Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind by Nate Bargatze (★★★☆☆ 1/2)
Audiobook • Spotify • Nonfiction • 2025
Short synopsis: One of the hottest stand-ups working today, Nate Bargatze brings his everyman comedy to the page in this hilarious collection of personal stories, opinions, and confessions.
I was so excited to listen to this book! Nate Bargatze is one of my favorite stand-up comedians right now (I traveled to New Orleans just to see him!), and I’ve rewatched some of his SNL sketches more times than I can count. But… it breaks my heart to say that this book made me like Nate a little less. Eeks! The thesis of this book is that Nate is just a “dumb country boy” who somehow stumbled into success… and he really leaned into that persona. But I don’t buy it. You don’t become one of the most popular stand-up comedians, selling out arenas, without being smart and skilled. I wanted more from Nate. I wanted to learn more about how he built his career from struggling comic to household name. I wanted to learn about his time on SNL and what it was like to host the show. I just wanted him to dig deeper, but instead, we got a lot of surface-level essays about his childhood and the early days of his comedy career. Don’t get me wrong: This book was funny and made me laugh out loud multiple times. I loved learning more about his childhood and siblings, and it was really sweet to get insight into his close relationship with his daughter. It just left me wanting more.
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (★★★☆☆)
Print • Owned (Book of the Month) • Historical Fiction • 2025
Short synopsis: When Beth’s brother-in-law kills a dog, the act brings Gabriel Wolfe—the man who once broke her heart—back into her life, stirring old grief, buried secrets, and village tensions. As past and present collide, Beth must choose between the life she’s built with her husband and the woman she once was.
Oh, this book. It started off so strong! I was immediately drawn into Beth’s world with the first two sentences: “The farmer is dead. He is dead, and all anyone wants to know is who killed him.” This story takes you back and forth between three timelines: 1955, when Beth first fell in love with Gabriel; 1968, when she’s married to Frank and living as a farmer’s wife; and 1969, during the trial for the farmer’s murder. Only you don’t know which farmer was killed or who is on trial. It all unfolds for you little by little, and I loved that plot device. It was so clever!
But oh my god, Beth was infuriating. I can’t remember the last time I hated a character this much. She made the stupidest decisions that made me want to throw the book across the room. And, look, it’s fine when characters make stupid decisions, but I need them to wrestle with the fallout and show some kind of growth. With Beth, I never saw that. And then there were a few twists thrown in at the end that made me roll my eyes. All I can say is… Birchie was right. (Recommendation source: Sarah’s Book Shelves Live)
Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb (★★★☆☆ 1/2)
Print • Owned (indie bookstore) • Contemporary Fiction • 2024
Short synopsis: Newly divorced Celeste agrees to pose as John’s fake girlfriend, only to discover he really just needs a partner for a high-stakes bird-watching contest. As their partnership in the Arizona wilderness turns into something more, they must decide if their fling will fly beyond the competition.
This book was fun and lighthearted. It was exactly what I needed! I loved that the protagonists in this romance were older (early 40s, with Celeste preparing to send her daughter off to college), which felt refreshing for a romance. Celeste’s journey of stepping out on her own after years of marriage to a man who didn’t appreciate her was empowering. However, at times, this book very much reads like a debut (which it is). From chapters that only featured interior monologues that didn’t move the plot along to a villainous ex-girlfriend who had no nuance to her (why did John stay with her for so long?!), there were times when I was taken out of the story. Still, the story wrapped up in a satisfying way. It’s a cute debut, nothing outstanding, but enjoyable enough that I’ll keep an eye out for what this author writes next.
What are you reading?
Hmm, three 3 star books! It sounds like you did enjoy Birding With Benefits though- I’ve heard of that one, probably on Currently Reading- I’m guessing it was a Kaytee read.
Yes – I forgot to name the recommendation source on that book but it *was* from Kaytee!
As soon as Birchie said that the dog was killed, I was sort of out on Broken Country. Plus, the reviews make it sound really boring? I don’t know. Some people really love that book and I don’t want to yuck their yum, but I have yet to hear a convincing argument for why I should add it to my TBR.
I thought it was going to be much more interesting but the female character made SUCH horrible decisions again and again, and I was just DONE with her. And yeah, the first scene where a dog is killed is not a great start!
I really enjoyed Broken Country but your criticisms about Beth are spot-on. She made some poor choices. Usually a book like that would not work for me because it features infidelity, but it was such a propulsive read for me so I ended up liking it.
I’m currently reading “The Kitchen Counter Cooking School” which I heard about on an Indie Press List episode. I read the author’s other book about her experience in culinary school in Paris. I like books centered around cooking so it’s working for me overall. But it’s such a different approach to cooking compared to what we do since there is so much butter and olive oil used and I keep thinking how I could never cook/eat like that. She also has some comments about feeding kids, but does not have children so I’m giving her a bit of side eye about those comments.
I’m honestly shocked you loved Broken Country as much as you did because the infidelity stuff is what really turned me off. The way she treated Frank was so cruel, and she never seemed to really come to terms with the way her actions truly impacted EVERYONE around her. I just really despised her, and then just felt really sad about the trial, knowing what was coming. 🙁
I’ve never heard of The Kitchen Counter Cooking School! I’m no longer a Currently Reading Patreon so I don’t get those episodes anymore.
I was disappointed in the Nate book, too. It was funny but some of the material was repeat and I wanted more insider points. I enjoyed it because I love his comedy, but in my review of it I said if you weren’t already a fan of his work, I’d start elsewhere, first!
I did love hearing more about his wife though. She sounds like a firecracker and I want to read HER memoir 😉
I think you have to be a Nate Bargatze fan to really understand the humor in his memoir. It just wasn’t his signature style, though, so it’s not something I’d recommend to anyone not familiar with him!
That reminds me of Colin Jost’s book – I did like it, but there was so much about poop. I mean, that’s not at all the same as what you said but I guess we were both mildly disappointed in SNL memoirs?
I’m reading I Who Have Never Known Men, and I am loving it, even though it’s kind of dystopian which is not generally my thing. “Not generally” = never. But I guess never say never!
Oh, I 100% skipped the poop chapter of Colin Jost’s memoir – HA. I had already heard about it and I was like, “Nope!” The stuff about his mom during 9/11 was heart-wrenching. I still remember that!
I Who Have Never Known Men is one of the options for the CBBC, but I told Engie I’d probably have to skip this session if it’s picked because I can’t do anything dark/dystopian right now. Too close to real life!
That stinks about Big Dumb Eyes! I’ve read many a memoir from a celebrity (especially comedians!) that left me feeling that way—wanting more and having it be nothing like what I expected.
A high-stakes bird-watching contest! There is a new plot for ya!
I am reading King of Wrath and listening to My Friends.
I was really left wanting more from Big Dumb Eyes, wah!
I love how inventive the plot was for Birding with Benefits! Something new in this genre is very fun. 🙂
Well, I haven’t had much interest in any of these books and your three star reviews are not really selling them. I think I’ll forgot putting them on my TBR.
Hope you have higher ranking books in the coming weeks.
I hope so, too! It wasn’t my best reading week, ugh.