Bill Scheft

Phil Camp is a writer of a self-help book and column that he never intended to be taken seriously, but the world just doesn't get that and takes his every pronouncement seriously. Also, he has been developing a series of psychosomatic (?) pains, and his personal life is a mess, and his older brother whom he once idolized is his literary nemesis, a sort of Glenn Beck/Rush Limbaugh right-wing bloviator who savages Phil's every column, but the rest of the world doesn't know they are brothers. show more This is a hoot of a book, replete with great comic lines, and is a pretty engagingly loony story as well, with a nicely tuned ending that wraps up most of the surreal hilarity quite satisfyingly. Reminds me of the style of "I Love You, Beth Cooper", which is quite a compliment indeed. show less

I know I requested this book for review some time ago but each time I went to read it I could not figure out why on earth I had requested it. Bill Scheft is a writer for David Letterman and writes humor. My husband says I have no sense of humor and I know that in the past I haven't found books that rely on humor at the expense of people to be funny. I still don't know what made me request Everything Hurts: A Novel but I'm really glad I did!

Bill Scheft truly brings to life Phil Camp's pain show more and his struggle to understand where it is coming from. The characters in this book are bizarre and quirky. The writing is very fast paced, even when it seems nothing is actually happening. Flippant remarks fly and many of the conversations make no sense especially to Phil. Phil's family history is pieced together from the odd conversation with the Irish Shrink or from a memory that triggers or is triggered by the pain. Many of the relationships are not at all what they appear to be on the surface.

Just like Marty Fleck, Bill Scheft manages to impart insights about the human condition in an irreverent, flippant, off-hand manner that belies the deeper thought underneath. show less

I read this book as I was starting to really have problems with the back pain that had been bothering me a little bit for months. It was just the book for my frame of mind.This is funny book. No question. It's a very satirical humor, which I enjoy. As with most satire, even its most ridiculous moments have roots in reality. I enjoyed both of the self-help gurus: The doctor who claims all physical pain is caused by issues in the psyche. Resolve those, and the pain will go away. The problem show more is, who can ever really resolve all resentments, anger, and so on?Better yet was "Marty Fleck", Phil's alter-ego for his parody of a self-help book, Where Can I Stow My Baggage?. No one is more surprised than he is when people take it seriously, and are actually helped by it.There's a romantic storyline, and (as you'd expect) that has twists and turns as well. Janet was a little flat compared to the other characters, but not enough so to be an issue.The (rather ridiculously complex) family relationships and accompanying issues made for interesting reading, and again, there were roots in reality that made the craziness worth reflecting on.This book won't work for everyone. The humor won't work for some, the issues being satirized won't speak to others. If it doesn't sound like it would appeal to you, you're probably right. If it sounds good to you, pick it up to read. I'm glad I did. show less

I gave up on page 58. Amazon reviewers liked it a lot, but the plot about a phony self-help guru in chronic pain was not sinking in at all. Scheft was a long-time writer for Letterman, who I never got either. I saw a lot of stand-up comedy years ago and am not sure if I ever saw the author, but did see (and liked) his wife, Adrianne Tolsch.