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nolleyolleyoxenfree's review against another edition
5.0
Almond is very amusing, however I found this series of essays to be erratic and disjointed. It was very pleasing to read, despite Almond’s tendency to objectify women.
eastcoastmma's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
3.75
Although the writing was funny to me, the topics themselves weren’t the best. Haven’t read Vonnegut so that whole chapter was kind of boring and unrelateable. I didn’t really love or hate the book and considering I find most writing so dull and predictable this was a nice change of pace. Def sparked my interested in his other books though, Expecially if one is why vh1 wanted the author to roll around in candy for reality tv. An interesting walk of life I would never have experienced without reading this.
meghan111's review against another edition
2.0
Too clever by half, the only parts that felt authentic were, weirdly enough, the sex scenes. Still, I read the whole thing.
ivanssister's review against another edition
3.0
I like Almond better as a guy who likes candy. He's a little graphic and dirty, which isn't usually a problem for me. But this felt a little over the top at times. I did enjoy the tribute to Vonnegut (love him!) and the thing that made me laugh the most was the story about his newborn daughter - particularly his mustard references.
mvancamp's review against another edition
3.0
This is a mixed bag. Almond's essays on Vonnegut (completely dead on) and his love of the A's/role as the Red Sox Antichrist are exceptional. But much of what is included here is mostly self appreciation, albeit written with exceptional style, to remind us of how much more clever/talented he is than the rest of us. Plus, after a few essays, I began hoping that he would steer clear of sharing every detail of his sexual life/fantasies. I really think someone needs to share with him Jonathan Franzen's essay that touches on writing sex scenes and praises Nick Hornby for cutting out the lights at the right moment (I can't remember the tile but know it was in [b:How to Be Alone|666215|How to Be Alone Essays|Jonathan Franzen|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1176928009s/666215.jpg|577].)
caroparr's review against another edition
2.0
His piece on the various ways he feared he had almost killed his week-old baby is hilarious. Other bits not so much. However, his keynote speech at our conference was terrific!
laleha's review against another edition
5.0
I love Steve Almond. I don't know how many times this book had me laughing out loud, and I know I was so engrossed in it that I unaware of both the completion of my son's swim class one evening and soccer practice the next!
Almond's tirades against beautiful writers and the Bush administration, his fears and dreams about becoming a father, his surprising role as the Red Sox anti-christ, and his love letter to Kurt Vonnegut were all engrossing and terribly amusing.
And if I ever have the chance to meet him again (saw him promote Candyfreak a few years back), I want to tell him that I also got a flat on the highway, had rude drivers not allow me into the right lane, and also had to break my Walmart boycott because it was the only place in the middle of nowhere that I could buy a new tire! Who knew?!!
Almond's tirades against beautiful writers and the Bush administration, his fears and dreams about becoming a father, his surprising role as the Red Sox anti-christ, and his love letter to Kurt Vonnegut were all engrossing and terribly amusing.
And if I ever have the chance to meet him again (saw him promote Candyfreak a few years back), I want to tell him that I also got a flat on the highway, had rude drivers not allow me into the right lane, and also had to break my Walmart boycott because it was the only place in the middle of nowhere that I could buy a new tire! Who knew?!!
mhall's review against another edition
2.0
Too clever by half, the only parts that felt authentic were, weirdly enough, the sex scenes. Still, I read the whole thing.
melissarochelle's review against another edition
2.0
Only worth it for "12 ways I killed my newborn..." Or whatever it's called