I Have Chosen to Stay and Fight (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: west memphis three, crazy eyes, marriage equality, Asian American, San Francisco, Anna May Wong (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Cho's blistering, funny and articulate follow-up to her 2001 memoir I'm the One That I Want, is a collection of essays declaring war on sexism, racism, homophobia and apathy. While many of the pieces have appeared on her prolific blog (www.margaretcho.com), there is a distinct pleasure in hearing Cho articulate them herself. Fans of the standup comedian's concert films (including Notorious C.H.O. and Assassin) should be aware that this is not a series of comic riffs but thoughtful, often incendiary manifestos. Unlike many comics who read with an eye on the upcoming punch line, Cho is a relaxed narrator who takes great joy in playing with words as well as ideas. She talks about the personal (her elastic sexuality, the media's reaction to her marriage, hate mail she receives), the political (gay marriage, the White House's "war on errorism") and pop culture (defending Courtney Love, Martha Stewart, Michael Jackson and even The Passion of the Christ). Helpfully, virtually all essays begin with a new CD track.
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Review

Raw. Blunt. Passionate. I Have Chosen to Stay and Fight will inspire. -- Fort Worth Star Telegram

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Riverhead Trade (October 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594482209
• ISBN-13: 978-1594482205
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #484,043 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars On the page, angry just isn't that funny, January 1, 2006

By	Jason Cooper (Birmingham, AL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: I Have Chosen to Stay and Fight (Hardcover)

Cho takes on a laundry list of issues in this book, from racism to feminism to the war in Iraq, and while I agree with most of her politics, I found myself shaking my head frequently as I read the way she chose to present her ideas.

Cho is known as an activist and comedian, but in this book, she mainly comes across as an angry woman. And it's not a funny angry: it's the sort of the stuff that makes the reader raise shrug his shoulders and ask, "where did that come from?"

For example, she rakes Andy Rooney over the coals for "his boring ass opinions on the stupid things rich white folks think about..." At another point, she lays into Ann Coulter, referring to her as a "ho." This wouldn't be so troubling if she weren't criticizing the critics of Courtney Love for doing the very same thing ten pages earlier.

I'm no fan of Ann Coulter, but can't we do better than the same "I know you are but what am I?" tactics that we hate her for? Also, what did Andy Rooney ever do to anybody but bore us with his "white" opinions? Really, Margaret.

I related to a friend my concerns about this book and he offered that some of the stuff here may be stand-up material that just doesn't translate well in the written form. That may well be. Still, I couldn't but get disappointed in a book that I bought for some irreverent laughs. After all, Al Franken makes me laugh out loud with his take on the world. The fact that his politics are right on doesn't hurt.

If you're a die-hard fan of Cho's work, this isn't to be missed. The "notorious c.h.o." is in your face, guns blazing, from page the first to the last. For the rest of us, this is one to skip. I'll have to give her another chance - when she's on the stage.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Riotgrrl Manifesto, April 19, 2006

By	Logical Libertine (Sarasota, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Have Chosen to Stay and Fight (Hardcover)

I consider myself very liberal and am a fan of Cho. However, this book just wasn't polished enough. The topics - while all worthwhile - were dealt with in such a way that you just wondered if she was hurting the causes she feels strongly about.

As an example, her very public friendship with Damien Echols. The segment on this topic seemed contrived when she also then spoke of knowing and having friends who are criminals. I just don't think the feelings were well expressed.

This book is just one massive journal of rants that she has published. If she wants uprising from the people - I hope its better rehersed than this. I was looking for wit and biting insite. I walked away with neither.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not funny, not intelligent, not good, May 21, 2007

By	J. D. Seagraves (Michigan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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Margaret Cho is a great comedian. I love comedy. Marguerite Cho is a liberal activist. I am a liberal. But in this book, Margaret Cho is not funny, and her political views are not insightful, interesting, or anything other than elementary and sad. It boggles the mind to think that someone could be so intelligent a comic and yet so dense when it comes to politics, economics, the law, and philosophy. And again, I am a liberal. I empathize with Cho's point of view on most issues. It's just that she doesn't back up her perspectives with anything approaching intelligent thought, and her observations are delivered in a crass, negative, and most importantly, unfunny manner. I have no problem with comedians who want to speak out on important issues, nor do I have a problem with politically inspired comedy, but this is not Ms. Cho's bag. She should stick to what she does best, and if she writes another smarmy, fifth-grade-level political book, her fans would be best advised to avoid it.