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dunnadam's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it, didn't love it.
There's a wide variety of reviews, both good and bad, and I kind of agree with both.
On the bad side I agree, the first 55% of the book is filler. The book starts off with a too brief set-up to the journey, then details what could happen in sections marked BAD and GOOD. I read the first few and though they were entertaining enough, it's just not what I signed up for. I wanted to read the true accounts. So I kept flipping, and flipping, and flipping. This filler was really too long.
On the good side though, I read a review saying John Waters was a rarity, a truly unique individual, and I agree with that too. So spending time with him was nice.
I think maybe the whole thing just wasn't thought all the way through. There was far too much emphasis placed on his safety by his staff and in some part himself. I had no doubt nothing bad was going to happen to him. Generally when you put yourself in a position of relying on people they come through, as they did here.
What I felt was under thought out was his age and his current place in life. A 20 year old man hitchhiking across country maybe, but a 68 year-old? You're just more stuck in your ways when you get older, you like home more, and your body hurts when you stand in one spot for 6 hours thumbing a ride.
Some of this manifested itself in the journey, such as John calling his assistants to score him a ride or accepting the return of the Cadillac Man. Because although you want the idea of feeling fun and travelling and meeting new people, at 68 you also want to sit down.
There's a wide variety of reviews, both good and bad, and I kind of agree with both.
On the bad side I agree, the first 55% of the book is filler. The book starts off with a too brief set-up to the journey, then details what could happen in sections marked BAD and GOOD. I read the first few and though they were entertaining enough, it's just not what I signed up for. I wanted to read the true accounts. So I kept flipping, and flipping, and flipping. This filler was really too long.
On the good side though, I read a review saying John Waters was a rarity, a truly unique individual, and I agree with that too. So spending time with him was nice.
I think maybe the whole thing just wasn't thought all the way through. There was far too much emphasis placed on his safety by his staff and in some part himself. I had no doubt nothing bad was going to happen to him. Generally when you put yourself in a position of relying on people they come through, as they did here.
What I felt was under thought out was his age and his current place in life. A 20 year old man hitchhiking across country maybe, but a 68 year-old? You're just more stuck in your ways when you get older, you like home more, and your body hurts when you stand in one spot for 6 hours thumbing a ride.
Some of this manifested itself in the journey, such as John calling his assistants to score him a ride or accepting the return of the Cadillac Man. Because although you want the idea of feeling fun and travelling and meeting new people, at 68 you also want to sit down.
saladm's review
3.0
A really interesting look into the mind of John waters, I loved the what could happen good section and what actually happened section, but I feel like the what could happen bad part was kinda eh.
casspro's review
5.0
Why oh why couldn't it have been me to pick up John Waters in his hitchhiking adventures. All I can think about is what good traveling companions we would be.
Despite contrary opinions, I actually love both sides of Waters' fictionalized retelling of his journeys. I thought they were wry, intelligent, and absolutely filthy. A perfect dramatization of the best of times and the worst of times. And while the real story is somewhat heartwarming, it's a little bit deflated compared to the fantastic odyssey Mr. Waters' creates in the first two sections of the book.
I read this on during a layover in Phoenix and I can think of a better way to spend my time.
Despite contrary opinions, I actually love both sides of Waters' fictionalized retelling of his journeys. I thought they were wry, intelligent, and absolutely filthy. A perfect dramatization of the best of times and the worst of times. And while the real story is somewhat heartwarming, it's a little bit deflated compared to the fantastic odyssey Mr. Waters' creates in the first two sections of the book.
I read this on during a layover in Phoenix and I can think of a better way to spend my time.
andrew_j_r's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book based on the recommendation of a member of staff at the superb Barnes And Noble at the old power station in Baltimore, Maryland. I asked her for something by a local author, she suggested several works, some of which I bought, and one of them was this.
The book is the tale of filth movie director John Waters hitchhiking from his home in Baltimore to one of his other homes in San Fransisco. I was aware of him before and I think I may have seen a couple of his movies, but I would not describe myself as a fan (although I will make a more conscious effort to check some of them out having read this).
I thought the book was a travelogue, and a third of it is. The other thirds are two fictionalised accounts of the journey, one the best case scenario and one the worst. There has been a lot of negativity about the fiction sections in the reviews in here, plus a lot of vitriol from people slagging off those who don't like those sections (shame on some people for not only having their own opinions but actually having the audacity to share sharing them, huh?) but the real travelogue is by far the superior section, the others are entertaining but serve merely as entrees to the main course which is great, just wish it had gone on a little longer!
The book is the tale of filth movie director John Waters hitchhiking from his home in Baltimore to one of his other homes in San Fransisco. I was aware of him before and I think I may have seen a couple of his movies, but I would not describe myself as a fan (although I will make a more conscious effort to check some of them out having read this).
I thought the book was a travelogue, and a third of it is. The other thirds are two fictionalised accounts of the journey, one the best case scenario and one the worst. There has been a lot of negativity about the fiction sections in the reviews in here, plus a lot of vitriol from people slagging off those who don't like those sections (shame on some people for not only having their own opinions but actually having the audacity to share sharing them, huh?) but the real travelogue is by far the superior section, the others are entertaining but serve merely as entrees to the main course which is great, just wish it had gone on a little longer!
maggievictory's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.0
If you can't be bothered with the whole thing, at least find the chapter where he imagines a car ride with Edith Massey, which is sweet and weird in exactly the way that those of us who love John Waters in interviews but are a bit too delicate in our sensibilities for his films enjoy.
beccajreads's review
adventurous
medium-paced
2.0
I skipped the first 250 pages to get to the 'real' hitchhiking story. I was disappointed when I realised just how much if the book was a 'novella' and fictionalised. I did start reading it but I really didn't like the writing style, it felt so forced and trying to be funny.
The real rides section was okay, but it felt rushed and he seems very into himself and not as interested about what's going on around him. I just feel it could have been fleshed out a bit more.
The real rides section was okay, but it felt rushed and he seems very into himself and not as interested about what's going on around him. I just feel it could have been fleshed out a bit more.
tricapra's review
3.0
A fun read. I love John Waters more than I did before. At first I wasn't sure how I felt about the fictional good rides/bad rides fantasy he included... but after looking at the reality of his trip I totally understand it. May everyone find a "corvette kid" in their life.