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ralucarmichael's review
dark
funny
informative
fast-paced
3.5
This guy is such a prick. What do I rate?
The writing style? The story? John's personality?
The writing style? The story? John's personality?
lynnannwalsh's review
dark
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
The first half of the book felt slow and tedious, but in the last half Callahan’s infectious humor fills the plot, and he even includes pictures of his best cartoons.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Excrement, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Medical content, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Ableism, Alcohol, Confinement, Death of parent, Drug use, Addiction, Car accident, and Chronic illness
smoochbelly's review against another edition
4.0
My favorite memoir. Honest, irreverent, funny.
Paralyzed after driving drunk, Callahan discusses life as a quad, sobering up and being too successful at cartooning for the government's liking.
Bonus: cartoons by the author.
Paralyzed after driving drunk, Callahan discusses life as a quad, sobering up and being too successful at cartooning for the government's liking.
Bonus: cartoons by the author.
bajoranjay's review against another edition
4.0
My rating of this book is based on reading it as a youth and feeling connected to disability culture.
I don't have many memories about specifics, but I do appreciate much of the author's humor, as well as occasional discomfort. I miss his presence in our world as a counterbalance to a particular kind of ableism that treats lived experience of disability as too fragile for social commentary.
I don't have many memories about specifics, but I do appreciate much of the author's humor, as well as occasional discomfort. I miss his presence in our world as a counterbalance to a particular kind of ableism that treats lived experience of disability as too fragile for social commentary.
readtotheend's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars. Parts of this story were fascinating and while I didn't know him by name, his cartoons definitely were familiar to me. He was a great cartoonist and had remarkable wit and insights but I found that the book did not really grab me. His alcoholism was severe and his experiences with state public benefits were candid and probably not any better today, years later. But I didn't find this book to be one that I particularly liked.
lindys's review
funny
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
3.5
The first half was great, real, raw, funny, etc. I kinda lost interest once he gets into the cartoon writing. I knew nothing of John Callahan before reading this and bought it (for super cheap) cause of the movie tie in cover (Jonah Hill, Joaquin Phoenix, Jack Black). It was fun to learn more about him and what it’s like as a quadriplegic and an alcoholic.
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