Customer Reviews

There's Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is very funny. I could not put it down and finished the book so fast that I wanted more.

Paula Poundstone presented a very popular stage comedy routine on the Bravo television channel. This book is an excellent extension of the stage routine. The book is even better than the Bravo television presentation.

Read this book.

I enjoyed the book. I appreciate that Poundstone took such a creative approach to launch her stream of consciousness. As I read, I chuckled a lot (I'm not much of a laugh-out-loud kind of person) although I did experience the occasional loud snicker.

As I read, I imagined something that the book's detractors would say (if Poundstone can wander off into the weeds writing the book, I can certainly do the same as I review it!):

"Poundstone goes on ad nauseum about her arrest a few years ago....she keeps bringing it up....like she's trying to explain her side of her legal troubles..."

So let me "'splain" to you that this is a stream of consciousness book. Poundstone gets in a biographical mode and then veers off to what pops into her mind. Her legal woes were traumatic for her and a turning point in her life. They're on her mind. When she thinks of one thing, her mind sometimes wanders off to her arrest and drinking and follow-up healing. Though embarrassed, ashamed, and even angered about what she went through (particularly losing her kids and the endless parade of diagnoses), her self-deprecating humor can still see some humor in some of her experiences.

This is not a book for someone who takes himself and life too seriously, who can't eke out some humor in bad experiences in retrospect. If you've never been described as being irreverent or having a morbid sense of humor, if you're turned off Jon Stewart or SNL, don't read this book, and re-read one of your inspirational books.

I don't normally read memoirs, or personal histories, or biographies, but I love Paula Poundstone and her kind of humor, and picked the book. I foolishly started reading it before I went to bed, which was a big mistake - I couldn't put it down. Trust me: it is laugh out loud funny. There is also something genuinely straightforward and a bit sad about her writing. I'm now even bigger fan of her. It is a very fast read, and even though jagged narrative style was a bit jarring to me at first, I loved when she wrote about Beethoven. Also, how can you not like a woman who admits she has a crush on Wilbur Wright?!

My suggestion is to first watch Paula's new super-funny stand up routine on Comedy Central entitled Look what the cat dragged in. Then sit down with this book and you'll understand the unique writing style she uses. I'll think of Paula every time I interrupt someone. I want to thank Paula for being a real "stand up" person - she fostered kids, adopted kids, stopped drinking, held her head high when the media broadcasted her personal business, made us laugh with her comedy shows and wrote this great book (one of the best I've read all year). I'm impressed as all get out.

Paula Poundstone is honest, wise and witty and her mind is all over the "map," so to speak. Just when you're beginning to wonder where she's going, she slips right back in and leaves you thinking--or laughing--or, sometimes, shedding a tear.

Read this book!

No matter how much I love a book, at some point, I'm going to fall asleep while reading it. But that was not the case with Paula's book.

In fact, when I received 'There's Nothing In This Book That I Meant To Say' in the mail a couple weeks back, I read it from start to finish throughout the night. This is not a book that can be put down! It is brilliantly written, extremely funny, reflective, sweet, endearing and engaging as is the author herself.

I HIGHLY recommend this book to everyone. Definitely a must for Christmas!

Great book. She writes with raw honesty and gentle humour. While reading the book, you feel like you're having a great heart to heart talk, with a good friend.

This book is HILARIOUS....This is a MUST READ....I find myself thinking about what I read throughout the day and giggling. You can't put this book down. If you have someone who is down or going through something in their lives this book is a perfect pick me up.

This book is an unusual mixture of hollywood tell-all, historical biography and stand up. But throughout, Poundstone is funny, charming and clever. Enjoyable to read.

This is a funny book... I listened to it in my car on five CDs. Paula has been through a lot and yet she has not lost her sense of humor. If you ever get the chance to go see her live, don't miss it. She is one of the quickest and the best at adLib that I have ever seen.