Any one who knows me I love free beer (if it’s good beer). And you’ll be guided to plenty of good beer, some of it free, if you pick up a copy of the newest edition of “Wisconsin’s Best Beer Guide,” by  Kevin Revolinski.

It’s an updated version of a book he put out a couple of years ago..a book Mike and I put to use during our many beer tours of Wisconsin. The book includes entries on all the breweries, micro-breweries, and brewpubs in the state. And since a few have closed and many have opened since the last edition of the book, you really need to pick this one up.

The book gives you all the skinny about the different brews available, food options…and even other tourist-y things to do nearby.

Some interesting things you’ll learn in this edition:

*Which microbrewery isn’t allowed to picture bovine animals in its advertising

*Which brewpub is so green it’s heated with solar panels

*which microbrewery is located in a campground

You’ll also find out tidbits like alternative uses for beer cans (I actually own one of those crocheted Point Beer hats), the difference between ales and lagers, and beer history going back to the formation of the glaciers.

What about the free beer? Many of the breweries have special offers when you show them your copy of the book (like a free pint of beer or a free tour).

I highly recommend this book for beer aficionados who like to venture beyond the ordinary. It’s well written, thorough, and often funny. But I do have one warning for you. It will make you thirsty.

Find out more about the book and the author here, or go see Kevin Friday (July 16th) at the Capital Brewery in Middleton.  He’ll be selling (and signing) copies of his book there, while you listen to bluegrass from Salt Creek.

Check out my childhood book collection in another video installment of Kitty’s Collectibles.

I really had no intention of reading Mackenzie Phillips’ memoir, but am afraid I couldn’t resist after a co-worker dropped a copy of High On Arrival on my desk at work.

When the book came out a couple of weeks ago, it got a lot of publicity because of the revelations that Mackenzie had a long term incestuous relationship with her father, John Phillips of the Mamas and Papas. Turns out that was just one part of a very messed up life.

I’ve read a lot of celebrity autobiographies and memoirs, and the best ones have lots of anecdotes that are either humorous or provide insight into how they do their creating..whether it’s acting, songwriting, or performing. They should also weave a good story. With this book, I got that..and then some. Mackenzie Phillips did have a co-writer for the book..and I think they did a great job. The writing was excellent, and it was presented in such a way that it really sucked me in and kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen next…and how much darker her life could get.

I watched “One Day At A Time” when I was a kid, and remember liking it because it was the closest show I’d seen that portrayed teenagers at least somewhat realistically. So in a way I feel like I could have grown up with Julie Cooper and her sister Barbara.

But Mackenzie Phillips’ world was absolutely insane, and NOTHING like mine. Of course she was the daughter of a very rich man, who had a big drug problem. He thought nothing of making her official joint roller for his group of friends.  He thought nothing of leaving syringes all over the place, or saying “not now honey, Daddy’s shooting up,” when his little girl knocked on the bathroom door.

Mackenzie writes about her dad sending for her..and then not picking her up at the airport. Or the time he and Michelle promised to take her and her brother to Disney Land, and they were just dropped off with money and picked up later. (They were 7 and 5 at the time).

The book made it seem almost inevitable that Mackenzie’s life would be filled with drug use and bad choices, but she doesn’t lay the blame on any one but herself.  We learn in detail about her instantaneous stardom from American Graffitti, hitting the bars on Sunset Strip at 13, and losing control of her life, over and over and over again.

While the book is very very dark..it’s not completely devoid of hope. Once I stopped seeing syringes every time I closed my eyes, the message I got was that if she could survive all that’s she’s been through, I guess I should be able to muddle through my daily trials and tribulations with no difficulties at all.

So, here’s what the oracle that is Wikipedia has to say about 2004’s Hairstyles of the Damned by Chicago author Joe Meno…

Set in the early 90s, the novel follows Brian Oswald, a teenage boy from the suburbs of Chicago. He goes to an all boy catholic high school: Brother Rice, and his friends go to the girl’s school: Mother McAuley. Brian’s story follows a track of personal growth, music, teenage love, and a heavy dose of angst. Brian battles personal demons, skinheads, and an unresolved infatuation with his best friend Gretchen.

But what it doesn’t tell you is that you will never, ever hear “Love Song” by the Cure without silently screaming “Gretchen” again.  Seriously, I read this book years ago (because I’m a sucker for pink hair and headphones every time) and it changed the song for me.  It’s theirs, truly. 

Bonus points to the author for getting the art of the mix tape just right.  If you see this book, give it a read.

How many words would it take to tell the story of your love life?

How about six? There’s a new book out that tells 500 love stories in just 130 pages..and the font is really big! The editors of the on-line magazine at www.smithmag.net asked people to send in their stories, based on the fact that Ernest Hemingway said he could tell a whole story in just six words. (For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

The result is a book called Six Word Memoirs on Love & Heartbreak By Writers Famous & Obscure.  Thanks to every one who called us with great ones. 

This is what I came up with for me: “Loves guitars and me, almost equally.”

And I made some up for celebrities. See if you can guess who they are.

1. “Looked for love, found a Friend.”

2. “Newman’s own, before the salad dressing.”

3. “Maybe my kids will love me.”

Answers: John Mayer, Joanne Woodward, the Octo-Mom Nadya Suleman

 I’m reading a  wonderful book right now called ” The Hour I First Believed” by Wally Lamb.

You might recognize the author’s name from his book ” She’s Come Undone”, one of Oprah’s first book club selections in 1997. That book was written from the view point of a woman and I could hardly believe the author was a man.

The second book ” I Know This Much is True” concerns twin brothers turning 40, and one is schizophrenic. It’s a very long book and I need to read it again, but I remember I loved it.

Now I am reading his newest book, “The Hour That I First Believed”. This book uses the tragedy in Columbine as it examines the reaction to the shooting by a school nurse who hid from the shooters in a cabinet in the library.

This book also goes back in time to the 1880’s and the world of Abolitionists and Mark Twain. I’m loving it, despite the dark subject matter. One major recommendation!