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A review by maryehavens
Carsick: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America by John Waters
4.0
I missed the part where Waters introduced the first two parts as fiction so I was shocked by the "Good Ride" chapters until I realized that they were fiction. My bad.
I really, really enjoy Waters non-fiction. I would happily listen or read another one of those. My libraries only have one other book by Waters and it's fiction so I will pass. The fiction was way too sexual for me and I expect the novel to be the same.
The non-fiction: I just love Waters commentary on popular culture and his references. He's a master of American popular culture. I also love his sense of humor. He's so unpretentious when writing non-fiction. His commentary on portion size, chain restaurants, gambling and the like. He loved Ruby Tuesday's and hated Applebee's :) He had never eaten at the Outback Steakhouse which makes me wonder if he doesn't have access to one in his area of Baltimore or he never sought one out. What does he eat every day? Where does he live? I imagine that he doesn't go out to eat much or he just lives in an area of Baltimore that doesn't have many chain restaurants. I live outside of Austin and it's hard to find chains in Austin proper - the suburbs certainly have loads of chain restaurants. Waters isn't slamming the chains either - it's just not part of his life.
My favorite quote of this book went something like "standing underneath that bald hell known as the sun". :)
I laughed many times, especially in the "Bad Ride" and "Real Ride" chapters. I didn't understand the "Good Rides" but that was my fault.
I really, really enjoy Waters non-fiction. I would happily listen or read another one of those. My libraries only have one other book by Waters and it's fiction so I will pass. The fiction was way too sexual for me and I expect the novel to be the same.
The non-fiction: I just love Waters commentary on popular culture and his references. He's a master of American popular culture. I also love his sense of humor. He's so unpretentious when writing non-fiction. His commentary on portion size, chain restaurants, gambling and the like. He loved Ruby Tuesday's and hated Applebee's :) He had never eaten at the Outback Steakhouse which makes me wonder if he doesn't have access to one in his area of Baltimore or he never sought one out. What does he eat every day? Where does he live? I imagine that he doesn't go out to eat much or he just lives in an area of Baltimore that doesn't have many chain restaurants. I live outside of Austin and it's hard to find chains in Austin proper - the suburbs certainly have loads of chain restaurants. Waters isn't slamming the chains either - it's just not part of his life.
My favorite quote of this book went something like "standing underneath that bald hell known as the sun". :)
I laughed many times, especially in the "Bad Ride" and "Real Ride" chapters. I didn't understand the "Good Rides" but that was my fault.