The Joe Schmoe Show [Paperback]

H. B. Marcus (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 164 pages
• Publisher: Publishamerica Inc (October 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1413702872
• ISBN-13: 978-1413702873
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,535,826 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bwah ha ha ha!, October 17, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Joe Schmoe Show (Paperback)

Okay, so this is the sequel to the hilarious "Crispy." That means Spider and Smokey are back for more zany mahem driving our narrator crazy, but it definitely doesn't mean you have to read the first book first. There is only one oblique reference to that story, and then the rest of the novel is new territory.

And what territory! This time around the story is told by a rookie cop who's assigned to watch the dudly duo as his rookie hazing ritual. Also there are these robots robbing banks. Expect lots of dangerous stunts, death-defying drug use, and a whole lot of whackiness. I can't say anything more without ruining the story, so buy it.

The writing is top notch, the author is always drawing you in, making you turn that next page to see what happens. The jokes are crisp and unpredictable and had me laughing loud enough to wake up the baby (then the wife would get mad and threaten to throw the book away, which hurt somewhere deep inside; I may leave her).

This book also saw a bit more development of the characters of Spider and Smokey, which was nice and allows us to differentiate between the two somewhat better.

Overall, I liked Crispy better, mostly because I found the incredibly unique point of view and character of the narrator more entertaining. But that's like saying I like $1,001 better than $1,000. Both are excellent and highly recommended.

9 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Word of mouth..., November 9, 2003

By 

Sherry Russell "Reviewer/author" (Vero Beach, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Joe Schmoe Show (Paperback)

A friend and fellow author, Victoria Taylor Murray, told me about this superior book. I'm glad she did. H.B. Markus writes absolute high grade entertainment. This author leaves no stones unturned in his exploration of his well developed vibrant creative characters. This book is not only refreshingly magnetic in style, it is hysterically funny and profoundly brilliant. I am going to purchase Crispy now and it has to be one hullabaloo of a debut novel. Entertaining and down right full body Depends fun! Thanks!

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Midwest Book Review, December 13, 2003

By 

Laurel Johnson (Kansas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Joe Schmoe Show (Paperback)

Imagine the Keystone Kops chasing Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd up one street and down the other
dodging firebombs. Or envision a surrealistic Picasso painting put to words. Is that too far back for you to remember? Try Bill Murray, Chevy Chase and John Belushi improvising a Saturday Night Live skit on LSD, with Robin Williams along for the ride. That will give you a small idea of The Joe Schmoe Show experience.

In this follow up to Crispy, Marcus introduces Spider and Smokey to a whole new cast of characters. When Officer Pat Carter relocates from the crime ridden city, nothing he's ever experienced prepares him for duty in Painesville. He draws "S and S duty" - without his sidearm -the first day out and life as Carter knows it will never be the same. He's assigned to watch Spider and Smokey, and soon learns that in their world anything goes. Drug use, illegal weapons, home made bombs, terroizing townsfolk, and FCC violations are their stock in trade. Spider and Smokey seem to have the mental capacity of a pea. How on earth do they get away with everything they do? And why does the local police department not arrest them?

The author leads readers on a merry chase with the hapless rookie Carter riding shotgun. Carter eventually gets wise, and so will you. Marcus ties up all the loose ends before the last page, and promises a third installment of the Spider and Smokey saga, coming soon, entitled Parasites. H.B. Marcus has a unique style and voice, so prepare yourselves