Rating: - DISAPPOINTING
I don't make a lot of money, so if I shell out fifteen bucks for a book I kind of want it to be good. And this is just okay. The cover looks great with that funny Frank floating head, but after that it's kind of a letdown. The cat was kind of cute, but the stuff about the Romans confused me - who cares? And I guess it's nice people around the country are celebrating it, but I already knew that. Festivus is a joke holiday that comes from a comedy show, so I kind of wanted this to be more entertaining.
Rating: - I knew there had to be a better way!
While "The Strike" wasn't quite as good or memorable as the "Puffy Shirt" or "Soup Nazi" episodes, the one thing it did bring was real-life celebration of Frank Costanza's Festivus. Oh, and what a merry, merry holiday it is! I had no idea so many people were actually celebrating this thing, but it's hard not to laugh at recipes like "Chocolate Salami" and song sheets for "So Good You Do Not Smell." I nearly fell off my couch reading Stiller's intro. Who knew he was a Prada and Gucci man? Salkin is a fine and smart writer, but like any good writer he doesn't overtell the stories and allows the humor to come naturally. Highly recommended if you hate getting stuck in Midtown during Christmas season, or are looking for a fun, inexpensive gift to give your friends who aren't deserving of your affection.
Rating: - Kinda Dry
Disappointing that a book with its roots in SEINFELD is so straight-forward and lacking in laughs. Dry like a high school textbook. And while it does a good job covering the way fans celebrate Festivus, I found myself skipping over parts of it.
Rating: - KIND OF OKAY, I GUESS
I got this as a gift and didn't think I was going to like this but I didn't hate it. Mostly books that are about TV shows that have gone off the air feel kind of forced and depressing like a biography of the Olsen Twins or something but even though this has NOTHING to do with the Seinfield show it was kind of interesting. There sure are a lot of weird people out there looking for an excuse to have a party, that's for sure. I guess this isn't supposed to be a comedy book it's supposed to be like a travel guide to this one little corner of Americana and if that's what it's trying to do it's pleasant enough. Three stars, why not.
Rating: - I wouldn't call it a Feat of Strength, but...
I did like Miss Festivus. On the whole, I don't think it will knock the socks off anyone but the most rabid fan of that television show we all miss so much: it's a standard cash-register book like 'Real Men Don't Eat Quiche' or the 'Preppy Handbook', although thinner than both of the aforementioned.
But it's ALMOST worth buying just for Jerry Stiller's introduction: Frank Can'tstandya is one guy I would definitely have at my party on the 23rd.
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