| Fairy Tales, Folklore & Mythology |
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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 6 customer reviews )
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12 of 12 found the following review helpful:
HOW LONG UNTIL YOU STOP LAUGHING? Nov 04, 2004
By Scott Ahern
Okay. I admit I am way behind the times here, considering this book has been in publication since 1996, but I only latched onto it when the big bookstores and online stores like Amazon started selling it. So tell me, all you people who were more in the loop and have had this book for years, HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU HAVE TO READ THIS UNTIL YOU STOP LAUGHING OUT LOUD? I'm on my fourth go around, and I think my wife and kids think I'm going crazy because I'm still sitting in my study and laughing like a fool. "Coming Down" "Trouble 101" "Serious Talk" and "Citizen Of The Day" are probably my absolute favorites, if I had to name a few, but EVERY STORY in this book is amazing. Like the Amazon review says, it's hard to believe ANYONE is this talented to have written these things week after week.
I also admire the occasional truly serious stories in the book like "Lisa" and "April 19, 1995" because they have real purpose and meaning and, like the rest of this book, are SO well-written. I didn't know much about Bill Jabanoski before I bought this, but now I'm catching up on his music and can't wait to read his novel SCARECROW, even though I know that's a much more serious book.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
The True Great Writer of Key West Apr 06, 2009
By Gary Smythe
If you are into Key West and all of its extreme craziness then I recommend this, and Jabanoski's followup "Beyond The Mirror: The Roadkill Diaries Part II" as the greatest books you'll ever read about the place. They are gonzo, crazed and a wonderful trip through all that makes the island special and, as other reviewers have said, it'll make you fall over laughing as well. This book is 370 pages or so, but it's a big, oversized volume, so it would probably have been 700 pages or so in a standard book format so you get a lot for the $27.00 cover price.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Well-Worth The Price Apr 09, 2009
By Jimmy Quall
I think that this clip from one of the stories in this volume somewhat sums up the humor you get throughout the whole thing. Jabanoski, having been thrown out of the Green Parrot in Key West (which, as everyone who's ever been there knows is about the down and dirtiest bar on the island) decides he's going to try to sober up by going to AA:
"So I did it. I called up the local chapter of AA. They told me where the meeting was that night. So determined was I that I didn't even mind that the time conflicted with Happy Hour. Although I must admit that I got a bit nervous as I was driving there.
"Hamm ...," I thought, "maybe one or two beers would calm me down a little. You know, just take the edge off. NO. That was wrong and I knew it. If I started drinking beer before the meeting I'd inevitably have to get up and piss half way through. Better go with mixed drinks instead. No. Stop this. You're reforming ...remember? Okay, I can handle this. If things get uncomfortable, I'll just bail out. I have a hundred female witnesses who'll swear to how good I am at that.
"It was a group of about thirty people and I, by nature, immediately scoped out and sat next to the two young girls amongst them. Hey, maybe I could ask that one out for a drink afterwards. NO! The poor girl's in AA! Why don't you just go over to the diabetes foundation and pass out free tickets to the Willy Wonka factory? Okay, well then maybe I could ask her out for ...er ...could somebody tell me what else you do with women other than feed them drinks until they get horny? Maybe it's in the AA handbook here or something.
"The meeting began and the first member got up to speak:
"' `Hi, my name is Chester and I'm an alcoholic.'
" `Hi Chester,' the group said in unison, but you could tell that they were just being polite, and I made a mental note to talk to him later about that introduction line. You ain't gonna get many girls with that one, Chest old buddy.
" `I lost my job about six months ago," he continued, fidgeting nervously as he spoke. "Basically, I would drink all night every night until I couldn't get up for work anymore. I was a chemical engineer. Real good paying work. Now no one in the industry will touch me. The bank wants to foreclose on my house and my wife finally walked out when I suggested she think about turning some ...you know ...tricks to keep up with my bar tabs. I've lost everything. Everything! All because of the way I drink.'
"Tears of compassion welled up in my eyes for this poor man. He had let alcohol totally destroy his existence. Suddenly, I felt terribly guilty about all the `good time' boozing stories I'd written over the years. I hope no one took it as an endorsement of the life I lead. Maybe I should have included a disclaimer `Professional Stunt Liver. Do Not Try This At Home." Finally, as he continued to catalog his sad fall, I knew I had to speak, to tell this poor soul that my heart went out to him in his misery.
" `You poor devil!' I cried. `How horrible your life must be!"
" `Well," he said, `I have to look at the positive. It could be worse. I mean, it's not like I'm that guy that got thrown out of The Green Parrot'
"The rest of the group nodded their heads in silent agreement.
"I was back at the bar in a half an hour."
And it just goes on like that, from crazy Key West story to crazy Key West story, and just when you think that you've laughed yourself out so hard that it can't possibly get any funnier, the next story is even more outrageous and side-splitting. The $26.99 cover price is a little steep, but this is a BIG oversized book. As someone else noted, the 375 pages here would be something like 775 pages in a standard paperback or hardcover. Worth every cent if you love Key West or if you simply love to laugh.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
The Damndest Most Fun Book I've Ever Read! Apr 08, 2009
By Tim Riason
My personal favorite is "Citizen Of The Day" but any and all of these stories are drop-dead hysterical. He gets serious from time to time in the book but those stories really go straight to the heart. Mostly though its just one fun Key West story after another and you never stop laughing.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
MONEY WELL SPENT Apr 06, 2009
By Henry Harrison
If you can get through the first thirty pages of this thing without doubling over laughing, especially if you know something about Key West, then you have no sense of humor whatsoever. And it only gets better from there. Best money I've spent on a book in a long time.
See all 6 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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