Leslie Knope

Okay, I love Parks and Recreation. Honestly, it's one of my absolute favorite comedies. Goodness knows why, though, considering the way it paints my neck of the woods as a bunch of racist, backwards idiots. At its best, it is laugh-out-loud funny, with hilarious characters brilliantly portrayed by some great actors. At its worst, it makes me cringe, roll my eyes, and sigh at the mockery it makes of small cities in the Midwest. Unfortunately, the book has plenty of the worst, but not enough show more of the best.

I think the book might be better read in snippets over time. The kind of thing you pick up, turn to a random spot, and read what's there, then put it down and come back to it later. Reading it all the through over the course of a few weeks only highlights the fact that the city of Pawnee is just terrible. The people who Leslie touts as the best department in their city's government are completely apathetic about the assignments she gives them for the book.

There are a few gems (an article written by Chris Traeger that had to be severely cut down for length, for example), and it did bring a smile to see references to some of my favorite aspects of the show. But overall, as a pretty hardcore fan, I think this just could have been better. Though the sad thing is that maybe it couldn't have been, because Pawnee really is that bad. It's just less obvious spread out over the show, which focuses more on the Parks Department than on the rest of the ridiculously dysfunctional town.

I would say that for fans of the show, it's worth reading the book, but again, I'd suggest reading it as vignettes now and then, rather than cover to cover in only a few weeks. show less

As a more recent convert to the Church of Parks and Recreation, I have to admit that I had no clue what I was missing before. The show is hilarious, packed with laughs and oohs and aahs and even moments where I tear up a little. When a friend purchased this book for me as a birthday present, I dug into it impatiently and reveled in each and every moment. Savoring this book was out of the question. The only answer was to eat up each page voraciously and then feel sorry for myself when I show more reached the end and found there to be no more laughs and fun tidbits that only add to the story.

PAWNEE: THE GREATEST TOWN IN AMERICA is the perfect companion piece to a show that is so perfect in so many ways. So so so so so! PAWNEE incorporates characters from the show with back story on the town that we’ve never seen or heard before, such as historical information on the founding of Pawnee to the guide to the city’s restaurants and famous raccoon-infested parks. Although I generally don’t read television or movie tie-ins outside of books about the creation of a film along the line of LORD OF THE RINGS or ALIENS (my favorite movie ever, just saying), I was drooling over the chance to read this book.

If you are a fan of Parks and Recreation, trust me – you need this book. You just need this book, and really, that’s all I can say about this book. And if you haven’t seen Parks and Recreation, go buy a month’s worth of Netflix and watch the first few seasons. Fall in love with Pawnee and the characters. And then buy this book and fall in love with it.

VERDICT: Although focused on seasoned Parks and Recreation fans, this book is a diehard fan’s new best friend, combining tidbits from the show and new information that you NEED to know! A great companion. show less

Nate DiMeo does a great job of capturing Leslie Knope's voice, and there's a lot of funny little quotes and joke facts I actually laughed at, so I'd qualify this as a successful TV-based book. Longer than I needed for a novelty, but then it wouldn't maintain the guise of a real book. A decent and mostly short read for Parks and Rec fans! (Now I kind of want one for The Simpsons.)

Yes, it's a real book, as advertised on the hit show "Parks and Recreation." If you're a fan of the show, this book is essentially a long episode in book form going over Leslie Knope's second-favourite thing to talk about, her hometown of Pawnee, Indiana (her first favourite thing, of course, being her best friend Ann Perkins). Filled with articles by guest writers from her very Department of Parks and Recreation, as well as other familiar faces, this book provides laughs on every page and a show more new world of inside jokes for fans. And, oddly enough, Leslie's passion for her hometown can actually be kinda heartwarming. (For best results, read each segment in the voices of the characters who wrote them, just in case it wasn't obvious to you that you should do that.) show less