Andrew Rostan

A frustrating autobiography that teases with lots of Jeopardy trivia goodness but spills surprisingly little behind-the-scenes tea. We're left with a vague coming of age memoir that is chronologically confusing due to its broken timeline and use of memory phantoms. There are hints the author may be neurodiverse, but it is not really addressed in any fulfilling manner. There is some time spent on muddled romantic relationships and friendships, with the main focus on the author's relationship show more with his grandfather -- but even that is not really fleshed out much beyond gramps being supportive and optimistic about Rostan's future.

Alex Trebek shows up, but the artist fails to capture his likeness or that of the dozen or so historical and fictional figures dropped into the background of some of the hallucinogenic scenes.

Still, hardcore Jeopardy fans will probably get a little kick out of it, and I'm sure it's of interest to Rostan's family and friends. I'm not sure who else might get anything out of it.

p.s., The woman who defeats Rostan is actually Sara Westrick Schomig, not "Megan." It's a fact easily found on Jeopardy fan sites, so I'm not sure what was the point in changing her name other than the author might have dramatically fudged his conversations with her. show less

As I said on another review this year, it's always tricky when someone relatively young does a memoir (and in both of the ones I've read so far, it's because of sudden television fame), though Form of a Question is less of a memoir and more of a pondering on coming of age, and whether to retreat into the comforting solitude of books and knowledge or risk social consequences while going out in the world and getting to know people.

A little bit light on Jeopardy! lore as it works more as a show more frame story to Andrew thinking back to his younger years and dating history in college, I get "indie film where a guy thinks about the girls who got away" vibes. It's ok, just know what you're getting into here. show less

ARC ebook provided by netGalley

Amelia Johnson is dying of cancer. But before she dies she asks her two best friends, Henry and Jillian, to undertake a journey together to deliver messages to six friends and family members spread out across the country. Henry is a filmmaker. Jillian is a writer. Both are opposites and have never met each other till now. Can they complete this one last wish for their best friend? Or will the journey fail?

The story at first really reminds me of the last episode show more of the TV show "Dawson's Creek" just in how it opens and the type of vibe that you get from the characters. And even though they use some trite ideas--a dying friend, two opposites put together on a journey alone--its told in a unique enough way to create an entirely different story. The writing does struggle at bit at times where it jumps from scene to scene without much of a transition, so that you don't really know how much time has passed or where the heck they are at the moment. It doesn't happen often, but it is a bit disconcerting when it does. Although the two main characters and most of the supporting characters are developed enough, I do wish they had left off the two guys that accompany Henry around. Because it really felt like overkill and we never really got to know them like some of the other characters, which is a shame because they seemed like they would have a good story to tell. It's a mostly well told story that keeps the reader going and the reader will weep at the end, even though they know whats coming. The story, even though a bit trite, is still something that anyone can relate to.

I really like the simplicity of the artwork in this book. It reminds me a lot of the classic Archie comic strip style...and no it isn't an insult. What the artist does well is use simple line and shading to illustrate the story. They never go overboard with detail or try to depict too much of the background where it would overwhelm the central figures to the story. Instead, by using just a basic approach they are able to put the focus on the central characters, which is what really matters to the story. They accurately capture human emotions so that even without reading the accompanying text we can tell what's going on. It works really well with the story.

I would give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars and I'd recommend it. I look forward to seeing what comes of the writers and artists next. show less

A saccharine tale of two friends of a dying woman, charged by her to deliver her last words to others all across the USA. There are many tearful meetings. Almost nobody has a bad thing to say about the woman. The end was very predictable and, yes, boring. Plus religion had to be involved. After all that I ended the book with only minor insight into any of the three main characters. Pictures OK, story weak.