Customer Reviews

Hello Junk Mail!

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I don't agree with the previous review at all, but before responding, let me say what is great about this book. This book shows change for Ted L. Nancy, as it moves beyond the letter/response genre--that Ted has done three of and that has been done to death by now. As far as I know, this is the first book to tell a story in letters responding to junk mail. It's a great idea. Some of the letters read well on their own, while others need to be read in context, but if you read the whole book, you will be wildly entertained by the story of the Kabboby family, CoCo LaBoy and Generalissimo Tazmak. This is a very funny book, but it is a BOOK that requires some work on the part of the reader, for which the reader will be greatly rewarded.

Now, in response to the first review...This book is full of replies. In fact, it is mainly all replies--replies to junk mail. Ok, so that's not what was intended by the reviewer, but it is a point worth making. However, there are replies to Mr. Nancy's letters. There are series of letters from Muldoon's footwear, the Cordon Bleu school, Dr. Katz the breath doctor, a trade school, some Canadian ministry of something or other-- and a killer respnose to Colonelissimo Tazmak from T.Rowe Price to end the book on a great note (if the reader has been paying attention). I'm not sure if the first reviewer read the whole book or read it with any comprehension of what it is really about. I suggest reading the forward first for some context.

I'm sure Ted could write another straight letters book. "More Extra Nutty"?? "More More Nutty"? The point is, Ted has told us even by his titles that he's had enough of that genre. It was getting a bit ridiculous. Ted has moved on. His audience should move on. It is mean spritied and short sighted to slam Mr. Nancy for not writing the same book over and over again. I support Ted and will always give him the benefit of the doubt by reading his work with an open mind. Once through with the book, I will make a judgment, and my judgment on this book is that it is very funny, and it is unique in the extreme. This book is ingenious and indicative of the crazed thought we expect from Mr. Nancy.

I had given up hope of ever seeing another Ted book again. So I was happily surprised when Hello Junk Mail popped up. What a concept! Take those stupid mailers and pieces of instant garbage that just show up on our doorstep and inundate THEM with mail for a change. Plus, add silly letters about the goings on in your crazy family. Just as stupid and meaningless to the receiver as the junk mail they send out! Ha! That's what Ted did.

And then the stories he (or, uh, the Kabobbys) tells are hysterically funny. When Ted takes on these different characters he has different problems and different voices for each of them but still with the special Ted style of writing (Larry!).

I have given out the Letters From A Nut books to many friends who are depressed or in the hospital because the laughter they derive is so healing. I'll bet this one could have the same effect.

Bottom line -- you will laugh if you buy this book, guaranteed! I am giving some for Christmas. Enjoy!

I guess I got into a Ted week here. I just read this for the second time. This is one of the under the radar books that never got the recognition of the "Letters From A Nut" books. It's different - Ted created some weird Hamooli family that lives in his backyard answering junk mail. Kind of a reverse of the "Letters" books. They live in cartons and tents. Cook weird food. Make decisions based on Judge Joe Brown. A lamb grill. There's a strange wedding. It's a Ted book. Just different. And FUNNY!

I have never written a review for anything but I just had to because I could not believe the negative reviews for this amazing book.
It is so funny I couldn't put it down and when I finished I wanted more.
I hope that Ted writes some more books and fast because laughter is an amazing cure all.
Thank you Ted L. Nancy!!!!

This book was really fun to read! Ted Nancy took junk mail, which is something most people hate to get, and turned it into something you can really laugh about.

I couldn't stop laughing. Ted L. Nancy hits it out of the park with this one. I couldn't put it down. Keep them coming. I can't wait.

I 2nd the opinion that this book is a waste-a waste of time and money. I AM VERY disappointed with this book. I wanted to return it before I reached the halfway point. It does not even one quarter compare to the humor found in the "Letters from a Nut" series. I don't even recall cracking a smile. Just pure stupidity...I didn't even bother to finish reading the book. This medium is clearly not Ted Nancy's forte.

I really like clever humor and this book fills the bill. Ted L. Nancy has always been one of my favorite writers. I own all of his books and this is a great addition. As funny as the Letters From A Nut books. In those books you get hilarious humor. In Hello Junk Mail you get that - plus there's a story in this book. I find it ingenious that Ted has taken common junk mail - mail that everybody gets and is familiar with - and wove a really funny story using his junk mail to advance the story. Plus he writes now as various people in answering the junkmail. Ingenious! Who's done this before? Wow, I hope Mr. Nancy keeps it up! Write another book, Ted. Hello Junk Mail is really funny!

There is only one Ted L. Nancy and he proves again just how funny he can be. Ted is on top of his game here. Not only does he tell the story of a very funny family, but he unfolds it before our eyes through actual junk mail correspondence. Pretty innovative, I think. I didn't just laugh hard, I also felt a sense of revenge against these incessant junk mailers that keep popping up on my computer and overflowing my mailbox. You got to give Ted credit for coming up with something completely different. Who else but Ted L. Nancy can find comedy gold in junk mail?

This book is horrible! Do not buy! I am a HUGE fan of Ted L. Nancy's earlier books (The Letters From A Nut Series), but this is a pale comparison. If you're not familiar with Nancy's work, he basically writes absurd letters and sends them to companies. The letters themselves are very funny, but the replies are even funnier, since these companies (for the most part) have to take these letters seriously. But that's the problem with "Hello Junk Mail". Here, the author is merely responding to junk mail that he's already received. And for the most part, THERE ARE NO FOLLOW UP RESPONSES FROM THE JUNK MAILERS! We, the reader, have no idea if these responses were ever received by anyone. It's as if Nancy has no idea why his other books were so funny. It's like prank calling an answering machine. Without the responses, you have nothing. Now to be fair, he does get some responses, but most of them are obviously form letters. Save your money. Re-read Letters From A Nut.