Wednesday, January 23, 2013

CLP Blog Tour: I Kill Me: Tales of a Jilted Hypochondriac


You know the books that you start reading and don't really knowing how you're going to feel about it? I Kill Me: Tales of A Jilted Hypochondriac by Tracy H. Tucker was one of those books for me. Good news though - I ended up really enjoying this one! It was so funny and I'm very happy I signed up for the CLP Blog Tour.

Here's the synopsis:
Christine Bacon has a fatal attraction. To all things fatal. A veteran hypochondriac, her near-death experiences are exacerbated when her husband proposes they have a menage a trois with Eleanor, his busty British massage therapist, to "shake things up." Christine reluctantly agrees (although she is more wholesome than threesome), never expecting just how much she'd be rattled. As her marriage to Richard, a/k/a "Dick," falls apart, so, too, does Christine, whose fear of her own demise causes her to research every freckle, blemish, cough, bump, lump, tingle and hiccup. She isn't a doctor, but she plays one on the internet.
There is solace for Christine: in raising daughters Lily and Carli, leaning on her friends, and wearing out the shower massager. In order to heal, she struggles to become her own person and to view her symptoms (and ex-husband) as less malignant, while searching for that special someone who will love her--despite her grave condition.
I think we've all read the novels where a woman has a two-timing and/or asshole husband. That's not new but Tucker managed to write something that provided a fresh twist on this common storyline. I liked that it was clear she was a mother first but that part of her life didn't take over the story. Her daughters were lovely (even though the eldest went through a bit of a rebellious phase but who can blame her?) and provided their share of humour as well. It also let us see another side of Christine than the hypochondriac divorcee.

I have to admit that the whole hypochondriac bit got a bit tiring after awhile. I understand that some people are really like that and I'm sure it can't be easy...but...it wasn't my favourite thing to read about. I feel like admitting this makes me seem like a horrible person...please still love me! :) There were times when it was written about in a light hearted way and other times when it was clear that this was a serious issue. I found myself wondering if she was actually going to end up getting some serious disease because she was always so worried. I'm really glad she finally met someone who truly listened to her and helped her through her issues.

It was great to read about Christine's journey and how she got through such a brutal life experience. I thought the ending was really well done. It could have been perfectly and tightly wrapped up but having things left a little loose worked with the story. What mattered was that Christine was finally OK again and not if she ended up with someone else in the end (and I'm not telling you if she did or not!).

I Kill Me: Tales of a Jilted Hypochondriac was an incredibly enjoyable read because of the humour. It's no wonder it was a semifinalist in the Humour Category for the Goodreads Choice Awards! If you're looking for a good and funny novel featuring an entertaining heroine, definitely pick up Tracy Tucker's novel.


Author Bio:
Tracy H. Tucker is first and foremost the mother of three of the best people on Earth. She has a Master's in Literacy from the University of Maine and has inspired the youth of America for seventeen years. She's an avid animal lover and would like to publicly thank her husband for putting up with the pet hair, the dogs in the bed, the things the cats hack up and the repeated requests for goats. It's a wonderful life.

Connect with Tracy!

2 comments:

  1. Kaley, thanks so much for reading and reviewing! I really enjoyed your comments and greatly appreciate your support.

    ReplyDelete

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