Paul

Perfect bathroom reading, but it's hardly a definitive resource of lost trends of the 70s and 80s.

Just like some ghosts are better than others, so are the stories in this book.

This is three books in one, unfortunately none of them are very good. I think I'll stick to the acting Mr. Pegg.

Bitchy, entertaining and a good bathroom read.

Make way for Web 2.0!

Another view into Sedaris' crazy world. After listening to him read his Santaland Diaries, I can't not hear his voice in my head while I read. And if you've heard his Billie Holiday impression, you know how weird a sensation that can be.

Kept hoping that Sam would burn down the Brock Clarke house.

The best reviews of the worst movies.

A great way to spend 5 hours in a car driving down to New Jersey over 4th of July weekend. Some of the stories are reprinted from the New Yorker, but it's interesting to hear them read aloud with the emphasis on all the right things.

The super hero version of magical realism. What would happen if super heroes and villians were really wandering around? This book lets you find out.

The movie was so bad it made me read the book. How very different plot-wise. A decent coming of age story.

A fictionalized “Nickle and Dimed”, if you will, seen through the eyes of a CT Red Lobster manager on the day the restaurant closed.

Fantastic account of the five movies nominated for Best Picture in 1968. How does The Graduate, Bonnie and Clyde, In the Heat of the Night and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner all get nominated in the same year as Doctor Dolittle?

The subtitle is more entertaining than the actual book.

If you're a fan of manufactured conversations to fit the theme of the chapters, this book is for you. If you're looking for stories about actually working in a restaurant rather than how to write a book, or draw ham-handed parallels of how restaurant life is a microcosm of human existence, this book is not. I have a tip for you: Waiter should stick to waiting.

We get it. You are independent and don't need anyone's help, especially not from your superhero parents. But do you have to tell us in every chapter?

The seedy underbelly of the record industry from a one-hit wonder band.

Every time I think about owning a book store, I will re-read this book.

Simultaneously my first James Patterson book and the worst book I've ever read. I guess there's not a lot of quality control when you're writing about 47 books a year. For example, “...the dominant one-eye male lion crouches... Without taking his eyes of the prey...” That's quite a trick. Unfortunately this is not quite a book. Highly unrecommend.

Fantastic premise and I quickly got wrapped up in the story wondering what was actually going on here. Unfortunately it slowly devolved into a masturbatory writing exercise. Perfect for that kid in the back of your freshman english class with the “I break for tribbles” patch on his backpack.

Spoiler alert for almost every Seinfeld episode. I knew he mined his act for plot ideas, but I'm glad I didn't read this during the series run. However I love how this is a snapshot of what comedy was in late 80's - early 90's. And you can see what an influence he was on other comedians of the time.

If you're the type of person to read the plaques littered about historic trails, statues and buildings, Sarah Vowell is the perfect guide. As I am only 42% that person, I was hoping for a higher amusement to informative ratio. However, Assassination Vaction is a well researched, fascinating read. You could do much worse in a tour guide than Ms. Vowell.

Lee Fiora needs a good talking to, and perhaps therapy, although neither would save this downer of a book.

“Wouldn't it be a hoot to open a Deli so I'll have a premise for a novel, which I'm going to call a memoir even though I've invented situations, characters and conversations.”

Big, bratty Brit lit. Perhaps this would be a more interesting read when he's in his 60s. Now though, it feels like the 50 word essay you had to do in second grade when you had to pad it with 10 very, verys at the end.