Chad Kultgen

This book is not for everyone. This book is not for most people. This book is for you if you want to read an averagely-written, entirely-obscene novel with terrible character development about the actions and thoughts of a married-with-kids asshole (really, he's a complete douchecanoe) in which every page is him having sex, thinking about sex, getting in trouble because of sex, etc. Every page. You might be thinking you don't want to do that, which is a completely reasonable attitude, but in its defense the book can be quite funny and the character shows just enough humanity (barely) to make you have a bit of hope for him. Also, the typical male mindset on display here is of course exaggerated but as with all great exaggerations it bursts forth from a place of truth, and this makes in my view for a somewhat compelling and squirming read.

But many people would not find these features redeeming. These people include the reviewer for Publishers Weekly, who wrote, "Derivative, dull, and misogynistic, this is not a satire of modern life; it is a sad book written by a cynical man." Also, the reviewer for Kirkus: "Even if Kultgen intends this as satire, it’s hard to believe anyone can develop an interest in such a narcissistic, unsympathetic and downright odious narrator—one who makes Shallow Hal look like Heathcliff." Now that's a bit unfair, but still, dear reader, you were warned.… (more)

I really enjoyed this one- haven't listened to Game of Roses, but somehow somewhere in the last five years I went from snarking on that show my grad friends watched to following BachelorData on IG for her fascinating analysis of franchise trends. How to Win the Bachelor takes the approach of this franchise as professional sporting event, with rules, archetypes, and ways for players to win beyond the Ring.

Chad and Lizzy did a hyperbinge of ALL seasons of The Bachelor from 2002 onward, taking meticulous notes and pulling out patterns across the years, as mechanics and trends have risen into the format we see today.

Very curious to see if the hyperbinge of Bachelorette will yield similar results, or if many of the rules here apply (certainly some archetypes do, but given the nature of 'ette is to get the winning player to propose and for the lead to accept/reject... it's a weird show).… (more)

When this novel came out back in 2007 it caused a huge controversy. Granted, the narrator is a lewd, crude, sexually depraved male chauvinist pig who does nothing but objectify and lust after woman. But he is so over the top in his actions, that he obviously does not represent the average American male. C'mon, the main character is nothing but a satirical farce. Read in this light, the book can't be anything but an amusing read. No need to take it seriously, just sit back enjoy the humor of it all.… (more)

The Average American Marriage has a much more somber tone than the Average American Male. In the first novel we have a guy in his late twenties screwing around with wild abandon. He has a serious case of arrested development. But hey,he's still young and he's just sewing some wild oats. But now things are different. He's married with a wife and two kids and while he still wants to have wild and crazy sex, the wife exhausted by dealing with the kids all day, just wants to go to sleep. So, of course he goes out and has a torrid affair with a hot young 21 year old college girl. During this affair a lot of the humor of the first novel returns. Lots of really wild stuff occurs. But eventually the narrator realizes he wants his family back. He goes to his wife groveling on he knees and she takes him back. Sounds like a happy ending but actually it's not. They're both still unhappy and very unsatisfied with their lives. They're doing the whole "staying together for the kids" thing and it paints a pretty bleak picture of The average American marriage.… (more)