Rating: 
Summary: Another solid offering from Shannon Olson
Review: "Children of God Go Bowling" is Shannon Olson's second novel and it is the follow up to her wonderful first novel "Welcome to My Planet". Like her debut novel, "Children of God Go Bowling" features a protagonist who is also named Shannon Olson. Shannon is a very likable character (though a bit neurotic) and is fairly funny in what she observes about other people (as well as her comments about things). Shannon Olson is now in her 30's, she is still single and is not doing well on the dating scene (such as it is). Shannon has been in therapy for years, but it still unsure about herself in many ways. In part, this may be because of her relationship with her mother, Flo. In a way, this novel is like a funnier, less neurotic "Cathy" (the comic strip). It is filled with interesting, memorable characters and was a joy to read. While I can't say that I liked this one quite as much as "Welcome to My Planet", this was a nice light-weight, funny novel that rises above the mini-genre of "chick lit". I look forward to Shannon Olson's (the author, not the character) next novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Flotastic!
Review: Good stuff...I've been waiting for this book since I finished Welcome to My Planet way too long ago. I laughed, I cried, I had good times, all without talking to another person! It's an all-in-one package! Neat!
Rating:
Summary: A Satisfying Sequel to Welcome to My Planet
Review: I brought this book with me on a recent vacation and finished it within a few days. I was excited to learn more about "Shanny" and was enjoying every minute of it until things took an unexpected and somewhat disturbing turn. I found the second half of this book to be almost incompatable with the first half but felt very satisfied in the end. When I finished reading, I turned the book into my hotel's book bin and saw that it was picked up by someone else right away. I hope to hear from Shannon again soon.
Rating:
Summary: A woman's journey to find peace with herself
Review: I experienced a myriad of emotions when reading this book (which I finished in two days.) I laughed, cried, I was depressed and paced aimlessly around the house. Although the narrator, Shannon, (who shares the author's name) seems to be seeking love, she's really trying to accept herself and her life as she knows it. I bristle at the term "Chicklit" because this is not the stereotypical story of a single young woman in the big city with a job she hates and a series of bad dates. This is much more. This is about friendship and self-acceptance. This is about being happy with NOW. This is about the struggles, self-doubt and second-guessing anyone might go through. Though the narrator's pickiness with others - her parents, her friends, her therapists, herself - may seem annoying to the impatient reader, she's really revealing the type of person she is. Bare with her and she'll make progress, I promise. The writing style is smooth and injected with bursts of humor that had me almost spraying my beverage, much like Shannon herself. There are moments so touching and moving, I was glad nobody was in the room to witness me dabbing my eyes with Kleenex. And at one point, I was so immersed in the story that I had to stop reading and take a break just to shed the grief I was absorbing. The title is unique, original and - rest assured - defined in the conclusion.
Rating:
Summary: Smart, funny and very entertaining!
Review: I finished this book in two days (and that was only because I had to go to work!). The book is funny, but yet thought-provoking and insightful. Olson writes with a very original voice. I'm on my way out to pick up book # 1, Welcome to My World, which somehow I missed the first time around! Perfect late winter blahs reading!
Rating:
Summary: Mary Tyler Moore?
Review: I have to admit, I read through this book waiting for a reference, a connection, between the protagonist and Minneapolis' iconic heroine MTM. Alas, I did not come across any reference, but I do think Shannon Olson merits a comparison to the pluckiest single gal in the Twin Cities!
Yes, I think Shanny and Mary are cut from the same cloth -- two smart, kind-hearted, thirty-something women who can never seem to meet "Mr. Right." In between tears of dismay, these two gals find resilience in a healthy sense of humor. Ellie is a blend of married Phyllis and buddy Rhoda, while Adam represents Mr. Grant, Murray and Ted all rolled into one. Shanny's parents are perhaps more like Rhoda's parents Ida and Martin, but I have to give a special nod to Shanny's Dad. "Flo" might get all the big press, and she certainly has a wacky martini personality, but I truly appreciate the quietly loving and loveable Dad. Although she refers to her mom constantly, I think Shanny is truly her father's daughter -- in sense and sensibility!
Having taken my hat off to Dr. Olson as a great dad, however, I have to warn the reader that the book is not a cheerful tale. As Shannon pursues a husband and happiness, she encounters a great deal of disappointment and heartache. Certainly, we are rooting for this brassy young lady as we follow her tale, but it never seems like she's going to get what she most desires. Of course wondering "why?" is what keeps single ladies busy, and their friends are what keep them going.
No review of "Children of God Go Bowling" would be complete without a nod to the intelligent writing that is so great to read. Our gal bemoans her dateless plight in this passage: Everyone else had a designated person, it seemed. Everyone else came as a Value Pack, two products of equal size, held tightly together in plastic. I was like a big bottle of lotion that came with a tiny trial size. Each date I went on was like another trail-size product. Fun to try, easy to toss away.
Later on, Shannon compares herself to the competition: Lucy had nothing to worry about. Clearly in the Darwinian survival game of dating and barhopping, she had opposable thumbs and was swinging vine to vine. I was some kind of sedentary land animal who nibbled on marshy plants and moved too slowly to avoid predators. Soon I would be extinct.
Anyone who can express herself so intelligently deserves a companion who admires her brain, right? That's my hope for Shannon!
Rating:
Summary: Bring on the hotdish (casserole)
Review: I loved this book. Olsen touches on so many of the tender confusions of life. Especially for those of us who haven't followed the recipe. I love her way with words and came upon a few entries I wanted to write down to remember. But I didn't want to stop reading. So now, I'm at the end of the book, I haven't written anything down, and I need to return the book to my local library where I came across it by accident. No choice but to buy a copy. What I find particularly fine in her main characters is that she brings a unique dimension to each one without typecasting. Very real, very funny, with a healing quality to it. So, like any good hotdish, it's got some of this and some of that, it's good for you, it's satisfying, and it's genuine Minnesotan.
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing special
Review: I wanted to like this book, but Shannon - the character, not the author - is so self-absorbed, I found it an irritating read. Hmmmm, since the author named her main character after herself, what conclusions can we draw from that? Anyway, being in much the same situation as Shannon (again, the character), I wanted to love this book. But it really stretched my patience! Still, there were some amusing sections that I did enjoy. Without those, this would have only received one star from me.
Rating:
Summary: Raw and Real
Review: I was initially drawn to this book because the author lives in the same metro area as I do. In the beginning, I was amused when the author mentioned a place in the cities that I frequent. By the end, I was so drawn into the story and the characters that I was in tears.
This book is so real and honest that it almost seems like you're finding out too much. By getting close to the characters, you're almost drawn into their world and are in on the action.
While it is a light, summer read, it's also very serious and dark, but still optimistic and positive. It really has quite a range as far as the emotions that it envokes in the reader, but it's not jumpy or convoluted.
Now, I must read Shannon Olson's first novel and will await many more of her books!
Rating:
Summary: Accurate portrayal of life in Minnesota
Review: I went to high school with the author and although I didn't know her well, my mother- like hers- tries to "help" My mother sent me her two books. I don't live in Minnesota, but I am very grateful to Shannon for the memories and accurate portrayal of life in Chaska. Right down to Dairy Queen and the off kilter high school french teacher. Please keep books like this coming.
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