Role Models Audiobook

" I can't put this book down. Waters is in fine form - taking left turns when you expect a right turn, self-deprecating while promoting his entire oeuvre and cracking jokes about topics that, well, just aren't the kind of thing that would tickle your funny bone. But in 'Waters World' nothing is sacred and all is glimmeringly profane and oh so fun! "

" This book is a lot of fun. John Waters is a truly unique and probably brilliant individual, and a wonderful writer. The chapter on Leslie Van Houten goes on too long and seems written for the benefit of the parole board, but that comes early in the book and it's the only misfire in an otherwise witty and (I'm really trying to avoid the word 'subversive' because that's just so obvious when talking about John Waters) oddly inspiring collection. "

" At times the shtick gets a bit old and I admit I did scan some passages looking for something that didn't seem redundant and something I'd read before. Some great essays (outsider porn feels completely honest) and digressions about waters sexuality, something I've never quite understood are eye-opening. a must-read for a fan. But not everything needs to be scoured and taken as gospel. started finally reading it on my long-avoided first trip to fire island (although waters is a p-town regular) so it felt appropriate. "

" Fantastic! But as a person who has watched Pink Flamingos on Christmas Eve more than once, I might be biased. Regardless, this might be the first book I ever wanted to call big-hearted, without a trace of irony in my voice. "

" he's wonderful. as always. "

" Very loosely written, but fun that way. John Waters meanders through various interviews with some of his heroes, letting us in on as much as he is able to get out of his encounters with a very eclectic group of celebrities. The book is clearly, and intentionally as much about him as it is about the actors and musicians he admires. He talks about his experience of fame, and restricts himself mostly to a discussion of his public persona, which creates an odd distancing affect with the reader, I felt. I'm famous and you're not, kind of thing. I'm reading Tina Fey and Rob Lowe's memoirs concurrently, and they each have a much more intimate feel. Waters says at one point, "I always assumed people who bared their souls in interviews had no one else to confide in." It leaves the reader feeling that, no matter what he writes or shares in the published pages, he'd rather be sharing it with someone else. Not my favorite literary technique. Still, he's very funny, and you're glad to be in the audience, if not inside the author's head. "

" Absolutely hysterical!!!!! "

" Essays and appreciations by John Waters. Wonderful. "

" Really fun book that feels like Waters is just sharing his favorite gossip with you. "

" Good set of essays, except last chapter, which was pointless. "

" Anyone who think's that Anne Tyler's Baltimore characters are quirky should take a look at John Waters. Well written and entertaining and interesting but you have to be willing to go pretty far off of the normalcy grid. But lots of good B'more stuff! "

" Excellent collection of portraits. Waters tells us a great deal about himself through his essays on this unusual cast of characters. "

" Of course some chapters were of more interest to me than others, (loved his take on fashion; cared a little less about subversive porn), but still a worthy read. I want him to invite me to dinner. "

" Some great essays, but Waters seems to loose steam in the end. "

" Love him and my hometown even more after reading this new one. "

" Since my paternal Grandmother Esther is written about in one of the chapters. I'm very excited to see how the book will end. "

" My respect for this brilliant man grew with every turn of the page. I too hope one day to die of spontaneous combustion. "

" This book was eye-opening, and I learned about a whole other area of outsider film-making. It scared me! Still, I LOVE John Waters, and will always be a loyal fan of his work. The chapters on Johnny Mathis, Leslie Van Houten, and Tennessee Williams were superb. "

" Not a traditional biography, but I liked this quite a bit. The idea that your life can be described by the people you consider your role models is an interesting way to frame things. Disjointed, yet compelling, pretty much exactly what I hoped this book would be. "

" Very interesting. Especially liked the interviews with underground pornographers and his fascination with the Manson Family. "

" I felt like the chapters in this book really fluctuated in quality, and that made me drag in completing it. I loved the Johnny Mathis and Leslie Van Houten chapters (the second one was particularly fascinating!), but the fashion and art segments didn't grab me as much. "

" And then for something completely different . . . Quirky. Humorous. Quick read. Some kinky sex stuff. Made me want to watch some of Waters' bizarre films. "

" if you're already a fan you'll like it... "

" This book is so laugh-out-loud funny that I have stopped reading it in public... "

" I love John Waters and this book was just like sitting down with him and listening to him tell stories. How great is that?! I was sad that it ended, but all good things... "

" Written in one of the most distinctive voices out there, this book has been endlessly entertaining and sometimes surprisingly philosophical, dealing with obsession, fan worhship, delight, and disappointment from an amazing cult moviemaker and fop about town. "

" John Waters cares and he's here to help. "

" Waters' love for and delight in the dirty, grungy, ignored, degraded and insulted is infectious. Possibly even contageous and mutational. And this is a good thing. His ability to demonstrate thoughtfulness and compassion while revelling in pure, fully adulterrated scumminess is wonderful. "