Comedy Books

The shipment was out to me in a couple of days! This book is awesome, too! Thanks!

It's hard enough for a kid to absorb and become part of American culture. This book provides a glimpse into Choi's attempt to master two cultures. Choi's memoir is both very funny and thought provoking. She has a wonderful storytelling style - she lets the characters dish out the plot with "kettles" of unabashed humor. I haven't read a book this quickly in years.

The book was hilarious, I couldn't put it down. All the situations that she describes in the book are just great. It made me feel better that I'm not the only one with a crazy family, especially since I also come from a Korean background. The book def puts a smile on your face and if you want more she keeps up a blog, so check that out too.

I have a Korean mother, and an American father. I was raised in as much of the Korean tradition as possible, and often thought my mother was out of her mind. Having American friends, I would see how their families and mothers were and thought that my mom was just neurotic and out to make my life miserable.

Annie's book is so well written. I felt that I could relate to everything she wrote. By reliving vicariously through her words, I was finally able to see that my family dynamic was not about control and disappointment, rather more about love and wanting the best for me, albeit in a very strange, stressful, mind game sort of way.

Annie says on page 196: "Though we hate to admit it, we care what our family thinks; we've been brainwashed to seek approval and obey, just like the rest of Korea's children." I've repeated this line again and again, and not one of my Korean friends (and siblings) haven't laughed out loud at the funny, but very true statement.

You will fall in love with Annie's family. You will adore her mother. You will feel like you know her in some strange way. This is probably because her spoken English is written as is, and you feel like she is talking to you. If you have a Korean parent, you will laugh at how the English language is somewhat butchered, yet that you are able to read and understand every bit of broken English, mispronounced and incomplete words. You will laugh at the different logic that cultural differences bring, and you will find yourself in stitches over the similarities that seem to be universal in the Korean family dynamic.

This book is a joy to read. It is side splitting funny, and not dull for one second. You'll start reading and not put it down. Then you will go through withdrawal when you are finished. You'll find yourself ordering copies for friends of similar backgrounds, and referring to over and over again.

Annie is comical and quick witted. I only hope that she will continue her memoir into the future.

hilarious and heartfelt, Annie Choi's book made me laugh out loud, and explained to the rest of the world what it's like to grow up Asian American or specifically, with nutty but loving parents who can barely communicate with you. Except in "Engrish" that is. However, the funniest thing she has written in my opinion was her "Open Letter To Architects" which is not in this collection. Good stuff though.

This book was given as a gift to a Carson fan. It was very well received and we felt we had given the perfect gift.

For those of us who grew up with Johnny Carson it's hard to believe that it has been fifteen years since Johnny last came out from behind "The Tonight Show" curtain and even harder to accept the fact that he is no longer with us. But we're in luck in one way....this wonderful book, compiled by Stephen Cox, brings Johnny back to life in the most comprehensive and nostalgic way. It's a walk down Memory Lane and it is nothing short of wonderful.

From the inception of "The Tonight Show" and its early years before Johnny, Cox takes us through every segment of the thirty-year run we all enjoyed. There are comedians, of course, memorable moments, the monologue and my favorite...Joan Embery and her wildlife companions from the San Diego Zoo. Who of my generation can forget the wedding of Tiny Tim and "Miss Vicki" or the Ed Ames tomahawk throw? (the latter being a perennial favorite of the Carson annual retrospectives)

What is such an added bonus to the book are the dozens of photos that grace its pages. "Here's Johnny!" is a terrific look back at a man who made the nation laugh for three decades and who will always be remembered as the best at what he did. Thank you, Johnny!

If you want to know about Johnny Carson and the things that went on behind the scenes at the Tonight Show, you need to get this book!!! It was great and the photos were wonderful.

Excellent read. For any fan of Johnny Carson and the glory days of the Tonight Show, this is the book for you. It makes you feel like you're actually watching the show again. Enjoyed it thoroughly!

Johnny Carson was the late night entertainer of my youth and there will never be anyone to compare - although Conan is great in his own right(that will be another review sometime). This book really takes you back. While I do not know all the "for-sure details"(and some things could be slightly off in this book since I don't keep track of that so much), there is enough substance here to take you right back to watching Johnny in your parents' living room! Like the "Clapper Caper" with Jack Webb. LOVED IT!

As the author says more than once, not everyone will relate to his particular story with food. I think anyone with eating issues would find something in this book to be of help. I could relate all too well, and appreciate the author's candor at revealing things about himself, and his thoughts, that were of help to my own situation.

I really enjoyed this book. In clear, no nonsense language Allen Zadoff managed to convey to the reader the pain of being very over weight with no self pity, no real excuses. He ate too much at one time. Period. Then, somehow after reaching 300+ pounds, he looked inside of himself and accepted a truth. He needed to eat less. So - no more dieting for him. He decided to establish a traffic light of an idea. Red light for dangerous food, yellow light for foods that need to be approached with caution and green food - the kind one can eat lots of and manage to stay slim. I loved this idea. I don't have a huge weight problem, but I do eat too much at times for a variety of reasons. I swear - as soon as I did what Zadoff said, wrote down my red, yellow and green foods, I began to eat less. And I began to lose weight. Wow. Thanks, Mr. Zadoff. You did a great job. I hope everyone who has ever struggled with weight reads this book. It's short but the message is clear. Look at what you eat. Identify problem foods. Approach them with caution. I guess he said it all.

How is everyone doing in conquering this:
~*weight loss battle*~?
It really is a WAR against those excess pounds, isn't it?

After reading HUNGRY by Allen Zadoff, I decided not to call it a 'diet' because it is not suppose to be a reducing diet but a healthy way of eating.

This book gives you some ammunition to WIN that war!
(Although you will always have to be 'on guard' for the rest of your life!)

It was a worthwhile book to read...It had short one or two pages chapters. None of that recipe filler pages.

One of our 'assignments' was to try and figure out WHY
we over-eat and make ourselves over-weight.
There is a reason. He suggested maybe it is an addiction
or a disease we need to treat not just cover up with a 'diet'?

He lost 150 lbs...The way he did it was to analyze his feelings and
then to not eat foods that are trigger foods. He had us make a list
of red, yellow and green foods....red meaning those
that we just can't stop eating once we start (like sweets)
yellow meaning those that sometimes cause over-eating problems, and
green are those that are OK and good for us; never lead
to a binge. (Like a traffic light, red STOP, yellow CAUTION and green GO.

He didn't tell us what to eat because everyone's list would be
different.
Allen reminded me of my nephew that also lost a great deal of weight.

For instance, how when Allen was at a normal weight, after weighing 360 lbs. (And having only one pair of pants that fit that were worn out in the crouch.)
It was difficult to think like a normal weight person. (Like how to react when a pretty girl flirted with him.)

This is the suggestion that I am going to have to do since I am
an evening nibbler. Only eat 3 meals each day...(From the green list.)
"Three delicious, abundant meals made up of foods I can handle."Zadoff.

It sounds so sensible yet I haven't done that in a long long time.
I need to stop this mindless evening snacking...that mouth hungry not
stomach hungry HABIT! It is very very hard to break these bad eating habits!

If you can get the book, I highly recommend it.

Allen's final statement:
"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can
start from now and make a brand new ending." Carl Bard

Allen Zadoff is a great writer. He's sharp, wise and funny. This little memoir of his journey from fat to "normal" size, is insightful and enjoyable to read. Allen is open and revealing about his life, but only alludes to the solution he found, which seems to be a 12 step program called Overeaters Anonymous. The second half of the book, when he is in recovery from overeating, is sprinkled with 12 step kinds of slogans. He never directly says he joined OA, but lists it as one of his recommended resources in the back of the book. Perhaps he was trying to preserve the anonymity of his participation in the program by not directly talking about it or endorsing it. It seems to me that it would have made the book more revealing had he detailed how he found his way to OA and why it worked for him. Nonetheless, this is a good read. Anyone who has struggled with these issues will be able to relate.

I can't believe such a terrible book can be reviewed so highly. I think he didn't say anything everyone who has a problem with food doesn't know. IN fact he doesn't really reveal himself at all. He uses thumor to hide behind rather than tell the truth. How does such a skimpy book get published?. He hints O.A is the only answer to overeating. He never explains what home problems kept his addiction active. I find it cruel to give hope to others with one method while telling us nothing else works. Everyone is differet and what works is different. This book is not quite a memoir, not quite a self help book,not quite a book. It is said to be a non diet book but I felt like I had been put on a skimpy diet with this badly written book. sorry. but I could write a more truthful book in my sleep and I have kept off sixty pounds. Hey, let me write a book. Save your money and time on this one. I felt cheated.

Lamb Chops...What do lamb chops have to do with this story, well everything! Lamb Chops is the vaudeville routine that brought fame to this comedic duo in the late 1920's. I have the link to a You Tube movie short that was filmed in 1929 for this popular routine here. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzFcsdgkg54 ) In this clip and others that I've seen with Burns and Allen, I think Gracie is the reason that they had so much success. She was so natural in her role as the "ditzy dame". She was good if not one of the best funnymen to a straightman role. This book takes the reader back to the waning days of vaudeville and the beginnings of film, radio and television as the new media for bringing entertainment to its audiances. George Burns takes us back down memory lane with a personnal love story that lasted nearly 40 years. His memories include many places and friends that I as a reader enjoyed visiting. I don't read love stories usually, but this love story is one that I enjoyed and won't soon forget.

In our disposable transient society of today, it is a refreshing change to see a love and a marriage that lasted so long. As time goes on, it is becoming an even rarer event.

In this book, Mr. Burns fondly remembers his wife, Gracie Allen. The stories that he tells about her, how they met, and how they managed to stay together so long were interesting to read and entertaining.

I would recommend this book to all ages. It is easy reading and also tells somewhat of the history of vaudeville, radio, television, and movies.

If you love old Hollywood, read this book. If you loved George & Gracie, read this book. If you want to read a true life love story, READ THIS BOOK. I just love the inside scoop on the old Hollywood that George dishes out. I never knew Cary Grant sold neck ties before becoming a screen idol. Harpo Marx (the quiet one) wanted one child in every window to wave goodbye or hello when he pulled up in the drive. George wasn't all that impressed with Marilyn Monroe.

This book is an easy read and so hard to put down.

Growing up, I really only knew Goerge Burns for the occasional television special he would host. Other than that, and his "Oh, God" movie (which came out when I was very young), I was relatively unfamiliar with him.

In the mid 80's, when I was about 10 years old, I found that a local radio station would run old time radio comedies from 8-10pm, and as such, I used to fall asleep nightly listening to the like of Jack Benny, Fibber McGee and Molly, and, of course Burns and Allen.

I finally just purchased this book from and Amazon bookseller about two months ago, and honestly, it's as good a $2.95 as I've spent in a while.

As other reviewers have said, many times bigraqphies can be a bit on the dull side, but George really did well with this. It is an easy read... a page turner. It's very interesting to get more insight on what a great performer she was, and how natural it came to her. One always got the feeling that even though she was delivering her "dizzy" Gracie charater, that underneath that was a very smart, clever person. This book certianly backs that up, and it backs it up with all the warmth and affection George Burns had for his wife.

I thoroughly enjoyed this not only for the story of Gracie, but also as a way to look inside the life of an entertainer at that time. I neverquite understood before what it was to work the vaudeville circuit, but there is a ton of insight in this book.

This is a must read for even the most casual fan of old time radio and the celebrities of that era.

I glanced at the reviews here to see if my opinion of this book was just a fluke, but they pretty much bear me out. I didn't expect this book to be nearly as good as it is. On second thought, though, it's not that surprising. This pair was magic and it was seen in everything they touched, the prime and lasting example being the without parallel Burns and Allen Show.

Burns and Allen successfully weathered many storms, making the transition from Vaudeville and stand-up comedy to radio and later to television. The earliest TV shows are the only ones available on DVD, but in later seasons they really hit their stride. In this hilarious and ground- breaking show, George would turn on the TV in the den to see what Gracie was doing, and regularly chat with viewers about events in progress. Gracie would walk in the wrong side of the set and regale viewers (or listeners) with non-stop comedic patter, malapropisms and surrealistic humour (ala Ernie Kovaks) with George as the straightman and pinnacle of style puffing his ever-present cigar.

Even as an octagenarian he could still act (Oh God, You Devil) but as a nonogenarian (92) he could still write. This marvelous memoir is not only the most delightful reading I've had in a long time, but makes me all the more want the Burns and Allen show on DVD. This book was a bestseller in hardback, but is now unaccountably out of print. Yet many readers would love this book, and would enjoy making the acquaintance of the remarkable Gracie Allen.

I can't sum it up any better than what's in the title of this review. I wish I could be in a room with Karl, Stephen and Ricky...I think I'd die laughing.

Just like Ricky Gervais said, "I've seen him blossom from an idiot into an imbecile." Karl has such a different way of viewing the world and it's like no other. Maybe it's because he's borderline retarded, yet extremely observant and curious. This book is HILARIOUS!!!

P.S. WE'RE ALL WAITING FOR SERIES 4 OF THE PODCAST, KARL. HURRY UP AND FIX YOUR DAFT BOILER AND GET BACK IN THE STUDIO WITH RICKY AND STEVE.

Great book. Karl IS a genius, Ricky is the idiot, I know this cos im a genius and if Karl isn't one then im not, but I am, so he is, so there. Love it!

Karl is the king, but he has become a lazy king, and his subjects are getting restless. MORE PODCAST NOW YOU ORANGE HEADED MONKEY FREAK!!!!

...And there better be new monkey news included in the podcast...I'm just sayin'....

But about the book....Great book. Karl's an idiot, but strangely, his book creates a very enjoyable read. I esp. liked when he talked about the squirrles in Carmel, CA. I live by there, and I've seen those squirrles, and I want to go back and see if they've been traumatized by meeting Karl.

Steps to making your own Karl Pilkington doll.

Step 1. Get an Orange and draw two eyes, a mouth and a nose. No need for hair.

YOUR VERY OWN KARL DOLL!

Karl Pilkington: World's roundest head.

Cindy Guidry lives in Neverland. Living and working in Los Angeles is difficult enough; try dating there. Guidry is a smart, funny, sexy woman who is trying to get in touch with her own power as she approaches 40. She's knows it's in there, somewhere. But it's hard to feel powerful when you live in a town where everyone is judged by appearances, and most of those are plastic.

I really enjoyed Cindy's voice. This is a book written by a clever woman who realizes that most of the men she meets are bombarded with too many choices on a daily basis. They can no longer make a decision about anything, especially the most important one of all, the decision of commit to a mate.

Guidry takes her readers on an enjoyable ride through Hollywood as she starts to put the pieces of her life together (accompanied by a Dave Matthews soundtrack) all the while feeling like she's the Last Single Woman in America.

She may get stuck with the easy "chick-lit" label, but Cindy Guidry has written a book filled with enormous humor, wit and poignancy -- and a well-earned understanding of relationships between men and women. Her trenchant observations -- on her own life, the men in it, her career, her family -- take no prisoners, including herself. More importantly, I loved her voice: the one of that smart, way-funny girlfriend who always tells the truth, no matter how uncomfortable, and god bless her. Men will be pleasantly surprised by their un-chick-lit treatment here, if they ever read it (mine have, and responded overwhelmingly positively -- "She gets it!"). Definitely a worthy read.

I have never found a book in which the writer (and narrator in this instance) seemingly gave forth so many of my own thoughts. I always considered myself to be a little too jaded, cynical, or critical, and am now glad to see there is a whole generation of us. Cindy Guidry shows there is really nothing too depressing about not knowing what you want to be when you grow up and, guess what?, there are lots of us out there. To heck with Generation X, it's Generation Cindy Guidry all the way!!!

Having been a former lover and devout follower of the series "Sex in the City" and having had to settle for vacuous attempts to fill that time slot or reruns on TBS ever since, I am looking forward to seeing this book and the idea behind it coming to life on HBO.

You get it all here..answers to the dating Universe and some.. I laughed, i cried and i was shocked at the honesty..very refreshing indeed!
.. highly recommended from this Goddess (and not just a chick read guys).

If you're a guy and you cringe that this might be another MEN SUCK book written for only women to read and rally together around the flagpole of self inflicted injustice, this is the book for you. Although she has her complaints about men, this is a refreshingly fair-handed, often sympathetic book about both men and women and their attempts to find and understand each other in this isolating cyber-world. While there are bestsellers as well as entire television networks dedicated to the proposition that MEN SUCK, Guidry offers the possibility of individual empowerment and an unflagging belief in Love, all the while making you laugh out loud about waxing and nail polish and cats and other things men don't generally care about. Men really do want to know what women think, and Guidry tells us in a way both entertaining and enlightening.

In an interview the author stated: "What interests me most is what's happening around us right now, the wealth of humanity and unique predicaments in the house across the street. Almost anyone you meet is all at once funny, interesting, unique, and filled with love and fear and hate and peculiar notions about how life is supposed to work." This is exactly what he writes. This book is a humorous, contemporary not-quite mystery with a romantic thread, faith veins and lots of ... neurotica. The result is touching and hysterical.

This debut novel details about five weeks in the life of Russell Fink. He's a broke hypochondriac, who may or may not have cancerous moles, stuck in a job he hates and still living with his parents, whom he doesn't trust. During the course of the book he investigates the murder of his dog, gets kicked out of parents' house, tries not to get fired (without actually doing any work), discovers he's in love with someone who isn't his fiancé (a wanna-be actress) and somehow stumbles upon faith.

The character development is fantastic, some of the best I've read. At first I felt the story was just about a lovable loser, but it's much more than that. It's hysterically funny and touching. These kooky characters, simultaneously wild and believable, brought me to embarrassing out-loud laughter and even tears.

And if that's not enough, you'll find a cool flip-book at the bottom of the pages. Nothing like watching a cartoon dog run to make you love a book.

I use a different star rating system then Amazon does. To me 5 stars is life changing (except on no-book items, da). I rarely give five stars. Great Christian Fiction should be well written, have a good storyline but most of all have a message that is spiritually challenging. "My Name is Russell Fink" fits all three categories.

At first I thought this book was going nowhere, not much of a plot and frankly not my kind of story, although it was very funny, cleverly sarcastic and very well written. After a while though I was hooked and found myself being drawn to the characters in a way that's rare in books today. Matched only by W. Dale Cramer. Michael Snyder has a great gift for creating real human thought from pen and paper. The story became more interesting and compelling about half way through after Sonny departed (not a spoiler, it's in the book description). Although not theologically heavy by any standards there are many lessons to be learned and would be an excellent story for a book club to read and discuss. It begs the question: Where does my trust in Christ come from...Man or God? It's also a great book to give someone who doesn't believe. I laughed, I choked up and I was moved. I'll be reading his next book for sure. Highly Recommended.


1 Star = Pathetic
2 Stars = Fair
3 Stars = Good
4 Stars = Excellent
5 Stars = Life changing

In his imaginative debut, MY NAME IS RUSSELL FINK, Michael Snyder pens the occasionally tangential story of a 26-year-old Nashville copier salesman who can't seem to get his life together.

It's a quirky and engaging read. Russell Fink is a budding artist who still lives at home with his parents and seems stuck in his career and his relationships. His family has its own troubles: Mom hits the bottle at the first sign of tension, while dad, a miracle-working evangelist with a checkered past, auditions for a possible television gig. Russell's older brother Peter has a slew of things going on as well: He runs a coffee shop, always seems to be short on cash, is paranoid about being followed, and carries a notebook to record his memoirs of growing up in an oddball Christian family. His disappearance (and apparent kidnapping --- or is it?) is only one of the many plot threads in the story.

Russell wrestles with guilt over everything from the death of his twin sister Katie from leukemia at a young age to his own inability to get a grip on what's important. Complicating things is his fiancée, Alyssa, an actress who is (she believes) on the cusp of the big time and who stages protests at the local and cutely named "As a Jaybird" strip club to try to get media attention. For two people supposedly in love, the relationship seems...well, dysfunctional might be too kind.

At work, Russell charms the boss at Hengle's Supply even as he repeatedly misses days at his desk. But when the boss's son takes the company helm, it appears Russell's life as a copier salesman is about to end. And when his beloved basset hound Sonny is inexplicably murdered, it catapults Russell into a series of events that will jar him from his lethargy and help him begin to make sense out of his life, his calling and his faith.

Snyder's characters are an interesting but strange group --- from Dan, the eccentric tekkie who takes Russell on as a roommate, to Geri, the down-to-earth girl with a talent for making unusual clothing. If there's any criticism of the novel, it might be a tendency toward too many unusual character quirks (a little goes a long way) and a lot of different storylines going on. But somehow, the author manages to hold everything together and keep the story moving.

Snyder portrays Russell's continual blunders as both exasperating and endearing --- and they are. Russell's relationships with his family members provide glimpses into how he became the person he is at 26. But can he learn from his past to change his future? One of the best "aside" moments in the book comes when Russell forges an unlikely connection with an ill and bitter neighbor, and renders an act of kindness. No matter what the relationship between characters, there are always enough zany elements to keep things just slightly off-kilter.

Chick-lit fans will enjoy the romance elements between Russell and Alyssa and Russell and Geri, as dysfunctional as both relationships are. Readers will see Russell's long-time crush on Geri long before Russell recognizes it; however, Geri has a secret that may change the nature of their relationship. How this is resolved helps provide a happy ending to the story.

Zondervan has included some fun extras with the book, including a tongue-in-cheek reader's guide ("What kind of name is Russell Fink, anyway?"), an interview with the author, deleted scenes, back cover endorsements from his characters (from Alyssa: "He's not a particularly good kisser") and excerpts from his forthcoming sophomore offering, RETURN POLICY, due out in December. In the interview, Snyder acknowledges he began writing the novel by penning a series of short stories, which explains much about the tangential plot lines.

Faith readers will appreciate that Snyder includes themes of grace, forgiveness (especially of ourselves), vocation and calling, and the nature of miracles throughout the novel. Audiences will come away with plenty of smiles and look forward to Snyder's next outing, which promises to be a good one.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby

Unique writing voice. Wonderful characterization. Great story. You will love Russell Fink (and new author Mike Snyder).

Michael Snyder's has written a brilliant debut novel. It's funny, thoughtful, with one great character after another. But for me, what made My Name Is Russell Fink a cut above the rest, was the way it managed to juggle its themes and storylines seamlessly and to such a satisfying end.

It's true to life in that way. Russell is a struggling salesman, trapped in a narcissistic loveless engagement, he continues to deal with guilt over the loss of his sister, and he's investigating the murder of his clairvoyant basset hound (which, come on, how cool is it to have a pet that can see the future?).

Any of these would plotlines would be more then enough for your average book.

But Snyder's story is smarter then that. He understands that in life problems don't come to us one at a time--so why should they in our stories? Russell is just starting to understand one issue when another pops up. It seems that it'd be easy for him to drown everything around him but he doesn't. And for that he's heroic. He continues to search for who murdered his dog, to find true love, to find faith, to reconcile family, and maybe in the own process to regain his soul.

His journey is unique, funny, sometimes sad, but always engaging and worth the read. I saw a lot of myself in Russell and imagine you will too. I think that's why he's such a memorable character and this is such a memorable book.

Now stop reading this and get yourself a copy.

Truly an excellent guide to the romantic comedy genre and how to write within it. Perfect for an intermediate writer who wants to branch out into this kind of screenwriting; could even be useful for short stories and novels, because the ideas translate well. Very well written, entertaining, never boring, and always enlightening. Loved it and consider it a must-have in my screenwriting/writing library.

I recommend this book for all writers - not just screenwriters. He has a way of making it so clear all the clever ways not to fall into the usual traps of a typical scene.

Whether you are writing a book or a movie the information he presents how to establish relationships between characters is tremendous. It's also a fun read.

I refer to it often when building characters, relationships, and their world.

This IS the book for anyone interested in writing a romantic comedy. Simple and easy to follow with great examples from films we love. It's all about the chemistry. If you want to write an emotional picture...this is the book for you. Writing the Romantic Comedy is your ticket to writing a romcom that sells!

I've been working on my text for a while and struggling with
it. Once I start reading the book I knew I was in right hands because page after page I immediately start finding out answers for my questions. I gained time and saved much of my energy for writing the better. Definitely value of my money.
ILKSEN BAS f/36

As a writer, this book woke up my muse and honed my funnybone. A completely easy-to-read how-to-write book ... what a bonus! The book is perfect for writers in other genres and anyone looking to write humour and comedy.

What a wonderful piece of work! Very reminiscent of Walt Kelly's Pogo. Thought provoking yet,warm, sensitive and charming. It is topical in looking a society - the society of children in school. Pogo was more into politics. This is more into life. Look at what you really have and live it to the fullest. I have to restrain myself and ration it a few pages at a time. I do not want this dream to end!! Thanks Jeff.

Once again, Jef Mallett is proving himself to be the best cartoonist drawing these days. I read him on-line on a daily basis, but reading the cartoons sequentially instead of waiting 24 hours between each one (as they were written), gives the stories continuity.
This is an intelligent cartoon strip with sophisticated yet endearing characters. It is both a statement of the shortcomings of education as well as a hope for its future. And its comments on physical fitness are both poignant and humorous.
Buy this book. Keep Jef Mallett in the cartoon business.

Larry Bush

There is no doubt in my mind that Jef Mallett is the finest cartoonist working in the United States today. When the newspaper comes in the morning, before I get my coffee, before I pet the cat, before I do anything else, I read Frazz.

Then, no matter how things go wrong the rest of the day, I have at least started the day with a smile.

Not only is each strip a well-written, clever (and often startlingly ingenious) bit of good, clean fun, Mallett can draw. As other strips tend towards infantile cartooning, Frazz harkens back to an age when the great cartoonists were also superb artists.

Trust me, if you start reading Frazz, you will be hooked.
-Bill McGann, Author of The Story of the Tour de France

I've read Frazz before on the comics dot com website, and it's always been very clever and funny. Jef Mallet does a nice job of creating subtle jokes that are definitely upscale and require some thinking as well. This is actually great brainfood.

Imagine a middle-aged mom wrestling with her two grown sons - over a comic book! I bought the two "Frazz" collections for my husband for Christmas, and had to commandeer them away from our 17- and 20-year-olds so I could wrap them.
Mallett's strip offers "be-a-kid-again" fun; the lovable characters and their escapades are spot-on every time. He also presents valuable attitude checks with a light touch. Our paper does not carry the "Frazz" strip, so finding the books amounted to discovering buried treasure. We all loved every page.

#2 in the Bodyguard series is even funnier than the first. Natasha is on her own this time, hired to guard a show dog named Chumley, who is so obnoxious he's cute, while trying to figure out who is threatening the dog's life. In her usual overzealous way, Natasha manages to get herself into some wacky situations. The chapter with the massage parlor involving Natasha, Pit and Bigun was so funny, I had to put the book down I was laughing so hard.

There's plenty of romance between Natasha and Striker, with the usual cast of quirky characters surrounding Natasha. Roger and Stevie aren't given much space in this book, and I hope to see more of them in future books.

A really fun, well-written series. I look forward to the next one.

I READ ALOT MORE OF THIS BOOK THAN I WANTED TO, DUE TO THE GLOWING REVIEWS...BUT IT NEVER GOT ANY BETTER. THERE'S NO DEPTH TO THE CHARACTERS AND A WASTE OF 3+ HOURS SPENT READING.

[...]

The Bodyguard and the Show Dog is Christy Tillery French's second installment in her Bodyguard series. By some bizarre cosmic twist, I am reading this series in reverse order. Fortunately, Ms. French's stories each stand on their own, and I am able to thoroughly enjoy this book on its own merits. Hang on for a wild ride!

This book is a fast and fun continuation (in either direction!) of the zany, madcap, e-ticket adventures of protection specialist Natasha Chamberlain, a diminutive, clumsy, danger-prone, feisty, gun-toting, southern girl from Tennessee. This time, Natasha has been hired to protect Chumley, a spoiled, stinky, sex-crazed champion show dog. The scene is impeccably set for the wacky situations that Natasha is (in)famous for, and Ms. French delivers on every page.

Although The Bodyguard and the Show Dog is humorous, breezy, summer fun, Ms. French's characters also deal some difficult topics, including animal abuse, with fitting vigilantly justice satisfyingly meted out in true Natasha fashion. Natasha has a strong, well defined moral character, and she always stands up for anyone who cannot stand up for themselves. She delivers apt punishments and has her own special way of dealing with the worst offenders.

This book is truly a wild ride, well written, fasted paced, and very, very funny. The characters are endearing, the situations are hilarious, and the love making is hot. What more could you want? I can't think of a thing.

Hands up everyone who ever fell for a smelly little dog ... or for a hectic, independent heroine with poor impulse control ... or for a handsome hunk of a man not afraid of anything but being too much in love. Anyone left out there? How about a bunch of crazy friends and relatives and an adventure with the energy of a skyrocket?

Oh yes, there's something for everyone in The Bodyguard and the Show Dog (Bodyguard). This is the second book in author Christy Tillery French's BODYGUARD series and it's a wonderful rollicking ride. Natasha Chamberlain is determined to pursue her chosen career -- protection specialist -- in spite of her boyfriend Jonce's objections. When Myrtle Galbreath hires Nattie to protect her prize pug, Chumley, it ought to be simple, right? Then why does Nattie wind up in the Emergency Department so often? Why are people shooting at her? What, for that matter, is Nattie doing hanging around biker bars and massage parlors, and driving around with bags of horse manure? And the big question: how does she get anything done at all with her interfering mother and grandmother on her heels and Jonce's heavyweight employees trying to protect her?

For all the laugh-out-loud action and dialogue, there are some serious elements to the story. Nattie's a thoroughly modern young woman and she wrestles with her need for independence. When Nattie and Jonce are together the sparks fly, and she worries about being drawn into his orbit and losing herself. Jonce, on the other hand, struggles with his urge to protect her from her own decisions. These problems play out in an entertaining "show, don't tell" fashion thanks to the effective character portrayal.

Christy Tillery French is strongly committed to the humane treatment of animals, and this theme is also played out poignantly in Show Dog. Don't be fooled by the fact that Chumley's got his papers -- there are plenty of animals that need rescuing and Nattie does her best for them all.

Just by chance I'm working my way backward through this series of three BODYGUARD books. I just hope that by the time I finish the first installment, there will be a new set of Nattie's adventures for my enjoyment. Don't miss out! Get your hands on these books and enjoy the fun.

Linda Bulger, 2008

"The Bodyguard and the Show Dog" by Christy French is a book that will entertain the reader for hours on end. The characters are easy to relate to and the plot (like most of Ms. French's stories) will leave the reader eager to read the next book in the series.

I am a huge fan and truly enjoy all of Ms. French's books. If you have not had a chance to sample any of her stories then this is the perfect book to begin with. You will quickly become a fan too!

I meant to post a review of this book when it first came out but I have been on location in France and haven't had the chance to get it done until now. For this Ms. French, I'm sorry. Better late than never, I suppose.

I enjoyed your new book very much! Keep them coming.

John Savoy
International Film Maker
California