Reviews of Clinging

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  • My boyfriend is on the couch next to me reading Clinging, and he continues to bust up laughing. It’s getting to the point that I want to take the book away from him. His loud outbursts tend to scare me. I will admit I was surprised to find out takid from Banks, OR managed to write a flipping hysterical book. I kid you not I would pay double the asking price for it because it makes me laugh out loud.
  • I read four or five stories in the book you over the weekend, and it is hilarious! Very David Sedaris-like (whom I love)!
  • I can't wipe the grin off my face whenever I think of most of the chapters in your book. I read much of it last night and read some it out loud to my daughter over the phone. It really is VERY funny and well done. I truly enjoyed it.
  • Thanks for the laughs. I had tears in my eyes from laughing. I hope you sell a million copies! Thanks for a great start to my day.
  • Actually... I lied. She did do that. I thought we might have a problem on our hands but we were able to wrestle it away from her so she could dab her eyes and pull herself together long enough for her husband, Mike, to read a chapter or two where he then preceded to quietly giggle and shake.
  • The author is damn brave and also damn stupid to put this box here. Someone might actually have the guts to tell the truth! So, to be honest, I found the book to be a real tickler. It grabbed me from the beginning and had me smiling and giggling and sharing all the way through. I have laughed my ass off over several of the stories and look forward to reading the rest.
  • I think I am going out to buy an AMC Ambassador when I get home. Your review goes here:
  • Mr Kemper has DONE IT.... He has produced a true masterpiece (I have read 3/4 of it and I am obsessed). This is a must read for anyone witha sense of humor. A 10 on the 10 scale!!
  • I finished your book last week. Just wanted to say I found it quite funny & enjoyable! Mr. Kemper's tale of his journey to Montana captures the true art and spirit of fly fishing. He interweaves a corollary to life that even Norman McLean's "A River Runs Through it” struggles to achieve.
  • Finished your book this weekend. It was a very entertaining read. You have a unique sense of humor which I enjoyed. It's not often I laugh out loud when I read a book. Your book as it turns out was an exception. I'm chuckling right now thinking about it. Really liked the chapter on Australia and 28 minutes was great also as well as the story about the marathon. I also liked how you worked your father into it. It added something personal to the book. Also being from Portland it was cool to relate to a lot of the geography around your stories. All in all great job. I really did like it.
  • Your book, sir, is something akin to Turkish Delight – you know, the confection that, once you start eating it, cannot be resisted. Before the unsuspecting reader (or diner) has even realized his/her mistake, a sufficient quantity of either Turkish Delight or Clinging to Anonymity has been consumed to cause great gastric distress or “busted gut” syndrome, respectively. I imagine Johnny Depp in the lead movie role.
  • I don't know you well [or even at all for that matter] but after I just opened your book to the segment entitled, "Battle Stations", I believe I know you a lot better [almost like a best friend.] I now understand why this book should be a best seller, battle stations to me captures a truly American moment; 'taking a shit on yourself" and for that I am forever indebted to you for speaking about something I have for so long wanted to publicly address; and could not. You have the courage and clearly a high intellect that I believe every American should embrace. Kudos to you Chris Kemper, you are a true American!
  • I have read the first few chapters of the book and love it. I had to read my wife the highlights from the marathon chapter. We were both in tears laughing. Very good stuff!.
  • I just finished your hilariously funny autobiofictionary! I could identify with so many of the incidents...particularly enjoyed the flies in THE BLOOD. The Christmas gift exchange and Mom's 60th birthday party provided interesting dinner conversation for several evenings.
  • The book, it really is laugh-out-loud.
  • I finished your book. It was really well done, a book anybody would enjoy. It speaks to your talent to put together a collection of thoughts and stories that convey's who you are so well in such a clever and universally funny way.
  • I found it deep, yet light hearted; always optimistic. I laughed out loud. When the book ended I found myself longing for pages not yet published.
  • I like the book. The other night I laughed so much my abs hurt !!! We met with some friends for a bite to eat this evening and we had a laughing session that nearly caused a scene. The 5 of us were laughing until we cried as we poured over it.
  • You little Sasquaman! Your book rocks! My mom came to visit and after I read her the "Altar Boy" story outloud at the dinner table she was hooked and took my other copy home with her. She said she was laughing so hard on the plane that she had to keep explaining to people that she was reading a very funny book.
  • I have been reading Clinging, and the boy can write, and he is a cynic, but he has his points many of which we all can relate to.
  • Laughed so hard reading your book last night!!! The second story about the Altar Boy was just too much. I read til midnight last night and up early this a.m. to read more.
  • Love the book . . . like a wonderful piece of chocolate ... a bit e at a time!"
  • Truly enjoyed it. I’ve read a lot my entire life and found the humor to be as good as any. Also, the stories of your childhood brought back a lot of memories. Some of my favorites were Marathon, The Olympics, Sasaquafish and Atomic Defense.
  • I read both Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn when I was in my 30’s. As I remember them, your humor is a lot like that..
  • I just finished Clinging to Anonymity over the T'Giving weekend. Hilarious. I still think we need to make a short film out of the marathon story. "I'm going to crush you." I also went fishing while in Florida and felt very much like Sasaquafish. When will volume #2 be available?
  • Have already laughed my way through two and one-half stories. I am a rough judge of authors in general, but Christopher J. Kemper has convulsed my funny bone enough times already to reimburse me for the purchase of his book. It's allowed me to cancel my upcoming therapy session! Thanks, Chris!
  • Received a message from my sister-in-law yesterday saying she was laughing so hard she was hyperventilating. It turns out she had just finished reading the marathon chapter of your book...
  • I have very much enjoyed reading your book and much appreciate your ability to continuously make the reader laugh out loud
  • Great book...and what polish...for my shoes, that is! But seriously, folks. Clinging to Anonymity was a great read - and it was a pleasure to read a book that captures has found a nice balance of light-hearted fun and heart.
  • Enjoyed the book a great deal. Mr. Kemper has a chance to become the literary equivalent to Terrell Owens in that you really admire his work and you just try to forget about the person.
  • Nearly got kicked of the train this morning I was laughing out loud so hard :)
  • Not the same ol' story that has been told over and over by many different books. If you needone of those good laughs that makes your side hurt...read on.
  • Absolutely loved your book; funnier than hell.
  • I gave out copies of your book as presents. One of my oldest and best friends back east is 75% of the way through the book. He's a very bright well read guy. A true intellectual. Anyway.... he loves it. Thinks it's funny as hell.
  • I did enjoy your book! I really appreciate that your obvious love and affection for your family comes through so clearly - especially your mom.
  • Your brother gave me/corey/jay copies of his book back during the dodgeball tourney. I cracked it open last week, and have been enjoying it- the nostalgia from our generation's childhood, sibling rivalries, and of course, crapping your own pants.
  • I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will recommend it.
  • I finished up your book last week and wanted to tell you what a great pleasure it was to read. You've captured with eloquence not only childhood, adolescent, and adult memories that speak to your roots, but also to a universal audience. The language is beautifully crafted and original. The concepts were fresh; often laugh out loud funny, and always heart felt and genuine if not loyal to facts. Keep up the great work. I hope this book is successful enough to warrant a sequel. I can't wait to see what a sophomore offering will hold.
  • I took the book with me on a trip, and I need not tell you anything you have not already heard, but you are a delightful, hilarious writer!! It keptus in stitches on the back roads of France. I would read aloud to Mike, especially the parts about owning the Opel Kadetts, and "The Thing" because both Mike and I came from families who acquired very large, ugly cars that had their own quirks (squeaky springs, the like)! Many of which required us to hide on the floorboards a number of times!
  • I wanted to tell you how entertaining your book was. It was totally brilliant! It took me a while to get to it because I was reading this boring book that took forever to get through. I zipped through yours and feel as though I know you personally. Such a bad little boy! Please tell me there will be a sequel!!