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williamriverdale 's review for:
Based on a True Story
by Norm Macdonald
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Most people write their autobiographies in the traditional genre—a chronological, realistic narrative. However, Macdonald, who was always out of the norm when it came to comedy, seemed to have decided to do the same with his memoir as well.
“Hey, hey, you know what might be pretty funny?” Norm seems to have said. “What if I wrote my book like a farce, like a real funny farce.”
“I think that’s amazing, Norm,” said Adam Eget as only Adam Eget can say. “Will I be in it?”
“Don’t worry, Adam Eget,” Norm waved away. “I will be sure to give you a proper place.”
And his idea is not without precedent. Ancient history and science manuals have been written in poetry. Even the book of Genesis in the Bible is written as long-form poetry. So why not with one’s own memoir in something a little different.
And Norm knew the perfect genre to write it in—the tall tale. It was a genre Macdonald was well acquainted with and exceptional at. If you have ever heard his jokes like the ‘Moth joke’, ‘Dirty Johnny joke’, ‘Jacques de Gautier joke’, you know how it goes. He tells a long-winded anecdote, either real or imagined, with seemingly superficial details that don’t really add to the comedy but which are actually comical and ends with a punchline which is either just a dad joke or a denouement so insanely simple that the entire thing feels like a giant scam.
And so is this book. This aptly named book is not a memoir but is based on a true story. And just like hearing a tall tale, so is reading the book. You do not know when Macdonald is being somber, or cheeky, where he is being philosophical, or setting up a sentiment for a quick laugh. It is all there for the reader to figure out. Macdonald, who is famous for almost never dropping his stage persona, also never drops it in the book. There is truth in the book, truth about the man that a traditional memoir with all the real things would not reveal. Maybe the tall tale was the only way to the truth. However, it is also true that Norm would be fine with you just reading it as a joke. I think he’d appreciate it.
Saying that, I believe all the stuff that happened with Adam Eget. It’s too funny to be anything but.
And Norm knew the perfect genre to write it in—the tall tale. It was a genre Macdonald was well acquainted with and exceptional at. If you have ever heard his jokes like the ‘Moth joke’, ‘Dirty Johnny joke’, ‘Jacques de Gautier joke’, you know how it goes. He tells a long-winded anecdote, either real or imagined, with seemingly superficial details that don’t really add to the comedy but which are actually comical and ends with a punchline which is either just a dad joke or a denouement so insanely simple that the entire thing feels like a giant scam.
And so is this book. This aptly named book is not a memoir but is based on a true story. And just like hearing a tall tale, so is reading the book. You do not know when Macdonald is being somber, or cheeky, where he is being philosophical, or setting up a sentiment for a quick laugh. It is all there for the reader to figure out. Macdonald, who is famous for almost never dropping his stage persona, also never drops it in the book. There is truth in the book, truth about the man that a traditional memoir with all the real things would not reveal. Maybe the tall tale was the only way to the truth. However, it is also true that Norm would be fine with you just reading it as a joke. I think he’d appreciate it.
Saying that, I believe all the stuff that happened with Adam Eget. It’s too funny to be anything but.