Freak : A Semi-Demi-Quasi-Pseudo Autobiography John, Katz, David Bar Leguizamo

by John Leguizamo, David Bar Katz

a Semi-Demi-Quasi-Pseudo Autobiography is John Leguizamo's hilarious coming-of-age story. Set in various neighborhoods of Queens, New York, in the eras of disco and break-dancing, Freak recounts the turmoil and eccentricities within a Latino family struggling to make it. A domineering father, frustrated by his rocky quest for the American dream; a mother who finds feminism and the club scene when she tires of Pop's tight control; a pudgy, eager-to-please, easily manipulated younger brother; and John - who doesn't spare himself in telling the gory details of his teen years. Freak is the book adaptation of Leguizamo's comical and critically acclaimed one-man Broadway show. But Freak, the book, contains narrative that had to be cut from the show because of time restraints.

Genres: Plays, Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography, Latinx, Humor, Theatre

144 pages, Paperback

First published September 29, 1997

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I care about John Leguizamo

[Sorcha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I care too.!

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading Challenge 2018: Book that is also stage play or musical. A short, fast, hilarious read about John Leguizamo's life. It is the written version of his stand-up show, so primarily it has no action, only narration. The book had way too much filler, probably due to the actual story not taking up many pages. It was hilarious in that I can hear Leguizamo saying everything, although a little racy in parts. I know enough Spanish to get the gist of the parts written in Spanish to get the jokes. Horrible father, bad mother, fat brother, and living in various ghettos as he grows up lend the humor to his story.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ya'll really need to watch this in order to get the full effect but I thoroughly enjoyed this. It explored life for latin kids in the city. Not only was it painfully relatable at times, but it was also super funny. Of course the language isn't very PC because it was the 90s but it's still worth the read if you love John Leguizamo (which I frankly do). It's also a super quick read which I enjoyed while I was away from home.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I care about John Leguizamo.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little read

[Lauren LoGiudice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a whimsical look into John's upbringing. Since this show went up before my time, I will never get to see. This enabled me to learn more about John's early work and to get a sense of his voice in his early days.

The design of the book makes it a pleasant, quick read.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend of mine who does professional stand up comedy gave this to me. He grabbed an extra copy off his shelf at home and said, “Here. Read it. Keep it.” He said it in a way that made it clear he loved the play and wanted to share it with others. Then he said, “The scene where he loses his virginity will blow your mind.”

I value my friend’s opinions, especially went it comes to performance material. So I went in expecting to like Freak. I did. This play is not only high energy and fast moving, it is full of wit. Easily the majority of joke material felt clever and insightful, and rarely did any material feel forced. The anecdotes are unabashedly fictionalized and embellished; however, the play has a genuine human arc following John from birth to getting a toehold in showbiz.

Freak is at times violently funny. But like all great comedy, the seriousness is there too. The intensity and heartbreak of a painful childhood are at the core of this work. I would pay big bucks to watch Mr. Leguizamo do this live. Oh yeah, and the scene where he loses his virginity? Totally blew my mind.

[John Opalenik · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars may be a bit harsh on my part. The only reason it doesn't get 4 is because it's basically the script to his one man show "Freak" which is amazing, but I was hoping that he'd supplement it or add something different for the book.

It's a hilarious and quick read. Perfect coffee table book.

[Kelsy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this from the dollar tree for $1. It's not a well written book, but you can learn about john leguizamo. Now I know you're probably thinking "who cares about john leguizamo??" and you're right. Nobody cares. But some of the stories are funny, and it's guarateed to depress!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is FREAKING hilarious! To watch his standup after reading this makes him even more of a comic genius!

[Marcia]

saw the HBO special and loved it...have to read it..

[Fatimah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witty and hilarious.

[Irma Mayorga]

Read again. Umpteenth time for teaching.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you read this book you will laugh out loud about every thirty seconds.