4 out of 4 stars
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Me: Anecdotal Evidence That I Existed is a funny, interesting and amusing memoir by Dan Reed. It is, as the author put it, an account based on random personal remembrances. It also includes jokes both familiar and unfamiliar which make the book entertaining and anecdotes which make it informative.
The book has twenty five chapters told in light hearted manner. After recounting an embarrassing story in the first chapter about a visit to the doctor and having to show his private part when he was nine or ten years old, the author goes on to tell about bed wetting until the age of twenty seven, driving all the way to Mexico from Arizona to get laid, working in a dude ranch, selling shoes, selling cars and going through three marriages, in the succeeding chapters.
Though the book is, for the most part funny and even hilarious, there are some specific chapters that I find quite poignant and I appreciate that the author is willing to share not just the fun parts of his life but the sad parts as well.
Needless to say, I enjoyed this book a lot I did not want it to end. The author has a way of telling stories using words that evoke unpleasant images without sounding vulgar, or at least not vulgar to me, and come out funny instead. Moreover, the author shares very interesting anecdotes and general information which you don’t usually learn anywhere and are not particularly helpful but information you will be happy to know anyway. Furthermore, the author includes jokes, both familiar and unfamiliar as well as several song lyrics that he, himself, wrote and which can be played in his website.
Among the topics I find interesting are the ones about enuresis, hermaphrodite, toque, crib death and Navajo Indians while the joke I particularly enjoyed is the ‘cowboy/lesbian joke.’ I also appreciate the information on Howard Johnson restaurants, Daylight Saving Time and Del Webb community. There are so many parts I like in the book but my two favorites are Chapters 19: Wedding Afar, where Dan and his third wife Denise missed their flight getting out of Hawaii, and 21: Travel Log, a series of unfortunate events while on their way to work at the Indianapolis 500.
However, much as I enjoyed this book, other readers may have different opinions as some topics may not be considered very proper especially those which are sexual in nature. In addition, there are some necessary repetitions which some readers may find vexing. Moreover, there are some stories that I find genuinely funny that other readers may find disgusting. Thankfully, there are only very few noticeable errors (customers instead of customer’s and manufacturers instead of manufactures).
I, therefore, rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It is amusing, entertaining and informative. I recommend it to readers who enjoy funny stories and interesting anecdotes and who do not mind reading about accounts of improper acts and inappropriate behaviors. Needless to say, there are stories in this book which are not suitable for young readers.
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Me!
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