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You'll Be Swell
YOU'LL BE SWELL is the hilarious first novel by comedian Jim David. Lucy Dixon is a beautiful, smart, chubby and accident prone actress who dreamed of life as an MGM musical, but lately her once successful career has hit the wall "faster than a crash test dummy on crystal meth." Taking a much needed break she goes on a disastrous Caribbean cruise, setting off an unexpected chain of events that changes her life forever. Along the way she is stalked by a handsome Texan, charmed by a dashing Moroccan, harassed by a Jamaican, propositioned by a hit man and held at gunpoint while dressed as a pink gorilla - all in the name of making it. YOU'LL BE SWELL is an uproarious and heartwarming trip through the life of a phenomenal talent who withstands the horrific struggles of showbiz while trying to maintain sanity and self-esteem, easier said than done.
"Jim David is a blue state guy from a red state. Now that's funny." - JOY BEHAR
"Of all the things you will take to bed, Jim David will be the most fun and the battery won't run down at a crucial moment." - BRUCE VILANCH
"I love Jim David's comedy so it's no surprise that his book is laugh-out-loud funny. But it's also touching, wise and says a lot about the realities that collide with chasing your dreams. I want an encore." - DENNIS HENSLEY, author of "Misadventures in the (213)"
"Jim David is a blue state guy from a red state. Now that's funny." - JOY BEHAR
"Of all the things you will take to bed, Jim David will be the most fun and the battery won't run down at a crucial moment." - BRUCE VILANCH
"I love Jim David's comedy so it's no surprise that his book is laugh-out-loud funny. But it's also touching, wise and says a lot about the realities that collide with chasing your dreams. I want an encore." - DENNIS HENSLEY, author of "Misadventures in the (213)"
312 pages, Paperback
First published March 16, 2012
About the author
Jim David
1 book3 followersYOU'LL BE SWELL is comedian Jim David's first novel. His outrageous and biting comedy has been seen on his own 1/2 hour special COMEDY CENTRAL PRESENTS JIM DAVID, Comedy Central's TOUGH CROWD WITH COLIN QUINN, as well as OUT ON THE EDGE and COMEDY CENTRAL'S USO TOUR. He was a guest "comedy consultant" on Bravo's smash QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY, and appeared on Bravo's GREATEST THINGS ABOUT BEING.... His humor columns appear on HuffingtonPost.com. He has also appeared on ABC's THE VIEW, HLN's THE JOY BEHAR SHOW and many other shows throughout the years.
A headliner across the world, the "Mouth Of The South" can be heard on his CDs, EAT HERE AND GET GAS (2000) LIVE FROM JIMVILLE (2003) and NOTORIOUS F.A.G (2010). He is three time winner of the MAC (Manhattan Assn. of Clubs & Cabarets) Award for Outstanding Comedian and the Backstage Magazine BISTRO Award for Outstanding NY Comedian. He has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in films, and his one-man comedy "SOUTH PATHETIC," a play about the worst community theater in the South, has been presented nationwide.
He performed in 23 cities across Canada on the JUST FOR LAUGHS Comedy Tour, and has performed at the Montreal Comedy Festival, The TBS Las Vegas Comedy Festival, as well as other worldwide comedy festivals.
He was in residence at the University of the South as a Tennessee Williams Fellow in writing and performance. His guilty pleasures include "Extreme Makeover," disaster & "Airport" movies, the Miss America Pageant, the Lawrence Welk Show, and cheesy true crime novels. He is a member of Actor's Equity, Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, The Dramatists Guild, and the Friars Club.
A headliner across the world, the "Mouth Of The South" can be heard on his CDs, EAT HERE AND GET GAS (2000) LIVE FROM JIMVILLE (2003) and NOTORIOUS F.A.G (2010). He is three time winner of the MAC (Manhattan Assn. of Clubs & Cabarets) Award for Outstanding Comedian and the Backstage Magazine BISTRO Award for Outstanding NY Comedian. He has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in films, and his one-man comedy "SOUTH PATHETIC," a play about the worst community theater in the South, has been presented nationwide.
He performed in 23 cities across Canada on the JUST FOR LAUGHS Comedy Tour, and has performed at the Montreal Comedy Festival, The TBS Las Vegas Comedy Festival, as well as other worldwide comedy festivals.
He was in residence at the University of the South as a Tennessee Williams Fellow in writing and performance. His guilty pleasures include "Extreme Makeover," disaster & "Airport" movies, the Miss America Pageant, the Lawrence Welk Show, and cheesy true crime novels. He is a member of Actor's Equity, Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, The Dramatists Guild, and the Friars Club.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 23, 2013
Lucy Dixon has inspired to be an actress from a very early age and has worked very hard to accomplish everything. After acting in some plays and musicals in high school, she heads to New York to make it big. During a lull she decides to go on a cruise. The cruise is a vacation from hell. While pretending to be a Kate Winslet in Titanic she falls overboard and sets of a crazy chain of events that changes her life forever. Along the way to stardom Lucy Dixon is stalked, charmed by the ship doctor, and held at gunpoint while in a gorilla suit. Lucy also struggles with her weight, self esteem, and her personal life.
I can say I laughed out loud many times while reading this funny and witty story. Every chapter was another story in the life of an over-weight, smart, comedian’s climb to stardom. The struggle with weight-loss and self esteem is something most women can relate to, although I sometimes felt like it was almost too much of the story.
Lucy was an easy character to fall in love with. She never totally gave up on her dreams and took the bumps in her path as they came. She was willing to work hard to get where she wanted to go, but never forgot her friends and family or where she came from. I loved seeing her be able to laugh at herself and move past her not so glamorous clumsy moments. A skill I wish I could master.
You’ll Be Swell is a light hearted, fast paced story. If you’re looking for a funny book that will make you laugh out loud this is definitely the book for you.
I can say I laughed out loud many times while reading this funny and witty story. Every chapter was another story in the life of an over-weight, smart, comedian’s climb to stardom. The struggle with weight-loss and self esteem is something most women can relate to, although I sometimes felt like it was almost too much of the story.
Lucy was an easy character to fall in love with. She never totally gave up on her dreams and took the bumps in her path as they came. She was willing to work hard to get where she wanted to go, but never forgot her friends and family or where she came from. I loved seeing her be able to laugh at herself and move past her not so glamorous clumsy moments. A skill I wish I could master.
You’ll Be Swell is a light hearted, fast paced story. If you’re looking for a funny book that will make you laugh out loud this is definitely the book for you.
January 10, 2013
You’ll Be Swell by Jim David is a fast, fun read perfect for those who love a good showbiz comeback story.
Lucy Dixon is an aging actress who never really caught that big break even though many had praised her talent. When she goes on a cruise to take her mind off of real life problems for a while, she flubs her Kate Winslet 'Titanic' moment and accidentally falls into the ocean.
The media questions her “it was an accident” story, wondering if she was really trying to commit suicide; the publicity ends up giving Lucy a second bite at the showbiz apple later in life — and it’s an opportunity she won’t let slide on by.
Meanwhile, of course, her romantic life heats up in ways she never could have imagined, more intriguing than even a Hollywood script, so the reader is taken on a wild ride of ups and downs, success and failure, love and loss . . . and back again.
I enjoyed the development of Lucy’s character and her supporting cast; the plot twists and turns are believable and nicely paced, and the overall message of the book was uplifting and inspirational. Plus David kept me turning me pages, thus the four stars.
The author is a comedian by trade, and his quirky brand of humor shines through in his debut novel, particularly in his witty protagonist, who even takes her stage name from Lucille Ball. I look forward to reading more from David, and I’ll be seeking out his stand-up as well.
Lucy Dixon is an aging actress who never really caught that big break even though many had praised her talent. When she goes on a cruise to take her mind off of real life problems for a while, she flubs her Kate Winslet 'Titanic' moment and accidentally falls into the ocean.
The media questions her “it was an accident” story, wondering if she was really trying to commit suicide; the publicity ends up giving Lucy a second bite at the showbiz apple later in life — and it’s an opportunity she won’t let slide on by.
Meanwhile, of course, her romantic life heats up in ways she never could have imagined, more intriguing than even a Hollywood script, so the reader is taken on a wild ride of ups and downs, success and failure, love and loss . . . and back again.
I enjoyed the development of Lucy’s character and her supporting cast; the plot twists and turns are believable and nicely paced, and the overall message of the book was uplifting and inspirational. Plus David kept me turning me pages, thus the four stars.
The author is a comedian by trade, and his quirky brand of humor shines through in his debut novel, particularly in his witty protagonist, who even takes her stage name from Lucille Ball. I look forward to reading more from David, and I’ll be seeking out his stand-up as well.
December 10, 2012
You’ll Be Swell, is a romantic, fast-moving page-turner that’s saturated with the joy of showbiz; the story of a Broadway underdog a la Funny Girl and Hairspray mixed with the savvy New York comedy of Annie Hall. Very funny.
December 31, 2012
I purchased this book after I saw Jim David perform his comedy on a recent cruise with Royal Caribbean. I loved his stand-up! Love his book!
If you like stories of underdog success, you'll love this book!
Just don't go jumping off a cruise ship in the near future...
If you like stories of underdog success, you'll love this book!
Just don't go jumping off a cruise ship in the near future...
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews