Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2016 Challenge prompts
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A book written by a comedian
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Probably Yes Please by Amy Poehler. Another book that I meant to read this year. I borrowed the audio from the library, but I didn't get around to listening to it. I will probably try again soon. I've heard the audio is the best way to read this one :)
I got food: a love story by Jim Gaffigan last Christmas and couldn't fit it into this years prompts so I'll be reading that one :)
If you haven't read Martin Short's autobiography, I highly recommend it. (Much better if you listen to it though so you get the added benefit of his voices.)I Must Say: My Life as a Comedy Legend
If you haven't read Martin Short's autobiography, I highly recommend it. (Much better if you listen to it though so you get the added benefit of his voices.)I Must Say: My Life as a Comedy Legend
It depends on if you'd classify him as a "comedian" but it would 100% count as a book written by a celebrity
Tara wrote: "It depends on if you'd classify him as a "comedian" but it would 100% count as a book written by a celebrity"
Thanks
I am planning to read Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari. I bought it this weekend. It's been getting great reviews. It's a nonfiction and it's a look at online match services.
Does anyone know of a book written by a British comedian? I'll admit comedy is not my favorite. I find a lot of American comedy to be a little...over the top, crass, etc for my taste. The subtlety of British comedy is better for me :)
Sara wrote: "Does anyone know of a book written by a British comedian? I'll admit comedy is not my favorite. I find a lot of American comedy to be a little...over the top, crass, etc for my taste. The subtlety ..."I haven't read it, but So, Anyway...by John Cleese? or something by Stephen Fry?
I'm going for Yes Please for this one! I love Amy Poehler and have wanted to read it for a while and this is a great reason to pick it up.
So, Anyway... by John Cleese is great. It's autobiographical and ends about the point where Monty Python begins.
Sara wrote: "Does anyone know of a book written by a British comedian? I'll admit comedy is not my favorite. I find a lot of American comedy to be a little...over the top, crass, etc for my taste. The subtlety ..."I read Nerd Do Well, Simon Pegg's memoir, several years ago and loved it. It alternates between funny and honest reflections on his life and an absurd self-insert fanfic about his nerdy indulgences
Also, all of the Pythons have written memoirs as well as a host of other books! I know Terry Jones writes a bunch of history books about Vikings and the Middle Ages and such. Michael Palin writes a bunch of travel novels, both nonfiction and novel. Eric Idle has written some scifi books I believe.
I thought Stephen Fry in America was a pretty interesting read, especially as an American. Hugh Laurie wrote a mystery novel, The Gun Seller, that's supposed to be pretty good.
Richard Ayoade has also written a couple things as well, and though I've never read his books I've read some of his shorter pieces published in magazines or online and always found them a good read.
Thanks everyone! I will take a look at all of these suggestions. I am actually leaning towards a book by Judi Dench. She isn't necessarily classified as a comedian, but she's certainly capable of pulling off comedy.
I own quite a few that I haven't had a chance to get to yet. This will be a great chance to do so!
Brain Droppings
So, Anyway...
Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life
Russell Brand has a couple books but if you don't like the crass over the top American comics I doubt you like him much lol
What about Mindy Kaling? Tina Fey? Steve Martin has written a couple books, too.
I forgot about George Carlin, we have that @ home. Awesome.
KLB wrote: "Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari"I'm reading and loving that!
I decided not to go with a autobiography on this on. I am going to read My French Whore: A Love Story by Gene Wilder.
From my TBR I already allocated the book I own by Fran Drescher to 'Book written by a celebrity', so I was still wondering about this one, until I found out I have two unread books by Stephen Fry, and he definately is a comedian. So I am going for a book by him.
God, If You're Not Up There, I'm Fucked by Darrell Hammond
Check out this book on Goodreads: It's Not Easy Bein' Me: A Lifetime of No Respect but Plenty of Sex and Drugs http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13...
I read, or listen to, a lot of books written by comedians. My husband is a big fan of stand-up too. I remember reading Jerry Seinfeld's first book back with Seinfeld was still on the air.Seems like a lot of folks have trouble with this category or are dreading it so here are a few recommendations:
* Steve Martin is probably the best writer among the comics. He can pull off fiction with Shopgirl: A Novella and nonfiction Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life better than most. Both are great reads.
* Jenny McCarthy may not come to mind as a comedian but she got her start on MTV in a comedic role. Her writing is certainly funny. For my money, her books about pregnancy and motherhood, particularly, Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth About Pregnancy and Childbirth are better than her recent memoirs like Bad Habits: Confessions of a Recovering Catholic, which I've also read.
* If you watched Jay Leno's Tonight Show in its last decade you're likely familiar with Ross the Intern. Ross Mathews has turned a stint on the Tonight Show into a great career on E! and even got his own late night show. His memoir Man Up!: Tales of My Delusional Self-Confidence was a refreshing and funny story about that journey.
I've also heard great things about I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend by Martin Short and recently picked up 700 Sundays by Billy Crystal which I hope to use as "book you can read in a day."
Hope this helps a few of you. As always, happy reading!
I feel like every comedian I follow on Twitter has a book or two out, so I might as well plug all of them! It's a mix between stand up comedians and comedy writers and actors (and some of them are all three), but I would definitely classify all of them as comedians.- You're Not Doing It Right: Tales of Marriage, Sex, Death, and Other Humiliations & Navel Gazing: True Tales of Bodies, Mostly Mine by Michael Ian Black
- Kasher in the Rye: The True Tale of a White Boy from Oakland Who Became a Drug Addict, Criminal, Mental Patient, and Then Turned 16 by Moshe Kasher
- I Know What I'm Doing -- and Other Lies I Tell Myself: Dispatches from a Life Under Construction by Jen Kirkman
- Dad Is Fat & Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan
- Grace & Style: The Art of Pretending You Have It & Grace's Guide: The Art of Pretending to Be a Grown-up by Grace Helbig
- Science ...For Her! by Megan Amram
- Zombie Spaceship Wasteland & Silver Screen Fiend: Learning About Life from an Addiction to Film by Patton Oswalt
- Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man's Fundamentals for Delicious Living & Gumption: Relighting the Torch of Freedom with America's Gutsiest Troublemakers by Nick Offerman
- The Areas of My Expertise, More Information Than You Require & That is All by John Hodgman
- Point Your Face at This: Drawings by Demetri Martin
Juanita wrote: "I read, or listen to, a lot of books written by comedians. My husband is a big fan of stand-up too. I remember reading Jerry Seinfeld's first book back with Seinfeld was still on the air.Seems li..."
Juanita, even though I have already managed to fill this with Bossypants I appreciate your list. I am not inclined much to comedians, but I had forgotten about Jenny McCarthy's books. I read Belly Laughs years ago and enjoyed it. She's a little crude for my taste, but she's definitely funny. And Steve Martin's Shopgirl was on my list for the challenge :)
Just read Why Not Me? By Mindy Kaling. The book could definitely fill a few other categories ... Book with blue cover , book by celebrity, book you can read In a day. It's an easy, light and fast read
Today only, Amy Poehler's "Yes, please!" is on sale. E-book onlyhttp://links.e.harpercollins.com/serv...
Not really sure. Might read another Ellen book or
Juanita wrote: "I just finished Modern Romance for this prompt."Me too! Here's my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just came up in my Goodreads recommendations,
The Bassoon King: My Life in Art, Faith, and Idiocy by Rainn Wilson. It would probably apply for many prompts. I may use it for the celebrity prompt. But it's good for the comedian one too. And then there's autobiography.
I'm reading Seriously... I'm Kidding. I love Ellen, although I have to say her comedy works better on-stage than in books.
I read Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari.It's not a comedy book. It's a non-fiction book looking at how technology has changed the way people meet, date and fall in love in the 21st century. Lots of research went into this book. It was fascinating. I loved all the humor and levity that Ansari brought to the topic. Some of his hypotheticals are hysterical.
(I might switch this to the self help category if I don't find anything interesting for that topic.)
Christi wrote: "I read Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari.It's not a comedy book. It's a non-fiction book looking at how technology has changed the way people meet, date and fall in love in the 21st ce..."
I loved that book. So funny. It would also qualify as a book about a culture you're unfamiliar with as it deals with the 20-something generation which are more foreign than some foreigners to me.
I happen to have a copy of Gracie: A Love Story written by George Burns. Do you think this qualifies?
I decided to try YouTube to watch one of their old shows. They were very funny. Gracie's dumb persona was perfectly executed.
Their show was great - a real classic.
I finished Yes Please by Amy Poehler last night and loved it!
I listened to If You Ask Me. Betty White did the audio and it was a super cute, fast read. I recommend!
Another Matthew Inman graphic novel, because he just cracks me up. I went with How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You - a birthday gift from my parents. Hilarious, per usual!
I read It's Not Rocket Science by Ben Miller who's a UK comedy sketch artist (doubt he's particularly famous anywhere else...he's not even that famous here!). This is actually a really interesting book - basically he had originally wanted to be a physicist and then he went into acting/comedy instead, but not before nearly completing a Physics PhD. This is an introduction to some really big concepts in science such as the Big Bang, DNA etc. written in quite simple, funny language. Probably not what you're looking for if you want just a straightforward funny book, but if you've ever wanted to know some basic science without being bored to tears, this is a good one to try!
Martha wrote: "I read It's Not Rocket Science by Ben Miller who's a UK comedy sketch artist (doubt he's particularly famous anywhere else...he's not even that famous here!)."Added!
Oh and tell him to get off his lazy bum and finish that PhD. If Brian May can do it...
I read Seriously... I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres.
Thanks for all the suggestions! This is the last prompt I have to fill this year so I've reserved a few books from the library and whichever one comes in first is the one that'll checkmark that box! I went with Martin Short's autobiography (I'm Canadian, gotta go with the Canadian) and also Simon Pegg's (Trekkie!). I was happy to see lots of recommendations on older books
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Books mentioned in this topic
It's Not Rocket Science (other topics)It's Not Rocket Science (other topics)
How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You (other topics)
If You Ask Me (other topics)
Gracie: A Love Story (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Ben Miller (other topics)Ben Miller (other topics)
George Burns (other topics)
Rainn Wilson (other topics)
Steve Martin (other topics)
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I love to get the audio book when it is read by the author comedian. It can make a boring drive fun.