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Dogs Don't Tell Jokes
by
Louis Sachar
KOR edition of DOGS DON'T TELL JOKES by Louis Sachar, author of a multi-award winner including National Book Award and Newbery award (1999) for Holes. Twelve-year-old jokester Gary Boone knows he was born to be a comedian, it's the kids in his class who think he's just a goon. Winning the school talent show would be Gary's dream come true, but on the big night his dream ne...more
Published
(first published September 3rd 1991)
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Gary Boone, or Goon as people call him, has a problem. He doesn’t have any friends at his school, he gets teased and bullied, and he hides his low self esteem and insecurity behind a wall of never ending bad jokes. He thinks his humor is the only asset he has and yet it seems it’s what cripples him the most. He knows people don’t like his jokes and he knows it will cause more teasing but he can’t turn off his barrages of verbal diarrhea. But he thinks that by showing off his best jokes at the sc...more
This is the story of 11 year old Gary Boone (or "Goon" as he likes to be called). Goon prides himself on making a joke of every situation, but he fails to recognize the negative effect his humor is having on his social relationships. When Goon makes a deal with his parents to quit telling jokes (in exchange for $100) he realizes how few friends he has. Ultimately, Goon (I mean, Gary) has to learn to cope in school and in life without hiding behind a wall of humor.
The book is endearing and the en...more
The book is endearing and the en...more
3 likes · like · see review
view 1 comment
Feb 23, 2008
Dani Butler
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Children ages (9-12)
Shelves:
childhood
This book is a mix between Louis Sachar's other works: There's a boy in the girls' bathroom and [Sideways stories from Wayside School]. Again from memory, it wasn't as serious as There's a boy in the girl's bathroom and it's nowhere near the realm of Wackiness that is present in the Wayside School series. This book is about a kid who tells jokes but very few people think he is funny. Like There's a boy in the girl's bathroom, the character is likeable and realistic and easy to relant to for ma...more
This book is hard to pin-point an age range for. The MC wants to be a comedian, and so constantly tells sort-of funny jokes in preparation for the school talent show. I'd give this to the 11-year-old I know who loves really bad jokes, but there is also mention (in a humorous way) of a woman's long-legged-ness, and jokes about envisioning people (including said beautiful woman - who's the boy's teacher) in the shower. Because of this, no 11 year old boy should read this. So where does that put it...more
"So'd you hear?" he asked. "They're not making pencils any longer."
"They're long enough already!"
I was on a library scanning on a bookshelf when I was attracted by the title. Picking up this book, I was surprised to find out that it was written by Louis Sachar! I immediately started reading, hoping it will be as awesome as Holes (I know, when it comes to authors, I compare their different genre-d books all the time. Just check out my other reviews!).
It wasn't really as awesome as Holes, but it's...more
"They're long enough already!"
I was on a library scanning on a bookshelf when I was attracted by the title. Picking up this book, I was surprised to find out that it was written by Louis Sachar! I immediately started reading, hoping it will be as awesome as Holes (I know, when it comes to authors, I compare their different genre-d books all the time. Just check out my other reviews!).
It wasn't really as awesome as Holes, but it's...more
Dogs Don’t Tell Jokes by Louis Sachar has nothing to do with dogs. Gary W. Boone, nicknamed Goon, knows he was born to be a stand up comedian, but it’s everyone else who doubts him. Then when Gary’s school puts on a talent show, Gary is sure it’s his big break. Gary then spends all of his time making up jokes, preparing them and putting them into order. While doing all this Gary forgets about his homework and then has to catch up on everything he’s missed, giving him less time to practice for th...more
A common childhood theme is explored: the challenge of what to do when peers laugh AT you instead of WITH you. The boy nicknamed Goon wants classmates to laugh with him, as he fancies himself a comedian. He is the penultimate joke-teller.
Trouble is, many of his jokes are unfunny. Still, he enters a talent show. Then he quits. He signs up again, and somehow, they make room for him on the program.
Something has changed. He has had an epiphany of sorts. He came to an understanding that some of hi...more
Trouble is, many of his jokes are unfunny. Still, he enters a talent show. Then he quits. He signs up again, and somehow, they make room for him on the program.
Something has changed. He has had an epiphany of sorts. He came to an understanding that some of hi...more
This book is about a boy called Gary W. Boone that wants be a comedian when he grows up. He always tell jokes to his classmates, so everyone are calling him GOON. However, there is a talent show, and that is the time that Gary can show his talent to everyone, and proves that he is not a goon. But Gary can not imagine that the talent show list does not have his name on it, so he can not be on the talent show. However, he still goes up, and makes everyone laugh. I think I should learn from him, I...more
First of all, don't read this book soon after you've read Mockingbird. Otherwise you'll end up thinking this kid has some form of mild and undiagnosed autism spectrum issue. It's not just that he's weird; that's to be expected. It's that there are some things that he really just doesn't seem to get. It reminded me a lot of the character in Mockingbird because she has a hard time with idioms (is that the right word? I think so). She takes everything so literally. And there several times when this...more
this book was funny
Its about this boy who has this dog and one day the dog all of the sudden starts to talk.Yea thats right TALKS kind of wierd because he tells a joke and freaks the lil boy out
2 likes · like · see review
Just as funny and charming everytime I read it. :) Sachar's legendary wit and childlike sense of humor has you rooting for Gary through the whole novel. Charming, truly charming.
Gary Boone (people call him Goon) has a habit of turning everything into a joke. He can never be taken seriously, and people who are near him will never be taken seriously by him. He thinks he has a good talent, of making jokes, so he signs up for the school's talent competition and gears up for his first stand-up comedy show.
Egs of his jokes:
Do you feel like an egg this morning?
I don't know. How does an egg feel?
Just call me Humpty Dumpty.
Yes. You better not drop me. I might crack.
Was expe...more
Egs of his jokes:
Do you feel like an egg this morning?
I don't know. How does an egg feel?
Just call me Humpty Dumpty.
Yes. You better not drop me. I might crack.
Was expe...more
I like a lot of kinds of books but I usually don’t love light, funny books like I loved DOGS DON’T TELL JOKES by Louis Sachar. The main character, 12-year-old Gary Boone is funny. At least he thinks so. He decides that if he tells jokes in the talent show, people will realize that he does have a talent. But things aren’t easy. Gary has his share of frustration, teasing, and school trouble. Maybe he should quit . . .
This book was hilarious, like most writing by Louis Sachar. It teaches to follo...more
This book was hilarious, like most writing by Louis Sachar. It teaches to follo...more
Why did the guy eat two dead skunks for breakfast? Because live ones squeal when you stick the fork in.
...more
Gary W. Boone knows he was born to be a stand-up comedian. It's the rest of the kids in his class who think he’s just a goon. Then the Floyd Hicks Junior High School Talent Show is announced, and he starts practicing his routine nonstop to get it just right. Gary’s sure this will be his big break -- he'll make everyone laugh and win the $100 prize. But when an outrageous surprise threatens to
I love pretty much anything by Louis Sachar. This one is hilarious. especially the end
This reading book is absolutely amazing . I love it because I was able to understand it . I understood it enough to be able to read it . When I read this book I was blown away because this relates to me in a lot of ways . It relates to me because I try to be a comedian while I am in school but it doesn't turn out the way I want it to .That is how that book relates to me .
I don't know what it is about Louis Sachar but I loved his books all growing up. This particular one was passed around to every boy in the 5th grade. It's about a boy who yearns to be a stand up comedian but the trouble is no one thinks he's that funny. He enters a school talent show but isn't sure how well he will do. Awesome book that has much more than laughs.
My students loved this novel from Louis Sachar. It's a great read aloud for any 4th/5th grade class (it was first read to me when I was in 4th grade), and as usual, Sachar manages to insert a level of depth uncommon to most children's literature - all while sustaining an entertaining plot through the telling of a truly hilarious narrator.
Another thoughtful, fresh perspective on childhood bullying/life. I liked it a lot.
The only thing was, it was a bit harsh at times; I definitely wouldn't let my Grade 5 students read it. There were some very mean and difficult moments in it.
But it was funny, made me think, had a lot of truth to it, and had a great, great ending.
The only thing was, it was a bit harsh at times; I definitely wouldn't let my Grade 5 students read it. There were some very mean and difficult moments in it.
But it was funny, made me think, had a lot of truth to it, and had a great, great ending.
did anyone notice at the end of the book he was crying?
I think it was because he wet him self and he had onwhite pants and probably thought that was the only reason people were laughing.
the joke in the begining were not funny at all but at the talent show I guess I can say they were funny.
I think it was because he wet him self and he had onwhite pants and probably thought that was the only reason people were laughing.
the joke in the begining were not funny at all but at the talent show I guess I can say they were funny.
This book meant a whole lot to me in fifth grade. One of those "maybe if this character can make it out of school okay, I can too?" sort of deals. So yeah, always stuck with me. Rereading it now, it's not as good as Holes or The Wayside books, but it's still fun.
I read this for my children's literature course. It was ok.. I probably would have enjoyed it more if I had read it when I was younger. Sachar does do an excellent job of recreating the middle school experience from the vantage point of an awkward child.
Gary W. Boone, nickname in school is Goon and there’s a reason for it. He knows he was born to be a comedian, but it’s everyone else who says he’s wrong. But then when Gary’s school puts on a talent show, Gary is sure it’s his big chance to be number one.
Gary W. Boone knows he was born to be a stand-up comedian. It's the rest of the kids in his class who think he's just a goon. Then the Floyd Hicks Junior High School Talent Show is announced, and Gary starts practicing his routine nonstop. Gary is sure this will be his big break—he'll make everyone laugh and win the $100 prize. But when an outrageous surprise threatens to turn his debut into a disaster, it looks as if the biggest joke of all may be on Gary.
Mar 11, 2009
Keyla G.
added it
this book its about aboy who wa sin the skool and he like to tell alot of jokes but all his jokes where not funny. so at the end of the school year they had a talentshow and he won with his jokes. that was the best day of his life
Sep 29, 2007
Catherine
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
any kid
Shelves:
school-library-reads
What a great little book this was! I was pleasantly surprised.
This author really does know kids and how they work. His characterization of this little guy who's obviously a bit clueless (socially speaking) reminded me of several kids I went to school with. Gary, the main character in the book, knows he doesn't fit in but just can't quite work out how to be like the rest of 'them' (thank goodness!) The bullies also reminded me of past schoolmates. =(
The whole story was engaging and witty and diff...more
This author really does know kids and how they work. His characterization of this little guy who's obviously a bit clueless (socially speaking) reminded me of several kids I went to school with. Gary, the main character in the book, knows he doesn't fit in but just can't quite work out how to be like the rest of 'them' (thank goodness!) The bullies also reminded me of past schoolmates. =(
The whole story was engaging and witty and diff...more
"It reminded me of a skunk. Ha. Ha." Jokes aside, this book is nothing. When I read this, I couldn't stop until I fell asleep. I shouldn't have had worms for dinner. Ha. Ha. This is the kind of book that 'burns the midnight oil.'
I think this book is very good because it is very descriptive. It is very realistic and it is about a middle school student trying to be a funny kid and fails. There was this talent show and he joined it to tell jokes.
great book for kids but as an adult I had to suffer through a lot of lame jokes before I got the good laugh at the end. As a children's library manager, I like to read some of what's hot with the kids.
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Louis Sachar (pronounced Sacker), born March 20, 1954, is an American author of children's books.
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