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A review by maryehavens
Role Models by John Waters
5.0
"Do we secretly idolize our imagined opposites, yearning to become the role models for others we know we could never be for ourselves?" John Waters, Role Models
I would say "yes" to this quote. As much as I admire the absurd/outlandish statements that John Waters can, and will, "put out" there, I will probably never do it myself. His fashion choices, his magnetic draw to the fringes of society, his down and dirty living amongst this fringe: I admire him for holding up that mirror to this part of society so we can all see it. But the closest I'm willing to get is listening/reading a book about it. Maybe I'll dye a purple streak in my hair when I go all gray. That pales in comparison to his lifetime of "trash" but hey, he's led me to embrace my inner flair so I'm going with it. And he would approve because he's not judgemental at all.
So many parts of this book made me laugh out loud (my favorite line was probably: "I'm disgusted hearing about this. I'm digusted that I have to tell you this!") and made me cringe with repulsion. And I identified with so much of it too. It might have taken him 60 years and countless therapy sessions but it's so incredibly refreshing to hear someone embrace their own weirdness and make no apologies. And then to hear what THEY get weirded out about!!
Driving around with John Waters was like driving around with your best, weirdest friend. You can tell them anything, they can tell you anything, you worry about their safety, you love hearing their stories, and you'll always be there for them. But you kind of pray for them extra hard just because you know they need an extra dose of guardian angel :)
I would say "yes" to this quote. As much as I admire the absurd/outlandish statements that John Waters can, and will, "put out" there, I will probably never do it myself. His fashion choices, his magnetic draw to the fringes of society, his down and dirty living amongst this fringe: I admire him for holding up that mirror to this part of society so we can all see it. But the closest I'm willing to get is listening/reading a book about it. Maybe I'll dye a purple streak in my hair when I go all gray. That pales in comparison to his lifetime of "trash" but hey, he's led me to embrace my inner flair so I'm going with it. And he would approve because he's not judgemental at all.
So many parts of this book made me laugh out loud (my favorite line was probably: "I'm disgusted hearing about this. I'm digusted that I have to tell you this!") and made me cringe with repulsion. And I identified with so much of it too. It might have taken him 60 years and countless therapy sessions but it's so incredibly refreshing to hear someone embrace their own weirdness and make no apologies. And then to hear what THEY get weirded out about!!
Driving around with John Waters was like driving around with your best, weirdest friend. You can tell them anything, they can tell you anything, you worry about their safety, you love hearing their stories, and you'll always be there for them. But you kind of pray for them extra hard just because you know they need an extra dose of guardian angel :)