Sellevision
by Augusten Burroughs
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avg 3.42
Read in August, 2003
Fiction, This book is exactly as shallow as the people in it. The story revolves around Sellevision, a home shopping network like QVC, and the people who work there, or, in the case of Max, no longer work there. It's a trashy, unengaging read, and the POV is staggeringly inconsistent. The first two lines give you a pretty good idea about how the rest of the novel works: "You exposed your penis on national television, Max. What am I supposed to do?" This book is filled with cliches. Sev...more
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I was sorry I didn't care for this book since I adore Augusten Burroughs. It wasn't particularly terrible but it was just a cheap, trashy read that I didn't associate with the witty, biting and unflinchingly honest prose of Burroughs' memoirs. As other readers have mentioned this was a typical airplane read - rife with cliques, flat characters and plot lines that manage to be both absurd and predictable. Its zaniness reminded me a bit of a Carl Hiassen paperback. At any rate it appears fiction i...more
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This is SO funny if you aren't offended by the obscenities and very adult subject matter. One of the funniest I've read in a long time.
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Read in July, 2008
Well, after reading several of Burroughs’ works, I can’t say I have an overly high opinion of his contributions. When I first asked a friend who this Burroughs person was and if I’d enjoy reading him, they told me that he was similar to David Sedaris and that if I liked Sedaris, I’d like Burroughs. Well, the truth is that I LOVE Sedaris, and tolerate Burroughs.
They both seem to draw largely on personal experiences to weave humorous stories that people can relate to. How can that go w...more
They both seem to draw largely on personal experiences to weave humorous stories that people can relate to. How can that go w...more
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Read in September, 2007
Alas, I have read every single book by Augusten Burroughs. Luckily, he plans on writing many more. Let me tell you something about Sellevision! It was Augusten's only real fiction novel, the rest of his books are autobiographical stories or essays. It was also the first thing he ever wrote and published, all the way back in 2000. He explained in Possible Side Effects that he wrote this book in a total of one week as he was trying to become sober. And after a few tries, he got it published. It wa...more
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Max is a host on Sellevision, a TV home shopping network. After accidently exposing himself live on the air, he finds himself looking for new work. But is the host of a shopping channel show qualified to do anything else, especially after such a scandal? As Max searches for work, we are also introduced to the other on-air personalities of Sellevision. Peggy Jean is the perfect mother and wife, and host of Sellevision’s most popular jewelry show. But after a viewer points out a shortcoming in h...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in March, 2008
This book is Augusten Burroughs' first novel. The book follows 4 people, all hosts of the popular QVC-esque television channel called Sellevision. The first is Max, who on the very first page of the book gets fired after his penis "peeks" out during a live Slumber Party bathrobe special on the TV station. The book follws him through interviews, friendship and then an unusal career choice.
Next there's Bebe, a very popular host on Sellevision, who finds that she is getting older ...more
Next there's Bebe, a very popular host on Sellevision, who finds that she is getting older ...more
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Read in January, 2007
Three years ago I read Running with Scissors and found it funny, but largely mediocre. Two years ago, I read Dry and found it tolerable. Well, no more books by Augusten Burroughs because Sellevision is awful. The novel focuses on several characters, all of whom are hosts on a fictional home shopping cable television channel. One is fired for accidentally exposing himself on a live broadcast; another is a prim and proper lady who is being stalked by an obsessive fan, and who is completely unaw...more
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When I read this book a few years ago, I remember loving it. I thought it was clever, biting, and witty. I even went as far as to compare it to Tom Perrotta.
Ah, how my tastes have evolved. It is very Tom-Perrotta-like--a diet Tom Perrotta which uses Sweet and Low instead of Splenda. Leaves you with a bad aftertaste and it's nothing close to the real thing.
It's a clever concept in theory--a bunch of people who work in a Home Shopping Network atmosphere, and the complications within it. A few ...more
Ah, how my tastes have evolved. It is very Tom-Perrotta-like--a diet Tom Perrotta which uses Sweet and Low instead of Splenda. Leaves you with a bad aftertaste and it's nothing close to the real thing.
It's a clever concept in theory--a bunch of people who work in a Home Shopping Network atmosphere, and the complications within it. A few ...more
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Read in March, 2008
A very, very typical "airplane book" that was quick and light-hearted.
To enjoy this book, I think you have to be one of two kinds of people. 1) You have to be a fan of Augusten Burroughs already or 2) Be completely new to Burroughs (so you have no bias) and be a fan of airplane books. Personally, I already like Augusten Burroughs quite a bit, so this book was pretty much what I expected. To it's credit, though, I didn't expect this book to be very memorable. I figured I'd read it j...more
To enjoy this book, I think you have to be one of two kinds of people. 1) You have to be a fan of Augusten Burroughs already or 2) Be completely new to Burroughs (so you have no bias) and be a fan of airplane books. Personally, I already like Augusten Burroughs quite a bit, so this book was pretty much what I expected. To it's credit, though, I didn't expect this book to be very memorable. I figured I'd read it j...more
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Read in October, 2008
This book, while definitely 'adult' in theme, is not graphic at all and manages to weave a hilarious mix of unlikely characters together for an easy, fun, light-hearted read.
Since my mother-in-law is obsessed with QVC (I had to delicately ask her to stop sending us things weekly after getting married) I found it particularly comical as the characters and dialogue was spot-on for television sales programming.
Since my mother-in-law is obsessed with QVC (I had to delicately ask her to stop sending us things weekly after getting married) I found it particularly comical as the characters and dialogue was spot-on for television sales programming.
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I loved this book. It's great dark humor, and it makes you wonder what's going on behind the scenes at QVC! I'd really like to see Burroughs write another novel, now that he's established himself as a memoirist.
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Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
Soap opera fans
This book reminded me of the movie "Soapdish" - a comedy about the insanity of being involved in a soap opera. Growing up, I would watch "Days of Our Lives" with my mom. I grew out of that show by about nine years old, but mom, bless her, still watches that drivel to this day. This book brought memories of that show back, only with a home shopping network spin on it. I thought it was expertly written, at times touching, at times hilarious, thoroughly entertaining from beginni...more
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Read in December, 2007
I'm a big fan of Augusten Burroughs and I was pleasantly surprised with Sellevision being fiction rather than memoir. Following the lives of a bunch of folks who all work for Sellevision, a fictional version of QVC, we're able to explore a myriad of different personalities with problems all their own who are all connected to the media conglomerate that they work for. Burroughs's irreverant, snarky writing style is still present, and he even adds a hint of mystery to the story, as we all read o...more
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Read in September, 2008
This book is hilarious! As the main reviewer said: "Darkly funny and gleefully mean-spirited, Sellevision explores greed, obsession, and third-tier celebrity in the world of a fictional home-shopping network." I understand Burroughs worked in the world of advertising for many years, and I think he draws these characters from people he may have known. Good comic relief.
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Read in October, 2008
OK, the truth is I listened to this book on tape on a drive to/from New Hampshire. It was prefect for the drive -- light, funny, interesting enough that I cared to keep going to the next chapter. I enjoyed it and laughed out loud a few times. Won't tax your intellect that's for sure, but it was fun.
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A cute read that you will get through very quickly. Perfect for the summer or the subway.
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not his best book. Burroughs is a great memoirs writer and has many many stories from his life to reflect on. Reading about his life makes your own life sound pretty darn good. This book though is good for a few cheap laughs but it gets kind of dry in places.
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I'm not one for fiction much, but I had to read this since Augusten Burroughs is one of my favorite authors. Believe me, he did not disappoint! There were times when I literally laughed out loud at the outrageousness of the book - but it was entertaining!
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Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
everyone
When I need humor, I pick up any of Augusten Burroughs' books. (Between my partner and I, we own them all.) Even if all I read is a quick chapter, I feel 100% better.
While all of his books, save this one, are autobiographical, this one work of fiction is my absolute favorite.
There's nothing like learning about the inner workings of television shopping networks from the p.o.v. of a shopaholic, a gay man with a career isssue, a mistress, and a over bearing christian woman with a stalker an...more
While all of his books, save this one, are autobiographical, this one work of fiction is my absolute favorite.
There's nothing like learning about the inner workings of television shopping networks from the p.o.v. of a shopaholic, a gay man with a career isssue, a mistress, and a over bearing christian woman with a stalker an...more
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