Customer Reviews

From Bush to Bush: The Lazlo Toth Letters

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Don Novello a.k.a. Lazlo Toth has done it again.
As hilarious and insigtful a read as I've had this century.
The letters are as great as ever and the responses show these guys for what they are.
While reading I had to put it down more than a few times because I can't laugh that hard and read at the same time.
My only question...Don...what took you so long?
Get this book!!!

Lazlo Toth is back with more of his hilarious letters. This is his third book of letters to corporations, politicians, religious leaders and anyone else he feels like writing to. Lazlo is a funny as ever, but the responses he receives aren't as funny as in his other books. Most of the time, he just receives a form letter, if they bother to write back at all. Still, a very funny book, if you share Don Novello's absurd sense of humor.

I had the pleasure of meeting Don Novello at a book signing. He is such a sincere and intelligent person-- one of America's best wits.

Sadly, he said that this is his last "Lazlo Toth" book.

I almost described this book here as being "remorselessly" funny. But that would be incorrect. Don Novello's humor lacks any nuance of cruelty-- his is a quirky, kind humor. Biting, yes! But humane.

An abbreviated example:

England's Queen Mother, he notes in one letter, may be burdened by titles supreme and inconsequential-- but probably will never be bestowed the title of "designated driver".

As a fan of Don Novello's earlier works, I was concerned that perhaps, this book wasn't going to be as funny as the older books. But, I'm happy to report that Don Novello is as "bent" as he ever was! Over the years, these books have inspired me to write a few memorable letters of my own and I think I might start writing them again. These books are best when read aloud and shared with friends. You'll laugh til you cry!

I love humor and this book had me in stitches. "Lazlo Toth" is a riot. Do yourself a favor and have this sitting around the house for when you want a laugh.

HILARIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL!

In reading Don Novello's wonderful and funny book "Bush to Bush" "The Lazlo Tooth Letters" I couldn't stop laughing. But on a serious note, I would like to know if it's true that there's a venomous poison Lurking Monk fish,or the Lurking Monk Fish of Mazatlan. Like a chameleon it has the ability to change colors, and it's biggest trick is turning blue and disguising itself as water. it may be true ... but since Lazlo Tooth wrote it I doubted it, therefore,I have written to an authority on "Dangerous Marine Animals of the world" I am waiting for a reply. I have read all Don Novello's books and look forward to him writing many more in the future.It is enjoyable disgussing his books with my friends who enjoy his books as well. I suggest his books make great gifts for any occasion for young and old alike

This is a wonderful book because it defines, just like the two previous ones, the true character of America (and Americans). It's subtle, funny, and meaningful. Buy it.

This is the first installment of the Lazlo Toth letters I have read. Although the title implies that the letters are strictly political, it is instead intended to imply the timeline of the letters, as they range from the presidency of one Bush to the present Bush. The addressees of Lazlo's letters are probably two-thirds politicians, such as Al Gore and Dubya, and one-third "other." Other addressees range from companies such as the maker of Hungry Man dinners to Queen Elizabeth II to Saddam Hussein.

Although the book wasn't as uproarious as I anticipated, I still found it clever and chuckle-worthy. The humor is definitely more subtle than blatant, and you are more likely to laugh to yourself or chuckle than laugh out loud. You're not likely to be slapped in the face with this book. The subjects, the piddly donations, the mini-rants are all sources of humor. Often, the replies to Lazlo's letters are just as funny as his original letters, especially when the reply has absolutely nothing to do with what Lazlo said, which is something everyone has experienced when writing a letter to a politician or corporation.

In conclusion, I would say that this is a book I will lend to friends and I will definitely read Novello's other books, but this probably isn't the type of book I would re-read. And I was left with one nagging question...why doesn't the Pope ever write back???

I have to say I was really looking forward to this book -- I loved the first Lazlo Letters and was amused by Citizen Lazlo, but I was sort of underwhelmed with this third edition in the Lazlo Trilogy. The problem is this -- when you write a book that is supposed to be timely (i.e. Current Events/Politics), it's sort of necessary that the subject matter be either extremely well-known (big happenings) or really funny. Here, in From Bush to Bush, Novello's letters span from '92 through present day, covering over a decade of political issues that spurred Novello's letters, but on the whole most people will have no idea what he's talking about. In addition to that, they're just not nearly as funny as his other books and letters. I will say this -- there are a couple of funny letters that genuinely made me laugh, but these have nothing to do with the theme of the book, they are letters to companies like Campbell's Soup and M&M/Mars. They're sort of out of place in a political book, and ruin the flow. It's too bad, too, cause Novello is known as the pioneer of this book's genre of letter writing, but he should have just quit while he was ahead and not tainted the first two by coming out with a mediocre third. There are better books out there these days that do this better, like the Charles Osgood books "Funny Letters from Famous People" and the book "Consumer Joe: Harassing Corporate America". Try those if you're looking for really funny letters.