Monday, August 1, 2016

Tuck Watley: Freedom Fighter Fighter (a book review post)

My wife thought the title of this book was hilarious as soon as she saw me reading it. That says a lot right there, which you would know if you knew my wife.

But let me tell you a story:
My daughter plays softball. She's really good. Recently, there was a, let's call it a disagreement, between myself and her head coach over,  let's call it his mistreatment, of my daughter during a tournament. During the, let's call it a discussion, in an effort to insult me, he said, rather vehemently, "Why don't you just go read a book!" In fact, he shouted that at me twice, as if that somehow afforded him a victory in said "discussion." This amuses me because he intended this as some kind of insult. I, in fact, was holding a book at the time. I'm sure, though, that it was an "insult" because he has never read a book. Nor would he. I mean, you don't yell, "Why don't you just go read a book," at someone as a disparagement if you place any value in reading. He obviously does not.
Which explains a few things...

How does that relate? Well, there are a couple of jocks who get into a fight in Tuck Watley over the use of the word "nerd." You might think this is over the top, but, I assure you, it is not. I probably found that bit more funny than I should have, but it cracked me up. It's funny because it's true.

That said, this is not my favorite work by Pedas and Meyers, but it's very good. Funny enough for some actual laugh out loud moments. Just the premise, which I'm not going to say because it's kind of spoilery, thought it's right there in the title to some extent, is funny enough to warrant the book.

As always with Pedas and Meyers, the book is filled with kooky, stereotype characters. Of course, it is that they are stereotypes that make them so funny. I think in this one my favorite is the teenage girl who dresses and acts as if she's 50 years older. Although the group of scientists are pretty close. And the taco guy. Yeah, there's a lot of funny in the book.

If you're looking for serious, literary achievements, though, you should go somewhere else. This book is not that. However, Pedas and Meyers have a rather eclectic list of works, so you can probably find something you'd like from among their other offerings, either solo or duo projects. But, if you like comedy and if you think there are aspects of our secret government organizations that are ridiculous, this is a book you should pick up.

18 comments:

  1. I've really enjoyed their other books.

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  2. He also could have meant that's all you knew how to do and that you knew nothing about sport. Either way he didn't understand the value of reading.

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    1. Jo: I'm sure he thinks I know nothing about sports but, seeing as how that also had nothing to do with the disagreement, it was also beside the point.

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  3. Since your first mention of that, I've now gone on to insult my wife by telling her to go read a book. She does the same to me. Congratulations; you've created a running gag in our household.

    Oh, and thanks for the review, of course!

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    1. ABftS: Oh, it's one in our house, now, too.
      It has become the most common phrase used.

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  4. Sounds like fun. The world needs more funny books.

    Love the recap of your interaction with the softball coach. What a jerk!

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    1. TAS: And that's not even the half of it.

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    2. Being a sports parent seems like great memoir fodder.

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    3. TAS: That is truth, if I ever decide to write one.

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  5. Why don't you go read a book! Man, he sure got you!

    The book sounds great. I don't usually read comedies, but I might have to check this one out.

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    1. Jeanne: He did get me. As my son would say, it was a "sick burn."

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  6. I'd kind of forgotten about these guys. All my book reading has me on the Internet less.

    About which: "go read a book" as an insult. Some people never get out of high school. "Go read a book" is right around #3 on my list of things I'd rather be doing (#1: hanging out with the boys and the kids and Sweetie, #2: Pizza.)(Yes, "pizza" is a thing to do.)

    Anyway, I'll pick this one up. I still keep meaning to go get that Demetri one.

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    1. Briane: I think most people don't really get beyond high school. Or less. At least one of our current presidential candidates (more if you go back to all of the 15+ Republicans who were running) is stuck somewhere around 3rd grade.

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  7. "Go read a book." Ha! That's funny.

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  8. Sounds fun! As for the goofy softball coach, perhaps 'Go read a book' is his way of saying, 'Go back to mostly ignoring what's going on here.' Because that's what my hubs means when he tosses that grenade at me in an argument.
    Either way, not the biggest insult. Hope the season's over and the difficulty resolved.
    V :)

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    1. Veronica: I, too, wish I could say that it's resolved, but, alas, it is not.

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  9. I haven't read any books that make me laugh. I hope you resolve the issues with your daughter's coach.

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    1. Sally: Oh, we've moved past dealing with the coach at this point.

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