A. J. C. (Bibliocrates) reviewed She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana on + 252 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
This book was refreshingly different, not at all what I was expecting, fantastic! It was nice to read about someone's happy childhood memories for a change. If it were not for Zip's unique personality and outlook on things, however, I think that this could have been a completely different sort of memoir, a very sad book. These little 'essays' reminded me of how 'off' a child's perspective of things can be and that happiness can indeed be a decision. Go Zippy! I highly recommend this book!
Candy B. (candieb) reviewed She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana on + 239 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
This was a great sequel to A Girl Named Zippy. It's interesting that in this book, as she grows up a bit, she figures things out about her family that she didn't know as a smaller child. But this book... this book is for her mother. For the woman that got up off of the couch and made a life for herself. I'll admit in the first book I had some not so nice thoughts about Zippy's mom... but she redeemed herself, pulled herself out of her depression and got on with her life. Kudos to mom for being so involved with the book and getting her life back on track. A beautifully told story - I hope there's another in the works - Zippy as a teenager - oh my!
Sharon C. (sharonc9630) reviewed She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana on + 63 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Wonderful book..hard to put down
Amazing and enlightening
Just makes you want to read more by Haven Kimmel
Great writer!!
Amazing and enlightening
Just makes you want to read more by Haven Kimmel
Great writer!!
Catherine C. (c-squared) reviewed She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana on + 181 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This was just as alternatingly hilarious and painful as its prequel, Zippy.
Danielle V. (Kittysan) reviewed She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana on + 9 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Very engaging read which offers a slice of small town life seen through a young girl's eyes.
Krista m M. (WyoKrista) reviewed She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana on + 101 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
wonderful book, a great follow up to "Zippy". I find it so interesting how her perspective changes as she gets older. I would be so happy to read more books about Zippy and what she does as she continues to grow.
Heather R. reviewed She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Quick read. Interesting story about family relationships and the role mothers play in their daughters lives.
Sally W. reviewed She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana on + 141 more book reviews
Sequel to "A Girl Named Ziggy." Awesome book about a mom that got up off the couch after 20 years and despite difficult odds, escaped by the skin of her teeth.
Kim W. (kimery) reviewed She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana on + 224 more book reviews
This is a sequel to A Girl Named Zippy and I liked it every bit as much as I enjoyed Zippy. The same character, and the whole book is written with her voice. The book is a memoir to end all memoirs, fun and interesting at every turn. It is charming. It feels very honest and real, kind of cool to feel like you're inside of the head of a young girl. I can't imagine that the author really remembered all this stuff in such great detail. I recommend this book.
Holly H. (hharris) reviewed She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana on + 46 more book reviews
Haven writes an autobiographical story that is great about her and her Mom growing up in a small town in the Midwest. Her Mom does very well. The characters are sympathetic.
Peggy H. reviewed She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana on + 12 more book reviews
This is a good book, not as good as 'A Girl Named Zippy', although that is probably because this book is darker than that one. There are still passages that will make you laugh - mostly you feel sorry for her and her mom and amazed that they both became successful despite the issues in their home life.
I have only ever given two books five stars. This is the second. Very realistic look at a girls upbringing in a dysfunctional family without being at all depressing. Hilarious at times and poignant in others. I loved it.
Robine S. (robine4206) -
I like Haven Kimmel and I like the characters she writes about in her book.
The book is about Zippy's mom and how she takes control of her life and literally gets up off the couch and moves into a new life. For a long time I did not realize that this book and Zippy were autobiographical. It didn't really make a difference in the end but it just shocked me a little I guess. I don't think I've read an autobiographical book since high school, many years ago, and I remember all those books as dry self-serving drivel. That is not the case with this book or with the first book Zippy. I grew up poor also and like Zippy never seemed to realize it. Zippy has such an optimistic outlook on life.
This book is about her mother's journey to independence as much as it is about Zippy growing up. It was about people finding their way in life and finding their own identities and recognizing each others goals and achievements. All the characters in the book are transformed by the single even of Zippy's mother going off to college and finding happiness for herself in a new life but never leaving the old life behind. She never walked away from her family but learning to deal with all the old habits and characters in a positive way. She even brought Zippy along for the ride. Opening her up to new ideas and experiences. Some Zip understood and others that only her mother understood.
If you haven't read Zippy please read that first and then read this book. This book picks up exactly where Zippy ends and the back ground information is important to understand the mountains her mother had to climb to get up off the couch.
This book was a quick read and so delightful you will enjoy your time spent reading. It's well worth it !
The book is about Zippy's mom and how she takes control of her life and literally gets up off the couch and moves into a new life. For a long time I did not realize that this book and Zippy were autobiographical. It didn't really make a difference in the end but it just shocked me a little I guess. I don't think I've read an autobiographical book since high school, many years ago, and I remember all those books as dry self-serving drivel. That is not the case with this book or with the first book Zippy. I grew up poor also and like Zippy never seemed to realize it. Zippy has such an optimistic outlook on life.
This book is about her mother's journey to independence as much as it is about Zippy growing up. It was about people finding their way in life and finding their own identities and recognizing each others goals and achievements. All the characters in the book are transformed by the single even of Zippy's mother going off to college and finding happiness for herself in a new life but never leaving the old life behind. She never walked away from her family but learning to deal with all the old habits and characters in a positive way. She even brought Zippy along for the ride. Opening her up to new ideas and experiences. Some Zip understood and others that only her mother understood.
If you haven't read Zippy please read that first and then read this book. This book picks up exactly where Zippy ends and the back ground information is important to understand the mountains her mother had to climb to get up off the couch.
This book was a quick read and so delightful you will enjoy your time spent reading. It's well worth it !
Alice T. reviewed She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana on + 12 more book reviews
I thought this would be a heartwarming walk down memory lane. Instead, her parents are horrible, and she is bitter, but tries to pretend that she isn't. It had some good parts, but it was not what I was expecting.
Sarah B. (Pixie328) reviewed She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana on + 391 more book reviews
Very good as usual
Beverly M. (im-no-angel) reviewed She Got Up Off the Couch: And Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana on + 44 more book reviews
Loved it
