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fernthepanda's review against another edition
4.0
Very entertaining. A quick read--I can't remember the last book that made me laugh out loud this much.
janel1994's review against another edition
4.0
Hilarious book. Very entertaining and heartwarming. I really wish I would have thought of writing down all the things my Dad says. I could hear my Dad saying so many of the same things. Very quick read.
Check out his FB or Twitter account if you haven't yet by the same name as the book.
Check out his FB or Twitter account if you haven't yet by the same name as the book.
playing2001's review against another edition
funny
slow-paced
I DNFed this book. It was incredibly stupid.
The entirety of the book is just one liners that the authors dad said.
They were documented in twitter and this just reads as a twitter feed.
The entirety of the book is just one liners that the authors dad said.
They were documented in twitter and this just reads as a twitter feed.
bantwalkers's review against another edition
5.0
Part One: Where I am surprised by the emotions caused by a book titled Sh*t My Dad Says
I'll admit it: I'm a crier. I cry when something is emotionally effective. This means I have to be connected to it, the characters, the story, whatever. It can't just be some manipulative tear-jerker (I'm staring at you The Notebook).
Still, you can imagine my shock and dismay when a book called Sh*t My Dad Says got the floodgates to open. Sure, from the title one may suspect these were tears of laughter. I laughed. I laughed a lot. The tears, however, were not of that variety though. No, these were the kind of tears I reserve mostly for Saturday mornings, otherwise known as the time I set aside to watch Friday Night Lights. These were the kind of tears that say, "You got me. It worked. You big lovable bastard, I don't know how you did it, but you did." Justin Halpern and his foul-mouthed father succeeded, in a big way. There I was, riding a train from New York to D.C. reading the last chapter of the book, as Halpern relates a story of his father relating a story of his first marriage, and I needed a minute. Who am I kidding? I needed a good five minutes. The train conductor, who looked like he had little tolerance for crybaby twenty something men just glowered at me as I walked to the bathroom to compose myself.
But I can't be mad at Halpern for embarrassing me like that. Instead, I'd like to thank him for writing one of the most surprising books I've read in a long time.
---
Part Two: Where I admit I do not follow Justin Halpern's Twitter stream
I have to admit . . . I don't follow "Shit My Dad Says" on Twitter. I've looked at it a few times after reading particularly funny or insightful retweets. Mostly, the novelty of a foul-mouthed father, who doesn't really say anything funnier than my own father, didn't connect with me. Like I said, from time to time I found it hilarious, but not worth my time to follow. So I wouldn't say I had any sort of investment in Justin Halpern's book, inspired by his Twitter stream. Why would I?
But the book is short. My Goodreads' friends seemed to like it. I had nothing to lose, I read it on the plane or train or automobile during vacation. It'd be a light, funny read.
I got that. It is a light, funny read, except for the part mentioned in Part One of this review.
Still, it's not shallow. It has depth, in-sight, wisdom. Last night, while thinking of it again, I felt compelled to compare it to Tuesdays with Morrie, only not a manipulative piece of schmaltz. Halpern admires his father, who may come off as a hard-edged jackwagon, but is really a loving father. Sam Halpern may spout absurdly blue quotables, but he loves his family and wants what's best for them. His mouth and quips are just part of who he is. Instead of standing back, pointing and laughing at his father, Justin manages to paint a fully fleshed picture of his dad. The Twitter stream is made up of his father's quirks, but Justin doesn't give his Dad the Juno treatment and rely on the quirks to make the story. Instead, he takes the hard road and relates stories to show the world who his father really is.
Again, I thank you Justin. I thank you for succeeding where so many writers are failing these days. Quirky is not a substitute for character development, and I hope you remember that on your sitcom. (Look at me talking to Justin Halpern like he is reading this and is not the hottest commodity right now with better things to do.)
---
Part Three: Where I relate some of my favorite parts and probably thank Justin Halpern again for writing this book
A chapter entitled, "Not everyone's balls should be busted," may be the prime example of Sam Halpern not just being a foul-mouthed jag. It tells the story of Sam coaching Justin's baseball team. It's, of course, not his best idea. He does a great job coaching the kids, but has trouble dealing with the parents. Things do not go well with Sam's little league coaching career. However, he takes on a side project coaching a less fortunate child in pitching. You can just tell he has a big heart, and it's in the right place and everything, all that cliche stuff. But Justin Halpern doesn't tell the story in cliches like that. He picks all the right moments, all the right phrases, to show his father is a good man, and this mini chapter is a microcosm of the book. Still, read the book.
Some favorite quotes:
"You worry too much. Eat some bacon . . . What? No, I got no idea if it'll make you feel better, I just made too much bacon."
"Snausages? I've been eating dog treats? Why the fuck would you put them on the counter where the rest of the food is? Fuck it, they're delicious. I will not be shamed by this."
"I'm gonna put a handful of condoms in the glove compartment of the car. . . . I don't give a shit if you don't want to talk about this with me, I don't want to talk about this with you, either. You think I want you screwing in my car? No. But I'd much less rather have to pay for a kid you make because there ain't condoms in there."
Ok. There are probably like 50 more.
Again. Thank you Justin. You did so much right here!
I'll admit it: I'm a crier. I cry when something is emotionally effective. This means I have to be connected to it, the characters, the story, whatever. It can't just be some manipulative tear-jerker (I'm staring at you The Notebook).
Still, you can imagine my shock and dismay when a book called Sh*t My Dad Says got the floodgates to open. Sure, from the title one may suspect these were tears of laughter. I laughed. I laughed a lot. The tears, however, were not of that variety though. No, these were the kind of tears I reserve mostly for Saturday mornings, otherwise known as the time I set aside to watch Friday Night Lights. These were the kind of tears that say, "You got me. It worked. You big lovable bastard, I don't know how you did it, but you did." Justin Halpern and his foul-mouthed father succeeded, in a big way. There I was, riding a train from New York to D.C. reading the last chapter of the book, as Halpern relates a story of his father relating a story of his first marriage, and I needed a minute. Who am I kidding? I needed a good five minutes. The train conductor, who looked like he had little tolerance for crybaby twenty something men just glowered at me as I walked to the bathroom to compose myself.
But I can't be mad at Halpern for embarrassing me like that. Instead, I'd like to thank him for writing one of the most surprising books I've read in a long time.
---
Part Two: Where I admit I do not follow Justin Halpern's Twitter stream
I have to admit . . . I don't follow "Shit My Dad Says" on Twitter. I've looked at it a few times after reading particularly funny or insightful retweets. Mostly, the novelty of a foul-mouthed father, who doesn't really say anything funnier than my own father, didn't connect with me. Like I said, from time to time I found it hilarious, but not worth my time to follow. So I wouldn't say I had any sort of investment in Justin Halpern's book, inspired by his Twitter stream. Why would I?
But the book is short. My Goodreads' friends seemed to like it. I had nothing to lose, I read it on the plane or train or automobile during vacation. It'd be a light, funny read.
I got that. It is a light, funny read, except for the part mentioned in Part One of this review.
Still, it's not shallow. It has depth, in-sight, wisdom. Last night, while thinking of it again, I felt compelled to compare it to Tuesdays with Morrie, only not a manipulative piece of schmaltz. Halpern admires his father, who may come off as a hard-edged jackwagon, but is really a loving father. Sam Halpern may spout absurdly blue quotables, but he loves his family and wants what's best for them. His mouth and quips are just part of who he is. Instead of standing back, pointing and laughing at his father, Justin manages to paint a fully fleshed picture of his dad. The Twitter stream is made up of his father's quirks, but Justin doesn't give his Dad the Juno treatment and rely on the quirks to make the story. Instead, he takes the hard road and relates stories to show the world who his father really is.
Again, I thank you Justin. I thank you for succeeding where so many writers are failing these days. Quirky is not a substitute for character development, and I hope you remember that on your sitcom. (Look at me talking to Justin Halpern like he is reading this and is not the hottest commodity right now with better things to do.)
---
Part Three: Where I relate some of my favorite parts and probably thank Justin Halpern again for writing this book
A chapter entitled, "Not everyone's balls should be busted," may be the prime example of Sam Halpern not just being a foul-mouthed jag. It tells the story of Sam coaching Justin's baseball team. It's, of course, not his best idea. He does a great job coaching the kids, but has trouble dealing with the parents. Things do not go well with Sam's little league coaching career. However, he takes on a side project coaching a less fortunate child in pitching. You can just tell he has a big heart, and it's in the right place and everything, all that cliche stuff. But Justin Halpern doesn't tell the story in cliches like that. He picks all the right moments, all the right phrases, to show his father is a good man, and this mini chapter is a microcosm of the book. Still, read the book.
Some favorite quotes:
"You worry too much. Eat some bacon . . . What? No, I got no idea if it'll make you feel better, I just made too much bacon."
"Snausages? I've been eating dog treats? Why the fuck would you put them on the counter where the rest of the food is? Fuck it, they're delicious. I will not be shamed by this."
"I'm gonna put a handful of condoms in the glove compartment of the car. . . . I don't give a shit if you don't want to talk about this with me, I don't want to talk about this with you, either. You think I want you screwing in my car? No. But I'd much less rather have to pay for a kid you make because there ain't condoms in there."
Ok. There are probably like 50 more.
Again. Thank you Justin. You did so much right here!
shaila_m's review against another edition
5.0
A book that cheered me up and made me laugh a ton! This is one of these feel good books that also let's you think about things a little different.
bhalstead04's review against another edition
4.0
This is laugh out loud funny! Spit your coffee out funny!