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58th out of 455 books
—
402 voters
The Funny Thing Is...
Ellen DeGeneres published her first book of comic essays, the #1 bestselling My Point...And I Do Have One, way back in 1996. Not one to rest on her laurels, the witty star of stage and screen has since dedicated her life to writing a hilarious new book. That book is this book. After years of painstaking, round-the-clock research, surviving on a mere twenty minutes of sleep...more
Paperback, 192 pages
Published
September 28th 2004
by Simon & Schuster
(first published 2003)
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I got this book for my birthday, along with DeGeneres' other book, and I jumped right into it. Here's a big surprise - I LOVED IT! Ellen DeGeneres is so talented and funny. Each chapter is in no way tied to the others, so it's not like readers are taking in an on-going story. DeGeneres rambles her way through the point that she is trying to make, and her ramblings only add to the humor. The chapter titled "A Scientific Treatise Regarding a Matter of Great Entomological Concern to All of Us" is a...more
I love Ellen (who doesn’t?!). I think that she’s funny, insightful, and incredibly wise. While I enjoy watching her show, I also loved her before she became the dancing, housewife heartthrob. It is for this reason that I picked up her book. More specifically, I got a copy of her audiobook so that I could listen to her read her book to me. I thought it would be like a private stand-up show with Ellen in my car. Sadly, it missed the most important ingredient...laughter.
In this book, Ellen has comp...more
In this book, Ellen has comp...more
This book was quite a disappointment. When I first picked up this audio book, I thought for some reason that it was Ellen's autobiography. It didn't take much time to understand that it has not much to do with her life at all. The book contains of ramblings, some of which are quite interesting to read - for example, her insight into technology (even though there wasn't much new to be told). However, I didn't find myself laughing at all. I think I snorted with laughter two times, but I expected m...more
I could easily just copy/paste my review for Ellen's first book and have it be exactly right for this one.
Again: I respect Ellen as a person and I enjoy her comedy. This book was not a good idea.
The problem isn't so much that the comedy doesn't translate to print (it doesn't), the problem is that this is not new material for Ellen, which means I've seen her perform it...and so I know just how badly it doesn't translate to print.
More than 90% of this book is material that I've seen Ellen perfo...more
Again: I respect Ellen as a person and I enjoy her comedy. This book was not a good idea.
The problem isn't so much that the comedy doesn't translate to print (it doesn't), the problem is that this is not new material for Ellen, which means I've seen her perform it...and so I know just how badly it doesn't translate to print.
More than 90% of this book is material that I've seen Ellen perfo...more
After a three day on and off relationship with Ellen, I finally finished it off. Like I said, "It was ok." Or if I'm allowed, "It was just ok."
This book was the kinda friend Ellen was talking about. Cathy. The kind that you might forget the name and when you finally talk to each other, you drift off. I'd like to make myself a very good example of a skim-reader. I have not enough patience to read and reread each line. But my gosh, I was skipping through pages on this one. Probably it was because...more
This book was the kinda friend Ellen was talking about. Cathy. The kind that you might forget the name and when you finally talk to each other, you drift off. I'd like to make myself a very good example of a skim-reader. I have not enough patience to read and reread each line. But my gosh, I was skipping through pages on this one. Probably it was because...more
From my blog
If you are a fan of Ellen your expectations will be met, no surprises, with Ellen, what you see is what you get. Ellen is silly and you enjoy laughing at her and with her. At times I rolled my eyes, laughed out loud, giggled to myself and said what the hell is she saying, oh right, ok that is so Ellen why did I fall that crap, lol.
Hands down my favourite chapter was Working it Out, about parallel parking, exercise, specifically her personal trainer. He tried to talk her out of eatin...more
If you are a fan of Ellen your expectations will be met, no surprises, with Ellen, what you see is what you get. Ellen is silly and you enjoy laughing at her and with her. At times I rolled my eyes, laughed out loud, giggled to myself and said what the hell is she saying, oh right, ok that is so Ellen why did I fall that crap, lol.
Hands down my favourite chapter was Working it Out, about parallel parking, exercise, specifically her personal trainer. He tried to talk her out of eatin...more
Oct 19, 2011
Kristilyn (Reading In Winter & Winter Distractions)
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
(FROM JACKET)Ellen DeGeneres published her first book of comic essays, the #1 bestselling "My point...and I Do Have One", way back in 1996. Not one to rest on her laurels, the witty star of stage and screen has since dedicated her life to writing a hilarious new book. That book is this book.
After years of painstaking, round-the-clock research, surviving on a mere twenty minutes of sleep a night, and collaborating with lexicographers, plumbers, and mathematicians, DeGeneres has crafted a book th...more
After years of painstaking, round-the-clock research, surviving on a mere twenty minutes of sleep a night, and collaborating with lexicographers, plumbers, and mathematicians, DeGeneres has crafted a book th...more
As you may be aware I am a huge fan of Ellen and was thrilled when my brother bought me this book as an Easter present - a great alternative to eggs!
This book is only 177 pages but backed with anecdotes and funny quips from Ellen. Some are silly and some are sensible and some are just downright ridiculous but this book had me laughing out loud throughout. Ellen's wit and charm really shine through the pages. I actually had to put the book down a couple of times because I was laughing so hard I w...more
This book is only 177 pages but backed with anecdotes and funny quips from Ellen. Some are silly and some are sensible and some are just downright ridiculous but this book had me laughing out loud throughout. Ellen's wit and charm really shine through the pages. I actually had to put the book down a couple of times because I was laughing so hard I w...more
Meh.. I like Ellen DeGeneres but not as funny as I expected. Not to say there weren't parts in this audiobook that had me laughing out loud. Just wanted more laugh aloud moments. Gosh! I'm demanding! ;-)
Note: This was a book that I received from a member at
Bookcrossing.com
Note: This was a book that I received from a member at
Bookcrossing.com
I think I went into this book with high expectations because I love Ellen and think she's hilarious. And I did laugh, so mission accomplished. The forward I think is the funniest part of the book, though. For the first half of the book, the chapters are sort of nonsensical stories that are pretty random, and I didn't find particularly funny. For those kinds of stories, John Stewart's "Naked Pictures of Famous People" was much more ridiculous and hilarious. The second half of the book was more of...more
I think I expected too much from this book.
I love Ellen DeGeneres to death. I think she's extremely funny, and just a great human being in general. I was a fan long before she got a talk show, and when I used to work nights, I would stay awake til 10:00am just so I could watch her show each day.
But dear god, this book is just horrendous. It's like I know the humor is there, I hear that she's making jokes, but the joke-to-brain connection isn't happening. I chuckled twice. No, really, I kept tra...more
I love Ellen DeGeneres to death. I think she's extremely funny, and just a great human being in general. I was a fan long before she got a talk show, and when I used to work nights, I would stay awake til 10:00am just so I could watch her show each day.
But dear god, this book is just horrendous. It's like I know the humor is there, I hear that she's making jokes, but the joke-to-brain connection isn't happening. I chuckled twice. No, really, I kept tra...more
I had wanted to read DeGeneres‘ newest book, Seriously…I’m Kidding, but it was checked out of the library, so I went with the book she wrote right before launching her wildly successful talk show instead. It’s a humorous collection of her day-to-day observations and insights on life. I recognized several of the chapters as the written version of portions of her stand-up routine that I saw on a television special several years ago. Reading the scenes she describes such as her encounters with mete...more
I am a fan of Ellen Degeneres BUT because this book was written 2003 I didnt expect too much. I am happy to say that I was pleasantly "suprised" (I knew it would be good even though the jokes werent up to date). I especially liked the part about skinny swedish legs and her wishing she was born in Sweden "like everyone else" Haha Sweden is as big as a flypoop next to America! I live in Sweden and I contantly wish I had been born in the US! She also said all Swedes eat healthy and have naturally h...more
Genre: Biography, Comedy
Summary Tease
The Funny Thing Is…is Ellen Degeneres’ second book. Each paragraph consists of a different topic. Such topics are about working out, memories with her dad, Sunday lunches with Eminem and Paula Abdul, and random things about her daily life. She doesn’t make you think at all. Just read all the words that are thrown into paragraphs and you’ll be laughing in no time. It’s hard to summarize this book because she covers so much. She is full of advice to make things...more
Summary Tease
The Funny Thing Is…is Ellen Degeneres’ second book. Each paragraph consists of a different topic. Such topics are about working out, memories with her dad, Sunday lunches with Eminem and Paula Abdul, and random things about her daily life. She doesn’t make you think at all. Just read all the words that are thrown into paragraphs and you’ll be laughing in no time. It’s hard to summarize this book because she covers so much. She is full of advice to make things...more
Ellen D! This woman represents sincerity, loyalty, and everything else that is good in the world. That is why it pains me to say: hopefully Ellen does not write anything else. The majority of this tiny book of short essays made me blush from the level of cheesiness.
*However, I did l.o.l. in “This is how we live” when Ellen pontificates about the utility of things like Go-Gurt (“Was there a big mobility problem with yogurt before? How time-consuming was it, really? ‘…Hi Tom…Oh, I’ve been dying t...more
*However, I did l.o.l. in “This is how we live” when Ellen pontificates about the utility of things like Go-Gurt (“Was there a big mobility problem with yogurt before? How time-consuming was it, really? ‘…Hi Tom…Oh, I’ve been dying t...more
First I have to say that I love Ellen DeGeneres, but I found this book to be just okay. While her rambling comic essays in many instances made me smile--such as her thoughts on the advantages of living in prison--I felt through much of the book that she was trying too hard for laughs. The second half of the book seemed to be more in her talk-show style and I enjoyed that portion of the book very much. Until it came to the end, and, obviously, she found it hard to end the book. Would I read anoth...more
I love Ellen. I think she's witty and smart and super funny. But, this book was a huge ho hum for me. And maybe part of that is due to the fact that I've seen her perform most of this book in her TV stand-up shows. The jokes fell flat and lost something in translation. Ellen is a very physical comedienne; her timing, body movements, facial expressions and wide-eyed innocence are what make her jokes hysterical. It's a package deal with Ellen. Just reading the jokes simply didn't make the cut for...more
It took me way longer than it should have to read this book, and I think I figured out why. It was really monotonous. What works for Ellen on tv and in her stand-up specials is awful to read: the absurdity and light-hearted humor that I think defines her style makes a book that feels like trying to eat a tub or reddi-whip or something. Its light, familiar, and really fun for the first bite. But after 5 bites you're full of this homogenous cloying stuff and it's a struggle to finish the book. Ell...more
Listening to this one in audio form certainly made it more entertaining than reading, if Ellen's recent book is any indication. However, it was the same format as her newest--random things compiled into a short book. This book actually contained more personal information but it was limited. It had moments of humor but largely I was disappointed. I think Ellen is best in a performance, be it stand up or on her show. I'm a big fan of Ellen but not much of one when it comes to her books.
I do wonder...more
I do wonder...more
I really wanted to love it, Ellen had been the guru personality for quite a while now and, influenced by the media, I decided I want to like her.
The funny thing is... the book is overrated. Even though it did make me laugh 2 or 3 times while walking around the city with headphones in (and startling the strangers passing by), that was pretty much it. I don't know what I expected, hadn't even seen any of her shows, so since I had no expectations I can't say I am disappointed, but the thing I like...more
The funny thing is... the book is overrated. Even though it did make me laugh 2 or 3 times while walking around the city with headphones in (and startling the strangers passing by), that was pretty much it. I don't know what I expected, hadn't even seen any of her shows, so since I had no expectations I can't say I am disappointed, but the thing I like...more
You can start this book from any chapter, each chapter is it's own story. Ellen is hysterical. I have never watched her talk show before, but now I'm curious to find out when it's on. This book has some better stories in it than her other one that I read a few days ago (Seriously, I'm Kidding). <-- That one had mainly filler stuff, while this one actually had better stories. I laughed out loud many times during this book. Most of this book was quite random, but I like that about Ellen. I lear...more
Hm, I guess I never reviewed this. I did read it, probably a year ago. I must have forgotten about it, as it wasn't very good/funny. The writing is about a 5th grade level, which is fine, really, it's Ellen DeGeneres, I wasn't expecting masterful literary stylings. The problem is it isn't funny. And I think Ellen is a truly funny person, I enjoy watching her be funny. Outloud. In book form, it just doesn't work. This might work as an audiobook, of her reading it, but even then I have my doubts....more
I love Ellen. I think her show is great - she cracks me up, and I find her to be a great comedian and entertainer overall. Maybe it's because I love Ellen so much that I was disappointed by this book. I think I had really high expectations of it, but in the end, all I can say is "It was ok."
Toward the beginning of the book, I was even considering only giving it two stars. Maybe the content just wasn't as relatable, or maybe Ellen's sense of humor just doesn't translate as well in written form. E...more
Toward the beginning of the book, I was even considering only giving it two stars. Maybe the content just wasn't as relatable, or maybe Ellen's sense of humor just doesn't translate as well in written form. E...more
If you love Ellen, you will enjoy this book. Her sense of humor is prevalent throughout. She talks straight to the reader and frequently sidetracks with random thoughts.
The first part of the book started off strong for me. She tells "stories" from her life with ridiculous scenarios. She also offers her opinions and advice on topics we can all relate to.
The second part of the book for me became less interesting. It seemed to lose its focus and rambled a bit.
Overall, I laughed throughout the bo...more
The first part of the book started off strong for me. She tells "stories" from her life with ridiculous scenarios. She also offers her opinions and advice on topics we can all relate to.
The second part of the book for me became less interesting. It seemed to lose its focus and rambled a bit.
Overall, I laughed throughout the bo...more
I listened to this book as read by Ellen herself.
It reminded me a bit of a Bill Bryson book I had recently read, I'm a Stranger Here Myself. Like Stranger, The Funny Thing Is... is full of comical anecdotes of more or less everyday occurrences. Ellen is a little less whiny than Bryson, and a little more comedic. Still, while I found more than less of her stories pretty amusing, I found the book float by past me without any serious consideration.
I'd recommend you pick up this audiobook for the ne...more
It reminded me a bit of a Bill Bryson book I had recently read, I'm a Stranger Here Myself. Like Stranger, The Funny Thing Is... is full of comical anecdotes of more or less everyday occurrences. Ellen is a little less whiny than Bryson, and a little more comedic. Still, while I found more than less of her stories pretty amusing, I found the book float by past me without any serious consideration.
I'd recommend you pick up this audiobook for the ne...more
I love Ellen. This book is sort of a rambling commentary of different things that just pop into Ellen's head. And having her read it to you makes it that much more like you are having a random funny conversation with her. And her deadpan delivery is perfect. The beginning was a little slow but I really loved her take on call-waiting and especially the news. Since I work in the business I had to listen to that part twice because I was laughing so hard over how true her thoughts were the first tim...more
Ellen once again takes you into her world of oddities and off-wall thinking. The story concepts are great and some of her new jokes are great but the book, overall, lacks the punch from her first book. The humor level is not has high as the comedy material she threw at you in reading"..my point, and I do have one." Many times in the book I felt that she was trying to hard to get a laugh out of the reader or just pulling at random topics to make funny. The book still made me laugh and is a great...more
Ellen DeGeneres has a very distinct voice. I'm just not sure that it translates well into book form. I mean, the essay-chapters were amusing (like, chortle-inducing) and occasionally insightful. But the rambling and the unrelenting "funny" (which wasn't *always* funny) was kind of tiring. Not *bad* but not great and definitely not must-own/must-read literature. I can imagine it being a very good book-on-tape, because then you'd actually hear Ellen DeGeneres saying it and it wouldn't be as weird...more
Snooze...pretty awful.
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Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American stand-up comedian, actress, and currently the Emmy Award-winning host of the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
She has hosted both the Academy Awards and the Primetime Emmys. As a film actress, she starred in Mr. Wrong, appeared in Edtv and The Love Letter, and provided the voice of "Dory" in the Pixar animated hit film Finding Nemo. She also starred...more
More about Ellen DeGeneres...
She has hosted both the Academy Awards and the Primetime Emmys. As a film actress, she starred in Mr. Wrong, appeared in Edtv and The Love Letter, and provided the voice of "Dory" in the Pixar animated hit film Finding Nemo. She also starred...more
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“You know, it's hard work to write a book. I can't tell you how many times I really get going on an idea, then my quill breaks. Or I spill ink all over my writing tunic.”
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“Life is short. If you doubt me, ask a butterfly. Their average life span is a mere five to fourteen days.”
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Jan 17, 2012 12:31am