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Dignity Takes A Holiday
Pete Thickwhistle doesn’t live what one might call a charmed life. At age forty-seven, he’s a flamboyant gay man who believes no one knows he’s gay, still living at home with his harpy of a mother. Worse, he’s still a virgin, longing to find just the right man to make his life complete. Pete’s an upbeat kind of guy, yet he’s never learned that the answer to his motto “What could possibly go wrong?” is always: “Everything.”
Pete’s road to love and happiness is full of potholes, yet he never tires of searching, despite job losses, weight battles, clothing faux pas, and disastrous vacations, parties, and dating debacles. Pete is the ultimate underdog living a television situation comedy, one named Dignity Takes a Holiday.
Pete’s road to love and happiness is full of potholes, yet he never tires of searching, despite job losses, weight battles, clothing faux pas, and disastrous vacations, parties, and dating debacles. Pete is the ultimate underdog living a television situation comedy, one named Dignity Takes a Holiday.
230 pages, Paperback
First published January 17, 2011
151 people want to read
About the author
Rick R. Reed
118 books1,046 followersReal Men. True Love.
Rick R. Reed is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than sixty works of published fiction, spanning genres such as horror, psychological suspense and love stories. He is a Lambda Literary Award finalist and a multiple Rainbow Award winner.
Entertainment Weekly has described his work as “heartrending and sensitive.” Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…”
Find him at www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA, with his two rescue dogs, Kodi and Joaquin.
Rick R. Reed is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than sixty works of published fiction, spanning genres such as horror, psychological suspense and love stories. He is a Lambda Literary Award finalist and a multiple Rainbow Award winner.
Entertainment Weekly has described his work as “heartrending and sensitive.” Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…”
Find him at www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA, with his two rescue dogs, Kodi and Joaquin.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
did-not-finish
February 26, 2011I won't give this book a starred rating for two reasons: first, I only read a couple of chapters so it seems unfair to even attempt to assess the book as a whole, and second, the part I did read was so horrifying to me I can't convince myself that it deserves even half a star.
This part contains what some might consider a spoiler
What I read of this story was so over the top and ridiculously obnoxious it was painful. Not to mention that right off the bat the character abuses an animal because he thinks it will be funny. Now some people will forgive him for it because he's supposed to be awkward and naive, even though he's a 40 year old adult. Maybe he was just trying so hard he didn't think about how others would read his actions. For me, though, no reasonable person would think what he does to that animal is reasonable or funny. I've read in another review on http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/?p=... that later on in the book there are instances of beastiality, which again are supposed to be humorous. While I have no problem with puppy or pony play or other similar fetishes, I cannot cross the line into actual beastiality.
This part contains what some might consider a spoiler
What I read of this story was so over the top and ridiculously obnoxious it was painful. Not to mention that right off the bat the character abuses an animal because he thinks it will be funny. Now some people will forgive him for it because he's supposed to be awkward and naive, even though he's a 40 year old adult. Maybe he was just trying so hard he didn't think about how others would read his actions. For me, though, no reasonable person would think what he does to that animal is reasonable or funny. I've read in another review on http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/?p=... that later on in the book there are instances of beastiality, which again are supposed to be humorous. While I have no problem with puppy or pony play or other similar fetishes, I cannot cross the line into actual beastiality.
April 10, 2012
I won't say this often, but this was a book that is definitely not for everyone. You have to have a certain sense of humor to really get a farce. Check out the title, the cover, the blurb... even the character's name -- Thickwhistle. Everything screams "Don't take this seriously!" And yet, reading through the reviews here, some people did. A lot.
(Yes, this minirant is for the readers who complained about (just to name an example) Pete being mean to the cat and then stopped reading; this was a farce. Check the definition: "a broadly satirical comedy with an improbable plot" - Thank you, Merriam Webster. I'm certain Rick didn't actually harm a single cat in the writing of this novel.)
Anyway, I was snickering as I wrote the above paragraphs, so it's not meant to be as snarky as it sounds. I didn't much like the cat part either, but after that, all the bad stuff happened to Pete, and that, dear Readers, had me snickering and giggling throughout the story. The man could not catch a break, but then again, I didn't really expect a perfect little life from the 40-something year old virgin still living with his unbearable mother.
If I haven't scared you away yet, let me say one more thing -- fart jokes. Still here? Then why aren't you reading this book? You'd love it!
For a better much-more-on-topic review, check out what Lisa wrote. She summed it up well:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
(Yes, this minirant is for the readers who complained about (just to name an example) Pete being mean to the cat and then stopped reading; this was a farce. Check the definition: "a broadly satirical comedy with an improbable plot" - Thank you, Merriam Webster. I'm certain Rick didn't actually harm a single cat in the writing of this novel.)
Anyway, I was snickering as I wrote the above paragraphs, so it's not meant to be as snarky as it sounds. I didn't much like the cat part either, but after that, all the bad stuff happened to Pete, and that, dear Readers, had me snickering and giggling throughout the story. The man could not catch a break, but then again, I didn't really expect a perfect little life from the 40-something year old virgin still living with his unbearable mother.
If I haven't scared you away yet, let me say one more thing -- fart jokes. Still here? Then why aren't you reading this book? You'd love it!
For a better much-more-on-topic review, check out what Lisa wrote. She summed it up well:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
March 15, 2011
I laughed like a madman all through this great book !!! If the great Patrick Dennis (author of Auntie Mame) were still alive and he got together with John Waters with the goal to write an outrageous gay novel, you'd have Dignity Takes A Holiday. The baked-beans incident at the end was priceless !
September 22, 2012
What. The. Fuck.
August 12, 2013
A warped, satirical comedy about Pete Thickwhistle, a 47-year-old gay virgin who still lives with his evil, bitchy, psychotic mother and is looking for love.
I have read other reviews and I have seen where folks were totally offended by this book. There's an issue with a cat that is disturbing and every other kind of strange thing you can imagine. This is not meant to be taken seriously. It is a satire. Don't read this if you are easily offended. It is definitely not for you.
Full review full of spoilers can be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews.
I have read other reviews and I have seen where folks were totally offended by this book. There's an issue with a cat that is disturbing and every other kind of strange thing you can imagine. This is not meant to be taken seriously. It is a satire. Don't read this if you are easily offended. It is definitely not for you.
Full review full of spoilers can be found at On Top Down Under Book Reviews.
April 6, 2012
Really not my cup of tea. If you're the kind of person who'd laugh at (not laugh with) someone who slipped and landed on their arses instead of helping, you'd probably enjoy this.
There is simply no way anyone could empathize with the characters at all. They had no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Even laughing at them just seems downright cruel to me. But then again the characters themselves have mean streaks a mile wide that a second later you're recoiling instead of pitying them.
There is simply no way anyone could empathize with the characters at all. They had no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Even laughing at them just seems downright cruel to me. But then again the characters themselves have mean streaks a mile wide that a second later you're recoiling instead of pitying them.
September 7, 2012
My favorite thing about this book is that it gives perspective. Laugh or cry at the absurdity, but we all have a little Pete in us. Sometimes dignity does indeed take a holiday, but through it all we love, learn, live our lives with the hope of a happily ever after.
February 14, 2011
This book was a solid 3.5 for me, I couldn't decided which way to tip it at all, it's times like this I really wish for 1/2 star ratings.
I think I could summarize this book pretty simply. Peter Thickwhistle is a socially awkward but kind, sweet guy who just wants someone to love him and instead meets and is constantly surround by horrible people that set to intentionally be horrible to him or make him the butt of every joke. In the end he thinks with his big, forgiving, romanticizing, heart instead seeing things clearly. At least there will be someone in his corner this time.
I read this book really fast because I just wanted something good to happend to Pete, and when it finally did, I kept reading because I was afraid something horrible would happend to ruin it. I would almost like to revisit Pete a few years later and see how things are going. Not a full novel or anything, maybe just a little short story.
I think I could summarize this book pretty simply. Peter Thickwhistle is a socially awkward but kind, sweet guy who just wants someone to love him and instead meets and is constantly surround by horrible people that set to intentionally be horrible to him or make him the butt of every joke. In the end he thinks with his big, forgiving, romanticizing, heart instead seeing things clearly. At least there will be someone in his corner this time.
I read this book really fast because I just wanted something good to happend to Pete, and when it finally did, I kept reading because I was afraid something horrible would happend to ruin it. I would almost like to revisit Pete a few years later and see how things are going. Not a full novel or anything, maybe just a little short story.
June 21, 2011
Dignity Takes a Holiday tells of the misfortunes of Pete as he tries to find love, usually in all the wrong places. It was funny. I cringed in embarassment for Pete at times. If it weren't for bad luck, he'd have no luck at all. His mother is a sharp-tongued shrew who can't stop insulting him but also sets him up for some of his worse humilations. While funny I couldn't help but feel sorry for Pete. 47 and still living with his mother, still a virgin. I just felt bad for him. He had a lonely life until he feel down the steps and twisted his ankle. Pete is just a hard-luck person. No matter how optimistic he is, nothing works out the way he wants it to. Enjoyable, light, quick read. Sure to make you laugh out loud.
November 7, 2011
I really did enjoy the book. It was hilarious at points and there are some points when I was like you have got to be kidding me right?
Overall it was well written, funny and very, very much a farce.
Overall it was well written, funny and very, very much a farce.
October 3, 2011
Not for the faint of heart! Pete is 47, inept, clueless, and his adventures will make you laugh and blush in equal measure. Fun and funny!
March 25, 2015
weird book
March 17, 2011
Whew. This book is a wild farcical ride that reminds me of a John Water's movie. The humor is not always pretty but the total absurdity of the situations by-passes any offense. Think Polyester or Dirty Shame when you read this book and you'll "get it".
Read
June 10, 2012I finished it, and it made me laugh out loud in parts. I didn't give it any stars, because it just wasn't for me. Give me one of Rick's sappier romance's anytime! (speaking of which, I did love the ending!)
June 28, 2014
Somehow I don't get this book. It tries too be funny, but isn't. It tries too shock you, but it doesn't. The mother is just an all out bitch, the guy is a total prick and somehow he falls in love with a downstairs neighbor.
Sorry, but this book is not for me.
Sorry, but this book is not for me.
Read
May 20, 2015spoof or not, this wasn't something I wanted to read.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews