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A Million Ways to Die in the West
From the creator of Family Guy and director of Ted comes a hilarious first novel that reinvents the Western.
Mild-mannered sheep farmer Albert Stark is fed up with the harsh life of the American frontier, where it seems everything and anything can kill you: Duels at high noon. Barroom brawls. Poisonous snakes. Cholera-infected drinking water. Tumbleweed abrasion. Something called "toe-foot." Even a trip to the outhouse. Yes, there are a million ways to die in the wild, wild West, and Albert plans to avoid them all. Some people think that makes him a coward. Albert calls it common sense. But when his girlfriend dumps him for the most insufferable guy in town, Albert decides to fight back--even though he can't shoot, ride, or throw a punch. Fortunately, he teams up with a beautiful gunslinger who's tough enough for the both of them. Unfortunately, she's married to the biggest, meanest, most jealous badass on the frontier. Turns out Albert has just discovered a million and one ways to die in the West.
Mild-mannered sheep farmer Albert Stark is fed up with the harsh life of the American frontier, where it seems everything and anything can kill you: Duels at high noon. Barroom brawls. Poisonous snakes. Cholera-infected drinking water. Tumbleweed abrasion. Something called "toe-foot." Even a trip to the outhouse. Yes, there are a million ways to die in the wild, wild West, and Albert plans to avoid them all. Some people think that makes him a coward. Albert calls it common sense. But when his girlfriend dumps him for the most insufferable guy in town, Albert decides to fight back--even though he can't shoot, ride, or throw a punch. Fortunately, he teams up with a beautiful gunslinger who's tough enough for the both of them. Unfortunately, she's married to the biggest, meanest, most jealous badass on the frontier. Turns out Albert has just discovered a million and one ways to die in the West.
4 pages, Audio CD
First published March 4, 2014
98 people are currently reading
848 people want to read
About the author
Seth MacFarlane
24 books108 followersSeth Woodbury MacFarlane (/ˈsɛθ ˈwʊdbɛri mɪkˈfɑrlən/; born October 26, 1973) is an American actor, animator, writer, producer, director, and singer. He is the creator of the TV show Family Guy (1999–2003, 2005–present) and co-creator of the shows American Dad! (2005–present) and The Cleveland Show (2009–2013). He also voices many of the shows' various characters.
MacFarlane grew up in Kent, Connecticut and is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, where he studied animation, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Recruited to Hollywood during the senior film festival by development executive Ellen Cockrill and President Fred Seibert, he was an animator and writer for Hanna-Barbera for several television shows, including Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken, Dexter's Laboratory, I Am Weasel, and his own Family Guy-like "prequel", Larry and Steve.
As an actor, he has made guest appearances on shows such as Gilmore Girls, The War at Home, and FlashForward. MacFarlane's interest in science fiction and fantasy has led to cameo and guest appearances on Star Trek: Enterprise and voicing the character of Johann Kraus in Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy II: The Golden Army. In 2008, he created his own YouTube series entitled Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy. As a singer MacFarlane has performed at several venues, including Carnegie Hall and the Royal Albert Hall. MacFarlane has won several awards for his work on Family Guy, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and an Annie Award. In 2009 he won the Webby Award for Film & Video Person of the Year. He occasionally speaks at universities and colleges throughout the United States, and he is a supporter of gay rights.
His first feature-length comedy film, Ted, stars Mark Wahlberg as an adult who, as a kid, wished his teddy bear would come to life. MacFarlane voiced and provided motion capture for the bear. It was released on June 29, 2012, and went on to become the highest-grossing original R-rated comedy of all time. In September 2011, MacFarlane released his debut album, Music Is Better Than Words. Also in 2011, he began a revival of Hanna-Barbera's The Flintstones for the Fox network. The first episode was due to air in the U.S. in 2013, but production has been indefinitely delayed due to MacFarlane's schedule.
MacFarlane grew up in Kent, Connecticut and is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, where he studied animation, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Recruited to Hollywood during the senior film festival by development executive Ellen Cockrill and President Fred Seibert, he was an animator and writer for Hanna-Barbera for several television shows, including Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken, Dexter's Laboratory, I Am Weasel, and his own Family Guy-like "prequel", Larry and Steve.
As an actor, he has made guest appearances on shows such as Gilmore Girls, The War at Home, and FlashForward. MacFarlane's interest in science fiction and fantasy has led to cameo and guest appearances on Star Trek: Enterprise and voicing the character of Johann Kraus in Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy II: The Golden Army. In 2008, he created his own YouTube series entitled Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy. As a singer MacFarlane has performed at several venues, including Carnegie Hall and the Royal Albert Hall. MacFarlane has won several awards for his work on Family Guy, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and an Annie Award. In 2009 he won the Webby Award for Film & Video Person of the Year. He occasionally speaks at universities and colleges throughout the United States, and he is a supporter of gay rights.
His first feature-length comedy film, Ted, stars Mark Wahlberg as an adult who, as a kid, wished his teddy bear would come to life. MacFarlane voiced and provided motion capture for the bear. It was released on June 29, 2012, and went on to become the highest-grossing original R-rated comedy of all time. In September 2011, MacFarlane released his debut album, Music Is Better Than Words. Also in 2011, he began a revival of Hanna-Barbera's The Flintstones for the Fox network. The first episode was due to air in the U.S. in 2013, but production has been indefinitely delayed due to MacFarlane's schedule.
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May 25, 2022
4 Stars for A Million Ways to Die in the West (audiobook) by Seth MacFarlane read by Jonathan Frakes.
This was such a fun western farce. The characters were great and you can’t beat a western set in Arizona. But the best part of the audiobook is that Jonathan Frakes. narrates it. He has such a great voice. It was really fun hearing him narrate a western.
This was such a fun western farce. The characters were great and you can’t beat a western set in Arizona. But the best part of the audiobook is that Jonathan Frakes. narrates it. He has such a great voice. It was really fun hearing him narrate a western.
September 30, 2021
A Loony tale of the West
Rating: 3.25 stars at best!
If you're fan of Seth's movies or TV (Ted, Family Guy) you're familiar with his raunchy, over-the-top humor you'll love this story. Not only is it off the wall, it makes Dumb and Dumber look like an Oscar winner! Filled with outrageous pokes at Westerns, gun slingers and highly dysfunctional relationships, were it not for a town, you'd think it was a nut house! With an incompetent sheep herder as protagonist, a girlfriend who also happens to be a whore, what transpires is one for the books. I laughed my ass off when I saw the film and the book is even funnier. That said, it's locker room humor at. best, so if you get offended easily, chose something else. Fun, uproarious and predictable it's good entertainment for those that appreciate Seth's humor.
Rating: 3.25 stars at best!
If you're fan of Seth's movies or TV (Ted, Family Guy) you're familiar with his raunchy, over-the-top humor you'll love this story. Not only is it off the wall, it makes Dumb and Dumber look like an Oscar winner! Filled with outrageous pokes at Westerns, gun slingers and highly dysfunctional relationships, were it not for a town, you'd think it was a nut house! With an incompetent sheep herder as protagonist, a girlfriend who also happens to be a whore, what transpires is one for the books. I laughed my ass off when I saw the film and the book is even funnier. That said, it's locker room humor at. best, so if you get offended easily, chose something else. Fun, uproarious and predictable it's good entertainment for those that appreciate Seth's humor.
August 5, 2014
Do I get credit for watching the movie? I mean, it's the same thing, right, considering this book is an audio CD?
I love crapfests and terrible movie. I love toilet humor and dumb jokes.
I thought this movie was horrible. Thank god I was a terrible feminist and went out on a date with a guy who paid for my ticket, because that would have been a waste of $15.
Here's what I learned from watching this movie:
1. Just because a person is absolutely hilarious as a writer (MacFarlane), doesn't mean he'll be any good as an actor. I have scarcely encountered a less charismatic comic actor in a film
2. Just because a person is absolutely hilarious in every single way (Silverman) doesn't mean she can do jack shit with a terrible script
I love crapfests and terrible movie. I love toilet humor and dumb jokes.
I thought this movie was horrible. Thank god I was a terrible feminist and went out on a date with a guy who paid for my ticket, because that would have been a waste of $15.
Here's what I learned from watching this movie:
1. Just because a person is absolutely hilarious as a writer (MacFarlane), doesn't mean he'll be any good as an actor. I have scarcely encountered a less charismatic comic actor in a film
2. Just because a person is absolutely hilarious in every single way (Silverman) doesn't mean she can do jack shit with a terrible script
August 5, 2014
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
Okay okay okay. Wait just a second. Put down your torches so I can explain this rating.
WAIT!!!! Don’t do that yet either.
That’s very true, but it’s completely beside the point in this case. Let me begin my defense by saying in my house, I am the watcher of “American Dad” and “Family Guy." I’m the one who kept my children’s bedtime at 9:00 for an extra year so I could watch “Adult Swim” in peace. I’m the one who sings the “Thunder Buddy” song with the four pound sissy ratdog when he’s terrified.
I’m the one who was upset when “The Cleveland Show” got cancelled and who frequently speaks inPaul Lynd’s Roger’s voice to narrate my daily activities. In my house I’m the MacFarlane superfan and I’m telling you (without even seeing it yet) that he wrote a funny movie with “A Million Ways to Die in the West.” He touched on all the thoughts I always had whenever my Dad forced me to watch westerns with him.
Seriously, why would people ever choose the Old West as the place to hang their hat? Blech. That being said, what I read was a movie script that was poked and prodded just a titch in order to turn it into a book. (Sidenote: This started as a buddy read with my husband. He read 55 pages. TOTAL. He then waited for me to finish and asked if it got any better and never picked it up again.) While there were still some LOLz to be had, the visual element was notably absent.
(You’re welcome, ladies)
Glaringly absent, even. I mean, this is a VERY visual story.
(You’re welcome, Jeff)
Like I stated above, I’ve not yet seen the movie version. I'm going to go ahead and put it out there that I’m sure I will find it entertaining, but when it comes to offensive westerns, nobody will ever do it better than Mel Brooks.
If ANY of you buttholes dares make a comment about my age, I’ll cut you.
Okay okay okay. Wait just a second. Put down your torches so I can explain this rating.
WAIT!!!! Don’t do that yet either.
That’s very true, but it’s completely beside the point in this case. Let me begin my defense by saying in my house, I am the watcher of “American Dad” and “Family Guy." I’m the one who kept my children’s bedtime at 9:00 for an extra year so I could watch “Adult Swim” in peace. I’m the one who sings the “Thunder Buddy” song with the four pound sissy ratdog when he’s terrified.
I’m the one who was upset when “The Cleveland Show” got cancelled and who frequently speaks in
Seriously, why would people ever choose the Old West as the place to hang their hat? Blech. That being said, what I read was a movie script that was poked and prodded just a titch in order to turn it into a book. (Sidenote: This started as a buddy read with my husband. He read 55 pages. TOTAL. He then waited for me to finish and asked if it got any better and never picked it up again.) While there were still some LOLz to be had, the visual element was notably absent.
(You’re welcome, ladies)
Glaringly absent, even. I mean, this is a VERY visual story.
(You’re welcome, Jeff)
Like I stated above, I’ve not yet seen the movie version. I'm going to go ahead and put it out there that I’m sure I will find it entertaining, but when it comes to offensive westerns, nobody will ever do it better than Mel Brooks.
If ANY of you buttholes dares make a comment about my age, I’ll cut you.
May 29, 2023
I love this movie because I have basically loved anything made by Seth MacFarlane since Family Guy first started so I may be bias. I have wanted to read the novelization of the movie for some time now so really glad I got around to it, even though I took a while to do so. Hilarious read that I highly enjoyed! Now I am going to go watch the movie again (I would hate to put a number on how many times I have seen the movie….yeah it has been THAT many times).
March 29, 2014
A Million Ways to Die in the West by Seth MacFarlane is the novelization of his upcoming Comedy Western movie of the same name, an adaption of the screenplay written by him, Alec Sulkin, and Wellesley Wild.
The book starts off just the way the rest of it is: hilarious. Beginning with the classic gunfight in the middle of town, Albert Stark uses his snarky attitude to get him out of it, branding him a coward by his girlfriend Louise, thus leading her to dumping him. He spirals into depression, ready to leave the Arizona town of Old Stump for San Francisco, until he meets Anna. She’s a mysterious woman with a calm attitude and encouraging smile. It’s through her Albert learns to shoot, and ultimately learns how to live in the west.
I’ve been a fan of Seth MacFarlane’s since the first episode of Family Guy, and have followed him throughout the years in his work. I love American Dad and The Cleveland Show, Ted being my favorite comedy of all time. I love Seth MacFarlane’s ability to produce such witty works so flawlessly, and from what I’ve gleamed he seems like an awesome guy behind it all. So when I learned he had written a book on top of everything I jumped at the chance to pick it up.
HIs writing style is very brilliant. The character of Albert is complex, masterfully portrayed. On the surface he seems like just an ordinary coward, but in reality he’s most likely the smartest guy in the west. It’s his smarts that makes him so anxious and miserable, as he’s the only one who is able to realize the dreadful lot they all have been given in life. He wants to live, and in his mind the only way to live is to avoid almost everything. Because almost everything can kill you.
On top of his smarts, Albert is hilarious. His wit is the perfect conduit for comedy, always spewing out one-liners and observations that goes right over everyone’s heads, leaving Albert looking like an idiot in the eyes of everyone around him when in reality he’s beyond them all.
I enjoyed this book immensely. There were more times than I can count when I had to put it down to laugh, especially whenever Edward and Ruth came into the scene. The situation between them was just absolutely hysterical. To even think of such characters is a stroke of genius.
All in all, this book was everything I had hoped it would be: smart, funny, dramatic, romantic, self-reflective, and full of characters that you can’t help but love.
The book starts off just the way the rest of it is: hilarious. Beginning with the classic gunfight in the middle of town, Albert Stark uses his snarky attitude to get him out of it, branding him a coward by his girlfriend Louise, thus leading her to dumping him. He spirals into depression, ready to leave the Arizona town of Old Stump for San Francisco, until he meets Anna. She’s a mysterious woman with a calm attitude and encouraging smile. It’s through her Albert learns to shoot, and ultimately learns how to live in the west.
I’ve been a fan of Seth MacFarlane’s since the first episode of Family Guy, and have followed him throughout the years in his work. I love American Dad and The Cleveland Show, Ted being my favorite comedy of all time. I love Seth MacFarlane’s ability to produce such witty works so flawlessly, and from what I’ve gleamed he seems like an awesome guy behind it all. So when I learned he had written a book on top of everything I jumped at the chance to pick it up.
HIs writing style is very brilliant. The character of Albert is complex, masterfully portrayed. On the surface he seems like just an ordinary coward, but in reality he’s most likely the smartest guy in the west. It’s his smarts that makes him so anxious and miserable, as he’s the only one who is able to realize the dreadful lot they all have been given in life. He wants to live, and in his mind the only way to live is to avoid almost everything. Because almost everything can kill you.
On top of his smarts, Albert is hilarious. His wit is the perfect conduit for comedy, always spewing out one-liners and observations that goes right over everyone’s heads, leaving Albert looking like an idiot in the eyes of everyone around him when in reality he’s beyond them all.
I enjoyed this book immensely. There were more times than I can count when I had to put it down to laugh, especially whenever Edward and Ruth came into the scene. The situation between them was just absolutely hysterical. To even think of such characters is a stroke of genius.
All in all, this book was everything I had hoped it would be: smart, funny, dramatic, romantic, self-reflective, and full of characters that you can’t help but love.
June 11, 2023
I like Seth MacFarlane stuff, but somehow, I've not gotten around to watching this movie yet. Just stumbled across the novel, which I didn't know existed, and decided to check it out.
This is definitely a Seth MacFarlane written book. If you like his other stuff, you're probably going to like this. If you don't, then you probably won't. I liked it, so now I'm off to watch the movie.
After watching the movie, I liked the book better. The movie seemed to have a lot of lines that were improv and didn't feel like they fit.
This is definitely a Seth MacFarlane written book. If you like his other stuff, you're probably going to like this. If you don't, then you probably won't. I liked it, so now I'm off to watch the movie.
After watching the movie, I liked the book better. The movie seemed to have a lot of lines that were improv and didn't feel like they fit.
March 10, 2014
This is a light snack with a long title.
Not going to change the world, but it did brighten mine.
Found myself laughing out loud as I read this at the bookstore. Yes, that’s where I read this. As much as I enjoy MacFarlane’s work paying close to $30 for a book (yes, I live in Canada where we have Universal Healthcare, but pay more for everything else) isn’t in my Broke and Obscure budget.
Adapted from the screenplay (written by Seth MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin, and Wellesley Wild), this comical jawin’ ya to death of the Old West is chock-full of anachronisms and absurdity including, but not limited to: the fake fight scene; the prostitute girlfriend who won’t have sex (not with her boyfriend anyway) because she’s saving herself for marriage; a Parkinson‘s joke (just another way God mysteriously shows that he loves us); and the stick-hoop-games-will-ruin-the-youth bit.
Had a few problems reading this book. My fault really, kept hearing Albert’s voice as Stewie and there was a cute guy all in black nearby reading a Star Trek mag at the bookstore. Both obvious concentration blockers.
Full of cheeky MacFarlane humour, my fav example, when they’re talking about why Indians are always attacking and so mad – What’s their problem, we’re basically splitting the country 50/50 with them. I know, they’re so selfish. I love when humour is used to point out social truths or injustices or stuff.
The cast looks flabbergastic – Seth MacFarlane as Albert, the sheep farmer, also Liam Neeson, Charlize Theron, Amanda Seyfried, Sarah Silverman, Neil Patrick Harris (moustache!), Gilbert Gottfried, Giovanni Ribisi, Bill Maher, Ralph Garman, Rex Linn…
Like all MacFarlane’s work we see how watching too many TV shows and movies affect the brain. No complaints, I get every reference so obviously I have the same issue. This one has a Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles feel.
As a fan of Western books, TV, movies, etc. I thought the line about something else to kill them so they should just wear coffins as clothes was brilliant.
So if you can’t wait for the movie coming out May 30, 2014, this companion novel should help tide you over.
Somehow I expected more sheep jokes.
Not going to change the world, but it did brighten mine.
Found myself laughing out loud as I read this at the bookstore. Yes, that’s where I read this. As much as I enjoy MacFarlane’s work paying close to $30 for a book (yes, I live in Canada where we have Universal Healthcare, but pay more for everything else) isn’t in my Broke and Obscure budget.
Adapted from the screenplay (written by Seth MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin, and Wellesley Wild), this comical jawin’ ya to death of the Old West is chock-full of anachronisms and absurdity including, but not limited to: the fake fight scene; the prostitute girlfriend who won’t have sex (not with her boyfriend anyway) because she’s saving herself for marriage; a Parkinson‘s joke (just another way God mysteriously shows that he loves us); and the stick-hoop-games-will-ruin-the-youth bit.
Had a few problems reading this book. My fault really, kept hearing Albert’s voice as Stewie and there was a cute guy all in black nearby reading a Star Trek mag at the bookstore. Both obvious concentration blockers.
Full of cheeky MacFarlane humour, my fav example, when they’re talking about why Indians are always attacking and so mad – What’s their problem, we’re basically splitting the country 50/50 with them. I know, they’re so selfish. I love when humour is used to point out social truths or injustices or stuff.
The cast looks flabbergastic – Seth MacFarlane as Albert, the sheep farmer, also Liam Neeson, Charlize Theron, Amanda Seyfried, Sarah Silverman, Neil Patrick Harris (moustache!), Gilbert Gottfried, Giovanni Ribisi, Bill Maher, Ralph Garman, Rex Linn…
Like all MacFarlane’s work we see how watching too many TV shows and movies affect the brain. No complaints, I get every reference so obviously I have the same issue. This one has a Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles feel.
As a fan of Western books, TV, movies, etc. I thought the line about something else to kill them so they should just wear coffins as clothes was brilliant.
So if you can’t wait for the movie coming out May 30, 2014, this companion novel should help tide you over.
Somehow I expected more sheep jokes.
March 9, 2014
A Million Ways To Die In The West by Seth MacFarlane
A Million Ways To Die In The West begins with a bang. The story establishes Albert Stark as a self made coward living in the old west. His occupation as sheep herder has brought him to a deadly gunfight which begins Chapter One. A history of hatred for sheepmen among cattle ranchers began as a result of sheep grazing close to the ground and ruining pastures. This, among other contributions to the well being of the main character, leads to hilarious misfortunes that only Seth MacFarlane can conjure. Although Albert denies being chicken hearted, his profound negativity towards life and his contorted view of common sense screams otherwise. His bravery and good will are continually being tested when notorious outlaws and female counterparts cross his path. Comedy wraps around Alberts mission to leave his isolated western town and head to civilization where the belief is you no longer have to take your life in your hands through every day living. Finding his happiness and niche in life among the old Wild West develops into a high noon comedic romp.
Seth MacFarlane has become a prominent force in humor. His achievements include animator, producer, director, and of course creator of the television show Family Guy. Now he has written his first novel. Capitalizing on his strong wit, sarcasm, and jokes, Seth has used his comedic genius to explore this frontier. Fans of his style will thoroughly enjoy the quick come backs and banter that winds its way through the adventures of all the colorful characters written page after page. Readers will get to meet Doctor Harper, a medicine man whose backwoods methods are to say the least questionable, to Ruth, a talented brothel working girl who considers her a job a difficult nine to five career choice. Her understanding boyfriend provides much interesting 'how was your day at work' dinner conversations in the evening. Readers need entertainment. A Million Ways To Die In The West is a pleasant distraction from everyday life and will guarantee to put a delighted grin on your face.
April 15, 2015
So, I do not usually read others review prior to writing my own. However, I did in this case, and I may be going against the norm. Oh well.
I rarely read such humorous books, so I'm not sure what is generally expected. What I do know is what I expected out of this book, and it didn't disappoint. I laughed out loud quite often, which is what I was hoping for.
This was a quick story full of laughs, vulgarity, and just plain ridiculousness. It may not have been historically accurate, or the characters may not have been fully developed, but that didn't matter. I got the gist of things well enough to have enjoyed myself. I even talked about this book with my significant other more than most other books because it piqued his interest. We haven't seen the movie yet, but it's next on our watchlist.
I rarely read such humorous books, so I'm not sure what is generally expected. What I do know is what I expected out of this book, and it didn't disappoint. I laughed out loud quite often, which is what I was hoping for.
This was a quick story full of laughs, vulgarity, and just plain ridiculousness. It may not have been historically accurate, or the characters may not have been fully developed, but that didn't matter. I got the gist of things well enough to have enjoyed myself. I even talked about this book with my significant other more than most other books because it piqued his interest. We haven't seen the movie yet, but it's next on our watchlist.
May 28, 2014
Albert Stark lives in Old Stump, Arizona in the 1880s. As a failing sheep farmer, in a town of 75 people, Albert's spirits take a serious nose-dive after his girlfriend of a year and a half Louise, dumps him for Mr. Foy, the suave owner of the town's mustache shop. After his best friend Edward's failed attempts at making him feel better, things start to look grim for Albert, until the beautiful and mysterious Anna arrives in town, and takes her under her wing. The two hit it off instantly, and Anna hatches a plan for Albert to win Louise back. Shit hits the fan once Albert discovers Anna is actually the wife of Clinch Leatherwood, a nasty gunslinging outlaw.
This book was pretty much what I would have expected from a book written about a movie written by Seth McFarlane. Based on what I saw in the previews, this book was probably written scene-for-scene to match the movie, which I was expecting, but it was actually very well-written. I almost feel like I don't even need to see the movie, but who am I kidding, I will probably still watch it. It was a nice light read, and so long as I skimmed over all the eye-rolling squirm-worthy style jokes I'm used to from watching Family Guy or American Dad, it was great for a laugh!
This book was pretty much what I would have expected from a book written about a movie written by Seth McFarlane. Based on what I saw in the previews, this book was probably written scene-for-scene to match the movie, which I was expecting, but it was actually very well-written. I almost feel like I don't even need to see the movie, but who am I kidding, I will probably still watch it. It was a nice light read, and so long as I skimmed over all the eye-rolling squirm-worthy style jokes I'm used to from watching Family Guy or American Dad, it was great for a laugh!
April 16, 2017
2 stars
Uhmm... General thoughts? Weird, but funny (most of the time).
(Spoilers in this review will be marked of course!)
Short summary
This book is about Albert Stark, a sheep farmer, who tries to avoid 'the million ways to die in the West'. He has 'the sweetest and most beautiful girlfriend in town' - or so he believes - until she decides to dump him. A lot of (weird/funny) things happen after that and Albert will learn a lot about himself.
Expectations
I expected a thrilling story about the 'American Frontier'. Well... The story wasn't thrilling, but it was a funny short story.
I didn't see the movie, so maybe this is why my expectations were a little different.
Storyline
The story started a bit slow, but was interesting enough to keep me hooked. I really liked such a different environment: life in the Wild West. I've always been interested in this time period and have seen a few movies about it as well. The storyline is assumingly realistic, but oh well, a 'little' exaggerated. This book is mainly about the cowboys and there's a small passage included about the 'Apache'. I think there could have been more information included about them as well.
Other than that, the storyline itself was pretty simple:
There were a lot of weird passages included as well. Some which I found to be quite funny, others which I found just shocking:
Yep. Like this one. One of the million ways to die in the west, I guess.
Characters
Albert Stark, the main character, goes through quite a bit character development. He ends up being a happier and smarter person, at the end of the book. He has a weird, but funny, sense of humor. Most of the time a sarcastic sense of humor.
Louise is his girlfriend at the beginning of this book. She is very pretty but not so smart.
Foy is very fond of himself and has a huge moustache. He owns the 'moustache shop'.
I loved Anna! She's super badass and is a genuinely nice person. I like that they included her into the story.
Clinch Leatherwood is the one everyone is afraid of. He kills basically everyone who stands in his way. Like the traditional 'villain cowboy'. Maybe he could've had a slightly more complicated personality and not such a basic one.
We didn't get to know that much about Ruth and Edward, but they're basically the two best friends of Albert. Ruth and Edward have a relationship with each other.
Opinion about the ending
The ending was a pretty quick one and is basically about I thought this was quite unrealistic and the ending could've been more original.
Conclusion
This was a fun and quick read and I liked that the story took place in the Wild West. Other than that, the story was incoherent and certainly would've been better left just as a movie.
Uhmm... General thoughts? Weird, but funny (most of the time).
(Spoilers in this review will be marked of course!)
Short summary
This book is about Albert Stark, a sheep farmer, who tries to avoid 'the million ways to die in the West'. He has 'the sweetest and most beautiful girlfriend in town' - or so he believes - until she decides to dump him. A lot of (weird/funny) things happen after that and Albert will learn a lot about himself.
Expectations
I expected a thrilling story about the 'American Frontier'. Well... The story wasn't thrilling, but it was a funny short story.
I didn't see the movie, so maybe this is why my expectations were a little different.
Storyline
The story started a bit slow, but was interesting enough to keep me hooked. I really liked such a different environment: life in the Wild West. I've always been interested in this time period and have seen a few movies about it as well. The storyline is assumingly realistic, but oh well, a 'little' exaggerated. This book is mainly about the cowboys and there's a small passage included about the 'Apache'. I think there could have been more information included about them as well.
Other than that, the storyline itself was pretty simple:
There were a lot of weird passages included as well. Some which I found to be quite funny, others which I found just shocking:
Yep. Like this one. One of the million ways to die in the west, I guess.
Characters
Albert Stark, the main character, goes through quite a bit character development. He ends up being a happier and smarter person, at the end of the book. He has a weird, but funny, sense of humor. Most of the time a sarcastic sense of humor.
Louise is his girlfriend at the beginning of this book. She is very pretty but not so smart.
Foy is very fond of himself and has a huge moustache. He owns the 'moustache shop'.
I loved Anna! She's super badass and is a genuinely nice person. I like that they included her into the story.
Clinch Leatherwood is the one everyone is afraid of. He kills basically everyone who stands in his way. Like the traditional 'villain cowboy'. Maybe he could've had a slightly more complicated personality and not such a basic one.
We didn't get to know that much about Ruth and Edward, but they're basically the two best friends of Albert. Ruth and Edward have a relationship with each other.
Opinion about the ending
The ending was a pretty quick one and is basically about I thought this was quite unrealistic and the ending could've been more original.
Conclusion
This was a fun and quick read and I liked that the story took place in the Wild West. Other than that, the story was incoherent and certainly would've been better left just as a movie.
July 8, 2014
It's not that sheep farmer Albert Stark doesn't work hard - he's just not very good at his job. Or his life, but so far he's managed to stay alive in the West, which is no easy task when everyone and everything want to kill you. (Don't chance it with the doctor. You're better off letting things be.)
The plot is very basic: Girl dumps boy; and boy tries to earn back girl...until he realises that girl isn't really worth the effort. Especially considering there's a mysterious new woman in town who's willing to help Albert, instead of just criticise. His relationship with Anna is more symbolic than anything else (she gives him self-confidence), so I don't really think they have chemistry.
The more believable and heart-warming romance is that of Albert's best friend, Edward, and his girlfriend. Ruth's career may seem at odds with their chaste relationship, but they really are sweet together.
The first act of the novel is fabulously fun, and the second act's pretty good, too. At this point, I considered watching the film before it left my local cinema. But the final act just doesn't measure up (too many excretions and trips).
I'm not one for historical fiction, but A Million Ways to Die in the West feels so contemporary that it goes down well. It's short and entertaining, with no skim-reading required. And it's fun!
The plot is very basic: Girl dumps boy; and boy tries to earn back girl...until he realises that girl isn't really worth the effort. Especially considering there's a mysterious new woman in town who's willing to help Albert, instead of just criticise. His relationship with Anna is more symbolic than anything else (she gives him self-confidence), so I don't really think they have chemistry.
The more believable and heart-warming romance is that of Albert's best friend, Edward, and his girlfriend. Ruth's career may seem at odds with their chaste relationship, but they really are sweet together.
The first act of the novel is fabulously fun, and the second act's pretty good, too. At this point, I considered watching the film before it left my local cinema. But the final act just doesn't measure up (too many excretions and trips).
I'm not one for historical fiction, but A Million Ways to Die in the West feels so contemporary that it goes down well. It's short and entertaining, with no skim-reading required. And it's fun!
May 15, 2014
Hilariously funny as you would expect from the creator of the Family Guy. A parody of a western with an unlikely hero, a down to earth love interest and hilarious co starring role of Edward, whose girlfriend is a whore but doesnt sleep with him cos they are christian. All the normal things that happen in a western take place, including gun fights and saloon brawls and murders, but all with tongue firmly in cheek making for an hilarious story bound to make you laugh (and gag in parts). Bit of language and sex, but i guess you expect that in the wild wild west!
March 9, 2015
Dijelom vestern, dijelom komedija, ova knjiga je u biti parodija na sve ono što vestern čini vesternom. Umjesto tipičnog šutljivog, hrabrog i tajanstvenog glavnog junaka, majstora na pištolju, imamo Alberta - povučenog, nespretnog i nepoduzetnog, kojem je umjesto slave, 'dobrog' glasa koji će ga pratiti i hrabrosti, na pameti prvenstveno njegov vlastiti život i očuvanje istoga. Umjesto 'mačo' muškarca koji nikad ne pokazuje svoje osjećaje i možebitnu tugu zbog djevojke koja ga je ostavila odmah utapa u prvom saloonu na koji naiđe, ovdje je Albert koji će plakati, moliti i preklinjati svoju djevojku da mu se vrati, koliko god se za to morao nisko spustiti. Umjesto samotnog revolveraša Divljeg zapada, u ovom je vesternu glavni lik nespretni pametnjaković koji umjesto mecima svoje protivnike gađa sarkastičnim primjedbama (u čemu je doista dobar). Albert je duhovit i simpatičan lik koji će vam se sigurno svidjeti i nasmijati vas.
Sve je u ovoj knjizi urnebesno duhovito i zabavno: od opisa prizora Divljeg zapada, naziva ljudi i mjesta (poput glavnog mjesta radnje, Starog Panja), dijaloga, opisa događaja i neočekivanih situacija. Svojim duhovitim sarkazmom Albert će nam predstaviti sve moguće načine na koji te je Divlji zapad u stanju ubiti, a pri tome je nemoguće ne navijati za Alberta da ipak uspije preživjeti - i ispričati nam sve o tome kako mu je to uspjelo. Albert predstavlja lik običnog čovjeka koji je bačen u situaciju koja mu ne odgovara i kojoj nije sklon, te će se stoga mnogi s njim povezati i u njemu prepoznati.
Iznimno komično djelo, koje će vas na nekim stranicama natjerati da se smijete na sav glas. Kratko je i brzo se čita, ali toliko je zabavno da ćete mu se sigurno htjeti vratiti još koji put, pogotovo kada vam u životu zafali malo smijeha. Za ultimativni doživljaj, preporučam čitanje s kaubojskim šeširom na glavi.
Duža recenzija je na FB stranici.
Sve je u ovoj knjizi urnebesno duhovito i zabavno: od opisa prizora Divljeg zapada, naziva ljudi i mjesta (poput glavnog mjesta radnje, Starog Panja), dijaloga, opisa događaja i neočekivanih situacija. Svojim duhovitim sarkazmom Albert će nam predstaviti sve moguće načine na koji te je Divlji zapad u stanju ubiti, a pri tome je nemoguće ne navijati za Alberta da ipak uspije preživjeti - i ispričati nam sve o tome kako mu je to uspjelo. Albert predstavlja lik običnog čovjeka koji je bačen u situaciju koja mu ne odgovara i kojoj nije sklon, te će se stoga mnogi s njim povezati i u njemu prepoznati.
Iznimno komično djelo, koje će vas na nekim stranicama natjerati da se smijete na sav glas. Kratko je i brzo se čita, ali toliko je zabavno da ćete mu se sigurno htjeti vratiti još koji put, pogotovo kada vam u životu zafali malo smijeha. Za ultimativni doživljaj, preporučam čitanje s kaubojskim šeširom na glavi.
Duža recenzija je na FB stranici.
October 11, 2024
July 2014 review
✔ Seth MacFarlane's A Million Ways to Die in the West: A Novel by Seth MacFarlane 4.5★
Seth MacFarlane's book to his co-script A Million Ways to Die in the West was funny.
There was an article interview of Seth in the Variety. Long article about Seth and what he's done. But it does mention a little about the movie he did. And about this book he wrote during the weekends while they were filming the movie. Did he write the book out of boredom while filming? Maybe. It's a bit long at some parts, but it is a funny light read. A lot of cursing and killing, but as I'm a fan of The Family Guy, I was already prepared for Seth's language and comedy. The Western comedy does remind me of Blazing Saddles, but it's been 4 decades since that movie. So Seth's humor is a nice touch to this genre.
"On the frontier, medicine was merely booze with a fancy label." (Albert)
"Edward laughed. “The shoe business has been so slow since the Civil War ended.” “Really?” “Yeah, there’s just a lot less legs.""
"Who was this unflappable, nerveless woman who possessed a wisdom far beyond her years and could shoot like Wyatt Earp?" (Albert thinking about Anna).
.
According to Variety interview... "...he managed to write a novel based on the “Million Ways” screenplay in his spare time during the film shoot last summer in New Mexico.
“The book was partially something to do on the weekends, because there’s nothing to do in Santa Fe except meth, and I am too afraid to do meth,” MacFarlane says. Ballantine released the 211-page book in early March, ahead of the film’s May 30 opening."
http://variety.com/2014/film/news/set...
✔ Seth MacFarlane's A Million Ways to Die in the West: A Novel by Seth MacFarlane 4.5★
Seth MacFarlane's book to his co-script A Million Ways to Die in the West was funny.
There was an article interview of Seth in the Variety. Long article about Seth and what he's done. But it does mention a little about the movie he did. And about this book he wrote during the weekends while they were filming the movie. Did he write the book out of boredom while filming? Maybe. It's a bit long at some parts, but it is a funny light read. A lot of cursing and killing, but as I'm a fan of The Family Guy, I was already prepared for Seth's language and comedy. The Western comedy does remind me of Blazing Saddles, but it's been 4 decades since that movie. So Seth's humor is a nice touch to this genre.
"On the frontier, medicine was merely booze with a fancy label." (Albert)
"Edward laughed. “The shoe business has been so slow since the Civil War ended.” “Really?” “Yeah, there’s just a lot less legs.""
"Who was this unflappable, nerveless woman who possessed a wisdom far beyond her years and could shoot like Wyatt Earp?" (Albert thinking about Anna).
.
According to Variety interview... "...he managed to write a novel based on the “Million Ways” screenplay in his spare time during the film shoot last summer in New Mexico.
“The book was partially something to do on the weekends, because there’s nothing to do in Santa Fe except meth, and I am too afraid to do meth,” MacFarlane says. Ballantine released the 211-page book in early March, ahead of the film’s May 30 opening."
http://variety.com/2014/film/news/set...
April 13, 2014
I got this free from the publisher (I was trying to win a signed copy for a family member who's a big fan of Mr MacFarlane's work, but got a runner-up prize of a non-signed copy).
This definitely isn't a novel - I think even novelisation is too strong a word as it's just a film script with the bare minimum of bridging material inserted to make it look like a book. The humour centres on the fact that the "hero" Albert is looking at his 19th century surroundings with a 21st century sensibility and noticing that life is quite unpleasant.
The result is lots of crude humour with the occasional accurate observational thrown in. I enjoy a lot of Family Guy so I'm not offended by this kind of humour (though I wasn't a fan of Ted), but having it described at length on the page rather than having is flash by quickly on screen gives you more time to contemplate it so it ends up being less funny. Scenes go on too long and the same jokes are trotted out again and again - I understand that repetition can be the key to humour, but in this case I quickly got bored of the same gross-out jokes trotted out in different scenes.
I'm not really sure who this book is for. If you want to the see the film you won't want to read it, and if you don't want to see the film you probably won't read it anyway. So it really seems to be a blatant money-making exercise which didn't really endear it to me.
Fans of Seth MacFarlane will probably have a ball, but most other people should avoid.
This definitely isn't a novel - I think even novelisation is too strong a word as it's just a film script with the bare minimum of bridging material inserted to make it look like a book. The humour centres on the fact that the "hero" Albert is looking at his 19th century surroundings with a 21st century sensibility and noticing that life is quite unpleasant.
The result is lots of crude humour with the occasional accurate observational thrown in. I enjoy a lot of Family Guy so I'm not offended by this kind of humour (though I wasn't a fan of Ted), but having it described at length on the page rather than having is flash by quickly on screen gives you more time to contemplate it so it ends up being less funny. Scenes go on too long and the same jokes are trotted out again and again - I understand that repetition can be the key to humour, but in this case I quickly got bored of the same gross-out jokes trotted out in different scenes.
I'm not really sure who this book is for. If you want to the see the film you won't want to read it, and if you don't want to see the film you probably won't read it anyway. So it really seems to be a blatant money-making exercise which didn't really endear it to me.
Fans of Seth MacFarlane will probably have a ball, but most other people should avoid.
July 24, 2014
Alap igazság ugyan, hogy a könyvváltozat mindig jobb, mint a mozgókép-verzió, de mivel a filmet sajnos még nem láttam – mivel a Vadnyugaton játszódik, ezért biztos, hogy pótolom –, ezért erről még nem tudok érdemben nyilatkozni. Azt azért ne feledjük, hogy MacFarlane nem vérbeli regényíró, és ez a kisregény is „csak” a saját forgatókönyvének az átirata. Na, nem mintha ez bárhol is érezhető lenne, hiszen a szerzőnek az azért csak ujjgyakorlat volt, hogy az olvasókat a szereplők gondolatai közé elkalauzolja és néhány vicces frázissal/bemondással megspékelve – pöcsön akarlak lőni egy hererákból készült golyóval – szórakoztató (és trágár) formában tálalja elénk. Az alapanyag öröksége maximum annyiban érezhető, hogy a hosszabb leíró részek és két esemény/helyszín közti átvezető részek aránya a minimumon van tartva.
Bővebben a blogon:
http://profunduslibrum.blogspot.hu/20...
Bővebben a blogon:
http://profunduslibrum.blogspot.hu/20...
August 2, 2014
If there was a line that a moral person shouldn't cross then Seth went over it about a million miles. With saying that, he's a brilliant writer and has an even more brilliant imagination.
September 4, 2014
Decent satire. There was one section towards the end that I thought was a waste of time & didn't need to be there.
November 12, 2023
There are three types of men in this world:
The first is merely a person stuck in the body of a man (valid).
The opposite end of that is the manly man (valid and vascular). These men take different versions throughout time, be they viking warriors, cowboys, or gymbros on tren... You know, dicks with facial hair.
Then, somewhere in between, there's the NERD. You know, dorks, dweebs, dinks, geeks...
Well finally someone has made Western to appeal to the yella-bellied, cowardly nerds like myself.
I haven't seen the movie version of this story, but I can only imagine there are several music numbers since it's written by Seth McFarlane. There's no singing and dancing in this book, so that's an easy 5 stars right there.
Now if you'll excuse me, the peyote is starting to kick in as I approach this Girl Scout camp. Mr. McFarlane highly suggested this was a good idea for growth, so please forward this review to my attorney should they not be as welcoming as a tribe of Apache.
The first is merely a person stuck in the body of a man (valid).
The opposite end of that is the manly man (valid and vascular). These men take different versions throughout time, be they viking warriors, cowboys, or gymbros on tren... You know, dicks with facial hair.
Then, somewhere in between, there's the NERD. You know, dorks, dweebs, dinks, geeks...
Well finally someone has made Western to appeal to the yella-bellied, cowardly nerds like myself.
I haven't seen the movie version of this story, but I can only imagine there are several music numbers since it's written by Seth McFarlane. There's no singing and dancing in this book, so that's an easy 5 stars right there.
Now if you'll excuse me, the peyote is starting to kick in as I approach this Girl Scout camp. Mr. McFarlane highly suggested this was a good idea for growth, so please forward this review to my attorney should they not be as welcoming as a tribe of Apache.
December 21, 2019
Look, it's an admittedly thin story as either a screenplay or a novel, but both the movie and the book elicited multiple belly laughs from me, and give MacFarlane credit for what he accomplished with this novelization: He compensates for the prose medium's inability to convey sight gags (of which the movie abounds) with some very funny observational narration. It's an easy, undemanding read -- in no way essential but utterly enjoyable.
April 22, 2023
Pretty much exactly what the movie was, other than the internal monologues from the characters. I appreciated this more because of those thoughts and unspoken opinions, cementing the opinion that books are superior to movies.
September 19, 2017
Not even Jonathan Frakes could make this entertaining or tolerable.
December 5, 2019
Honestly, I think Seth Macfarlane could have made this a bit more humorous, but it was still an interesting read. I laughed out loud about twice.
January 26, 2019
I never would have picked this up if I didn't have a goal of reading westerns this year. Obviously not your typical western, but it still counts! This book was definitely Monty Python-esque! Jonathon Frakes did an awesome job narrating and really drew me in. At times this book was tacky and tasteless, but there were parts that were laugh out loud funny. Albert is snarky and hillarious and Anna is pretty bad ass!
September 7, 2020
Just as funny as the movie!
January 8, 2023
I couldn’t find the non audio book, but I read the physical copy of this book, and it was a humorous, and typical McFarlane type novel. I watched the movie and it was very similar.
June 23, 2014
Reseñado en mi blog Nanny Books
Conseguí este libro, solo porque me gustó la sinopsis. Luego vi el trailer de la película y dije, "jo, es cómico". Luego comencé a leerlo en clase (eso no se hace, chicos, pero yo estaba muy aburrida) y tuve que dejarlo porque no podía aguantar las risas. Una vez en casa, lo leí en un tirón.
"Chinos caen y aplastan a una familia holandesa."
La novela nos contará la historia de Albert, un cuidador de ovejas, que es lo más cobarde que ha nacido en la frontera jamás... Pero bueno, sus razones sabias tiene. Paralelamente, también se contará la historia de Edward, su mejor amigo, aunque en un protagonismo mucho menor. Cuando una mujer joven y bella llega al pequeño pueblo de Old Stump, lo menos que se imagina la pobre gente es que sus vidas van a empezar a apeligrar más que nunca.
El argumento es, más que nada, cómico. Se inclina hacia lo absurdo, lo morboso y lo grotesco... Y hace reír muchísimo. ¡Ojo! Es una historia para mayores de edad. El lenguaje, muchas veces vulgar, cambia por completo el mensaje de los diálogos. Las alusiones al sexo también. Además de las muertes extravagantes.
"La semana pasada una de mis ovejas entró en el burdel.
-¿En serio?
-Sí, no sé cómo llegó allí pero, cuando fui a recogerla, de algún modo había ganado veinte dólares."
Albert es un personaje fantástico, te hace reír, te hace sentir pena (por él) y te entusiasmas cuando algo le sale bien (si es que en algún momento ocurre). Otros personajes que aparecen y que son relevantes son Anna, que se porta como una mujer dura y atrevida; Edward que padece de ceguera frente a los actos de su novia; Ruth, quien es una prostituta con moral; y Louise quien es una sinvergüenza.
A pesar de ser muy cortita (no llega a los doscientas páginas, y ustedes saben cuanto me gustan las novelas largas), me ha gustado muchísimo. Es una novela ligera, que tiene como único propósito entretener, así que no busquen nada profundo aquí. Sin embargo, logra su cometido. Me he muerto de risa varias veces, he leído párrafos en voz alta a mis amigas (y aunque ellas no sabían de qué iba la historia), y se han divertido conmigo.
La narración tiene un toque muy cinematográfico, que obviamente se debe a su origen como guión; eso le da un aire especial, casi puedes "ver" los hechos. La novela me ha gustado, hay romance, acción y muuucho humor. Divertida a más no poder, es una cruza entre las películas Ted y Qué pasó ayer. Excelente opción para leer en estas vacaciones.
Conseguí este libro, solo porque me gustó la sinopsis. Luego vi el trailer de la película y dije, "jo, es cómico". Luego comencé a leerlo en clase (eso no se hace, chicos, pero yo estaba muy aburrida) y tuve que dejarlo porque no podía aguantar las risas. Una vez en casa, lo leí en un tirón.
"Chinos caen y aplastan a una familia holandesa."
La novela nos contará la historia de Albert, un cuidador de ovejas, que es lo más cobarde que ha nacido en la frontera jamás... Pero bueno, sus razones sabias tiene. Paralelamente, también se contará la historia de Edward, su mejor amigo, aunque en un protagonismo mucho menor. Cuando una mujer joven y bella llega al pequeño pueblo de Old Stump, lo menos que se imagina la pobre gente es que sus vidas van a empezar a apeligrar más que nunca.
El argumento es, más que nada, cómico. Se inclina hacia lo absurdo, lo morboso y lo grotesco... Y hace reír muchísimo. ¡Ojo! Es una historia para mayores de edad. El lenguaje, muchas veces vulgar, cambia por completo el mensaje de los diálogos. Las alusiones al sexo también. Además de las muertes extravagantes.
"La semana pasada una de mis ovejas entró en el burdel.
-¿En serio?
-Sí, no sé cómo llegó allí pero, cuando fui a recogerla, de algún modo había ganado veinte dólares."
Albert es un personaje fantástico, te hace reír, te hace sentir pena (por él) y te entusiasmas cuando algo le sale bien (si es que en algún momento ocurre). Otros personajes que aparecen y que son relevantes son Anna, que se porta como una mujer dura y atrevida; Edward que padece de ceguera frente a los actos de su novia; Ruth, quien es una prostituta con moral; y Louise quien es una sinvergüenza.
A pesar de ser muy cortita (no llega a los doscientas páginas, y ustedes saben cuanto me gustan las novelas largas), me ha gustado muchísimo. Es una novela ligera, que tiene como único propósito entretener, así que no busquen nada profundo aquí. Sin embargo, logra su cometido. Me he muerto de risa varias veces, he leído párrafos en voz alta a mis amigas (y aunque ellas no sabían de qué iba la historia), y se han divertido conmigo.
La narración tiene un toque muy cinematográfico, que obviamente se debe a su origen como guión; eso le da un aire especial, casi puedes "ver" los hechos. La novela me ha gustado, hay romance, acción y muuucho humor. Divertida a más no poder, es una cruza entre las películas Ted y Qué pasó ayer. Excelente opción para leer en estas vacaciones.
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