[My new book] starts in 1960 with a woman named Lois Rabinowitz, who was evicted from Manhattan traffic court for attempting to pay a parking ticket while wearing slacks. This was...
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I was very disappointed in this book. I was excited to read it after loving her work on MPR and her previous books "Take the Cannoli" and "Assasination Vacation." This time I just could not maintain interest in the content despite Vowell's efforts to entertain AND educate me. I felt the story telling was hard to follow and that the book could have been rearrange to make it more engaging and easy to follow. I am not implying that she rewrite history, I just mean that there is a lot of time covered here an the key players come and go. It could have used a different format to keep the reader engaged. I think I would have enjoyed a chapter by chapter focus on each main player she chose and then their conflicts described after that set up.
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I truly enjoyed this memoir, I read it in 2 days. It is a brief book, but considering the last book I finished took a couple of months, that is telling! Martin is so full of passion and humility. It is not a laugh out loud funny story of a "Wild and Crazy Guy"; but the earnest and heart-on sleeve reflection on his stand-up career. It was a dream turned reality, and yet it ended abruptly. I loved the story of someone working hard for their dream, not an overnight sensation. Martin is a talented writer to boot. I really enjoyed Shop Girl too.
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(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
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Customer Comments
Melissa Hansen has commented on (2) products.
The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell
Melissa Hansen, April 22, 2009
I was very disappointed in this book. I was excited to read it after loving her work on MPR and her previous books "Take the Cannoli" and "Assasination Vacation." This time I just could not maintain interest in the content despite Vowell's efforts to entertain AND educate me. I felt the story telling was hard to follow and that the book could have been rearrange to make it more engaging and easy to follow. I am not implying that she rewrite history, I just mean that there is a lot of time covered here an the key players come and go. It could have used a different format to keep the reader engaged. I think I would have enjoyed a chapter by chapter focus on each main player she chose and then their conflicts described after that set up.(2 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life by Steve Martin
Melissa Hansen, April 22, 2009
I truly enjoyed this memoir, I read it in 2 days. It is a brief book, but considering the last book I finished took a couple of months, that is telling! Martin is so full of passion and humility. It is not a laugh out loud funny story of a "Wild and Crazy Guy"; but the earnest and heart-on sleeve reflection on his stand-up career. It was a dream turned reality, and yet it ended abruptly. I loved the story of someone working hard for their dream, not an overnight sensation. Martin is a talented writer to boot. I really enjoyed Shop Girl too.(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)