Goodreads Choice Awards Book Club discussion
This topic is about
Hyperbole and a Half
Archive - Award Winners
>
Hyperbole and a Half - June 2014
date
newest »
newest »
I have this sitting on my nightstand to read. I usually don't read a lot of humor but am willing to give this book a go.
Mod
What do you think of the format? I thought it was a bit strange to get used to, but then ok. I liked that it was broken up into smaller, quick to read stories.
Does anyone have a favorite (or least favorite) story? Maybe one you can really relate to?
I can't stand those illustrations. I won't be reading this, I've discovered I just don't "get" humour books. I love books with elements of humour, humours characters or sarcasm...
But these kind of books are never for me.
Mod
Mod
I won't be reading this, I've discovered I just don't "get" humour books. I love books with elements of humour, humours characters or sarcasm...
But these kind..."
ha ha ha, once again ally we agree :)
Uh oh, not a lot of fans of this one in the discussion yet!I got this from the library but haven't started it yet. Unlike others who have posted, this kind of cockamamie stuff is right up my alley, as long as it is done well. And I've heard good reviews. The art looks terrible! But hopefully that will be part of the charm...
Add me to the keep trying to read humor but find myself never laughing. I thought it was just me!
I have to be in the right mood for humor, but I really liked this book. The chapter/short story called "Thoughts and Feelings" made me laugh so hard that I started crying. It was only a *little* awkward that I was on a crowded train during rush hour. It is a really short read, and I recommend it for the beach/vacation.
I enjoyed the book. I have certainly read funnier humor books and I am surprised that this was the top book for the category, but it wasn't a bad read.Some of the stories were more funny than others (of course). There were some where it felt like the author thought they were much funnier than they actually were.
I love the artwork. I felt it suits the frazzled chaotic nature of the stories. Obviously, they were not shooting for accolades in this regard.
My favorite story was the story about the birthday cake. I could just picture her sulky determination to get to the cake and the resulting sugar buzz.
Mod
Marnie - You are definitely not alone! :)
I loved the story on the goose and the birthday cake. The others…eh. Especially the ones she talked about being depressed. That was depressing.
I just wanted to report that I giggled.... :)I have only read two stories. The first was about training her dog which was cute except she used the word " retarded" which made me cringe. ( I'm usually not overly sensitive to words but I do hate this one.)
Second story was about motivation where I did in fact giggle. I have been reading very dark novels lately and this is actually a nice change of pace. I'm not sure how I feel a out the artwork yet-
Mod
I did the same thing with Seriously... I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres. I think she's hilarious, but the book was just ok for me.
Which makes me think...maybe I would find an audio version funnier??
I was thinking the same thing Kristie! Then it would be like a comedy soundtrack. Perfect for a road trip.
I've been on the fence about reading Jim Gaffigan's book Dad Is Fat. It's probably the only humour book that I would give a chance. He is SUCH A FUNNY COMEDIAN. But I fear exactly what you describe in that Ellen book, Kristie.
Seriously though, if anyone hasn't seen him perform, DO IT! His DVD's are epic!
Marnie wrote: "I just wanted to report that I giggled.... :)I have only read two stories. The first was about training her dog which was cute except she used the word " retarded" which made me cringe. ( I'm usu..."
That word makes me cringe as well, Marnie, and tripped me up a bit. I do enjoy comedy in general, but I always feel like I'm waiting for the shoe to drop, for when the performer will finally say something that upsets or angers me. I haven't figured out if it that is in the nature of comedy, or just something about our culture.
Most of this book seems to be humor at the expense of herself, so far. Which works for me, but I see hints of the "depression" someone else mentioned. Her humor draws interesting lines between laughing at yourself vs. disliking yourself. I'm curious if the overall tone of the book will be silly or depressing...
I liked the first story about time travel a lot, I'm a big fan of time travel, and a ten-year-old's perspective just seemed hilarious to me.
Mod
LOL, Michael, I had totally forgotten the time travel story. I also thought that was pretty funny.
I agree with you, too Kristie. That chapter was a total downer.
I just started this, but I'm not overly enthused by it. Not my kind of humor I think. I'll see if I can convince myself to finish it. At least, it's a really quick read.
Just finished the "Helper Dog is an Asshole" chapter and I was splitting my sides with laughter. I had to stop because the next chapter is the depression one and there is no way I'm harshing my buzz right now!
Mod
So this one was not for me. I not only didn't find any of the stories even remotely funny, I disliked the way she talked about kids (even if herself) a lot. And, I simply don't like dogs or find their behavior funny (however you write about them). So, a total loss to me. (I don't usually read humorous books though and dislike about 99% of so-called comedies/comedians .. so I would have been surprised to enjoy this.).
I just finished. The funniest stories were at the beginning IMO.Then I got to her stories on depression. I did not find them funny- at all but she explained depression in such a way that made me understand it a little better.
I thought the artwork added to the stories.
Janina wrote: "So this one was not for me. I not only didn't find any of the stories even remotely funny, I disliked the way she talked about kids (even if herself) a lot. And, I simply don't like dogs or find th..."Yes, I think liking dogs is going to be required to enjoy this book at all!
Marnie wrote: "I just finished. The funniest stories were at the beginning IMO.
Then I got to her stories on depression. I did not find them funny- at all but she explained depression in such a way that made me u..."
I did like how her depression chapters made depression more visible, (and evidently relatable), although I would have liked it better if she recommended going to therapy instead of staring at a piece of corn as the solution. I did find some of it funny, but it did seem out of place in this humorous book.
I'm realizing something about the artwork - it is very skilled. She is limiting herself to a very primitive medium, but what she is doing with it is talented (reflections on glass, looming shadows, precise presentations of posture and expression). I first noticed it when I realized she had a fold line in her blob self cowering on the floor. It is very hard to make a blob look like it is cowering! And her dog pictures are uncannily expressive!
I've just started it, so far I don't find it very funny :S I'll have to see where this goes...
Just finished it. To be honest, I didn't find it nearly as funny as I thought it would be. The only chapter that made me truly laugh was "The cake god", it was hilarious. The rest of the book was just ok.
I find it interesting that everyone seems to have a different "favorite chapter".
Mod
Michael - I completely agree about the artwork. I though it was very primitively drawn, yet was able to get the mood across perfectly. I enjoyed the artwork (once I got used to how it broke up the flow of the stories).
Valerie wrote: "I enjoyed the book. I have certainly read funnier humor books and I am surprised that this was the top book for the category, but it wasn't a bad read.Some of the stories were more funny than ot..."
I'm with you about the birthday cake story. She was quite determined to get that cake.
Just finished and I think I agree with the majority of the comments here when I say it just wasn't my cup of tea. I didn't mind the drawing style (actually liked it since I can't draw to save my life) and I did enjoy the chapters on the dogs or the letter from the younger self but really zoned out during the more personal chapters such as depression or identity. Kudos to her for writing about it but I'm just not interested in one person's struggle with those issues.
☆αlly☆ (litєrαry єscαpist) wrote: "I've been on the fence about reading Jim Gaffigan's book Dad Is Fat. It's probably the only humour book that I would give a chance. He is SUCH A FUNNY COMEDIAN. But I fear exactly ..."
Ally - I listened to Dad Is Fat on audio and it was hilarious! I found myself laughing out loud several times and I don't even have kids
does Jim read for the audio Dianne? I assume he would based on his profession.... I need to check out the audio :)
I thought the protagonist looked like a large fish, but art is subjective, and it sort of fit with the quirkiness of the humor. I liked the first four or five stories, though they are not memorable. But then, it was just more of the same.
Mod
Marnie wrote: "I just finished. The funniest stories were at the beginning IMO.Then I got to her stories on depression. I did not find them funny- at all but she explained depression in such a way that made me u..."
So, I almost forgot to post about this cause I read it while away (a few weeks ago). I agree, Marnie, that most of the funny stuff came early. I LOVED the dog stories, but that's probably because I have three dogs of my own and I'm obsessed by their behavior with each other and their different personalities.
I did not find the depression chapters humorous at all, but agree they provide a perspective that was helpful to consider. I just don't think it belonged in the middle of a humor book.
I really don't see why this got best humor book. I struggled to give it 3 stars - I probably feel like it is more of a 2.5 star book.
The artwork was... different. I only thought it added to the humor part of the time.
Goodreads Choice Awards Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Dad Is Fat (other topics)Dad Is Fat (other topics)
Seriously... I'm Kidding (other topics)
Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
Ellen DeGeneres (other topics)Allie Brosh (other topics)
Book Description
This is a book I wrote. Because I wrote it, I had to figure out what to put on the back cover to explain what it is. I tried to write a long, third-person summary that would imply how great the book is and also sound vaguely authoritative--like maybe someone who isn’t me wrote it--but I soon discovered that I’m not sneaky enough to pull it off convincingly. So I decided to just make a list of things that are in the book:
Pictures
Words
Stories about things that happened to me
Stories about things that happened to other people because of me
Eight billion dollars*
Stories about dogs
The secret to eternal happiness*
*These are lies. Perhaps I have underestimated my sneakiness!