Customer Reviews

Side Effects

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Certainly not all of this is funny only if you have read enough philosophy to catch the drift. Is Needleman a metaphor for Heidegger? Or is this whole tid bit on existentialism per se? Will Free Press add a "Woody Allen" to their series on the World's Living Philosophers? Is Woody living? Is he a philosopher? And if so, is he a living philosopher?

Equivocation: I am convinced that all jokes are logical fallacies. The conclusion is the punch line. We should be able to analyze each joke and find which fallacy it takes. A rough review of what I remember in this book strikes me that equivocation is all that Woody uses. Or are there non-sequitors as well? That is what Dave Barry always uses. Booger booger booger. Woody is much more sophisticated. Hence, has a smaller audience.

Is it still politically correct to let everyone know we still like Woody or would this suggest bad things about our characters especially if we have adopted daughters? If Woody writes an autobiography and we go to a magician who throws in Woody's book with us -- what would happen? What would happen if the magician throws in this book? Would we find ourselves back in the same magician's office?

Why is there no sequel?

This is a hilarious collection of humorous articles that Woody Allen wrote for the New Yorker in the 70s. The absudity of the humor and the intelligence of the references combine well in an engagingly zany, intellectual read. I laughed out loud several times.

This book is a must read for anyone who likes to think and laugh at the same time!!! Allen's stories are popular anywhere so dont waste time thinking whether this one's a good buy or not because it definitely is!!!
And its not like a one time read!! You can read it over and over again.. I should know!!

Those coming to know Woody Allen from his legendary film work or infamous personal scandals will find uproarious laughter and glimpses of insight in "Side Effects." This is third in a collection of short stories and essays Allen wrote mostly for the New Yorker during his late 70s commercial/creative peak.

Those strictly seeking laughs from a master will find them in one-act playlets like "The Query" and "My Apology" and in vignettes like "Reminisces: Places and People." Each focusing on death, they underline Carol Burnett's observation "Comedy is tragedy plus time." (Alan Alda recited this line as a smarmy TV personality in Allen's 1990 "Crimes and Misdermeanors.") But Allen also unintentionally, tragicomically mixes asides and references to fallen icons like OJ Simpson, the World Trade Center (constant symbol of size here) and even Igor Stravinsky (an allegory for sophistication and complexity.)

Yet Allen maintains his unparalleled character detail and nuance even in this short format (Few stories are more than six pages and are easily readable at one sitting.) You come to care for the TV producer who consoles a friend and eyes a nurse in "The Shallowest Man." You feel a painful twinge at the father-son dialogue closing the otherwise nonsensical "The Diet." You also sense the balding, hairy Kugelmass' giddy joy as he romances Emma Bovary and changes literature in "Kugelmass Episode." (Few main male characters in Allen's stories here are as attractive as the women they pursue.) Strangest and most disturbing of all, after reading of the love triangle in "Retribution," you again vaguely recall the personal events which brought Allen's personal life into the tabloid spotlight, outshining his artistic legacy to this day.

"Side Effects" is easily read in an afternoon or in quick bites when opportunity presents. As with any number of his classic films, "Side Effects" reveals touches of Woody Allen's life and worldview - but the part he wishes you to see. Recommended, but also check any of his legendary 70s or 80s films ("Zelig" and "Radio Days" two personal favorites) or his still hilarious 1960s comedy LPs.

This book is the third in a collection of short stories by Woody Allen that includes Getting Even and Without Feathers. As with the other books, I found the book entirely delightful as well as a very quick read. As in any collection of short stories, some are better than others, but there are at least three classics that make the purchase worthwhile regardless of how you feel about the others.

In this book Woody Allen keeps the one-liners coming at such a pace that I cannot believe anyone could be so witty. His writing is always filled with puns and intentional misdirection that keep the reader actively involved in the book. I found myself reading the stories straight though, and finished the book in two sittings, though each story is short enough to read on the fly when you have some extra time.

If you are a fan of Woody Allen, then this book is another in your obligation to get more Woody. If you don't like his movies, then you will likely not like this book, as his idiosyncratic mannerisms come across in the writing.

I liked it, but was a little disapointed. I thought 'Without Feathers' was funnier. At seven bucks for a paperback this is good but could be better. Kind of like paying to see 'Small Time Crooks.'

His 'My Speech to the Graduates' was great. Too bad he couldn't clone himself so one could keep writing short stories, or the little asides in the beginning of 'Feathers', while the other wrote and directed movies.

I think the best aspect of this book is that the stories are very short. I'm not saying that in commentary to Allen's writing ability. I just think it's the truth. After a while, the non-sequiter style humor begins to grate you. It's funny for a time. But then it fades into teenage repetitiveness.

The book is a good toilet reader. Easily digestible bites of writing over a fairly short book make reading a chapter in 5-10 minutes possible. Likewise, reading stories in quick succession turn the book from a quick bit of mindless entertainment to a bit of a chore to get through.

Not all of the stories are non-sequiter nonsense, but most are. They're generally light, filled with references out of left field, and are usually funny enough to warrant a laugh. This essentially typifies everything I have read from Allen.

I think, in general, the book gets better from front to back. So if you can get by the initial 3-4 shorts you'll be fine all told. Don't expect a great book by any stretch. It's clearly not that. But it's funny, light, and easy enough to read.

I usually have a hard time finding the time to read books these days, but this one was well worth the time I put aside. The stories are hilarious and his form of writing is brilliant. This book contained some of the most entertaining stories I have ever read. You must buy this book!!

As with all of Allen, a great pitch for social satire as well as deeply thought out philosophy. A raving psychosis writing from the psychologist's couch. Well worth the time. One of the few comedians you can read and not feel as if you are escaping quo escaping.

Allen's style hasn't been duplicated in thirty years. How could anyone attempt to copy him--his creativity has its own realm. Side Effects is a must for any home library. I've read it over and over, and every time I pick it up, I laugh just as hard as the time before. Just like good music, true comedy doesn't get worn out by repetitiveness. This book and SeinLanguage by Jerry Seinfeld are my two favorite humor books. And I'm still waiting for a Steven Wright compilation, by the way.