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reaofsunshine28's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
3.5
The voice of John Waters is truly an inimitable one — if you aren’t familiar with his work, from the outrageous Pink Flamingos to the family friendly Hairspray, this memoir is honestly a good foray into the original filth elder. The first protestor of political correctness, even.
Reading this is like visiting your eccentric uncle, your fairly odd godfather or that one person you *swear* is your relative but you’re not entirely sure how. Either way, every story and off the wall perspective he has is one that leaves you coming back, be it with genuine interest or wondering what the fuck he just told you is true. The king of turning bad taste into good commentary or a good laugh proves to you that just because the general public doesn’t receive you all that well, what does that matter? Box office bombs and bad critic reviews never stopped him, he still creates and tours to this day. His poking fun at pretentious restaurants and cold, unfeeling, bland, ‘modern’ architecture reminds you why he does what he does — to keep people feeling and talking. What is a world without that?
This book is part diary, part life lessons and overall, spiritually, partly joining him on the acid trip he eventually mentions midway through the book.
No one tells John Waters what to do, and that is truly why he does indeed know it all.
raggediandi's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
What an asshole (affectionate) but also what an asshole (derogatory)
Obviously John Waters is going to be offensive but it’s disappointing when that offensive is punching down.
Obviously John Waters is going to be offensive but it’s disappointing when that offensive is punching down.
ginareadsalot's review against another edition
3.0
John Waters is the snarky, witty, gay uncle I want to sit next to at Thanksgiving. In this fantasy we’re coming up with tragic backstories for family members we mutually despise and thinking up bizarre and imaginative sexual uses for gravy.
The book started off wildly interesting as he starts recounting his career midway through, each chapter dedicated to a movie starting with Polyester. No actress or detail is spared- thank God- and the stories from behind the camera are as hilarious and irreverent as the movies themselves.
As his career in film transitions to one man show, the book then becomes chapter after chapter of his own musings on varying topics: traveling, a well planned acid trip, architecture, monkeys who paint (to name a few). This is where can be brilliant- the chapter on activism had me laughing out loud and wanting to quote the gospel according to John (Waters) but also redundant. His voice becomes grating, his negativity barely balanced by his irreverence and inherent silliness.
Still enjoyed it though. Thanks John.
The book started off wildly interesting as he starts recounting his career midway through, each chapter dedicated to a movie starting with Polyester. No actress or detail is spared- thank God- and the stories from behind the camera are as hilarious and irreverent as the movies themselves.
As his career in film transitions to one man show, the book then becomes chapter after chapter of his own musings on varying topics: traveling, a well planned acid trip, architecture, monkeys who paint (to name a few). This is where can be brilliant- the chapter on activism had me laughing out loud and wanting to quote the gospel according to John (Waters) but also redundant. His voice becomes grating, his negativity barely balanced by his irreverence and inherent silliness.
Still enjoyed it though. Thanks John.
storiwa's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to give this only 2 stars because several chapters are just Mr. Waters going off the rails into an imaginary world...but that's what he does...it's his art...so I didn't deduct a star. Parts of this book are excellent so it's worth reading if you appreciate his movies.
dannyitisntreal's review against another edition
5.0
With the help of the Pope of Trash, you'll be a chimp-art collecting radical feminist with good bad taste. You'll aspire to never fly coach and take LSD in your later years. John Waters is my hero, and he should be yours too.
translator_monkey's review against another edition
5.0
The Duke of Trash delivers with heart, humor, and hysterics. Never will I look at Don Knotts the same again.
wall0w's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
The more I read from John Waters, the more I appreciate his perspective and want to work my way up (or back) to watching his most infamous, earlier works but reading him say that he likes his later films too makes me less ashamed to be working my way backwards through his filmography. Maybe one day I'll reach the peak. One can only hope
son_of_simon's review against another edition
4.0
I received this from a Goodreads giveaway.
Overall I enjoyed this book but it is pretty uneven. Some chapters I found very interesting, others I felt were a waste of my time. Different people will probably enjoy different parts of this book.
I especially enjoyed the early part of the book about making the movies. The chapters on activism, sex clubs, and taking LSD at 70 were also very good.
The chapters that were long ironic fantasies were awful. They would probably be better on audio. They read like they were part of his stand-up act.
Worth reading if you are interested in John Waters or any of his careers.
Overall I enjoyed this book but it is pretty uneven. Some chapters I found very interesting, others I felt were a waste of my time. Different people will probably enjoy different parts of this book.
I especially enjoyed the early part of the book about making the movies. The chapters on activism, sex clubs, and taking LSD at 70 were also very good.
The chapters that were long ironic fantasies were awful. They would probably be better on audio. They read like they were part of his stand-up act.
Worth reading if you are interested in John Waters or any of his careers.
moon110581's review against another edition
4.0
I always enjoy listening to John Waters talk about anything. He's like my gay grandpa, telling me about the good old days.
This book was a mixed bag that I almost gave three stars to, but reflecting on it decided on four. The chapters where he talks about things he knows about well are the strongest : his movies, Provincetown, the olden days of gay sex clubs, etc...
There's a few chapters where he let's his imagination run wild, speculates on a disgusting restaurant he would open or a terrifying house he would build. These two in particular get old after awhile since it's essentially the same joke over and over. He also had a chapter speculating on his death and afterlife that was better, and a strange and hilarious letter to his 'son,' an angry - looking Reborn doll named Bill.
There's a few chapters where he sounds a little out of touch, like a grumpy rich old man bemoaning air travel, hotel accommodations, and modern life in general that are also borderline humorous cautionary tales.
There were lots of places, though, where I learned something - about art, about architecture, about life back in the day, about music : those are the real reasons I bumped the star rating up and why I enjoy John Waters in the first place. He is a truly creative, interesting person who has lived an amazing and interesting life.
This book was a mixed bag that I almost gave three stars to, but reflecting on it decided on four. The chapters where he talks about things he knows about well are the strongest : his movies, Provincetown, the olden days of gay sex clubs, etc...
There's a few chapters where he let's his imagination run wild, speculates on a disgusting restaurant he would open or a terrifying house he would build. These two in particular get old after awhile since it's essentially the same joke over and over. He also had a chapter speculating on his death and afterlife that was better, and a strange and hilarious letter to his 'son,' an angry - looking Reborn doll named Bill.
There's a few chapters where he sounds a little out of touch, like a grumpy rich old man bemoaning air travel, hotel accommodations, and modern life in general that are also borderline humorous cautionary tales.
There were lots of places, though, where I learned something - about art, about architecture, about life back in the day, about music : those are the real reasons I bumped the star rating up and why I enjoy John Waters in the first place. He is a truly creative, interesting person who has lived an amazing and interesting life.
snowgirl2242's review against another edition
4.0
This was funny, gross, smart and had a dash of scary which should come as no surprise to any John Waters fan. Books like this that have an author with such a unique personality and voice should be listened to as an audiobook. He sounded like he was having such a great time!