Review Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite (5 Stars)She is no Kat Von D, but Kelly J. Mendenhall is inked to the bone. Skin in the Game: The Stories My Tattoos Tell is an autobiography that chronicles Mendenhall's life from the stories behind her skin art. From her first tattoo to her battle with a neuromuscular and spine disorder, each chapter offers a glimpse into the life of a survivor as she goes through different stages in her growing up years. We are invited to join in the tears and laughter as Mendenhall establishes vivid color and writes in an evolving voice congruent to her acquisition of wisdom and experience. She can be ribald if needs be, but she is also compassionate. She questions the integrity of foundations and establishments when they put people's well-being to the test. Her occasional use of the F word can be justified and these are not placed just for kicks or as a badge that she belongs to a defiant generation.Skin in the Game creates varying impressions for its reader. It first draws the audience to believe that Mendenhall is just another rebellious teenager who picked up a pen to share a story in the hopes of inspiring with a "girl power" battle cry. But her story as a whole offers something far deeper. Using her skin as a canvas, Mendenhall becomes a walking storybook where the colored strokes and lines on her epidermis are stamped memories of a past bravely faced. In an age where self-centered autobiographies become a form of self-promotion at the expense of the reader, this author establishes a good balance in her interaction between people and herself. Skin in the Game: The Stories My Tattoos Tell is a self-appraisal well worth considering.Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite (5 Stars)Skin in the Game: The Stories My Tattoos Tell by Kelly J. Mendenhall is a book about survival, the human connection, regrettable steps, and a journey towards self-acceptance, healing, and triumph. What strikes the reader as they start reading this memoir is the author's love for tattoos and it is also interesting that each tattoo captures some fragment of her history. She writes: "I'm 36 as I write this and still haven't grown out of wanting tattoos. Much to my mother's chagrin, this is not a phase. I still love almost every piece as much as I did the day I had it done." Her eclectic collection of tattoos is a representation of the events of her life which are captured in this memoir -- losing her father as a young girl, experiencing sexual and physical abuse as a teenager, the loss of her friends, and many other events. Follow the author through the numerous challenges of her life, both physical and moral, and how at thirty-five she suffered a tragedy that compelled her to reinvent herself, a journey both painful and inspiring. Kelly J. Mendenhall writes with grace and simplicity and in a voice that is clear, at times opinionated, yet gripping. She looks at her life with honesty, stripping it bare to let readers see her pain, her wounds, her insecurities, and her fears. The reader follows a young woman through her growth under very complex and challenging circumstances. Skin in the Game: The Stories My Tattoos Tell is punctuated by images of the tattoos on the author's body. The narrative is filled with art and symbolism, done in a gripping voice, and communicating a powerful message of hope and resilience to readers. In reading Kelly's story, readers will be provoked to ask questions about how well they take control of their destiny.Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite (5 Stars)Skin in the Game: The Stories My Tattoos Tell is a nonfiction autobiography written by Kelly J. Mendenhall with photography by Sarah B. Gilliam. Mendenhall was determined to get her first tattoo when she was 17 years old. She had to get her mom's permission for it as she was underage, but Kelly was not giving up on the idea, no matter what her mom said. It was better than a genital piercing after all, and not nearly as bad a thing as her stepbrothers' penchants for crack, car thefts, and arson. And, at 17, she was already a high school graduate. Not that she was particularly gifted or anything, but the circumstances of her schooling left her with too many accrued credits for a senior year. She was sure she'd be going to college, but before that, there was the matter of the tattoo and the story of how she got involved with Joey, a tattoo artist who worked at a local gas station when she was just 16. Skin in the Game: The Stories My Tattoos Tell left me with the sense of awe and wonderment I feel on seeing anyone's tattoos, even the tiny rose or Celtic symbol some may sport but on a far grander scale. Mendenhall is the consummate storyteller, one who bluntly forges ahead and gives you the full story. Her memoir is a fascinating one filled with stories of a life well-led and the tie-ins with her tattoos are marvelous! The tattoos themselves are genuine works of art, and Gilliam's photography ensures you get every nuance of coloring and design strategy. I had a grand time reading this funny, provocative and ultimately human story, which is written in a conversational style that made it hard for me to put the book down. I expect to encounter more published works by this talented author and am looking forward to reading them. Skin in the Game: The Stories My Tattoos Tell is most highly recommended.Reviewed by Steven Robson for Readers' Favorite (5 Stars)Kelly J Mendenhall's Skin In The Game: The Stories My Tattoos Tell is a book that brings meaning and understanding to the tattooed pictography which now adorns Kelly's body. Over the years, each tattoo she has acquired holds special meaning for her and relates closely to personal relationships, places, and experiences which have shaped Kelly's life. Spending time in very rough neighborhoods, living through some abusive and extremely difficult times, Kelly has managed not only to survive but to grow as an individual in many ways. She has become a very well educated and balanced person with a bright future in spite of the many challenges thrown at her, and her journey to get there is what makes this book so captivating.I found reading Skin In The Game: The Stories My Tattoos Tell a wonderful experience, which was in some ways a little surprising given that I am a generation older than Kelly. It made me realize many things, the foremost being that no matter what your generation is there is always commonality of experiences and life in general to bond us all together. I was particularly engaged by Kelly getting to know her father more in spite of him being long gone. This was an exercise I had gone through as well with my family. The simple truth is that there are just too many wonderful anecdotes to cover here, but that just means this is a very worthy work and well worth reading. You will enjoy the shared experience, and I thank Kelly for the bravery and strength of character she had to produce this book. Read more About the Author Kelly Mendenhall is recovering nonprofit professional living in Middle Tennessee. A Southeast Michigan native, Kelly received her Bachelor's of Science and Master's in Public Administration from Eastern Michigan University, determined to change the world for the better by working in the nonprofit sector.Kelly relocated to Nashville, Tennessee in 2013 in pursuit of life, liberty, and gainful employment. In 2017, Kelly became medically disabled and unable to work outside the home. It was then that she became reacquainted with her former, creative self, and dreamt again of becoming a published writer. Kelly is an author and entrepreneur living with chronic pain and invisible illness(es.) Her mission is to show the world that a medical diagnosis/diagnoses do not have to mark the end of one's story. Kelly is a freelance writer, a virtual entrepreneur in network marketing, and co-host of the podcast A Non Mom Happy Hour. Kelly is the ultimate dog mom to one Miss Rosebud Marie Eleanor Frances Mendenhall, a deaf white boxer. She is cat mom to Pequeño, who she is pretty sure was touched by the angels. She's also the world's proudest Aunt and Great Aunt. Read more
D**L
I love tattoos and I love this book!
I don't normally read memoirs. It's always kind of been my opinion that no one should ever write a memoir unless they are a celebrity with a household name, but also that there are very few well-written celebrity memoirs. SKIN IN THE GAME is not a celebrity memoir. But here's the thing. It's about tattoos. So I didn't have much of a choice but to pick it up.Kelly "Nerdzilla" Mendenhall tells a story better than a lot of fiction authors out there. Some of the real-life experiences she tells readers about are so wild they're almost unbelievable, while others are true testaments to just how strong and resilient of a person she is. What connects her to the reader, what connects her experiences to each other, and what makes this memoir truly excellent, are her beloved, beautiful tattoos. They are expressions of the author's deepest emotions, and I was very glad that the author also included photos of her tattoos and tattoo sketches in the book so readers can see the images she discusses.I highly recommend this book, especially to anyone who's become disillusioned with the offering of memoirs in the modern mainstream book market.
J**A
I loved this book!
I can't tell you how many times I've met someone with tattoos and wondered about the story behind them. Even ones that say "Mom" or "Dad" can mean a lot more than what you imagine from the outside. The two tattoos of my own have stories ~ albeit, not near as interesting and moving as Kelly's stories.Kelly's writing is approachable...it's like the two of you are sitting on the sofa and she's telling you, as a friend, about her life. Tattoos often are related to a space and time in a person's life that they want to honor or remember in some way. Kelly's tattoos are no different in that respect; they tell her life story. She's seen a lot of pain in her life and she's lost more people close to her than most of us can imagine. But there's much more to the story than just losing loved ones.Whether you are interested in tattoos or not, you can appreciate the human nature of Kelly's story. You can cheer for her when her life is going well, and you will want to hug her when it's not. She holds nothing back ~ you will see the good, the bad and the ugly of her life and you will finish the book feeling like you've met her in person.
V**E
A Wonderful Read
I loved this book and was enthralled from the beginning. I was fascinated by the stories of Kelly's childhood as mine was so far removed from her experiences that it was great to have an insight into this very different world. I loved hearing about the significance of all of Kelly's tattoos and the stories behind them. Kelly is an inspiration! She is a fighter, a role model and a fantastic story teller. I recommend this book without hesitation!
W**S
I love Kelly's perspective
I love Kelly's perspective about using tattoos to implement life this book is definitely thought five stars
A**Y
A must read!
She turns a mess into a message! I personally know Kelly, and she’s the real deal friends!
K**E
Great storytelling! Like hanging out with a good friend.
Author Kelly Mendenhall writes her life story through her tattoos as if she was sitting down with you having a good conversation. Each chapter tells you about a part of her life and a specific tattoo. Sometimes there is overlap between some of the chapters but it is done in such a way that you see another side of the story and not just a repetition of what you've already been told. Kelly has been through a lot of trauma as well as ups and downs in her life but boy is she a fighter. She doesn't let it win, she's determined to come out on top. She is honest, real, and authentic. She doesn't hide behind being a victim and she has learned that she shouldn't be ashamed of her stories....no one should. Our stories are our's to tell and they mold us into who we are. I have been lucky enough to meet Kelly through a local book club and have become friends. Kelly is as real and authentic in person as she is in her book. I recommend this book to everyone. This plain skinned woman loved it!
R**O
Tattoos that tell a life story!
On this quiet Sunday morning I finished reading a most amazing book.Not every day you have the honor of reading a life story that grips you from the very first word to the very last. This life story did just that. And to boot, I know the author, even if only virtually, for now.We all have a story to tell, the good the bad the ugly and everything in between. Kelly’s Story is one of triumph over tragedy, resilience in the face of insurmountable odd and NEVER losing sight of the light that shines brightly inside her soul.I believe her book is a must read for everyone who is facing a challenge and not quite knowing what to do.Thank you my sweet friend for sharing the stories your tattoos tell......
K**Y
Best book I've read in ages
What a beautiful book. First love, death, adventure, mishaps, triumphs, tenacity, and tattoos. Mendenhall shares her life story as marked by tattoos. She's open and honest. Never pretentious or fake, the story is presented in such an engaging, straightforward way, it makes the amazing story of the author's life easy to read and hard to put down. Best book I've read in ages.
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