She Got Up Off the Couch

By: Haven Kimmel

Narrated by: Haven Kimmel

Picking up where A Girl Named Zippy left off, Haven Kimmel crafts a tender portrait of her mother, a modestly heroic woman who took the odds that life gave her and somehow managed to win.

When we last saw Zippy, she was oblivious to the storm that was brewing in her home. Her mother, Delonda, had literally just gotten up off the couch and ridden her rickety bicycle down the road. Her dad was off somewhere, gambling or "working." And Zippy was lost in her own fabulous world of exploring the fringes of Moorland, Indiana.

Increasingly frustrated with the limitations of her small-town, married-with-children life, Delonda decides first to learn how to drive a car, even though she won't have access to one. Next, she applies to the local college, eventually graduating with honors at age 40.

We happily follow Zippy from one story to another, but we know this is really her mother's book: the poignant tale of a strong woman who found a way to save herself and set a proud example for her daughter.

©2006 Svarakimmel Productions, LLC (P)2006 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

"The candid, self-deprecating humor that suffuses the anecdotes is even more striking when conveyed through Kimmel's sweet but sly voice. Even when she recalls suffering through some fancy occasion that requires her to wear shoes or being in agony after badly breaking an arm, Kimmel manages to make the situation hilarious, and the effect is even stronger in the audiobook than on the page." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Only Kimmel could have added so much personal nuance into the reading of this sequel to A Girl Named Zippy" ( Booklist)

great light read (listen)

This book is so easy to love. I listen to books while I run and these stories are perfect for that. I love that Zippy herself reads and you feel like you have fallen into her very real childhood memories. They are as sweet and refreshing as an ice cream on a hot day. My children ages 17, 8 and 6 can also listen to them with me in the car. I hope she writes a third book of essays about her home town.

Great fun !!

I read A Girl Called Zippy (or was that named Zippy) in actual book form before I downloaded this one so I had some idea of what to expect - I was not disappointed. It's hilarious and real - its the kind of book I would write if I had any talent. The characters are so odd yet endearing - the perfect cure for the "blah" book blues. Do yourself a favor and give it a shot :)

Just plain entertaining,,

This was like reminiscing with an old friend about the stuff you did and thought when you were a kid. I listen to books while I excercise and I found myself ruining my pace several times because I was giggling. Nothing heavy here, but surprisingly thought provoking and nostalgic.

Zippy, part 2

If you've read A Girl Named Zippy, then you've gotta listen to this follow up book. It takes up where the first book left off, only the author is older now and things in her family begin shifting with a lot of changes. Almost as good as book one. I'd definitely say they are almost tied. You'll want to know HOW she got off the couch and what she did next. Quite impressive !

Even Better Than Zippy!

I was hesitant to listen to this sequel because a 'Zippy fan' told me it didn't live up, but I thought it EXCEEDED the original. This one pulls a bit more at the heartstrings and dives into the complexities of dysfunctional familial relationships, but I think that makes it all the better.

I want to write like Haven Kimmel, which I don't, but I want to! It's totally not my style, but I love hers so much! This was great listen, and had me on an emotional rollercoaster, which is good. It also reminded me of my own childhood (I'm Haven's age). It's filled with awesome stories and lots of LOL-ing, just as with Zippy.

Thanks, Haven, for a great sequel. Though, the abrupt ending made me scream, "Noooo! It's not over!" I was in her world, then shoved out of it in a heartbeat. That's okay, though. All books, even good ones, have to end.