A syndicated cartoonist describes his experiences on an unorthodox publicity tour that relied on the generosity of fans to provide him with transportation, meals, and lodging.
I have no idea why this book is currently out of print
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
I have no idea why this book is currently out of print; its just so darn good. Piraro draws the daily cartoon Bizarro, and this book tells the tale of his early life, adventures on a shoestring book tour, and wraps up with some stuff about his messy divorce. I didn't really expect the writing to be this good, but Piraro is sarcastic like a Dave Barry with stamina, and writes as densely as a humorous William Gibson, and ties the multiple themes together with the elegance of John Irving. This was also a very funny book and I find it a little odd that Piraro is an expert humorist in both visual and verbal mediums. He must have one weird brain. I highly recommend this book; its funny, unique, and well written.
Incredible, he's a great cartoonist, but even better author
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
Dan has a wounderfully warped sense of humor which really shines through in his work. His amazing writing keeps you laughing for most of the book. The momories he has of this trip and his past seem so outragous that they almost seem false, but he tells them so vividly that they couldn't be. I loved this book and have read it repeatedly, a great choice for anyone who likes his cartoon, and even those who don't.
"Bizarro Among The Savages" is funny and touching.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 26 years ago
I don't know if I've ever read a more enjoyable book than "Bizarro Among The Savages." I couldn't go two pages without laughing out loud. I commend Mr. Piraro for not taking the easy way out and making fun of the people he stayed with on his book tour. Rather, he seems to have a gift for connecting with people and realizing the good points of anybody. He also doesn't pull any punches when talking about his own spiritual/emotional journey, and I applaud him him for his openness and frankness.This is a great book! Even if you've never read his comic strip, read this book!
An amusing, light easy read full of quirky humour.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 26 years ago
This book catalogues the (mis) adventures of a cartoonist doing a book tour on the cheap by enlisting the aide of his fans. The stories are amusing, spiced up by Dan Piraro's quirky, clever sense of humour, much like his single panel comic. Much self-deprecation abounds, no tangent is left unexplored, no pop culture references are omitted, and much lighthearted fun awaits the reader. In the process you do end up with some sense of who this person is, and what his life has been like to date. Recommended for those who enjoy his comic or like clever, offbeat, and, sometimes, even downright bizarre, humour.
Interesting Insight into Cartooning for Real Fans
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 27 years ago
Dan Piraro draws Bizarro, a daily nationally syndicated cartoon strip. It is a single panel strip in the same vein as Gary Larson's Far Side. Having said that, he is still an original with a very offbeat but funny sense of humor. This book is part autobiographical and part about his odyssey across the USA during a shoe-string budget book promotional trip. It is quite amusing. He describes his childhood, his erratic climb to his profession, and his current situation with a ironic almost detached bemusement. While many of the observations and insights are very funny, it helps if the reader knows his strip, and follows cartoons. Some of the observations about the habits of cartoonists, and their often sad lives are best appreciated in this light. Short Summary: funny book about a cartoonist life but will be even funnier to those who follow his strip and cartooning in general
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