Doug Crandell

A very good book. Too bad that as with many true crime books you learn who murdered whom on the first pages. This book was very well written. Once I got over my first annoyance the book grabbed me and did not let go. One thing that I wish the author would not do is the way he described the victims sometimes, it was going a bit overboard. Like constantly telling us how pretty she was, how gorgeous her blue eyes sparkled, Ann Rule does that as well. having a tendency to praise the victim to the heavens. (oops wrong wording)
All in all I do recommend this book to my fellow true crime readers.… (mer)

I wanted to love this book. I wanted it to be the "quirky love story" promised on the back cover and suggested in the title. It's not badly written and it's a quick read, one you could run through in a few hours, but I didn't even want to give it that after reaching more than halfway. You can tell this book wants to be literary--it's told present tense first person by Hobbie. A thirty-something "pizza face" who bonded with Kari, his very overweight common-law wife of twenty years, over their molestation by the deacon of their church. They've underachieved for decades, moving from job to job as bank tellers. At the start of the book Kari has been in a weight loss clinic for months, and only communicating with Hobbie through daily, often cryptic letters. I liked the idea of a love story about two people you're not likely to see on romance covers. The problem for me though, is that rather than overcoming or letting us see the beauty under the surface, so much of this story focuses on the repulsive. I got tired of so much of this book consisting of graphic descriptions of Hobbie popping, scratching, scrapping and digging into his zits. There's just enough of the quirkiness and warmth promised to save this from a one-star rating, but a first-person story depends on voice and the character of the narrator fascinating you, making you laugh or making you care--and this doesn't do it for me.… (mer)

An Uplifting Ugly Betty Story

A heart-warming story about an "ugly couple", the young man, Hobbie, is a pizza-faced unemployed former bank teller, and his partner, Kari, an overweight under-achieving girl living in a weight loss clinic.

"Flawless Skin of Ugly People" explores the themes of beauty, identity, fear, failure, love, and hate. Why do people do the things they do? Is it because of the way they were raised, events in their childhood? Do beautiful people get more benefits in life? (I think you could argue either way)

As for Crandell's writing, I wasn't enthralled by it, but it has a certain "Catcher in the Rye" quality to it. The pace is pretty quick, and at times a little mechanical considering the deep and mature subject matter.

Overall, I recommend the book for a good afternoon read. The book leaves the reader with more questions rather than conclusions which would make a great book club type of novel. I look forward to my next Doug Crandell book.… (mer)

In this short, quirky book the main character, Hobbie, is plagued with terrible acne (clinically diagnosed as acne conglobata and acne vulgaris) that is so severe it has informed choices and lifestyle decisions in Hobbie’s life since his early teens. In high school he befriended overweight Kari and they have spent several decades avoiding interaction with society to the best of their ability. The story begins when Hobbie is living on his own after Kari has enrolled in a weight-loss clinic and has had no contact with Hobbie for several months except through cryptic daily letters that chronicle her weight and mental status. After being attacked by a bear while protecting Kari’s tiny dog, Terry, on the back porch, Hobbie goes to live with Kari’s dad, Roth. With the surprise addition of Kari’s long estranged Mom, Sally, and her young and seemingly hostile tag-along, Donny, they become an odd, yet ultimately loving group as they each find personal rewards within their unconventional family. Hobbie’s voice is heartbreaking and heartwarming and the oddball characters all have something endearing about them. Although there are some rough moments (assault on young Kari and Hobbie by a trusted Pastor), this is a true “feel-good” story that proves that it’s what’s on the inside that counts.… (mer)