susie's review

Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story
by Chuck Klosterman

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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/597.Killing_Yourself_to_Live_85_of_a_True_Story?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1157059717m/597.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/597.Killing_Yourself_to_Live_85_of_a_True_Story?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/375.Chuck_Klosterman">Chuck Klosterman</a> 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8415262?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a>
 rating: 1 of 5 stars I wanted this book to be a Sarah Vowell's "Assassination Vacation"-style account of the US history of rock n roll deaths as narrated by the typically witty Chuck Klosterman. That seemed like that's what this book was going to be. BUT IT WAS NOT. 
 
 RNR history occupies maybe 2% of this book. 3% = talking about how great he thinks Radiohead is, 3% = talking about how great he thinks KISS is, 10% = talking about writing about music for a living and how much he hates the idea of this roadtrip, 30% = boring stories about Chuck's ex-girlfriends (seriously "we talked about horses" is a line that is included in this book TWICE), 5% quotable funniness, 47% Chuck gets stoned, alone, and denies he is an addict.
 
 I kind of can't see how anybody can complain about two weeks of road tripping. But whatever, Chuck's world is not my world.
 
 Additionally, I find it totally disgusting and reprehensible that Klosterman says retarded people are unlikeable.
 
 p.120, Chuck's having an imaginary conversation with his ex-girlfriends: " 'What would happen if I stopped being funny? What if I became retarded? What if I stopped listening to you whenever you talk about why you like shopping for boots? How long would it be before you stopped talking to me?'
 'That, in a nutshell is why you don't understand what 'Layla' is about,' Quincy would interject. 'Diane brought up qualities that make someone physically unattractive. You are bringing up qualities that make someone unlikable.'... Quincy is making a valid point, if I do say so myself."
 
 Where were his editors? Where's the content of this book? I prefer when Chuck sticks to writing about pop culture and NOT his female troubles since he clearly has serious, serious issues with women. (See my review of "Fargo Rock City" for more on that point: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1346463">http://www.goodreads.com/revie...</a> )
 
 Ultimately, the author should have listened to his friend Lucy Chance.
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/26417?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>

susie's review
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bookshelves: i-commented
status: Read in June, 2008

I wanted this book to be a Sarah Vowell's "Assassination Vacation"-style account of the US history of rock n roll deaths as narrated by the typically witty Chuck Klosterman. That seemed like that's what this book was going to be. BUT IT WAS NOT.

RNR history occupies maybe 2% of this book. 3% = talking about how great he thinks Radiohead is, 3% = talking about how great he thinks KISS is, 10% = talking about writing about music for a living and how much he hates the idea of this roadtrip, 30% = boring stories about Chuck's ex-girlfriends (seriously "we talked about horses" is a line that is included in this book TWICE), 5% quotable funniness, 47% Chuck gets stoned, alone, and denies he is an addict.

I kind of can't see how anybody can complain about two weeks of road tripping. But whatever, Chuck's world is not my world.

Additionally, I find it totally disgusting and reprehensible that Klosterman says retarded people are unlikeable.

p.120, Chuck's havi...more

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message 1: by Maurene

06/04/2008 12:42PM

one word: ugh. i read sex, drugs, and coco puffs and only truly liked the chapter on the sims. everything else was self-indulgent, unimaginative crap. chuck klosterman blows.

but. i loved LOVED assassination vacation.