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The Joker: A Memoir
From an award-winning poet and compulsive joke teller, a memoir about the jokes that educated him about history, religion, and family—delighting him, and often horrifying him, as he grew into adulthood.
Since Andrew Hudgins was a child, he was a compulsive joke teller, so when he sat down to write about jokes, he found that he was writing about himself—what jokes taught him and mistaught him, how they often delighted him but occasionally made him nervous with their delight in chaos and sometimes anger. Because Hudgins’s father, a West Point graduate, served in the US Air Force, his family moved frequently; he learned to relate to other kids by telling jokes and watching how his classmates responded. And jokes opened him up to the serious, taboo subjects that his family didn’t talk about openly—religion, race, sex, and death. Hudgins tells and analyzes the jokes that explore the contradictions in the Baptist religion he was brought up in, the jokes that told him what his parents would not tell him about sex, and the racist jokes that his uncle loved, his father hated, and his mother, caught in the middle, was ambivalent about. This book is both a memoir and a meditation on jokes and how they educated, delighted, and occasionally horrified him as he grew.
Since Andrew Hudgins was a child, he was a compulsive joke teller, so when he sat down to write about jokes, he found that he was writing about himself—what jokes taught him and mistaught him, how they often delighted him but occasionally made him nervous with their delight in chaos and sometimes anger. Because Hudgins’s father, a West Point graduate, served in the US Air Force, his family moved frequently; he learned to relate to other kids by telling jokes and watching how his classmates responded. And jokes opened him up to the serious, taboo subjects that his family didn’t talk about openly—religion, race, sex, and death. Hudgins tells and analyzes the jokes that explore the contradictions in the Baptist religion he was brought up in, the jokes that told him what his parents would not tell him about sex, and the racist jokes that his uncle loved, his father hated, and his mother, caught in the middle, was ambivalent about. This book is both a memoir and a meditation on jokes and how they educated, delighted, and occasionally horrified him as he grew.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published June 11, 2013
About the author
Andrew Hudgins
34 books14 followersANDREW HUDGINS is the author of seven books of poems, including Saints and Strangers, The Glass Hammer, and most recently Ecstatic in the Poison. A finalist for the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, he is a recipient of Guggenheim and National Endowment for the Arts fellowships as well as the Harper Lee Award. He currently teaches in the Department of English at Ohio State University.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 24, 2013
Meh. Unfortunately, I was expecting more jokes and less memoir, and I got more memoir with not enough jokes, which would be nice if I'd a) at least heard of this guy before I read his book or b) cared, but I didn't, and reading lots and lots and LOTS about him didn't make me care about him more. The beginning starts off well enough with all the jokes you tell as a kid and why they are funny, or not, depending. There are a lot of religious jokes, but so much of it is about him and his upbringing that the narrative bogged down for me at this point. Also, there are a lot of racist jokes, and there was a lot of explaining about them (like what makes them racist and why we're uncomfortable), which for some reason didn't sit that well with me, and him being southern and having all the racist relatives as kind of an excuse didn't either (see points a & b). This tepid review aside, some of the jokes in here are brilliant and I've been annoying all of my friends and relatives with them for days now, so there's that.
July 16, 2013
This is one of the smartest books I've read this year. Hudgins doesn't simply recount his life story; rather, he structures his memoir around the evolution of his sense of humor, his love of jokes, and the subject matter (religion, race, and sex) that he heard most often and was most affected by as he came of age in Alabama. Some critics don't seem to like or understand Hudgins's hybridization of memoir and analysis of humor, but I found it intelligent, moving, and laugh-out-loud funny.
May 26, 2013
The Joker is an interesting read about the life of Andrew and his need for laughter and jokes. Most of the book is about his life growing up and his need to understand words, and later on jokes. A majority of the jokes are racist or deal with sex, so if you are expecting a book about clean jokes, this is not the book for you. I felt it was relatively long and slow at points, but still a decent read.
April 11, 2017
Absolutely one of the best books I have ever read about jokes and humor. The author is a distinguished poet and this book is kinda an account of his relationship with jokes, very unique approach. Very sophisticated and nuanced analysis of jokes, and there are some great jokes here! This book is an absolutely gem, not just about humor, but also about fundamentalist religion and even the role humor plays in romance. Such a great, entertaining, informing book!
August 13, 2014
First, I have to apologize for my lack of blog post. I know that its been long anticipated, and I appreciate your patience with me. Again, I apologize.
The reason for my lack of blog post is because, honestly, well, I have been stuck on this memoir for review. I am not one of those people that can read multiple books at once. I also cannot, not, finish a book. The book that I started in the beginning of July is, The Joker by Andrew Hudgins.
Andrew Hudgins grew up in Alabama with a strict father, and a palpable mother who he could make laugh to hysterics even when his stern father didn’t think he was funny. He also is a renown poet, and essayist. The Joker, is his first non fiction novel.
I have to hand it to Andrew, his memoir is border line risque, and he is quite hilarious. I was laughing out loud at his shenanigans, and I had tears running down my eyes. By the way Andrew, if you are reading this, I would love to know the Barbie joke.
However, I need to be honest with my audience here. As funny as the book was, I had a horrible time trying to complete it. It took me 6 weeks to muddle through this memoir instead of the usual 6 days or admittedly 6 hours sometimes.
The Joker, is a detailed memoir of Hudgins' life in jokes. He tells of his best work of jokes ever since he was a young boy, up to his jokester ways of an adult. He was funny, and he had some laughable experiences, but I think he what he stated in his memoir of the joking life, could have been summed up in half of the memoir.
I have been a fan of Hudgins' long before his memoir debuted. He is an excellent essayist, and poet to boot. If you get a chance, you have to have to have to check out Shut Up, You're Fine!: Poems for Very, Very Bad Children. Overlook Press. 2009 . I know it sounds horrific, but its actually extremely funny. It brings a sense of comedy for parents, who just “need a break” from parenting and a book to relate to.
All in all, to some it up,The Joker, just did not do it for me. I am sorry Hudgins. Even though he was borderline risque with his jokes, and his memoir was definitely laughable; something about it just made the book difficult to muddle through. Unfortunately, I will not be adding The Joker, to be top ten list. However, page 63 was my favorite page. Maybe I need to walk away from it, and revisit it in the future, and if I do and I feel differently, I will post another review.
The Joker by Andrew Hudgins receives a 3 out of 10 for me today.
(As always, please remember I received The Joker by of being a Goodreads First Reads winner!)
The reason for my lack of blog post is because, honestly, well, I have been stuck on this memoir for review. I am not one of those people that can read multiple books at once. I also cannot, not, finish a book. The book that I started in the beginning of July is, The Joker by Andrew Hudgins.
Andrew Hudgins grew up in Alabama with a strict father, and a palpable mother who he could make laugh to hysterics even when his stern father didn’t think he was funny. He also is a renown poet, and essayist. The Joker, is his first non fiction novel.
I have to hand it to Andrew, his memoir is border line risque, and he is quite hilarious. I was laughing out loud at his shenanigans, and I had tears running down my eyes. By the way Andrew, if you are reading this, I would love to know the Barbie joke.
However, I need to be honest with my audience here. As funny as the book was, I had a horrible time trying to complete it. It took me 6 weeks to muddle through this memoir instead of the usual 6 days or admittedly 6 hours sometimes.
The Joker, is a detailed memoir of Hudgins' life in jokes. He tells of his best work of jokes ever since he was a young boy, up to his jokester ways of an adult. He was funny, and he had some laughable experiences, but I think he what he stated in his memoir of the joking life, could have been summed up in half of the memoir.
I have been a fan of Hudgins' long before his memoir debuted. He is an excellent essayist, and poet to boot. If you get a chance, you have to have to have to check out Shut Up, You're Fine!: Poems for Very, Very Bad Children. Overlook Press. 2009 . I know it sounds horrific, but its actually extremely funny. It brings a sense of comedy for parents, who just “need a break” from parenting and a book to relate to.
All in all, to some it up,The Joker, just did not do it for me. I am sorry Hudgins. Even though he was borderline risque with his jokes, and his memoir was definitely laughable; something about it just made the book difficult to muddle through. Unfortunately, I will not be adding The Joker, to be top ten list. However, page 63 was my favorite page. Maybe I need to walk away from it, and revisit it in the future, and if I do and I feel differently, I will post another review.
The Joker by Andrew Hudgins receives a 3 out of 10 for me today.
(As always, please remember I received The Joker by of being a Goodreads First Reads winner!)
June 16, 2013
I have never been a joke-teller, other than elephant or knock-knock jokes, but loved the television shows of Lucille Ball, Bill Cosby, Carol Burnett, Mary Tyler Moore, Jack Benny, Robin Williams, the appearances of Jonathan Winters and many of the Saturday Night Live skits. I never saw the humor in the Three Stooges and Don Rickles. There was always a biting sarcasm to so much of their humor.
This book explained much of why I was, and still am, uncomfortable to many jokes and jokesters. I appreciate what they are trying to say about race, religion, relations and personal sorrow, but am embarrassed or offended by the way in which they say it. There were some laughs, especially in the last two chapters. It may be that the humor is more complex and I am looking at it superficially.
I'll pass this book on to my husband and see if he and his golf buddies enjoy the jokes more than I did. I'm still trying to decide if the appreciation of the jokes is more of a male/female difference, a difference in our upbringings, a cultural difference or an intellectual one.
Thanks to Goodreads Giveaway for a historical perspective on one author's love affair with humor... while it continues to baffle me!
This book explained much of why I was, and still am, uncomfortable to many jokes and jokesters. I appreciate what they are trying to say about race, religion, relations and personal sorrow, but am embarrassed or offended by the way in which they say it. There were some laughs, especially in the last two chapters. It may be that the humor is more complex and I am looking at it superficially.
I'll pass this book on to my husband and see if he and his golf buddies enjoy the jokes more than I did. I'm still trying to decide if the appreciation of the jokes is more of a male/female difference, a difference in our upbringings, a cultural difference or an intellectual one.
Thanks to Goodreads Giveaway for a historical perspective on one author's love affair with humor... while it continues to baffle me!
April 16, 2013
A book I'd like to give to everyone who's ever wrinkled their nose or flat out gotten angry over a joke I've told. I have for years had a reputation as a "room-clearer", the man who revels in telling jokes that end the conversation and disgust half the people within earshot. Why do I do it? Why do I exult in telling jokes that I know to be patently false, insulting, vicious, blasphemous, or just plain gross? Andrew Hudgins's chronicle of his life as an inveterate, sometimes uncontrollable joker gives some true and honest insight to why this is so. I think my friends would understand me a lot better after reading it. The book peters out without really coming together the way I'd like it to at the end, but when it's on, it's the smartest and most unexpectedly insightful memoir I've read this year.
And of course, I must end with a horrible joke that is, nevertheless, one of my absolute favorites:
What's the difference between a Cadillac and a pile of dead babies?
I don't have a Cadillac in my garage.
And of course, I must end with a horrible joke that is, nevertheless, one of my absolute favorites:
What's the difference between a Cadillac and a pile of dead babies?
I don't have a Cadillac in my garage.
April 18, 2013
Received as an ARC from the publisher. Read it in just a few days.
Whew!!!! What can I say about The Joker? If you expect a book of terrific jokes, this ain't it! It's the memoir of a poet who loves telling and hearing jokes. He analyzes his life and the jokes he heard along the way, through his school years, his numerous re-locations as a "military brat," from friends, openly racist relatives, his marriage, his divorce, and his second marriage. I cringed on almost every page as most of the jokes are rude, crude and lewd. He discusses both the tellers and the listeners of these jokes, and why people laugh and why some don't. This is not an easy book to read because as the author analyzes himself, he's also evaluating all of us as humans.
The book should be an interesting reading in psychology and sociology classes.
Whew!!!! What can I say about The Joker? If you expect a book of terrific jokes, this ain't it! It's the memoir of a poet who loves telling and hearing jokes. He analyzes his life and the jokes he heard along the way, through his school years, his numerous re-locations as a "military brat," from friends, openly racist relatives, his marriage, his divorce, and his second marriage. I cringed on almost every page as most of the jokes are rude, crude and lewd. He discusses both the tellers and the listeners of these jokes, and why people laugh and why some don't. This is not an easy book to read because as the author analyzes himself, he's also evaluating all of us as humans.
The book should be an interesting reading in psychology and sociology classes.
December 8, 2013
In this memoir, Andrew Hudgins discusses how jokes have been a part of his life and shaped some of his thinking. He goes into great detail of the history of different types of jokes, their origins, and how jokes allowed him to learn about different taboo subjects as he grew up - sex, racism, religion.
Many of the jokes and discourses on them made me uncomfortable. Mostly because they felt like excuses to tell unfunny jokes/stories and rationalize how they reflect stereotypes or denigrate groups of people seeking to change the status quo. Furthermore, the repeated refrain of "I'm not racist" followed by more racist jokes was off-putting.
I found the latter chapters on Hudgins' marriages and the proximity of death the most interesting. Earlier chapters felt verbose and a bit revisionist.
Many of the jokes and discourses on them made me uncomfortable. Mostly because they felt like excuses to tell unfunny jokes/stories and rationalize how they reflect stereotypes or denigrate groups of people seeking to change the status quo. Furthermore, the repeated refrain of "I'm not racist" followed by more racist jokes was off-putting.
I found the latter chapters on Hudgins' marriages and the proximity of death the most interesting. Earlier chapters felt verbose and a bit revisionist.
June 18, 2014
I received a copy on the mail a few days ago. I am thankful for the book and looked forward to reading this story. It starts out great in his youth and takes you along for the ride. There's some laugh out loud parts and a few tugs of the heart along the way. Andrew shares his memories with us all in an accessible and easy to read way. while I love to read and I'm not sorry to have read this glimpse into his life, it's a book I probably wouldn't have ran out to buy after having read it. I would suggest this book for someone who is looking for a slightly entertaining distraction while Sun bathing or sitting in a waiting room, perhaps even before going to bed. I know I read it in bed myself and I did enjoy it, all in all. I Give it 3 out of 5 stars with the caveat that a whole lot of people enjoyed it even more than I did.
November 29, 2014
I received a free copy of this book through Good Reads First Reads.
After what I felt was a slow start, this book got good. In a memoir that doesn't feel much like a memoir, the author takes jokes that he's encountered throughout his life and dissects them, analyzing why we find them funny. Instead of avoiding racist, sexist, and religion-based humor, he takes these jokes head-on and tells us why we laugh when we think we shouldn't. He refreshingly admits laughing at jokes we're supposed to find inappropriate and then turns the prejudice back on the joke-teller. In the context of age, history, and personal experience, it was fun to look at humor in such an informative, interesting, and even sentimental way.
After what I felt was a slow start, this book got good. In a memoir that doesn't feel much like a memoir, the author takes jokes that he's encountered throughout his life and dissects them, analyzing why we find them funny. Instead of avoiding racist, sexist, and religion-based humor, he takes these jokes head-on and tells us why we laugh when we think we shouldn't. He refreshingly admits laughing at jokes we're supposed to find inappropriate and then turns the prejudice back on the joke-teller. In the context of age, history, and personal experience, it was fun to look at humor in such an informative, interesting, and even sentimental way.
June 9, 2013
I won this book as part of the first reads program. I was so excited when I won my book and thought this book was going to be really great. I was unfortunately let down. I felt the author was too wordy and took way to long to get to the point. I also felt that for the most part there wasn't a lot of jokes in the book. I did think about humor as a whole in a new light though. I hadn't really thought of what the world would be like if nobody laughed. Overall, this book was okay. The book isn't everyone's cup of tea.
August 13, 2015
I really liked this book, but it was hard to place it. It really was split down the middle - half memoir, half joke analysis - and I can see how a reader who wanted more of one would be disappointed. However, I thought the memoir aspects that peeked in were touching and thoughtful, the meditations on humor both amusing and insightful, and the interplay between the two balanced and complementary. I could feel a little bit of Hudgins' joker in myself, too, so the reassurance he offered was nice.
August 7, 2014
I won this book from Goodreads (Thank You)
I could not make it past page 9. At first I thought maybe the pain medication I was on was making my brain fuzzy and that's why I could not comprehend the introduction so I put the book aside and waited for a week to try again.
Tried again starting with chapter one and still no connection to this book or the story.
Think I will put this book on my nightstand for those times when I need something to put me to sleep.
I could not make it past page 9. At first I thought maybe the pain medication I was on was making my brain fuzzy and that's why I could not comprehend the introduction so I put the book aside and waited for a week to try again.
Tried again starting with chapter one and still no connection to this book or the story.
Think I will put this book on my nightstand for those times when I need something to put me to sleep.
April 21, 2013
*I received a free copy of The Joker: A Memoir from Goodreads' First Reads program.
This book...is not for the easily offended. Jokes are everywhere, but there is also analysis behind the jokes and humor as a whole. Coming from a dysfunctional family, reading this book made my day!
This book...is not for the easily offended. Jokes are everywhere, but there is also analysis behind the jokes and humor as a whole. Coming from a dysfunctional family, reading this book made my day!
July 2, 2013
This book was a good reads giveaway I would not have bought the book. This book was hard to read mainly because most of the jokes were crude and insensitive. Yet, due to his life circumstance, I can understand why he would relate to being a "jokester".
August 2, 2013
I guess I was expecting something different. More humor, less "jokes." Less explanation of "jokes". Less of the author telling me which "jokes" are good and which ones are bad, based on whether he thinks they are funny or not.
Some good stuff, just not enough for me.
Some good stuff, just not enough for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2013
I would have given this book a 4, but the energy, fresh insights, eerily reminiscent observations about the jokes of childhood/adolescents petered out (sorry) by 3/4 through and the "punchline" fell flat. Kept me interested, however, and I'm not fond of memoirs.
April 25, 2013
A very interesting book,
I really enjoyed it.
I really enjoyed it.
May 4, 2013
I enjoyed this book, I thought it was well written and made me smile. Thumbs up!
May 26, 2013
An occasionally funny, mostly pleasant, sometimes tedious memoir. I guess the take home is: the more you think about a joke the less funny it usual is.
September 25, 2013
Some off-color jokes that were integral to the storyline were not enjoyable for me to read.
This review is based on an ARC provided to me by the publisher.
This review is based on an ARC provided to me by the publisher.
September 3, 2013
A funny and poignant book by one of the best teachers I ever had.
September 2, 2013
I appreciate that the author is trying to be frank, but racist and sexist jokes will never be funny to me.
April 17, 2015
didn't finish
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews