Seriously...I'm Kidding

I adore Ellen, so it's hard for me to say that I didn't like this. However, I recognized at least five passages that were recycled from monologues on her show--and I'm not even a viewer! If I remembered all those jokes just from catching show clips while surfing YouTube, I would think that loyal fans of the show would find even more familiar material.
It's a quick read, and it's cute. I think I would have enjoyed the audiobook a bit more, because part of what makes Ellen so funny is her timing and her inflection. Certainly not a raw confessional like her wife's book, but I did appreciate the true (or seemingly true?) bits that she included among the jokes.

A place to use monologues that didn't make it on her talk show?
A blatant pitch to promote her talk show?
Proof that bad writing can get published if you are famous?
Examples of how to stretch three lines of good ideas into an entire book?
The result of being forced to write an entire book when you have nothing to say?

These are a few of the purposes that this book fulfills. In the introduction, Ellen jokes that this book came out when her agent misheard her due to a poor cellphone connection. At least, when I started the book I thought it was a joke. By the end I began to suspect there might be some truth to it. There is so little substance to this book and so much "stretching" to fill space that perhaps she really was forced into writing show more another book. I've read better BS from high school students who handed in an essay they hadn't started writing until the night before.

"Be happy and Watch my show."
There. That's all this book actually says. Now go spend your time reading something more worthwhile, like a Twilight book. show less

I'll just start with the fact that the only reason I read this was because A) it was in the free bin at a yard sale, and B) I am behind on my reading goal and knew it would be a quick read. So it kind of feels like cheating but it's a book and it has words so technically I'm okay. While I do love Ellen, this book falls fairly short. It's a memoir, but it doesn't speak of any memories. I didn't learn anything new about Ellen, there wasn't any revealing information about her life, and most of the time it felt like I was reading a stand-up routine (which is a comparison I stole from a different review of the book, but I agree). I didn't expect much and I didn't get much, so I am still just as indifferent to this book as I was before I read show more it. I've heard that the audiobook is at least entertaining, so if you are really keen on getting through this, maybe give that a try instead. In all, it felt like a mumbled mixture of thoughts that didn't have much coherence - but I am not generally a fan of comedians in the first place, so I will admit that bias. show less

It isn't often that a book can reduce me to tears...of laughter. This one did just that. Ellen's philosophy is similar to my own, so I just loved reading her perspective on life. I borrowed this from the library, but I am definitely putting it on my wish list. It is a book that demands having sections read out loud. If you can keep a straight face. I couldn't, especially when she talks about getting a colonoscopy and a mammogram.

Wow....am I ever glad I found this book at a charity shop and only forked out $2 opposed to the cover price of $30!! It was an extremely short, easy read. My best advice is to borrow the book from a friend or library....the cost of this book can only be classed as a "cash grab".

The book was of course funny in parts, but other parts flopped. For someone who devoted a chapter on the importance of recycling, Ellen certainly wasted a lot of paper between the children's colouring sheets, the blank pages and large font. Some chapters were only a couple of sentences long!

The redeeming factor the of the book was the way it was written. You could hear her delivering each sentence in your head clearly.

Overall, anyone who likes Ellen will probably show more enjoy the read. Just don't expect anything substantial and you won't be disappointed. show less

Seriously…I’m Kidding is Ellen’s newest book. Some chapters are autobiographical but most are Ellen’s trademark random, sometimes absurd humor and observations on life. There were a few laugh out loud moments but it was mostly amusing, not hilarious. I think that it would be a lot funnier I were listening to Ellen herself read this book out loud. Her delivery is half of what makes what she says so funny.

This was a relatively short book and a really fast read because some chapters were just a paragraph or a list of things. I kind of felt like these short chapters were filler; the longer chapters were definitely the funnier ones. Ellen fans (so most everybody – who’s not a fan of Ellen??) will like this book but you might show more check it out on audio, it’s probably better in that format. show less

This review was first posted on BookLikes: http://brokentune.booklikes.com/post/802080/seriously-i-m-kidding

I picked up Seriously...I'm Kidding as an audiobook the other week and thought it was safe to listen to it in the car - silly me!

There were several moments last weekend when I was quite glad that, where I was driving, only few people tried to use the same road. Otherwise, it is quite likely that either of the following would have happened: a) accident caused by erratic driving due to bouts of uncontrollable giggles; or b) people thinking I'm crazy - also due to bouts of uncontrollable giggles.

I'm not saying it's the best or funniest book ever, and it certainly has a few elements that are predictable - like, after a few chapters show more you get the hang of how her humor is structured and there are quite a few self-promoting references to her talk show - but it honestly had me in stitches at times and then balanced it out with some more inspirational points of view.

One aspect that was new to me - and maybe it is because I haven't read many books like this - was that the audiobook was actually addressed to the listener, almost as part of a conversation, which made the listening experience very engaging.

Had it been the print version, I wonder if the references had been adapted to achieve a similar effect with the reader? I have a hunch it might have... show less