Elizabeth Allen (2)

Ima Pigg by Elizabeth Allen addresses issues of vegetarianism and animal cruelty with wit and satire without being combative or belittling to the reader. As a lifelong carnivore, it’s all too easy to forget where my meat comes from. There’s a disconnect between the living thing and the slab of saran wrapped flesh at the grocery store, stacked in neat little columns waiting for the barbecue pit. My teenage daughter has recently decided to become a vegetarian and I find myself deeply show more impressed and inspired by that. Indeed, what little I know of the meat packing industry sickens me. There’s something weirdly dystopian about living things being bred, processed, and sent down a conveyor belt that leads directly into our gaping mouths, unable to quench our unending lust for meat. So why doesn’t the thought of it cause me turn away for good? Wave a piece of bacon in front of me and it’s as if a feral dog takes over my body, salivation and all. Perhaps it’s time for all of us to take a long hard look at ourselves in relation to the natural world around us. Perhaps we need more books like Ima Pigg. Books that ask us to reflect and possibly face some very uncomfortable truths. show less

I got Liz Gardner - and I'd like to throw her back. I really hope this book is not a memoir. Lord help any people who are this shallow and self-centered. They have as much depth as a puddle.
This book is a truly revolting waste of time. At best, it serves as a cautionary tale to all other would-be authors who think the inner workings of their psyche are in any way fascinating to the rest of us. Beware!

I gave this book one star because I liked the dog. The dog dies.

Liz Gardner is eavesdropping in an alumni chat room when one of the men asks, "Who got Liz Gardner?' Wild speculation ensues to Liz's amusement because her story is both simpler and more complicated than they imagine. This fictional memoir, loosely based on the authors real life experiences, follows Liz's journey from hedonistic wild child to a happily married mother of one.Allen barely takes a breath as she lays out Liz's family dysfunction and formative years with disturbing bluntness and show more flippant one liners in the first chapters. Initially I struggled with the frenetic pace of what is almost a stream of consciousness of Liz's recollections. It wasn't until a quarter of the way into the book that I felt that Liz's character was distinct from the drama surrounding her.Liz spends most of her twenties trying to become an actress with limited success and the culture allows her an extended adolescence. Her career though is simply background to her dominant personal life. There is a lack of subtlety to Liz, the nuances of her emotions are overwhelmed by a mixture of crude humor and pathos. She is unapologetically aggressive and self centered yet despite Liz's brash manner, she has a surprising, unpretentious charm. What you see is what you get and Liz makes no concession to the consequences of her attitude.Allen makes no attempt to couch her characters and their behaviours in euphemisms. Their strengths and weaknesses are displayed with an almost brutal authenticity.It's entertaining to observe Liz's sybaritic lifestyle but I would have preferred some more introspection during her journey to illustrate growth in her character. I didn't feel that Liz matured over the course of the book so much as she finally ran out of steam.Much of the Liz's story graphically details her shallow relationships and sexual exploits with a cast of wildly appropriate men, and women, including Phil, who is 32 to her 17, long term lover Chris and a young and nubile Taylor. Her encounters are often clumsy, funny and largely devoid of emotional connection. Despite the explicit language, I wouldn't identify it with erotica as the tone is oddly casual."Who Got Liz Gardner?" is the tale of one woman's pursuit of love and desire. It can be hilarious, crude and disturbing in turn but is an entertaining and enjoyable read for a mature audience. show less

I loved this book. From the first page I was gripped and it never let go. Despite its length I finished it in a weekend. Liz isn't your same-ole same-ole protagonist. She's sassy and free spirited--a little bit naughty and a little bit nice. Some of her adventures had me rolling on the floor laughing, some made me cry my eyes out, and some had me shaking my head going "Hey, be nice." I'm sure there will some readers who don't "get" Liz Gardner, and I feel a little sad for them.