Customer Reviews

Graham Crackers: Fuzzy Memories, Silly Bits, and Outright Lies

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

As a lifelong "alternative" comedy and Python fan, I wholeheartedly agree with the reviewer who acknowledged this book as "astoundingly bad" - this book has nothing to do with Graham Chapman. It was not written by him and it does not reflect him as the keen wit or comedic genius he was. Why anyone would want to cheapen Chapman's memory with a poorly edited, ghost-written collection featuring bits of his worst material as well as completely fabricated material I do not know. It clearly isn't making them much money. I am not sure why this is not illegal.

I also find it terribly low and dispicable that the author is clearly reviewing his own book. Do take a look; it's fairly obvious. I also noticed on another book by this author he had his own relative "reviewing" the book thus again upping the number of stars one sees when browsing for books. Don't fall for it.

Track down a copy of A Liar's Autobiography instead.

Written in first person this book gives new meaning to the word "ghostwriter".

Graham might be dead, but he can tell a lot of interesting stories. This compiled report of Monty Python's Graham Chapman's memoirs is hilarious. It's short and sweet, and provides information that gets you behind the scenes of Monty Python. The book gives a more dark look at the famous comedy troupe, and even darker look at Graham himself. Great for the Python lover or the Monty Python learner. He only downsides are that it's short, and one or two stories ramble on to no result. Warning: basic information about Monty Python is needed to understand this book. Take a chance and take the book!

This waste of paper is so astoundingly bad as to make one's jaw drop. It's another nail in the coffin of Graham Chapman's literary estate as those responsible continue to 'edit' and 'publish' any old scraps of rubbish which they can find. Chapman was a great comic talent and deserves something much, much better than this. If I could give it no stars at all, I would.

Graham Crackers (a rubbish title which demonstrates in itself how at odds with Chapman's own style of humour this book's 'editor' is) consists of scrappy, unfunny, rejected bits of Chapman material cobbled together with fake Chapman material by the 'editor'. It's not funny, it's not interesting, it's dreadful. Surely Chapman's family can stop this sort of thing.

I think it's very telling that no respectable publisher would touch this 'book' and it ended up being put out by a company which specialises in career guidance! And in the UK, I note, it couldn't find a publisher at all.

It is also obvious to those who know his distinctive style that many of the five-star reviews of this book here are actually the 'editor' posting from various e-mail addresses. Dear oh dear...

Although Graham Chapman was a very funny and creative man, there is probably a reason why much of the material in this book has not been published before. While there is the occasional good laugh, and some of the details on the way Monty Python worked is interesting, overall it is an extremely disappointing book, particularly if you have read "A Liar's Autobiography". All in all, I would prefer to have my memories of Graham Chapman's creativity be based on that hilarious book, rather than this disappointing hodgepodge of miscellanea.

This book offers no new insights for real Python fans. Also, it's too expensive for a book that short. A Liar's Autobiography is much better.

This is one of the funniest and saddest books I've ever read. Great stories and tall tales from the tallest Python. Buy it and enjoy.

The publisher, Michael Earley, Publisher: mearley@methuen.co.uk Methuen reissues all the classic Monty Python books in Oct In October 1999 Methuen Publishing (London) is reissueing all the Monty Python books, TV scripts and screenplays, plus the new A Pocketful of Python series, to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the first broadcast Monty Mython's Fliying Circus. Please contact us for details: mearley@methuen.co.uk

I laughed, I cried, I wanted more. For a novice Pythonite (only for the past 5 or 6 years) this only whetted my appetite. Will likely read it the way I've watched the shows and movies: until I can quote it word for word. This is a must for the true Python-lover's library.

I read that on the back cover alone and nearly wet myself...... This book is outrageous!