Reviews

The Joker: A Memoir by Andrew Hudgins

sksrenninger's review against another edition

4.0

I really liked this book, but it was hard to place it. It really was split down the middle - half memoir, half joke analysis - and I can see how a reader who wanted more of one would be disappointed. However, I thought the memoir aspects that peeked in were touching and thoughtful, the meditations on humor both amusing and insightful, and the interplay between the two balanced and complementary. I could feel a little bit of Hudgins' joker in myself, too, so the reassurance he offered was nice.

acinthedc's review against another edition

2.0

In this memoir, Andrew Hudgins discusses how jokes have been a part of his life and shaped some of his thinking. He goes into great detail of the history of different types of jokes, their origins, and how jokes allowed him to learn about different taboo subjects as he grew up - sex, racism, religion.

Many of the jokes and discourses on them made me uncomfortable. Mostly because they felt like excuses to tell unfunny jokes/stories and rationalize how they reflect stereotypes or denigrate groups of people seeking to change the status quo. Furthermore, the repeated refrain of "I'm not racist" followed by more racist jokes was off-putting.

I found the latter chapters on Hudgins' marriages and the proximity of death the most interesting. Earlier chapters felt verbose and a bit revisionist.

ngerharter's review against another edition

2.0

I guess I was expecting something different. More humor, less "jokes." Less explanation of "jokes". Less of the author telling me which "jokes" are good and which ones are bad, based on whether he thinks they are funny or not.

Some good stuff, just not enough for me.