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bookishbitch2's review
5.0
Firstly, let me make it clear, I am a HUGE Corey Taylor fan, I've been following his music for about 15 years now, and I have read all of his other books. That being said, this book had high standards to live up to... And it exceeded them.
This book was so quirky and weird and absolutely brilliant, especially in the way it was written. The thing I love about Corey's writing is, it feels like you're right there with him, sitting across from him at his kitchen counter just talking shit like old friends, catching up. He gets distracted and goes off into other little mini stories, and then pulls himself right back out of it by saying "fuck, we'll get into that more later, where was I again?" And I honestly just think that adds some Corey character... We can't always be 100% focused all the time, right?
While reading this book, I found myself wanting to go out and explore abandoned places and look for ghosts, but was also jumping at every noise I heard in my own house. I really just thought it was terrific and can't wait for another Corey Taylor book.
This book was so quirky and weird and absolutely brilliant, especially in the way it was written. The thing I love about Corey's writing is, it feels like you're right there with him, sitting across from him at his kitchen counter just talking shit like old friends, catching up. He gets distracted and goes off into other little mini stories, and then pulls himself right back out of it by saying "fuck, we'll get into that more later, where was I again?" And I honestly just think that adds some Corey character... We can't always be 100% focused all the time, right?
While reading this book, I found myself wanting to go out and explore abandoned places and look for ghosts, but was also jumping at every noise I heard in my own house. I really just thought it was terrific and can't wait for another Corey Taylor book.
heatherreadsbooks's review
5.0
To those who like reading about religion, Corey Taylor is likely to split the masses (not exactly a shock to those who have read Seven Deadly Sins). But where atheists like Richard Dawkins make you want to violently punch walls with their attitude, Taylor brings a dose of humour along with a reflective look at himself. He never slams anyone for their belief, but just makes it clear what he says is merely his own belief.
And why is this remotely relevant to a book about the existence of ghosts? Well, as Corey himself says, "I do not believe in God. [...] So here is the question: How can I believe in ghosts... and not in God? How can I mock the existence of Jehovah and his creepy-winged minions while straight-facedly maintaining that there are ghosts, spirits, poltergeists and haunts among us? How can I go on record with a whole book for that matter, dedicated to my versions of the various events in my life, knowing full well that I might be regarded as a hypocrite at best, a nutcase at worst?"
Luckily he answers that too: "The running theory is a case of knowing versus believing."
Cutting to the chase: this book has the potential for very polarised reactions. If you're a believer of the paranormal, then you'll find his experiences captivating. More so, if you're a Slipknot or Stone Sour fan, you'll find it incredibly cool that Corey is on the same wavelength as you and has the stories to back it. However, if you're a non-believer, this will read like a crazy man's ramblings. Luckily, Corey notes that himself.
For skeptics though, those who sit in the middle ground, this is really interesting. Not sitting fully at one end of the spectrum, the reader can be swung from side to side, finding the stories themselves haunting and unsettling but also finding some moments a little hard to swallow. But is the point to grab you by the shoulders and scream in your face that ghosts exist? Well, no. It's openly concluded that this is just a host of personal experiences, with hope of starting a dialogue into the subject. It's certainly got one person thinking, and probably a few others.
The book is just Corey Taylor. Though the stories may be dark at times, or the science-based stuff might feel a bit too academic to some, his humour and wit is ever-present, as well as his ability to deviate into random trains of thought, with a neat splattering of dick, fuck, fart and shit to boot.
One book I will compare it to is James Kakalios' The Physics of Superheroes in that, when you accept a certain exception to how we view the world - the 'miracle exception' - then everything is completely plausible, from Superman's jumping abilities to the Flash's great speed. Though Corey's proposal of 'intelligent energy' is likely just smart conjecture, if you make the relevant exception that ghosts are, generally speaking, completely real, his explanation seems completely plausible.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Heaven seems like it's going to be packed with a mass of ghost hunting expeditions and doesn't quite live up to that particular hype, but delivers a lot of personal insight into a side of Taylor's life that many never really knew. It also reads a bit like a personal tour through his homes over the years, with a number of anecdotes thrown in for good measure. For one, it's a really enjoyable read and - regardless of personal beliefs - was well worth it, and at no point do you lose his own personality in the process.
And why is this remotely relevant to a book about the existence of ghosts? Well, as Corey himself says, "I do not believe in God. [...] So here is the question: How can I believe in ghosts... and not in God? How can I mock the existence of Jehovah and his creepy-winged minions while straight-facedly maintaining that there are ghosts, spirits, poltergeists and haunts among us? How can I go on record with a whole book for that matter, dedicated to my versions of the various events in my life, knowing full well that I might be regarded as a hypocrite at best, a nutcase at worst?"
Luckily he answers that too: "The running theory is a case of knowing versus believing."
Cutting to the chase: this book has the potential for very polarised reactions. If you're a believer of the paranormal, then you'll find his experiences captivating. More so, if you're a Slipknot or Stone Sour fan, you'll find it incredibly cool that Corey is on the same wavelength as you and has the stories to back it. However, if you're a non-believer, this will read like a crazy man's ramblings. Luckily, Corey notes that himself.
For skeptics though, those who sit in the middle ground, this is really interesting. Not sitting fully at one end of the spectrum, the reader can be swung from side to side, finding the stories themselves haunting and unsettling but also finding some moments a little hard to swallow. But is the point to grab you by the shoulders and scream in your face that ghosts exist? Well, no. It's openly concluded that this is just a host of personal experiences, with hope of starting a dialogue into the subject. It's certainly got one person thinking, and probably a few others.
The book is just Corey Taylor. Though the stories may be dark at times, or the science-based stuff might feel a bit too academic to some, his humour and wit is ever-present, as well as his ability to deviate into random trains of thought, with a neat splattering of dick, fuck, fart and shit to boot.
One book I will compare it to is James Kakalios' The Physics of Superheroes in that, when you accept a certain exception to how we view the world - the 'miracle exception' - then everything is completely plausible, from Superman's jumping abilities to the Flash's great speed. Though Corey's proposal of 'intelligent energy' is likely just smart conjecture, if you make the relevant exception that ghosts are, generally speaking, completely real, his explanation seems completely plausible.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Heaven seems like it's going to be packed with a mass of ghost hunting expeditions and doesn't quite live up to that particular hype, but delivers a lot of personal insight into a side of Taylor's life that many never really knew. It also reads a bit like a personal tour through his homes over the years, with a number of anecdotes thrown in for good measure. For one, it's a really enjoyable read and - regardless of personal beliefs - was well worth it, and at no point do you lose his own personality in the process.
analiesereads's review
4.0
this won't be a real review because i am very biased but... i love this man. i could sit and listen to him babble all day. this was great. i like [b:You're Making Me Hate You: A Cantankerous Look at the Common Misconception That Humans Have Any Common Sense Left|22928857|You're Making Me Hate You A Cantankerous Look at the Common Misconception That Humans Have Any Common Sense Left|Corey Taylor|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1429027789s/22928857.jpg|42498437] more, but thats just because it's more of my cup of tea. anyways, i love corey taylor and think he's a genius.
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