and sections that describe the triathlete lifestyle are very good, as the reader can feel that he or she is in the pool or on a bike alongside the athlete. 

Not all of the stories are Hodgett’s experiences. Six other female triathletes shared their stories of balancing training, competing and family life as well and the common bonds all of these ladies share in addition to being athletes was intriguing. This was the only section of the book where I had trouble while reading. The reader has to be careful and realize when one of the co-authors is now speaking and not get caught thinking that it is a story of Hodgett’s. She tells a brief story about each of her co-authors before their contributions. All of the other contributors’ stories are toward the end of the book, so that is where the reader will need to be on his or her toes to realize that this story is a little different perspective. 

By the end of the book, I realized what these amazing women have done and had nothing but admiration and respect for what they accomplished. This book is highly recommended for any woman who is looking for a way to balance participating in a sport and her family. 

I wish to thank Ms. Hodgett for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. 

Did I skim? 
No. 

Pace of the book: 
Very good. No chapter or story is very long and the writing style is such that the reader will not get bogged down in too many details. 

Do I recommend? 
Yes, if the reader is looking for a book of not only what it takes to be a triathlete, but also what some great stories about everyday situations that you make you laugh, then pick up this book.

Book Format Read: 
Paperback

Buying Links:

http://www.amazon.com/Tri-Mom-Swimming-Running-Through-Motherhood-ebook/dp/B00CDWM1OG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397217473&sr=8-1&keywords=tri+mom