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dandelionfluff's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty funny! Sometimes the text is difficult to read, though that's just a matter of design. Of course, this being the general overview that it is, don't expect any in-depth details respectfully analyzing the lives of beloved authors. It's a humorous collection meant to excite and get people talking, which it certainly does. Might be a bit difficult explaining why there's a dominatrix on the back of your book if you take it out in public, though.
__caropi's review against another edition
3.0
This book did have a lot of interesting facts (some were negligible like authors that were actually dead, but that's understandable due to its publication year)however, I still found it to be a frustrating read. This is because most of the authors lead very similar lives, all of the drug abuse, alcoholism, and sex kind of meshes together after a certain point and then you're simply left with a SUPER AUTHOR (who embodies several questionable habits).
That being said, it's still worth reading to gloss over trivia on different authors. Be warned though, read it in small doses to avoid the side effect of summoning the SUPER AUTHOR.
That being said, it's still worth reading to gloss over trivia on different authors. Be warned though, read it in small doses to avoid the side effect of summoning the SUPER AUTHOR.
bilanm_c's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed learning more about some of my favourite authors. The illustration style was A1 & just overall really enjoyed this little book! I must get to some of the other titles in this series!
lalalena's review against another edition
3.0
I loved this book. Some "important" things I've learned? Well...
- I was tickled by Louisa May Alcott's more salacious side, considering the woman taught me more about morality than anyone else in Little Woman. Also, drug addiction.
- J.D. Salinger drinks his on pee(!).
- Gertrude Stein was a person just as annoying as her writing.
- Oscar Wilde designed his wife's wedding dress.
I'm sure these and other tidbits will come in handy during a drunken conversation one day. At least, I hope so. Because it's best read in short bursts, I keep it on a shelf in the bathroom. =)
- I was tickled by Louisa May Alcott's more salacious side, considering the woman taught me more about morality than anyone else in Little Woman. Also, drug addiction.
- J.D. Salinger drinks his on pee(!).
- Gertrude Stein was a person just as annoying as her writing.
- Oscar Wilde designed his wife's wedding dress.
I'm sure these and other tidbits will come in handy during a drunken conversation one day. At least, I hope so. Because it's best read in short bursts, I keep it on a shelf in the bathroom. =)
andragel's review against another edition
4.0
Well. This went better than expected.
I was a bit disappointed this book was not by far as juicy as expected.
I thought I will be thoroughly entertained. Instead, the book required the readers to have some literary knowledge or it would have been just a bore.
The author provides an informative account in an easy to comprehend manner which, contrary to the opinion which may be derived from the statements on the cover, was still considerate towards the people described.
Gently mocking them, the book makes them seem approachable, proving how even the most brilliant of minds had either less than extraordinary or quite outrageous lives.
I was a bit disappointed this book was not by far as juicy as expected.
I thought I will be thoroughly entertained. Instead, the book required the readers to have some literary knowledge or it would have been just a bore.
The author provides an informative account in an easy to comprehend manner which, contrary to the opinion which may be derived from the statements on the cover, was still considerate towards the people described.
Gently mocking them, the book makes them seem approachable, proving how even the most brilliant of minds had either less than extraordinary or quite outrageous lives.
themrsj's review against another edition
4.0
I would give this one closer to 3.5 stars only because there was no actual reference section of where all the information came from. But I guess that fits the "tabloid" approach that the cover has. It was still fun to read, and I found myself going, "oh, well that explains a lot!"
krisrid's review against another edition
3.0
If you like knowing about the faults and foibles of your favourite famous author, this may be the book for you. Each short chapter focuses on one well-known author and details the weird and wonky things they were or did.
From sexual pecadillos, to drug addictions, don't let anyone tell you that writers from the past were paragons of virtue, and some of the stuff may surprise you if you thought otherwise.
This is an easy read full of off-beat sound-bites of information. If, however, you revere your favourite author and don't want to know any less than stellar things about his or her life, then best to skip this one! It certainly doesn't deal gently with these authors, although it is written in a funny, tongue-in-cheek style and isn't mean-spirited at all.
From sexual pecadillos, to drug addictions, don't let anyone tell you that writers from the past were paragons of virtue, and some of the stuff may surprise you if you thought otherwise.
This is an easy read full of off-beat sound-bites of information. If, however, you revere your favourite author and don't want to know any less than stellar things about his or her life, then best to skip this one! It certainly doesn't deal gently with these authors, although it is written in a funny, tongue-in-cheek style and isn't mean-spirited at all.
cecooper's review against another edition
4.0
Way more interesting than English class! This book is like a tabloid expose for literary's greats.