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meansteve's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
3.5
revohlution's review against another edition
This was the first John Waters book I’ve ever read, I’m sad to admit, but it was everything I hoped it would be. From sharing his experiences with the films he created to reminiscing about long time friends, describing the restaurant and house he’d create right in down to his funeral, death, and afterlife, John Waters is genuinely and consistently John Waters.
His style of writing renders you unable to put this book down even though you know you need to wake up early in the morning. He has made me want to visit Provincetown again - without my parents this time - so that I may bask in all of its queer glory.
I would love to meet him just to be in his presence, though I would need to carefully plan my outfit lest he cannot even stand a glance in my direction.
This is a must read for anyone who doesn’t want to “fit-in” with societal norms, loves the eccentricities of a person with a free mind, or anyone who needs encouragement to break the mould and allow their creativity to overtake their self-consciousness.
I’m off to soak my brain with his works of all mediums.
His style of writing renders you unable to put this book down even though you know you need to wake up early in the morning. He has made me want to visit Provincetown again - without my parents this time - so that I may bask in all of its queer glory.
I would love to meet him just to be in his presence, though I would need to carefully plan my outfit lest he cannot even stand a glance in my direction.
This is a must read for anyone who doesn’t want to “fit-in” with societal norms, loves the eccentricities of a person with a free mind, or anyone who needs encouragement to break the mould and allow their creativity to overtake their self-consciousness.
I’m off to soak my brain with his works of all mediums.
nathansnook's review
Highly anticipated, I came into this one with the audio book and read along with the print version. It's always wonderful to hear Waters read his own work because he writes the way he talks and somehow this is comforting.
This is essentially part memoir and part-sequel to Shock Value. I felt the memoir bits really hit home, holding together the wacky and wonderful parts we saw in him through Role Models, but the Shock Value part was a bit on the long side and covered hit-or-miss on set stories of his later films. All in all, it gets poignant at the end of the book which was a turn I didn't think Waters could turn to, but it's there and it's wonderful. For John Waters fans, this is a must read. Should not be missed.
This is essentially part memoir and part-sequel to Shock Value. I felt the memoir bits really hit home, holding together the wacky and wonderful parts we saw in him through Role Models, but the Shock Value part was a bit on the long side and covered hit-or-miss on set stories of his later films. All in all, it gets poignant at the end of the book which was a turn I didn't think Waters could turn to, but it's there and it's wonderful. For John Waters fans, this is a must read. Should not be missed.
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.
honeybruce's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
bendy_'s review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
kevinjloder's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a fan of *listening* to John Waters. I've enjoyed his stand-up comedies & any guest appearance. As for this book, getting into the weeds of his films, half of which I've never seen, and some creative writing, I personally wasn't quite interested enough. I switched to the audiobook since I'm fond of his voice, to avoid this becoming a DNF book. So, although this book may be a bit of a long stretch for an average fan, it's likely an absolute delight for his number one fans.
beththebookdragon's review
3.0
I'm not a Waters fan but I enjoy many of his ideas and commentary, and his profound odd-yet-oddly-solid beliefs. Good reading if really gross in places.
eleellis's review
4.0
Well, here's the thing to keep in mind when it comes to Mr. Know-It-All by John Waters - the information in the book is profane and can be descriptively graphic, but what tempers that is Waters' writing does not appear to be of the style to demean or to humiliate with venom. It is more of a style of telling things like they are and not being shy about it.
Mr. Know-It-All is a humorous memoir by John Waters that covers almost any topic imaginable: From his growing up, movie making, his unapologetic lifestyle, to his openness about all matters related to his sexuality, to current popular culture.
An overall, humourous and entertaining book, especially for those familiar with John Waters.
Mr. Know-It-All is a humorous memoir by John Waters that covers almost any topic imaginable: From his growing up, movie making, his unapologetic lifestyle, to his openness about all matters related to his sexuality, to current popular culture.
An overall, humourous and entertaining book, especially for those familiar with John Waters.