Review: I’ll Mature When I’m Dead
I’ll Mature When I’m Dead by Dave Barry is a collection of essays on adulthood. All of the essays are new, with the exception of Colonoscopy, which he chose to re-print because of the great response it garnered after it appeared in the newspaper. The essays in this book cover subjects ranging from colonoscopies, to visiting Miami, to a vampire novel.
As you would expect, I enjoyed some essays more than others, but as a whole, I would say they were just okay. I’m sure that’s partly due to my expectations going in. When I read Dave Barry, I expect laugh out loud funny, and I only found myself chuckling a few times throughout this book. That’s not to say the more serious essays, such as Colonoscopy and A Festival of Grimness weren’t good, they just weren’t what I was expecting. My favorite essays were Dog Ownership for Beginners and Dance Recital, both of which are pretty self explanatory.
I listened to the audio version of I’ll Mature When I’m Dead. The four and a half hour book is read by the author and he does a fine job. He even gives a little explanation about how he came to write the book. Here’s a great video of Dave Barry talking about the book:
I’m posting this to celebrate Audiobook Week which is being organized by Jen of Devourer of Books – go to her blog to check out more fun audiobook events this week!
I am an Indiebound Affiliate.
Does he normally appear in American newspapers, as I have never heard of him? Just out of interest, where is the picture in your blog header taken? I keep looking at it and imagining it to be the view from your kitchen window!
Dave Barry is usually good for a few laughs. Great review.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
I bet my husband would appreciate the dance recital one!
Not sure if I can handle the colonscopy one 🙂 Might be a little too much information!
I can see why this is best read by the author but, since he’s know mostly for his humorous take on things, it’s interesting that it wasn’t as funny as you expected.
I just love Dave Barry. And I have read the colonoscopy one – it went around on the internet, and I laughed till I had tears in my eyes!
Can I confess that this one is my current *ahem…bathroom book? (Which, given the fact that the colonoscopy essay is included in the book, makes that sort of appropriate)
I, too, loved the Dance Recital and Dog Ownership ones. They’re so true!
(I’m back…sort of..trying to get caught up..I haven’t been posting or commenting, but I’ve been reading; books and a few blogs. I really enjoyed your BEA posts. I’ve always wanted to go, it was on my birthday this year. Maybe someday….if they’d move it to LA for one year!)
I have this book as well, and am looking forward to it. Dave Barry used to write for my hometown paper many years ago, and I always was excited to open it up and see what new bizarre things he had to say. Sorry this one didn’t knock your socks off. For some truly comedic writing, I’d suggest David Sedaris.
i love humor memoirs but have never read dave barry. 😦 i will give this one a shot because my tbr pile is pretty manageable right now and i’m in need of some light reading! i’ll let you know how it goes.
I’ve never read anything by Dave Barry, but I’ve heard he’s funny. I’m kind of curious about the colonoscopy essay, but on the other hand… LOL
I’ve never read an essay collection since freshman year, and I don’t think I will be starting right away. But I’ve seen these kind of books in so many places that I’m beginning to get curious from a bookworm perspective, than an academia one, lol! I’ll skip this one though, but I’ll keep it in mind.
i haven’t read any of dave barry’s books yet, but i’m really looking forward to it. i love it when a book can make me laugh out loud. have you read his fiction books too? i think he wrote big trouble and tricky business and i heard they were hilarious.
I usually love Dave Barry’s writing, b/c it is so side-splittingly funny. Based on your comments I will probably pass on this one. Guess he can’t hit a home run with every book.
I so love Dave and my two youngest kids can quote him (not sure that is something to brag about). I’m sorry this wasn’t one of his best.
I’ve never read Dave Barry so maybe I would find these funny…one to think about.
Well I’ve been wanting to give audio another try and this would be a good one for me to read that way, I think.
I enjoy Dave Barry, but I don’t *love* him so, since you weren’t head over heels for this one, I think I’ll skip it.
I’m sorry this wasn’t better! Like Vivienne, I hadn’t heard of Barry before, so I’m guessing he’s more popular in the US than in Europe.
Hmm. You’d think it would have been better since he was reading it himself.
I don’t really know much about him, so I guess that helps with expectations. I saw this in the store and thought it sounded good. I do want to check it out…there seems to be a few comedy essay books that look good.
Dave Barry is so funny. Great review, Kathy. I’d love to listen to this audio book.
I will be taking a short break from blogging, but will be back soon. Take care! 🙂
I suspect that I’d find this book best in small doses, one essay at a time. I find that tricky for audiobooks, just working it in and remembering to come back.
I’ve been debating whether to read this book, I’m still not sure :-).
I haven’t read any Dave Barry in awhile- reading this post makes me want to go out and find one of his books!
I loved his columns so I bet I would love this. I’ll have to give this to my dad.
I’ve heard several people comment on how funny he is. I have yet to read his books…an audio might be very fun.
I used to laugh myself silly over Barry’s columns in the newspaper, but then he seemed to lose his touch – or maybe I just outgrew him? I stopped reading his column a long time before he stopped writing it. I didn’t even chuckle during this video, I think either I’ve lost my sense of humor or he doesn’t have the right timing in person; much better in print.
I have a few older Dave Barry books that I got in some sort of book sale, but I haven’t read him yet. It’s strange because his name is so recognizable to me even though I haven’t read a single book by him.
I love Dave Barry’s writings. I think I’d like to hear the essays read to me. Good idea. I’m going to see if my library has it.
I’ve read great reviews about his books and I’m very interested. I’ll have to add it to my list.
Thanks!
Natalie :0)
I’m not too familiar with Dave Barry, but shortly after my big sister got married (11 years ago), her husband went on a business trip, and she was afraid to spend the night alone in the house, so she asked me to sleep over. We hung out in bed, snacking, doing crosswords, and laughing so hard we cried while reading “Mystery of the Attacking Zebra Mussels.”
I don’t have super high expectations for Dave Barry … but I do expect to chuckle out loud. Rebecca from Lost in Books sent me her ARC of this so I guess I’ll get to see what I think of it. (It will probably be a bathroom book for me.)
I’ve never read a thing by Dave Barry.
Sounds like an interesting audiobook, but I think I’d rather be able to skip around in book form.
One of the sad things that happened twenty plus years ago when we moved here was that we lost our Dave Berry column. I miss it still! I might just have to pick this up in book form so I can read a wee teeny bit each day.
I agree with you–I expect to laugh out loud at Dave Barry, so I was disappointed in this one. As I said in my review, I think he’s lost his touch. Maybe he needed a daily deadline.
My husband used to read Dave Barry’s Sunday column religiously, and I used to give him all DB’s books for gifts. It’s been a long time since either, so maybe I’ll look for a copy of this at the library. I think my husband got burned out on him.