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Title: My Boring Ass Life: The Uncomfortably Candid Diary of Kevin Smith
ISBN: 1845765389
Author:
Kevin Smith
Publicate Date: 2007-09-25
Publish: 2007-09-25
List Price: $14.95
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $8.20
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $4.98
Amazon Merchant Price: $10.17
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| Customer Review: |
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1: An Inside Look
I got this book back last Christmas, but somehow forgot to bring it back from my parents' house. I was very excited to see it when it arrived this summer in a box from the folks. This is a collection of Kevin's dairy that he's been keeping online, but since I hadn't been keeping up with that, it was all new to me.
I have to give Kevin a lot of props for revealing so much of his life to his fans, especially the stuff about when his dad passed away. Sharing like that made me call my own father to let him know I love him.
I know some folks might find some of the entries a little boring, but who lives a life that is always exciting? It shows that Kevin is just as human as the rest of us, though with a ton more bank and a great job.
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2: Hilarious
Kevin Smith never fails to make me laugh. If you are a fan of his work, buy this book!
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3: Interesting View of a Not-So-Boring Life
I'm not completely finished with this yet, but from what I've read so far, it's definitely interesting. The title isn't very accurate in my view, and I'm sure many would agree- his life isn't all that boring. He does a bunch of mundane stuff, and he writes about that mundane stuff in a fairly matter-of-fact way, but still- there's something interesting about it.
I loved Clerks (didn't like Clerks 2 all that much), and I've seen a few of his other films. I'm not a mega-fan, but I like the guy in general, and I've enjoyed his work. He had a lot of interesting stories in An Evening with Kevin Smith, and this book is much like that. The stories are much shorter and not as interesting reading them on paper, but still- it works.
There are laughs, some really moving parts when it gets serious, some neat inside info. about his business (to a small degree). Uber fans will surely love it, and those like me who have enjoyed a few of his films will probably find it a good read as well. I'd give it a 4, but most of the stuff written about is just so mundane that I'd have to give it a solid 3.5
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4: A year-and-a-half in the life
At this point in his career, it would be hard to put Kevin Smith in the top tier of directors, in the same league as folks like Eastwood, Spielberg, Scorcese or the Coen Brothers; he does, however, have a real cult following, of which I am a part. Besides the fact that he makes really good movies, he also has a just-one-of-the-guys aura, developed through his "Evening With..." DVDs of his speaking engagements and his film commentaries. My Boring-A$$ Life also promotes that reality (or very well-constructed image).
My Boring-A$$ Life is subtitled The Uncomfortably Candid Diary of Kevin Smith, which is pretty honest. Starting on March 20, 2005, the book begins as a daily chronicle of Smith's activities. Not just the movie-related items, not even just the extraordinary events, but even the most mundane activities, including bathroom trips and sexual acts. Admittedly, some of this wears thin in the early going, but the book changes as it goes along.
As the book evolves from pure diary to more interesting tales, it gets stronger. We follow Smith's first real acting role (in Catch and Release) and the lessons he takes from working for another director. We get the story of Smith's acting in the fourth Die Hard movie, and details of his work on Clerks II. There is a lot that's funny, but when necessary, he can be serious. This is most evident in his "Me and My Shadow" entries, which describe Jason (Jay of Jay and Silent Bob) Mewes's coping with drug addiction.
Overall, Smith seems to have a pretty good life: he makes decent money, he spends a lot of time goofing off, watching movies, having sex or hanging out with friends. Fortunately, he doesn't really crow about his good life but presents it matter-of-factly. It also helps that he is quick to point out his own shortcomings, most notably about his weight.
This is a great read, especially for Kevin Smith fans. It is, not, however, a really fast read (it is too densely packed with detail), but fortunately, it is structured in a way that allows easy breaks when necessary. If you have enjoyed films like Clerks, Chasing Amy or Dogma, here is your chance to learn more about the man behind these movies and have fun in the process.
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5: great read for avid fans
I am a huge Kevin Smith fan so I loved this book. The diary style can get a little boring as Smith describes daily life but a true fan will enjoy the insight. The section chronicaling Jason Mewes struggle with drugs (Me and My Shadow) is a great read. Very touching.
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