Customer Reviews

Avenue Q: The Book

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My friend bought me this book as a Christmas present because I am such a huge fan of the musical. I love everything about the book and will treasure it for years to come. It is one of the nicest gifts I've ever received.

The first thing I noticed about the book is that it has a really unique fuzzy orange cover. Inside, there's lot of colorful pictures and drawings of the puppets and cast.

The book has five chapters. Chapter 1 is entitled, "How Did They Ever Think of This?" and tells the story of how the show came to be; Chapter 2 is entitled, "How to Make a Puppet Come to Life!" and tells how the puppets were made; Chapter 3 is entitled, "A is for Actors!" and tells about the actors; Chapter 4 is "The Script of Avenue Q!" and contains lyrics to all the songs; and Chapter 5 is entitled "How a Small Show Got Big!"

As I was looking through the book, I actually started singing the songs out loud as I shared the storyline of Avenue Q with my friends at our little gift exchange last night. "Schadenfreude...People taking pleasure in yo' pain!"

They thought the musical sounded like a riot and now want to go see it. If you're unfamiliar with the storyline it's about Princeton, who just graduated from college with a B.A. in English and has lots of bills but no job skills. Princeton soon finds out life in the real world sucks, and the only place he can afford to live is Avenue Q. There he meets Nicky & Rod, best friends who live together, Trekke Monster who thinks the internet is for porn, Kate Monster, Lucy the Slut, Brian and his fiance, Christmas Eve, and Gary Coleman, the super of Avenue Q!

It's a humorous story about life in the real world after college that everyone can relate to. As Princeton laments, "I wish I could go back to college...in college you know who you are...you sit in the quad and think 'Oh my God, I am totally gonna go far...", Nicky who's homeless concludes, "But if I were to go back to college...think what a loser I'd be...I'd walk through the quad and think 'Oh my God ... these kids are so much younger than me'..."

Avenue Q touches on just about every subject imaginable: homosexuals ("If you were Gay"); racism ("Everyone's a Little Bit Racist Sometimes, it doesn't mean we go around committing hate crimes"); homelessness ("Give me a quarter?" ; dissatisfaction with life ("Is there anybody here it doesn't suck to be? It sucks to be me!") The only complaint I have about this book is that I didn't think of writing it first!

In addition to its delightfully furry orange cover, it's jam-packed with photos, interviews, drawings, and includes the complete libretto. Any fan of the show must, MUST have this ... it's (literally) a warm & fuzzy souvenir of one of my favorite shows of recent years... -- Jeff

This book has everything you want to know about the musical Avenue Q. Why they made this musical. Why they chose puppetry. Why is Rod blue? Why is Trekkie played by two puppeteers? How they made the marketing. What do the actors think about their puppets/characters/political view. And also contains the complete textbook, and deleted scenes. And everything is designed in a fun and extravagant colorfull playfull way as if its a kidsbook.
The fuzzy cover alone is worth the effort.

This book gives you an inside look at what was going on when the writers were thinking about when they conceived Avenue Q. The book is purely for fun, much like a children's book for adults.

Add an extra star if you are an Avenue Q fan.

(Buyer beware: the fuzzy cover of the book sheds orange fur everywhere!)

Love the book! Hate the orange furry pants that you wear after reading it....

The book is a great reminder of all the wonderfully entertaining aspects of this fun show....from the scoop on how it came to be to the lyrics for its dandy songs. The only caveat is that the bright orange fuzzy cover sheds like crazy. I'd suggest keeping the front and back covers in plastic. Otherwise, a delightful souvenir!

Very furry and funny book! The perfect extension to the Broadway (or London) Q experience. The same spirit, the same humor.... It has everything. Plus the complete book! Wich has been really helpful for me considering I just acquired the French production rights for the show, and needed the complete book to begin the adaptation of the lyrics!!!!

If you don't have the chance to see this show, have seen it and love it, or even just are a little curious then this book is for you. It looks wonderful where ever you choose to put it and I would image it would be an ideal coffee table book. It is also a fabulous conversation starter. This book is filled with so much information about Avenue Q and its creation. One thing I did not like about it was that if pulled hard, a little of the hair covering on the book would come off. Over all this is a must have book for anyone interested in contemporary musical theater.

Look, I dont know where to begin with my love for this show, I can do the voices of every charachter, I made my own puppet of Nicky, Ive seen the show in NY and on tour, and I have all the merchandise. This show speaks to me as a freshmen in college and every song and scene from the play makes my day better. The point is, THIS BOOK ROCKS!! Its everything you could dream of If you saw the show and fell in love with it like I did. The photos, the art, the stories, and everything else is flawlessly packed into this one-of-a-kind furry book. You feel like a kid reveling at all the vivid content on every page. Did I mention the book won a Tony? yeah.... This is a perfect gift for any one who liked the show, likes puppetry, muppetry, or broadway in general! but i warn you, If you only know Ave.Q for a few of its songs, see the show before this book spoils the entire plot for you, if you dont mind that then buy it already! If you agree with my review, you can find me on youtube, name:rogerrabid. Id love to talk to a fan :)

The only problem I've had with this book is that when I went to grab it out of its delivery box..a chunk of orange fur came off onto my hand...Yes like all the other reviews warned this thing sheds like crazy. Following the advice of another reviewer I sprayed it with Hairspray & it hasn't shed since. I would highly recommend doing this if you don't want to be picking fur out of your food & off your clothes days after getting this. (:
After I sprayed it I had absolutley no problem with it. I ruffled the fur up a bit (before I sprayed it) so it has a nice wild effect to it as well. (:
Its brightly coloured & set up just like a childrens book ready to teach you the likes of 'Adult Emotions' (Depression, lust...) & New Words (Self Medication..)! Yaaaay!
Its jammed packed with everything you'd want to know about the show. With info on every character, the FULL script (incl, the songs & cut out scenes & songs, too), how they came up with the idea of the show, why the puppets are a cetain color, etc,
You get everyone who is involved in the show's opinions.
I'm a huge John Tartaglia fan & just loved how he described himself as being completely like Rod before he admitted he was gay.
Its a wonderful book for a wonderful musical.
*Be aware though if you live in a house were theres kids...and they can read don't let them near it, the bad idea bears are in the book & on random pages giving 'good advice' (Example: "Smoking keeps you skinny!")*
Have fun!