Although I'm an enormous fan of the late Joan Rivers, somehow her books just don't translate for me. When we listen to Joan on TV or being interviewed or performing, and she is saying hilarious (and often right on) yet crass, no-holds-barred, offensive stuff, her personality is there to soften the delivery with a metaphorical wink-wink, or shout "Oh come on, can we talk?" or "Grow up!" etc. Somehow reading her screed on paper delivers only the insults and offense, and the humor dwindles. At first I thought "guilty pleasure!" as I dug in to Diary of a Mad Diva and I admit, I laughed out loud a few times. But very quickly that died down for me and I just felt uncomfortable and not amused. Maybe in person, no make that DEFINITELY in person, Joan was brilliant enough to carry off joking about Anne Frank and turn it into something. But on paper, alone in my living room, this kind of humor on paper just was a massive fail. I put the book aside after about 30 pages.Much love for the late Joan Rivers, but I'll skip her books.(Note for those of you doing the Goodreads Reading Challenge - I wanted to comment on this book, but didn't want to "count" it toward my 2014 reading challenge, since I didn't finish it. I discovered that you can put it on your "read" shelf, and therefore get it off your "currently reading" shelf and also leave a review, without it counting towards your reading challenge: just don't add a "date finished.") I'd never heard of Joan Rivers before her death was announced, then someone lent me this audiobook. I ALWAYS try to finish books, but I had to abandon this one after listening to 2 hours of utter vulgarity and incessant bitching. I suppose it didn't really help that I don't know most of those numerous US celebrities she was bitching about, but I felt her jokes about Anne Frank, for instance, were preposterous, revolting even. Totally OTT. I tried to keep an open mind and listen some more, but never so much as tittered. It's just NOT funny! Who ARE all these people who find it hilarious? I thought it was mean-minded, uncouth and often obscene twaddle. No, I couldn't recommend this to anyone.
What do You think about UC Diary Of A Mad Diva (2014)?
I absolutely loved Joan Rivers...but this book was disappointing. Just not very funny.
—panga
Some very funny bits, some less funny bits, but overall hard not to love Joan
—bookhater
