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Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way [Hardcover]

Bruce Campbell
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (95 customer reviews)


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Book Description

May 26, 2005
What you're reading right now is known as the "flap copy." This is where the 72,444 words of my latest book, Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way, are cooked down to fit in a 3 ½-by-9 ½-inch column.  But how does one do that with a fictional story about a B movie actor's disastrous attempt to finally star in a big-budget Hollywood movie? Do you tantalize readers with snappy zingers like the one in chapter six where Biff the Wonder Boy says, "You may be bred in ol' Kentucky, but you're only a crumb up here"? Or do you reveal pivotal plot points like the one at the end of the book where the little girl on crutches points an accusing finger and shouts, "The killer is Mr. Potter!"
I have too much respect for you as an attention-deficient consumer to attempt such an obvious ruse. But let's not play games here. You've already picked up the book, so you either:
A.     Know who I am
B.     Like the cool smoking jacket I'm wearing on the cover
C.     Have just discovered that the bookstore restroom is out of toilet paper 
Is this a relationship book? Well, if by "relationship book" you mean that the characters in it have relationships or are related to someone, then yes, absolutely. Will you learn how to pick up chicks? Good heavens, I can only hope so, though for best results in that department you should both read this book and be Brad Pitt.
Is it a sequel to my autobiography, If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor?  Sadly, no, which made it much harder to write. According to my publisher, I haven't "done" enough since 2001 to warrant another memoir.
Is it an "autobiographical novel"? Yes. I'm the lead character in the story and I'm a real person and everything in the book actually happened, except for all the stuff that didn't.
Mostly, the action revolves around my preparations for a pivotal role in director Mike Nichols's A-list relationship film Let's Make Love!, starring Richard Gere, Renée Zellweger, and Christopher Plummer. This is the kind of break most actors can only dream of. But my Homeric attempt to break through the glass ceiling of B-grade genre fare is hampered by a vengeful studio executive and a production that becomes infected by something called the "B movie virus," symptoms of which include excessive use of cheesy special effects, slapstick, and projectile vomiting.
When someone fingers me as the guy responsible for the virus, thus ruining my good standing in the entertainment industry (hey, I said it was fiction, okay?), I become a fugitive racing against the clock, an innocent patsy battling the shadowy forces of the studio system to clear my name, save my career, and destroy the Death Star. In a jaw-dropping twist worthy of Hitchcock (page 274), you'll gasp as I turn the tables on Hollywood and attempt to salvage my reputation in a town where you're only as good as your last remake.
From a violent fistfight with a Buddhist to a life-altering stint in federal prison, this novel has it all. If you like John Grisham, Tom Clancy, or one too many run-on sentences, you'll absolutely love Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way. And if the 72,444 words are too time-consuming, there are lots and lots of cool graphics.
Regards,
Bruce "Don't Call Me Ash" Campbell
~
Bruce Campbell's first book, If Chins Could Kill, was a major sleeper hit
and became a New York Times and national bestseller.  His immense energy and
sharp wit are in evidence again in Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way, a novel that will
have readers laughing out loud.


Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Satire and sharp one-liners are the engines powering low-budget movie hero Campbell's (If Chins Could Kill) first autobiographical novel, a funny, breezy, high-camp affair. After dispensing B-movie witticisms on romance and navigating love scenes, Sci-Fi channel schlock film actor "Bruce Campbell" is unexpectedly offered the A-list role of a "wise-cracking doorman" and "emotional lynchpin" in the new Mike Nichols romantic comedy Let's Make Love, starring Richard Gere and Renee Zellweger. After getting fully immersed in calamitous role research at the Waldorf-Astoria, Campbell postures (and annoys) his way through the first read-through with indifferent cast members, runs lines with a timid Gere, crassly advises Zellweger on how to accentuate her bust line, dishes ex-husbands with Liz Taylor and berates the film's director of photography, Oscar-winning Vilmos Zsigmond (whose name Campbell spells Sigmund). After a Secret Service ambush and more movie set mayhem, Campbell's A-List luck finally runs out. But not even a bumbling S.W.A.T. team can stop this determined day player from getting his due. Campbell knows of what he writes, and this endless barrage of extreme silliness obviously spoofs (and quite possibly mirrors) a frenzied acting career made up of equal parts exasperation and hilarity.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From the Inside Flap

What you’re reading right now is known as the “flap copy.” This is where the 72,444 words of my latest book, Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way, are cooked down to fit in a 3 ½-by-9 ½-inch column. But how does one do that with a fictional story about a B movie actor’s disastrous attempt to finally star in a big-budget Hollywood movie? Do you tantalize readers with snappy zingers like the one in chapter six where Biff the Wonder Boy says, “You may be bred in ol’ Kentucky, but you’re only a crumb up here”? Or do you reveal pivotal plot points like the one at the end of the book where the little girl on crutches points an accusing finger and shouts, “The killer is Mr. Potter!”

I have too much respect for you as an attention-deficient consumer to attempt such an obvious ruse. But let’s not play games here. You’ve already picked up the book, so you either:

A. Know who I am

B. Like the cool smoking jacket I’m wearing on the cover

C. Have just discovered that the bookstore restroom is out of toilet paper

Is this a relationship book? Well, if by “relationship book” you mean that the characters in it have relationships or are related to someone, then yes, absolutely. Will you learn how to pick up chicks? Good heavens, I can only hope so, though for best results in that department you should both read this book and be Brad Pitt.

Is it a sequel to my autobiography, If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor? Sadly, no, which made it much harder to write. According to my publisher, I haven’t “done” enough since 2001 to warrant another memoir.

Is it an “autobiographical novel”? Yes. I’m the lead character in the story and I’m a real person and everything in the book actually happened, except for all the stuff that didn’t.

Mostly, the action revolves around my preparations for a pivotal role in director Mike Nichols’s A-list relationship film Let’s Make Love!, starring Richard Gere, Renée Zellweger, and Christopher Plummer. This is the kind of break most actors can only dream of. But my Homeric attempt to break through the glass ceiling of B-grade genre fare is hampered by a vengeful studio executive and a production that becomes infected by something called the “B movie virus,” symptoms of which include excessive use of cheesy special effects, slapstick, and projectile vomiting.

When someone fingers me as the guy responsible for the virus, thus ruining my good standing in the entertainment industry (hey, I said it was fiction, okay?), I become a fugitive racing against the clock, an innocent patsy battling the shadowy forces of the studio system to clear my name, save my career, and destroy the Death Star. In a jaw-dropping twist worthy of Hitchcock (page 274), you’ll gasp as I turn the tables on Hollywood and attempt to salvage my reputation in a town where you’re only as good as your last remake.

From a violent fistfight with a Buddhist to a life-altering stint in federal prison, this novel has it all. If you like John Grisham, Tom Clancy, or one too many run-on sentences, you’ll absolutely love Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way. And if the 72,444 words are too time-consuming, there are lots and lots of cool graphics.

Regards,

Bruce “Don’t Call Me Ash” Campbell

~

Bruce Campbell’s first book, If Chins Could Kill, was a major sleeper hit
and became a New York Times and national bestseller. His immense energy and
sharp wit are in evidence again in Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way, a novel that will
have readers laughing out loud.


Product Details

  • Hardcover: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books; 1st edition (May 26, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0312312601
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312312602
  • Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (95 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #743,874 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

I would recommend this book to any Bruce Campbell fan or anyone in search of an entertaining read. Loungefly04  |  25 reviewers made a similar statement
This is a great new book from Bruce "Don't Call Me Ash" Campbell, star of the Evil Dead films. Justin Addison  |  18 reviewers made a similar statement
A good time for anyone who likes reading about what has to happen to make a movie. William Sills  |  15 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
73 of 75 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Not brilliant, but a lot of fun August 9, 2005
Format:Hardcover
Actor Bruce Campbell decided to try his hand at fiction for his second book, but even then, he couldn't help from letting the "real world" (such as it is) intrude. The book is about Campbell, himself, getting cast in a major role (the kind that gets "best supporting actor" Oscars) in a new Richard Gere/Renee Zellweger romantic comedy. But Campbell's B-movie roots pervade and begin to "infect" the set... but is it really his fault?

This is a weird little book. Most of the story concerns Campbell travelling the country, meeting with one bizarre "expert" after another to research his role as Foyl, the all-knowing relationship guru doorman. As the book progresses, though, a clear villain emerges and Campbell finds himself -- again -- battling the forces of evil. The only real problem with the book is that the villain's motivation, and the major conflict, are introduced rather late in the story, along with a couple of fairly important characters who should have been brought in earlier.

However, as complaints go, that's not a big one. The book isn't intended to be a literary masterpiece -- it's a fun little satire that pokes fun at the Hollywood system from someone who's a small fish in that pond, but a big fish in the outside world of cult cinema. Campbell is a clever, witty guy and he turns out a clever, witty book, and that's what I really wanted out of this.
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43 of 46 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars I would expect this book from Campbell January 3, 2006
Format:Hardcover
Bruce Campbell is the kind of guy you either love or hate, so I won't waste your time. If you already hate him, avoid this book like a B-Movie plague, for the book is cut from the same material.

(pause)

OK. Now that we have lost the anti-Campbell faction let's take a look at "Make Love* the Bruce Campbell way". This novel is a hoot. It is totally silly. From the cover, one should understand that the entire book is tongue-in-cheek. In it we see Bruce preparing for and acting in a movie flop called "Let's Make Love!" In the process, he joins a Southern Gentlemen's Club, fights (and looses) a duel, teaches Richard Gere how to pick up women, and while disguised as someone else, agrees to produce a movie with Jack Nicholson. There is mystery and plenty of action toward the end with a rather surprising ending.

He flashes back on his incredible body of work, especially the Army of Darkness and Evil Dead movies. Bruce is self-deprecating and seems to welcome and enjoy his role in life as a successful "B" movie star. The book is funny, light and witty. It has plenty of illustrations and photos.

It is the kind of book one would expect from Bruce Campbell.
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Great fun, just don't call him Ash!!! May 30, 2005
Format:Hardcover
This is a great new book from Bruce "Don't Call Me Ash" Campbell, star of the Evil Dead films. This is quite different from his first title, "If Chins Could Kill, Confessions of a 'B' Movie Actor." Campbell's great sense of humor lifts this title above the average Hollywood trash. Plus, he played Ash, so ya gota love him.

While "Chins" was autobiographical, "Make Love" picks up where his first tome left off - present, day real life. "Make Love" starts in real life, but quickly takes a hilarious, fictional detour through the life of an "A" movie actor. It reads very much like the first book. It is in the first person, but nothing in MLTBCW actually happened. Bruce gets a part in a move with Richard (A**BAG) Gere and Rene Zellweger (sp?). He makes all sorts of very funny faux pas while researching the role (including an old-fashioned southern duel of all things). All the great comedy is there, and Campbell flashes back to many of his other films and TV shows, all within a fictional context.

A must read for any BC fan, especially if you liked "Chins." Campbell's Hollywood insight and humorous situations (and funny photos and graphics) make this a page-turner from start to finish.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, but confused October 9, 2007
Format:Paperback
I'm a casual fan of Bruce Campbell, meaning I'll see Bubba Ho-tep or Evil Dead II to watch his performance but draw the line at Mindwarp. I had high hopes for this book after If Chins Could Kill, Campbell's fun, optimistic memoirs reflecting on his B-movie life, which is actually on my top ten list of all time (and yes, I have read more than ten books). I also liked Man With a Screaming Brain, which Campbell wrote; in its own twisted Z-grade way, it was a fine example of good storytelling. I hesitate to say that I was disappointed, but I'm afraid I can't hold his first novel in the same esteem as the other two.

The premise, just to get us started, is simple: Bruce, by chance, is cast as the third lead in a big-budget mainstream comedy, opposite Richard Gere and Renee Zellwegger, and helmed by Mike Nicols (best known as director of The Graduate). This is, of course, a dream role; as Mike explains, "This is the kind of role the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor was created for." The rest of the book follows Bruce as he, determined not to blow his one shot at an A-list rating, travels from one zany location to the next, meeting a variety of experts to nail down various aspects of his charcter, Floyd, the sagacious doorman. Meanwhile, as filming progresses, Campbell's creative input gives birth to a "B-movie virus", the side effects of which include gratuitous fight scenes, revealing costumes on the leading lady, and stilted dialogue.

The main flaw of the novel is that it never quite decides what it's trying to be. With the plot, Campbell could have made a smart Hollywood satire in the vein of The Player or even Sunset Boulevard, but in the book's final stage that element is only half-conceived.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars It's Bruce. He's funny.
Bruce is very funny. It is a well paced story. He gets in to a bunch of silly situations while researching his new role. It's all fictional.
Published 8 days ago by Some Guy
5.0 out of 5 stars Campbell is the greatest actor to ever live
This book rocks. Its an enjoyable, easy read. Love it. LIKE like like! Will satiate your need for more Bruce. You can never get enough Campbell, but his books help.
Published 1 month ago by learnedscholar
5.0 out of 5 stars Funny book!
I've read this book before and bought it as a gift. It was in great condition, and the book was just as funny as I remembered. Bruce Campbell really knows how to weave a tale!
Published 2 months ago by Amy Stokes
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Read
Very enjoyable and awesome book, especially if you're a Bruce Campbell fan! Buy it or give it as a gift!!!
Published 4 months ago by Kathleen
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the funniest books I've ever read!
I couldn't put this one down, read it in one sitting. When I read it, I had the challenge of trying not to laugh out loud, and there were times that I was curled up in my chair,... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Kari F
4.0 out of 5 stars sexy gift
I got this for a buddy of mine for christmas. I got a bunch of laughs and some great stories out of it.
Published 5 months ago by Max Robertson
5.0 out of 5 stars For Campbell fans only!
Make Love!* *The Bruce Campbell Way is just a great read. Highly entertaining, and it is a quick read. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Cody
5.0 out of 5 stars Funny Book
Funny Guy, liked him from Burn Notice, and never knew he was in so many films. And, boy, does he know some big wigs!
Published 12 months ago by Chris Peterson
5.0 out of 5 stars Another reason to love Bruce
If you're a fan of Bruce's, you need this book. If you're not - well, you might just need this book anyway. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Nixie
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book by a great actor!
If you like Bruce Campbell, then you'll love this book. It is fiction, not fact. If you want his autobiography, get "If Chins Could Kill. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Adam Smith
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