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My Top 40 at 40: Making the First Half Count

Kari Loya
XK Productions, LLC
ISBN 9780984763702
Reviewed by Charline Ratcliff for RebeccasReads (2/12)

A few years ago when I was still a “newbie” writer I remember doing some “suggested” reading so that I would have a better understanding of  the “Industry.” My first mistake was listening to this person’s “helpful” advice; my second was actually following through with it. When you’re just starting out as a writer; working on getting your books out and published the last thing you really want or need to hear is all the over-the-top and dramatically negative comments about how difficult this industry is. I mean really…don’t we already know that? If it were easy, I daresay there would be a lot more books lining library shelves.

Anyway, I remember coming upon this three or four page rant written by a woman with a very high opinion of herself; a self-decided expert in the “Industry” who was providing tips on what people should and shouldn’t write. One of her suggestions was: “Don’t write your own biography; everyone does it and unless you’re someone interesting like Mick Jagger no one really cares.” I wasn’t writing a biography but I did file those words away for future reference because…I guess I could see her point.

However, after reading “My Top 40 at 40” I will most definitely need to forget this woman’s haughty suggestion because “My Top 40 at 40” is one of the most interesting books I’ve read so far this year. I will admit it helps that author Kari Loya has led an interesting life. Loya has been unafraid to live life to the fullest and he writes his story with just the right amount of humor and sarcasm to make the experiences he chooses to share fun to read. Finding a book that makes me smile much less laugh out loud doesn’t happen very often but when I’m lucky enough to happen across one of these rare finds I definitely keep and treasure the book.

In summary, “My Top 40 at 40” was an amazingly fun read. This memoir / biography is well-written and an easy read for all as it is a compilation of very short stories. Great as a gift, a great pick me up on a bad day, a great coffee table conversation starter or...great bathroom reading material for all your dinner party guests. Just make sure it doesn’t walk out the door with them when they say good night…

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