#BookReview - The Barber's Conundrum by John Hartnett @johnjhartnett #Humor #ReviewShare

The Barber's Conundrum and Other Stories: Observations on Life from the Cheap Seats by John Hartnett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Honestly, the first time I read this book, I wasn't too fond of it. Many of us at the book club had a problem with the "talking down" style the author had throughout the book. Having worked in the service industry for more than 20 years, the excerpts on customer service were a bit too close to home. Some were laughable but some were the epitome of what we in the service industry would call a bad day. Plus Chapter 10 didn't make sense. These are of course my personal opinions and others may feel differently. Having had the chance to read it through again, I'm going to focus solely on the positives.

Is this book funny? For married couples with an open mind, you will find this book hilarious and all things you have been through before. Long school holidays with all the munchkins home is captured perfectly and no matter the outings planned, all kids home for the entire long holiday is disaster on a parent's nerves. Does this book have a purpose for the reader? Entertainment and only entertainment. Lots of laughs, of course. If you are a younger reader, you may walk away with a life lesson or two. Overall, it can be a fun read if not taken seriously. I would like to stress that culturally humor contained in this book matters as well. While some things like Ben Kingsley and all things British sometimes felt (I am stressing on felt) a bit out of place for me, I know many readers who will appreciate it.

Would I recommend this read? I would recommend it if you are looking for a quick, funny read without having to think too much.

Overall assessment:
Content: 4/5
Editing: 3.5/5
Formatting: 3.5/5
Pacing: 3/5
Offensive content?: Based on language and settings, I would recommend this book to anyone who is 13 years and older.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author. I did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was I obliged to write a positive one.

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