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iGilmore

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Great work of satire/sarcasm

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 04-23-16

If you are a David Cross fan, get this book. It's clever, funny and very entertaining. I enjoyed it so much that I started listening to it again immediately after I finished it the first time. I was also impressed that it's a multimedia experience — be sure to see the website for extras! 👍🏽

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F'ing scintillating

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 11-08-15

What made the experience of listening to Easy Street (the Hard Way) the most enjoyable?

RON PERLMAN, hands down. Not only does he have a most pleasant voice, he tells a story masterfully and I really could not get enough of what he was saying and how.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Easy Street (the Hard Way)?

The way he discusses mental health issues, with such frankness and vulnerability, is impressive. Like, he made me think about my own life and people I know and how we interacted. I got really introspective. This book is so insightful and beautiful. And when he talks about his wife — meeting/marrying her — my heart just swelled. So touching.

Which character – as performed by Ron Perlman – was your favorite?

Himself. I loved how he'd break into laughter during some stories. He also does really good voices of people — his Sammy Davis Jr. is incredible!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

ABSOLUTELY. I couldn't stop listening. I enjoyed it and I really can see myself listening to it several times over. I did not want it to end. I wish he had a podcast or something. It's so personable.

Any additional comments?

Look — get this book. Yes, I'm a fan of his work, but I'm also a fan of good literature and this book has everything: great storytelling, great performance, Hollywood gossip, romance, drama, comedy, psychological insight — but above all, stunning, unflinching honesty. Perlman is so *sincere*. It's refreshing. I don't know what I expected from this book, but it surpassed all that. A wonderful book and I'm so glad I bought it.

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A really rough first draft

Overall
2 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
2 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 07-28-15

First of all, if Harper Lee is being/has been taken advantage of, the person responsible should be imprisoned. Elder abuse is wrong and I hate to think someone else is profiting off her work, even this one that I found to be lackluster.

My understanding is that this book is really a rough draft of what became TKAM. Well, it certainly reads like one. There seemed to be a lot of padding; all the childhood flashbacks felt redundant being familiar with TKAM. Some of the dialogue was clunky and so overwritten that even an Oscar winner couldn't make it believable or tolerable in some parts.

If viewed as a sequel, the character development is interesting. I didn't find the bombshell about Atticus as shocking or upsetting as most seemed to. However, I felt the scene between 26-year-old Jean Louise and an elder, distant Calpurnia to be an a great example of subtly in storytelling, considering what was said and how and what wasn't said at all.

I was disappointed in the lack of character development in Jean Louise. I just refused to believe that she so blindly worshipped her father and never outgrew that and is just now receiving this rude awakening. I also didn't care for the Uncle Jack character; he seemed patronizing and patriarchal and near the novel's end he commits an act of violence that seems flagrantly out of character and uncalled for and jokes about it. I was disgusted.

If this hadn't been turned into the literary event of the summer, the novel would have gathered no press whatsoever. I really can't recommend it.

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Absolutely terrific

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-10-15

I'm a fan of Mr. Show, but I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. It's a funny and fun experience and I will listen to it again. I thought the first script was perfect, but I can see why it was unproduced. It kinda reminded me of the Kids in the Hall movie "Brain Candy," which is also a solid work of satire that didn't and doesn't get the recognition it deserves.

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