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skidma's review against another edition
funny
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
prots's review against another edition
3.0
Кіно Вуді Алена мені по більшій мірі подобається, але добірка розповідей вийшла не дуже цікавою. Вони не смішні, не дуже цікаві, суть більшості можна вкласти в одне речення, що він і робить в епіграфі до кожної історії.
Була пара цікавих фраз і пара історій, але загалом розчарований, не рекомендую.
Читається важко.
Була пара цікавих фраз і пара історій, але загалом розчарований, не рекомендую.
Читається важко.
mikelchartier's review against another edition
4.0
Great, quick and hilarious book that has too short an attention span to get boring or inaccessibly neurotic. Some great one liners that actually had me laughing out loud, I highly recommend.
tommyhousworth's review against another edition
3.0
I loved Woody Allen's essays in college. They were absurd, and a definite precursor to works like Steve Martin's "Cruel Shoes" and Ian Frazier's work.
However, "Mere Anarchy" felt like a retread, and given those first three books were written in the early 70's, I can't help but feel Woody should've evolved a bit more.
Of course, his last great movie came out well over 15 years ago (Husbands and Wives), so maybe the comedy gold has just tarnished over the years.
However, "Mere Anarchy" felt like a retread, and given those first three books were written in the early 70's, I can't help but feel Woody should've evolved a bit more.
Of course, his last great movie came out well over 15 years ago (Husbands and Wives), so maybe the comedy gold has just tarnished over the years.
spinstah's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't really like this collection of stories. Overall I felt they were very similar -- the pacing was mostly the same (frantic), and they all had the exact same aura of oddball ridiculousness. Lots of show-biz patter from the characters, and every single one had some preposterous name. The ridiculous was laid on too thick for my taste, and that meant that some truly funny lines just didn't shine because they were surrounded by so much nonsense.
But if you like stuff that's over the top, you'll probably like this -- it's just not my thing.
But if you like stuff that's over the top, you'll probably like this -- it's just not my thing.
jentang's review against another edition
3.0
In one of his movies, Woody Allen described himself as being boyish despite his age due to everlasting immaturity. This book reflects that accurately - not in a bad sense; it just happens to read overwhelmingly like the product of a high schooler who, priding themselves on possessing intellectual wit superior to that of their peers, is a little too outspoken in their AP Literature course for even their teacher's taste. From a different angle, Allen's collection of silly short stories is reminiscent of a book of fables or folktales, but if they were [largely] all about inferior shmucks caught in barrages of snark. Its serving size could probably generously be quantified as a short story a day. Read too many of them in one uninterrupted session, and they begin to seem like they're meant for a middle school reading level. The "and as for me? Well..." way in which he ends pretty much every story becomes uninspired and inexplicably irksome. I favored the stories that were even a touch different: Calisthenics, Poison Ivy, Final Cut; The Rejection; Above the Law Below the Box Spring (Amarillo, TX shoutout here..). This book is a testament to Allen's wit, yes, but it also demonstrates Allen's clear stronger ability to pull off stylistic repetition in his films over his non-visual media works. I would say, skip this book and just watch four Woody Allen films in a row for a much more satisfying time.
pustulio's review against another edition
3.0
No sé si es porque debo dejar descansar un poco a Woody pero este libro fue el que me pareció el más flojo de todos. Casi todas las historias ya me las quería saltar. Por ahora dejaré de leer a Woody.
nithesh_123's review against another edition
4.0
It is Woody Allen. He is a brilliant humorist. What else should one say.
A chapter inspired the brigand Veerappan and a singular mention about Dr Rajkumar were the highlights for the South Indian reader in me.
A chapter inspired the brigand Veerappan and a singular mention about Dr Rajkumar were the highlights for the South Indian reader in me.
lightfoxing's review against another edition
3.0
Some were quite good, some less so, but every story was distinctly Woody Allen, and that isn't necessarily a good thing. While there were flashes of absolute hilarity, after a while it all starts to feel like the same joke. Maybe I'm just not neurotic enough (hah!).