Scan barcode
adamz24's review against another edition
2.0
I like his novels more than his essays, and Bored to Death more than his novels and essays.
There are a couple of great essays in here, and there's a lot for me to identify with, esp. being a perverted writer who doesn't always like the way he thinks about women and constantly does things he regrets etc. But he hates smoke and likes trannies more than I do. He also is more entertained by shit and pimples. I'm not proud of the comparisons with Jonathan Ames (the non-Bored to Death version; I love the occasional Jason Schwartzman comparisons) that I get and make, esp. considering that what I do share in common makes me scared that maybe some day I will be as into shit and pimples as he is and will become annoyed by neighbours smoking in the morning, etc.
There are a couple of great essays in here, and there's a lot for me to identify with, esp. being a perverted writer who doesn't always like the way he thinks about women and constantly does things he regrets etc. But he hates smoke and likes trannies more than I do. He also is more entertained by shit and pimples. I'm not proud of the comparisons with Jonathan Ames (the non-Bored to Death version; I love the occasional Jason Schwartzman comparisons) that I get and make, esp. considering that what I do share in common makes me scared that maybe some day I will be as into shit and pimples as he is and will become annoyed by neighbours smoking in the morning, etc.
allyharris's review against another edition
1.0
I read more of this than I'd like to admit and then threw it in the trash. None of it was funny.
breealysia's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't love all of the essays in this book, but I really loved a few. Or maybe I just love Jonathan Ames. I liked his other collection of essays better, but this had some gems.
mgeryk's review
3.0
I will say that I started this book not enjoying it very much, but by the end I enjoyed it enormously. I've read one or two reviews on this site that take issue with the writing, and I have to say that I agree: it's as though Ames's personality comes through in his essays despite his writing, not because of it, and that's where I'd say that the comparisons to David Sedaris are inaccurate: Sedaris's writing is nothing if not a vehicle for his personality, or at least his persona as a writer.
I'd be interested to know how his live performances differ from his essay style.
I'd be interested to know how his live performances differ from his essay style.
More...