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A Journey to the Dark Heart of Nameless Unspeakable Evil: Charities, Hollywood, Joseph Kony, and Other Abominations
''So funny you almost feel guilty laughing.'' —Reuters''The funniest thing we've ever read.'' —InStyle''Very funny. Jane's got a death wish.'' —Matt Stone, co-creator of South Park''This is one of the funniest books I've read for a long while.'' —Sunday Times''This book will change your life.'' —Mirror (five stars)After scriptwriter Jane Bussmann moves to Hollywood, she realizes her day job interviewing celebrities sucks. She goes to Africa in search of a dreamy activist and ends up uncovering Joseph Kony's crimes.
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 9, 2014
When I first read this irreverent, eye-opening memoir in 2009 it had a different and I think slightly better title, The Worst Date Ever: War Crimes, Hollywood Heart-Throbs and Other Abominations, but after reading a review of it in the Sunday Times Literary Supplement I had to order my copy from Amazon.UK because it wasn’t out in the US. Now with this revised title it’s available stateside, and after scan reading through an advanced review copy of the new version it looks like it’s largely the same lively fantastic book. The changes I saw are all minor: a few chapter names are different, there is an updated timeline at the end, and a glossary has been included to explain Brit-speak to us Yanks.
Author Jane Bussmann is a comedian and it shows in her very witty writing, but there is some grim material in here and Bussmann manages the quite amazing trick of being both tremendously funny and deadly serious at almost the same time.
As she tells it, Bussmann got tired of hanging around Hollywood during 2003-2006, which she calls the Golden Age of Stupid, interviewing mostly useless (as she calls them) celebrities. Fed up she decides to radically change her life by following a peace negotiator (who’s really cute and certainly very useful) to Uganda so she can write an article about him, but after scraping together the money for a plane ticket he doesn't show up. Not for a month or two anyway--he's back in Hollywood. Bussmann is left to kill time in a cheap Ugandan hostel, so she decides to try doing some investigative fieldwork while she waits for the chance to interview and hopefully date her negotiator. She teaches scriptwriting at an AIDs orphanage, meets numbed victims of the warlord Joseph Kony, and talks to anyone--even very scary people--who might be able to help her figure out why for 25 years the Ugandan army has been unable to prevent Kony from kidnapping children as young as four and forcing them to fight in his militia.
Being a celebrity journalist isn't completely wasted preparation for these adventures. Both smug Hollywood stars and menacing army colonels become friendly and helpful after she asks them her two work-saving Magic Questions--"You're in amazing shape, what's your secret?" and "We all know what you're famous for, but how does it make you feel when you're not appreciated for your inner talents?"
The peace negotiator eventually shows up, but the interview/date she hoped for doesn't work out the way she planned. The resulting book, however, is a great success. The humor, verve, and passion in this mind-blowing account of traipsing around Africa kept me reading into the wee hours of the night, and I’m very glad this memoir is now being released on my side of the Atlantic.
I purchased my own UK copy of this book in 2009, and I read a free advanced review copy of of its updated version provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
Author Jane Bussmann is a comedian and it shows in her very witty writing, but there is some grim material in here and Bussmann manages the quite amazing trick of being both tremendously funny and deadly serious at almost the same time.
As she tells it, Bussmann got tired of hanging around Hollywood during 2003-2006, which she calls the Golden Age of Stupid, interviewing mostly useless (as she calls them) celebrities. Fed up she decides to radically change her life by following a peace negotiator (who’s really cute and certainly very useful) to Uganda so she can write an article about him, but after scraping together the money for a plane ticket he doesn't show up. Not for a month or two anyway--he's back in Hollywood. Bussmann is left to kill time in a cheap Ugandan hostel, so she decides to try doing some investigative fieldwork while she waits for the chance to interview and hopefully date her negotiator. She teaches scriptwriting at an AIDs orphanage, meets numbed victims of the warlord Joseph Kony, and talks to anyone--even very scary people--who might be able to help her figure out why for 25 years the Ugandan army has been unable to prevent Kony from kidnapping children as young as four and forcing them to fight in his militia.
Being a celebrity journalist isn't completely wasted preparation for these adventures. Both smug Hollywood stars and menacing army colonels become friendly and helpful after she asks them her two work-saving Magic Questions--"You're in amazing shape, what's your secret?" and "We all know what you're famous for, but how does it make you feel when you're not appreciated for your inner talents?"
The peace negotiator eventually shows up, but the interview/date she hoped for doesn't work out the way she planned. The resulting book, however, is a great success. The humor, verve, and passion in this mind-blowing account of traipsing around Africa kept me reading into the wee hours of the night, and I’m very glad this memoir is now being released on my side of the Atlantic.
I purchased my own UK copy of this book in 2009, and I read a free advanced review copy of of its updated version provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
May 15, 2014
This is an occasionally laugh-out-loud hilarious book about genocide and the mass kidnappings and rape of tens of thousands of Ugandan children. If you're still with me after that description, know that it's also about well-intentioned but misguided Western governmental interference in African affairs, a Useless Person learning how to become Useful, and Ashton Kutcher.
Clearly it's a bit piecemeal, a collage of assorted ideas with ragged edges sewn together. But its main conceit is Jane Bussmann, celebrity journalist, can barely stop herself from committing suicide mid-interview with Ashton Kutcher, immensely idiotic but almost universally praised actor, and thus decides to pursue real journalism. She tricks her way to Uganda by pretending to be a foreign correspondent and not the author of "Nicole Richie's Sexy Summer Bikini Bod!" and tries to blow the whistle on Joseph Kony, the leader of a militant Ugandan rebel group that kidnaps children to serve as wives and soldiers, before discovering that the situation is much more complex than simply painting Kony as the "Most Evil Man in the World."
Here's the thing: Jane's background in humor writing and celebrity journalism both makes and breaks this story. Jane is a self-deprecating reader stand-in. She's just as unknowing as most of us on these topics, just as shocked, and just as horrified that she, as well as nobody else, is doing anything about it. Her affable ignorance excuses our own ignorance while her visceral reaction against what she learns prods us to learn more too. But I think this book was also intended to be read as a decent exposé of Kony and what the Ugandan government may or may not be doing to help prop his rebel regime up. And as far as that goes, Jane fails. She lacks the geopolitical background to tell a cohesive narrative about how Kony came to power and how he's managed to stay in power so long. She's able to identify a problem and say, "Hey, hey! That's not right!" (more than most people in the world, who, willfully or will-lessly, are content to be blind) but she can't explain how it came to be problematic and possible solutions for it to no longer be problematic.
But honestly if reading about dreadful war crimes and the inefficient meddling of Western charities and governments combatting them was always this fun, I think the general human population would be much more informed about various atrocities occurring throughout the world. And yeah yeah, I hear ya, being "informed" doesn't necessarily lead to meaningful change, but it's a start. We may live in what Jane calls "The Golden Age of Stupid," but I still believe that most of us are compassionate people. Often things that are entertaining are considered unworthy of serious attention. Yet Jane has written an entertaining book about a serious subject, and it's an approach I'd like to see more of.
Clearly it's a bit piecemeal, a collage of assorted ideas with ragged edges sewn together. But its main conceit is Jane Bussmann, celebrity journalist, can barely stop herself from committing suicide mid-interview with Ashton Kutcher, immensely idiotic but almost universally praised actor, and thus decides to pursue real journalism. She tricks her way to Uganda by pretending to be a foreign correspondent and not the author of "Nicole Richie's Sexy Summer Bikini Bod!" and tries to blow the whistle on Joseph Kony, the leader of a militant Ugandan rebel group that kidnaps children to serve as wives and soldiers, before discovering that the situation is much more complex than simply painting Kony as the "Most Evil Man in the World."
Here's the thing: Jane's background in humor writing and celebrity journalism both makes and breaks this story. Jane is a self-deprecating reader stand-in. She's just as unknowing as most of us on these topics, just as shocked, and just as horrified that she, as well as nobody else, is doing anything about it. Her affable ignorance excuses our own ignorance while her visceral reaction against what she learns prods us to learn more too. But I think this book was also intended to be read as a decent exposé of Kony and what the Ugandan government may or may not be doing to help prop his rebel regime up. And as far as that goes, Jane fails. She lacks the geopolitical background to tell a cohesive narrative about how Kony came to power and how he's managed to stay in power so long. She's able to identify a problem and say, "Hey, hey! That's not right!" (more than most people in the world, who, willfully or will-lessly, are content to be blind) but she can't explain how it came to be problematic and possible solutions for it to no longer be problematic.
But honestly if reading about dreadful war crimes and the inefficient meddling of Western charities and governments combatting them was always this fun, I think the general human population would be much more informed about various atrocities occurring throughout the world. And yeah yeah, I hear ya, being "informed" doesn't necessarily lead to meaningful change, but it's a start. We may live in what Jane calls "The Golden Age of Stupid," but I still believe that most of us are compassionate people. Often things that are entertaining are considered unworthy of serious attention. Yet Jane has written an entertaining book about a serious subject, and it's an approach I'd like to see more of.
November 16, 2021
I was reminded of Jim Rogers' ultimate road trip book about traveling the world and noting the correlation between foreign aid and Mercedes dealerships. In this book, the author uncovers a disturbing symbiotic relationship between foreign aid, murderous warlords, NGOs, the United Nations and charity groups. Although well intentioned, we've created a billion dollar industry that has a vested interest in not solving problems.
The book is also very funny!
The book is also very funny!
May 22, 2014
Get this book and put it in your face.
Jane Bussmann is a British comedy writer/celebrity journalist who, after having a bit of crisis in her life, decides to become a Useful Person and tries to follow human rights activist (a very hot human rights activist) John Prendergast to Uganda to write about his work. She does this by not really knowing what she needs to do this. She’s never worked as a foreign correspondent. I feel like this probably makes her the best person for the job.
Ms. Bussmann does a fantastic job of writing about the self-centeredness of Hollywood and the incredibly devastating reality that is Uganda, while adding piles and piles of hilarious self-deprecation on top. It doesn’t seem right that reading a book about the horrors of 20,000+ children being kidnapped and forced to join a rebel army should be so entertaining. I can’t tell you how many times I laughed out loud. I also can’t tell you how many times I kept thinking, “My God, is she TRYING to get killed?!” But thank God, she didn’t die, and thank God, she did make this a funny, entertaining story cos otherwise you’d just want to curl up under a blanket and never get out of bed.
I sincerely hope she keeps being a Useful Person and continues to write about it.
Jane Bussmann is a British comedy writer/celebrity journalist who, after having a bit of crisis in her life, decides to become a Useful Person and tries to follow human rights activist (a very hot human rights activist) John Prendergast to Uganda to write about his work. She does this by not really knowing what she needs to do this. She’s never worked as a foreign correspondent. I feel like this probably makes her the best person for the job.
Ms. Bussmann does a fantastic job of writing about the self-centeredness of Hollywood and the incredibly devastating reality that is Uganda, while adding piles and piles of hilarious self-deprecation on top. It doesn’t seem right that reading a book about the horrors of 20,000+ children being kidnapped and forced to join a rebel army should be so entertaining. I can’t tell you how many times I laughed out loud. I also can’t tell you how many times I kept thinking, “My God, is she TRYING to get killed?!” But thank God, she didn’t die, and thank God, she did make this a funny, entertaining story cos otherwise you’d just want to curl up under a blanket and never get out of bed.
I sincerely hope she keeps being a Useful Person and continues to write about it.
February 8, 2014
Normally, every book I read reminds me of a couple of others I've read or have heard about. This was not the case with A Journey to the Dark Heart of Nameless Unspeakable Evil. It's hard to describe this book, and I can't imagine which section you would find it in a bookstore. Fortunately, author Jane Bussmann tackles that problem towards the end of the book when she tells of trying to pitch the story as a Hollywood movie. It's "Romancing the Stone meets Bridget Jones's Diary meets Private Benjamin..." With a dash of Out of Africa. And The Constant Gardener. And The Devil Wears Prada.
The book opens with Bussmann interviewing Ashton Kutcher. As a Hollywood journalist, she interviews celebrities and writes gossipy articles about them. Increasingly dissatisfied with the Hollywood scene and her pointless career, she sees an article about a "conflict resolution expert" named John Prendergast. He negotiates with warlords, twists arms in Washington, and does all he can to end war in places like Uganda. Bussmann finds this admirable, and also notices that he is extremely good looking.
She wangles an assignment to interview him and thus begins her transformation from celebrity hack to important foreign correspondent. The transformation is a bit rocky though, and she often finds herself using her celebrity interviewing techniques on warlords, diplomats, and government officials. The result is a combination of reporting on the horrific tragedy that is the war in Uganda interspersed with Bussmann's foul-mouthed and hilarious experiences negotiating war-torn Uganda and trying to sell her story to someone who cares.
It seems like a strange way to tell a story, but I have to hand it to her, it works. There's little chance I would have read a long article about Ugandan atrocities, let alone read a whole book about it. But by the time I realized that's what I was reading, I was hooked. She wrote the book in 2009 under the U.K. title The Worst Date Ever, and is now releasing it in the States under a new title. But nothing has changed in Uganda. I looked at the U.S. State Department's page on Uganda and it's as bad as ever.
The book opens with Bussmann interviewing Ashton Kutcher. As a Hollywood journalist, she interviews celebrities and writes gossipy articles about them. Increasingly dissatisfied with the Hollywood scene and her pointless career, she sees an article about a "conflict resolution expert" named John Prendergast. He negotiates with warlords, twists arms in Washington, and does all he can to end war in places like Uganda. Bussmann finds this admirable, and also notices that he is extremely good looking.
She wangles an assignment to interview him and thus begins her transformation from celebrity hack to important foreign correspondent. The transformation is a bit rocky though, and she often finds herself using her celebrity interviewing techniques on warlords, diplomats, and government officials. The result is a combination of reporting on the horrific tragedy that is the war in Uganda interspersed with Bussmann's foul-mouthed and hilarious experiences negotiating war-torn Uganda and trying to sell her story to someone who cares.
It seems like a strange way to tell a story, but I have to hand it to her, it works. There's little chance I would have read a long article about Ugandan atrocities, let alone read a whole book about it. But by the time I realized that's what I was reading, I was hooked. She wrote the book in 2009 under the U.K. title The Worst Date Ever, and is now releasing it in the States under a new title. But nothing has changed in Uganda. I looked at the U.S. State Department's page on Uganda and it's as bad as ever.
April 25, 2014
I had originally became interested in this book when the author did an interview on MSNBC's Morning Joe (a fixture in my morning routine), and was very excited to receive a digital copy from Netgalley for review. Unfortunately, my enthusiasm for the book ends there.
The author of the book, Jane Bussman, is/was a celebrity journalist who develops a crush on well-respected peace activist, John Pendergrast (aka Former Director of African Affairs for the National Security Council). In an attempt to fulfill her crush fantasies, Jane begins a series of plots (reminiscent of hair brained schemes used in I Love Lucy) to arrange to writing a story about John and his work. Finally, she is successful in arranging to follow John around Uganda as he works on peace talks, which is quite a feat considering she has no experience in news media, and even less experience in reading or understating anything about any African nations. Once Jane gets to Uganda, she receives word from John that he will be detained on another project and is unsure when he will be arriving...this leads to the 1/3 of the. Book that I actually enjoyed reading! While "stranded" in Uganda, Jane is able to shed light on tragic circumstances that are not always seen by mainstream media sources since, not being attached to one of these sources, she is privy to unfiltered responses from subjects and able to get information from the local people she is forced to seek help from on everyday matters.
I had difficulty getting through the first half of the book (that is how long it took for Jane to get stranded) and alnost quit several times. The narrative style is a non-stop inner monologue which comes across as flighty and catty. Throughout her time in Uganda, that cattiness is transformed into sarcasm fueled by riteous indignation--a tone which I found interesting to read and highly relatable. If this could have been the narrative tone for the entire book, I feel like it would have been more enjoyable.
The author of the book, Jane Bussman, is/was a celebrity journalist who develops a crush on well-respected peace activist, John Pendergrast (aka Former Director of African Affairs for the National Security Council). In an attempt to fulfill her crush fantasies, Jane begins a series of plots (reminiscent of hair brained schemes used in I Love Lucy) to arrange to writing a story about John and his work. Finally, she is successful in arranging to follow John around Uganda as he works on peace talks, which is quite a feat considering she has no experience in news media, and even less experience in reading or understating anything about any African nations. Once Jane gets to Uganda, she receives word from John that he will be detained on another project and is unsure when he will be arriving...this leads to the 1/3 of the. Book that I actually enjoyed reading! While "stranded" in Uganda, Jane is able to shed light on tragic circumstances that are not always seen by mainstream media sources since, not being attached to one of these sources, she is privy to unfiltered responses from subjects and able to get information from the local people she is forced to seek help from on everyday matters.
I had difficulty getting through the first half of the book (that is how long it took for Jane to get stranded) and alnost quit several times. The narrative style is a non-stop inner monologue which comes across as flighty and catty. Throughout her time in Uganda, that cattiness is transformed into sarcasm fueled by riteous indignation--a tone which I found interesting to read and highly relatable. If this could have been the narrative tone for the entire book, I feel like it would have been more enjoyable.
August 2, 2018
Bussmann accomplishes exactly what she set out to do. She made me outraged at the great injustices in the world, but had me laughing at the grand absurdity. Her humor translates to the page so beautifully and memorably.
The sensitive should be advised, Bussmann pulls no punches. She takes serious subjects seriously, and reports them with the skill of an honest journalist, but will crack a joke that make the more sheltered reader feel a bit guilty about laughing. For example, Bussmann confides in us that she had a crush on a particularly charming aide worker. When fawning over him, she thinks that he can probably "fuck any refugee he wants."
In the same breath, she will tell us brutal stories about kidnapped girls, wanton murder, and other atrocities that send your emotions up and down like a yo-yo.
This is a brilliant story from a brilliant writer, whose comedic styling goes toe-to-toe with the greatest of satirical pundits.
The sensitive should be advised, Bussmann pulls no punches. She takes serious subjects seriously, and reports them with the skill of an honest journalist, but will crack a joke that make the more sheltered reader feel a bit guilty about laughing. For example, Bussmann confides in us that she had a crush on a particularly charming aide worker. When fawning over him, she thinks that he can probably "fuck any refugee he wants."
In the same breath, she will tell us brutal stories about kidnapped girls, wanton murder, and other atrocities that send your emotions up and down like a yo-yo.
This is a brilliant story from a brilliant writer, whose comedic styling goes toe-to-toe with the greatest of satirical pundits.
December 4, 2017
The first. 50 pages, I thought I could never finish this book, very sarcastic potty mouth humor, but then when she goes to Uganda, the humor gets mixed with pathos and I totally enjoyed her way of telling the story
June 16, 2022
It is a tragedy that Jane Bussman has written but one book. She is living proof that those who tell the darkest jokes have the greatest empathy.
April 23, 2014
It's hard to sum up in a few words what A Journey to the Heart of Nameless Unspeakable Evil is all about. Even the title is long! I think the best characterization is a real-life Bridget Jones turns activist.
When the book opens, Jane Bussman is an English entertainment journalist working in Hollywood. Her encounters with Ashton Kutcher and other celebrities are hilarious. Her whole take on the American entertainment industry is cynical and sarcastic in the best way. One day, she's had enough of interviewing vapid celebrities and decides she wants to become one of the Useful People. She comes across John human rights activist John Prendergast's photo in a magazine. He's very attractive so she decides that getting an interview with him would serve a double purpose - writing an article about a Useful Person and getting to meet a hot guy.
She gets so wrapped up in trying to engineer ways to spend more time with John, that she ends up in Uganda. She comes there very ignorant of the political situation and starts out as a fairly spoiled foreigner. The longer she's there, the more she uncovers about the corruption in the Ugandan government and the United States' role in it. She maintains her British wit throughout though and it helps the reader stomach the atrocities that are going on in that county, like kidnapping children and turning them into soldiers and using rape as a weapon of war.
I thought this was a unique concept for a book. On its face, it seems contradictory - how can a memoir about time in a country that has child soldiers and uses rape as a weapon for war be humorous as well? In this case it works. And while Jane is self-deprecating and funny, she takes the situation in Uganda very seriously and is just as shocked as the reader by the goings on. Because she starts her journey with such little knowledge, her explanations are very easy to understand. I learned a lot about Uganda from reading this book and was thoroughly entertained as well.
When the book opens, Jane Bussman is an English entertainment journalist working in Hollywood. Her encounters with Ashton Kutcher and other celebrities are hilarious. Her whole take on the American entertainment industry is cynical and sarcastic in the best way. One day, she's had enough of interviewing vapid celebrities and decides she wants to become one of the Useful People. She comes across John human rights activist John Prendergast's photo in a magazine. He's very attractive so she decides that getting an interview with him would serve a double purpose - writing an article about a Useful Person and getting to meet a hot guy.
She gets so wrapped up in trying to engineer ways to spend more time with John, that she ends up in Uganda. She comes there very ignorant of the political situation and starts out as a fairly spoiled foreigner. The longer she's there, the more she uncovers about the corruption in the Ugandan government and the United States' role in it. She maintains her British wit throughout though and it helps the reader stomach the atrocities that are going on in that county, like kidnapping children and turning them into soldiers and using rape as a weapon of war.
I thought this was a unique concept for a book. On its face, it seems contradictory - how can a memoir about time in a country that has child soldiers and uses rape as a weapon for war be humorous as well? In this case it works. And while Jane is self-deprecating and funny, she takes the situation in Uganda very seriously and is just as shocked as the reader by the goings on. Because she starts her journey with such little knowledge, her explanations are very easy to understand. I learned a lot about Uganda from reading this book and was thoroughly entertained as well.
April 30, 2014
For full review:
http://justaddchampagne.blogspot.ca/2...
After scriptwriter Jane Bussmann moves to Hollywood, she realizes her day job interviewing celebrities sucks. She goes to Africa in search of a dreamy activist and ends up uncovering Joseph Kony's crimes. - goodreads.
I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
So, my addiction to reading things about Africa is what drew me to request this book. I had no idea who Jane Bussmann is. Still don't.
I give this book 3 stars. It was funny. She is a very direct, says what you are thinking but know you shouldn't actually say it out loud, kind of person.
Basically she is a journalist, who writes for gossip magazines, and she wants better for her self. So after seeing how hunky a social activist person, who fights against Kony, is- she decides well, why not? She goes to Uganda and starts getting the inside scoop on what is actually happening over there.
Jane has no idea what to expect and she goes into it with a "I want to save the world" attitude, and potentially gain a lover idea with her brilliance.
The book all in all, was a decent read. It however seemed to drag on a bit to much for my liking, and I really just wanted her to leave Uganda and get her article published or something. However she turned it into a TV(?) show. I get that her article wouldn't change the outcome, but it couldn't hurt.
I did like the beginning part better too. I think it was hilarious to read about Ashton Kutcher and everything. Maybe this makes me not as deep as I think I am....
3 stars. Would recommend it, as there are some hilarious one liners, but I got the feeling that it downplayed a bit of the seriousness of Kony and all that is happening in Uganda. So if you want an easy, more comical lesson of what is goign on, then pick it up.
http://justaddchampagne.blogspot.ca/2...
After scriptwriter Jane Bussmann moves to Hollywood, she realizes her day job interviewing celebrities sucks. She goes to Africa in search of a dreamy activist and ends up uncovering Joseph Kony's crimes. - goodreads.
I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
So, my addiction to reading things about Africa is what drew me to request this book. I had no idea who Jane Bussmann is. Still don't.
I give this book 3 stars. It was funny. She is a very direct, says what you are thinking but know you shouldn't actually say it out loud, kind of person.
Basically she is a journalist, who writes for gossip magazines, and she wants better for her self. So after seeing how hunky a social activist person, who fights against Kony, is- she decides well, why not? She goes to Uganda and starts getting the inside scoop on what is actually happening over there.
Jane has no idea what to expect and she goes into it with a "I want to save the world" attitude, and potentially gain a lover idea with her brilliance.
The book all in all, was a decent read. It however seemed to drag on a bit to much for my liking, and I really just wanted her to leave Uganda and get her article published or something. However she turned it into a TV(?) show. I get that her article wouldn't change the outcome, but it couldn't hurt.
I did like the beginning part better too. I think it was hilarious to read about Ashton Kutcher and everything. Maybe this makes me not as deep as I think I am....
3 stars. Would recommend it, as there are some hilarious one liners, but I got the feeling that it downplayed a bit of the seriousness of Kony and all that is happening in Uganda. So if you want an easy, more comical lesson of what is goign on, then pick it up.
July 14, 2014
I probably should have figured out I wasn't going to love this when I read the blurb on the front cover that boldy declares, "The funniest thing we've ever read[sic] InStyle UK". Ahhh, so people who either a)usually read nothing thicker than the September issue of Vogue or b) have probably worked with the author think it's hilarious? Why, it MUST BE SO.
So the author starts off as an (appropriately) self-loathing celebrity 'journalist'. This 'job' basically consists of making shit up, paying other people to write stories for her, glorifying wretched people, and seemingly not having any redeeming qualities whatsoever. But, lo! Bussmann realizes how empty her life is, gets involved in real journalism in Uganda - all the while panting over a Fabio-looking peace activist - and changes the world or something.
I don't know what happens in the end, because this book was so poorly written that I couldn't finish it. Well, actually, I do know what happened in the end, because I follow real journalism. In any case, I think Bussman should have spent less time paying grad students to write articles for her and working on screenplays and more time taking a basic English grammar class down at the Learning Annex. I was really excited about reading this, and think it probably works a lot better when she does it as spoken word, but this book was straight-up bad.
So the author starts off as an (appropriately) self-loathing celebrity 'journalist'. This 'job' basically consists of making shit up, paying other people to write stories for her, glorifying wretched people, and seemingly not having any redeeming qualities whatsoever. But, lo! Bussmann realizes how empty her life is, gets involved in real journalism in Uganda - all the while panting over a Fabio-looking peace activist - and changes the world or something.
I don't know what happens in the end, because this book was so poorly written that I couldn't finish it. Well, actually, I do know what happened in the end, because I follow real journalism. In any case, I think Bussman should have spent less time paying grad students to write articles for her and working on screenplays and more time taking a basic English grammar class down at the Learning Annex. I was really excited about reading this, and think it probably works a lot better when she does it as spoken word, but this book was straight-up bad.
November 11, 2014
Titles are so very important to me, as are covers of books. I expect to learn a lot about the story by the title that the author and/or publisher has chosen. Well, this title has absolutely nothing to do with author Jane Bussmann's memoir. At least as far as I can tell. I didn't finish this book and really didn't get much further than Chapter 12. Memoirs can be entertaining and enlightening, unfortunately, that wasn't the case with this book.
Bussman rubbed elbows with many famous people during her stint as a celebrity journalist. Actors like Mischa Barton and Ashton Kutcher, Lucy Liu and Nicole Ritchie, Lindsey Lohan and Tara Reid. You would imagine that she would have terrific stories to tell but that wasn't the case. She only mentions these celebs during her diatribes about Hollywood, dieting, drugs, and the crazy Americans. Bussmann wasn't impressed by the morals and lives of the beautiful people. I get it. The way the rich live is sometimes unbelievable. But to write a book about how much one dislikes these people seemed like a big waste of time to me. I simply couldn't get into the book.
Bussman rubbed elbows with many famous people during her stint as a celebrity journalist. Actors like Mischa Barton and Ashton Kutcher, Lucy Liu and Nicole Ritchie, Lindsey Lohan and Tara Reid. You would imagine that she would have terrific stories to tell but that wasn't the case. She only mentions these celebs during her diatribes about Hollywood, dieting, drugs, and the crazy Americans. Bussmann wasn't impressed by the morals and lives of the beautiful people. I get it. The way the rich live is sometimes unbelievable. But to write a book about how much one dislikes these people seemed like a big waste of time to me. I simply couldn't get into the book.
April 19, 2014
Jane Bussmann, a dispirited celebrity reporter with an irreverent sense of humor, decides to become one of the “useful people” after an encounter with Ashton Kutcher and his lawyer. She discovers a tireless human rights activist, John Prendergast, and doggedly pursues ventures that would allow her to write about his efforts in Africa. During her trip to Uganda, she discovers that the links between government, despotic rebel leaders and aid agencies are a bit more complicated and crooked than she ever imagined. This book contains tough descriptions of child kidnapping, sex slaves and violence but the overall tone remains that of a tragic comedy. Jane Bussmann remains searingly honest about the situation and I found myself laughing at her observations…not an easy feat with such a desperate subject. This is one of the best books that I have read about the contradictions of aid agencies in developing countries and I appreciate the author’s approach to writing about the situation. I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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March 29, 2014Comical Adventures of Hollywood Trash Reporter in Uganda War Zone
Jane Bussman, who is British Hollywood trash tabloid reporter, develops obsession with John Prendergast, an American charity worker and activist and chases him to Uganda and the book is about her adventures in Uganda, some of them comical. She goes to Uganda trailing a good looking activist but ends up investigating a warlord.
If the book were not quilted with lot of unnecessary prose, it will make a good reading. Bussman is a witty writer but it appears she just did not have enough funny material to fill the book and so has padded it with irrelevant stuff that does not add to her story or comedy that she is trying to portray.
Jane Bussman, who is British Hollywood trash tabloid reporter, develops obsession with John Prendergast, an American charity worker and activist and chases him to Uganda and the book is about her adventures in Uganda, some of them comical. She goes to Uganda trailing a good looking activist but ends up investigating a warlord.
If the book were not quilted with lot of unnecessary prose, it will make a good reading. Bussman is a witty writer but it appears she just did not have enough funny material to fill the book and so has padded it with irrelevant stuff that does not add to her story or comedy that she is trying to portray.
March 30, 2014
A blistering page-turner fuelled by rampant potty-humour, filth, and laser-sharp observation of a social and political climate in crisis. I loved the expose of Hollywoodism, and cried a bit at the sheer awfulness of the Ugandan situation, but never stopped laughing throughout, which sounds strange but is eminently achievable with this fine read! I read it in it's UK-release form 'The Worst Date Ever', and hoped against hope that this title was a new work. So sad it isn't, but having read the book twice already I may treat myself to a third read, it's that good. Go buy it. Go on, right now....
July 12, 2014
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
The concept of this book sounded really good: "When renegade British comedy writer Jane Bussmann found herself interviewing Hollywood celebrities for a day job, she fled to war-torn Uganda for a better life… and to seduce a sexy peacemaker."
Sadly, the high expectations I obviously had for this book were just too great. I struggled through the first quarter of the book, reading about the life and times of a celebrity reporter (such as it is) and it wasn't until halfway through the book does she end up going to Uganda - by then I had lost interest and only skimmed the remaining chapters.
Paul
ARH
The concept of this book sounded really good: "When renegade British comedy writer Jane Bussmann found herself interviewing Hollywood celebrities for a day job, she fled to war-torn Uganda for a better life… and to seduce a sexy peacemaker."
Sadly, the high expectations I obviously had for this book were just too great. I struggled through the first quarter of the book, reading about the life and times of a celebrity reporter (such as it is) and it wasn't until halfway through the book does she end up going to Uganda - by then I had lost interest and only skimmed the remaining chapters.
Paul
ARH
April 25, 2014
Well I didnt know what I was letting myself in for when I chose this book to read, but what a cracker. this is a real gem and so hilarious, talk about nit picking with the celebrities. I didnt realize being a celebrity journalist would be so funny, not talking to celebs about religion, the reality of living in Los angeles and looking at their lives behind the scenes. How they down own their own house's but rent all the time and then have to find another in a different location, explains such a lot does that one.
June 16, 2015
Bussmann is a fabulous writer with great abilities with metaphors and images. I would have given the book five stars if not for the depressing subject matter of utter corruption in Uganda, which is unknowingly financed by unsuspecting nonprofits and well-meaning progressive organizations in the United States. Ultimately the corruption, lies, and physical violence she encounters take some of the joy out of the excellent writing.
I definitely intend to read Bussmann's other books just to read her superlative and hilarious writing.
I definitely intend to read Bussmann's other books just to read her superlative and hilarious writing.
March 2, 2016
Gonzo journalism at its finest. British comedic writer and celebrity journalist (Paris Hilton era) has had enough of Useless People and wishes to pursue Useful People. Especially those who are hawt.
Which leads Bussmann unexpectedly into the world of Uganda, President Museveni, Joseph Kony with his child soldiers and 5 dozen "wives" under the age of 15, and the thriving UN/American/British foreign aid with a vested interest in keeping everything status quo. Hey, it's a living, right? Very funny and appalling in equal measures.
Which leads Bussmann unexpectedly into the world of Uganda, President Museveni, Joseph Kony with his child soldiers and 5 dozen "wives" under the age of 15, and the thriving UN/American/British foreign aid with a vested interest in keeping everything status quo. Hey, it's a living, right? Very funny and appalling in equal measures.
July 31, 2014
If you really want to learn more about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Central Africa, but need a healthy dose of snarky comedy to keep yourself from crying too hard to finish the book, read this. Or possibly Chelsea Handler's "Uganda Be Kidding Me." I haven't read that one, but those are probably at least the top two books in the coveted "Inappropriately Funny Books Written About Uganda by Female Comedians in 2014" category.
August 18, 2014
Finished this one in more than a few days. How can such horrible, unfathomable awfulness be conveyed in a witty and funny manner? I don't know how she does it but she did. And now I know things I didn't really want to. The question is, now what. Can I be a Useful Person too, and make some sort of meaningful contribution to this conversation that can't go away? Please God/Allah/Yaweh/Krishna/Whateveryouare, make the awfulness stop.
March 12, 2015
She reminds me of a tough, EXTREMELY street-saavy version of Lucy Worsley. Interestingly written book; I need to investigate further what impact she's been able to have with it. I still think she actually was/is smitten with Prendergast - behind every tough girl exterior lies great vulnerability.
May 25, 2014
This had some good laugh out loud moments.
July 3, 2015
Awkwardly funny, yet disturbing account of a woman out of her element in Uganda. Alternately entertaining and important.
March 12, 2016
Just couldn't get into it or finish it.
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