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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
funny
Something astoundingly clever and hilarious on every page, and genuinely better written and more engaging than a lot of material from actual novelists.
Just didn't find it funny and had other books I wanted to listen to instead.
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Norm Macdonald was a Canadian stand-up comedian, who has a fan base that ardently loves his wit and humour. This book, Based on a True Story: A Memoir, was written by him exclusively for his fans and is a fun work of fiction for them to enjoy. An astute observer of his work could always sense that he was an intelligent man who pretended to be foolish. This book is no exception to that observation. In the guise of a memoir, Norm has written a fictional tale with made up stories from start to finish in which he depicts his character as a greatly exaggerated fool, and takes the reader on a journey that feels like a tight stand-up comedy act.
The writing style is fantastic and this book feels like no other. It is certainly a work of art in which Norm has done something incredibly creative (and funny). Despite the positive qualities, this cannot be enjoyed by anybody but his fans. There is abusive language, disturbing depictions of abuse along with some horrible tales - all in the name of comedy. One has to know Norm's style of humour (and some facts about who he was) to get something funny from this book. It is best to be avoided by the curious reader.
The writing style is fantastic and this book feels like no other. It is certainly a work of art in which Norm has done something incredibly creative (and funny). Despite the positive qualities, this cannot be enjoyed by anybody but his fans. There is abusive language, disturbing depictions of abuse along with some horrible tales - all in the name of comedy. One has to know Norm's style of humour (and some facts about who he was) to get something funny from this book. It is best to be avoided by the curious reader.
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
A story within a story, paced like a fever dream with looney tunes logic, interjected with what norm would probably describe ironically as his life’s “highlights”.
As a disclaimer, I loved this book. He really dug deep & was able to hit you in a million unexpected ways with hard truths about the cruelty of the world, interlaced with jokes that are essentially someone getting pied in the face or stepping on a rake. norm as a character is cruel, obnoxious, stupid, and hateful, making a caricature of himself as the villain in his own life, often because it’s hilarious.
My biggest complaint was the out of place and frankly dated “jokes” l at the expense of a trans woman, making her out to be an aggressively masculine liar and manipulator. Norm loves a joke where the punchline is somebody’s unwittingly done something gay, but this just comes off as offensive and like a terrible stereotype from an 80’s movie… embarrassing for a book released in 2016. He loves to poke fun at fragile masculinity, but only with the satisfaction that it’s just a joke and everyone can go back to the comfort of being a straight cis man when the punchlines been told.
It’s disappointing to know your hero would treat you like a circus attraction, especially after an entire soul baring journey like this.
As a disclaimer, I loved this book. He really dug deep & was able to hit you in a million unexpected ways with hard truths about the cruelty of the world, interlaced with jokes that are essentially someone getting pied in the face or stepping on a rake. norm as a character is cruel, obnoxious, stupid, and hateful, making a caricature of himself as the villain in his own life, often because it’s hilarious.
My biggest complaint was the out of place and frankly dated “jokes” l at the expense of a trans woman, making her out to be an aggressively masculine liar and manipulator. Norm loves a joke where the punchline is somebody’s unwittingly done something gay, but this just comes off as offensive and like a terrible stereotype from an 80’s movie… embarrassing for a book released in 2016. He loves to poke fun at fragile masculinity, but only with the satisfaction that it’s just a joke and everyone can go back to the comfort of being a straight cis man when the punchlines been told.
It’s disappointing to know your hero would treat you like a circus attraction, especially after an entire soul baring journey like this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Transphobia, Stalking, Suicide attempt
funny
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
masterpiece