Tuesday, January 27, 2009

I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell

I was at the local Barnes and Noble about two weeks ago. I made my purchases and was walking out of the store, gloves on and keys in hand, when a book on the table closest to the door caught my eye. It's title, "I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell". I picked it up and turned it over where my eyes were met with the first words on the back, "My name is Tucker Max and I am an a**hole." Immediately, I was hooked. I then opened the book and started reading through it. Much to my delight, I quickly realized that this was a book full of previously posted blog entries. A blogger done good! I could hardly believe it. Of course, I had to buy it.

"The runaway New York Times best seller" is described as "highly entertaining and thoroughly reprehensible". They weren't kidding. Tucker Max, author of the blog posts, parlayed his hilarious, completely offensive, sophomoric, outlandish life experiences into blog posts on his wildly popular web site, TuckerMax.com, and then into a best seller in 2006. A twenty-something law student at the time of most of the posts, Tucker's tales of his complete and uncautionary abuse of both alcohol and women are in one word-unbelievable.

If his book is correct, it's a miracle that Tucker still has the use of his liver and has not, at this point, succumbed to the dangers of a sexually transmitted disease. With titles like, "Tucker Tries Butt Sex; Hilarity Does Not Ensue, The Night We Almost Died and The Worst Tucker Story Ever", the book is both engrossing and repulsive.

And I am recommending it to you.

I couldn't put it down. I laughed hard, was utterly repulsed, questioned it's authenticity at times, and was offended, but I can't say I wasn't entertained. It was an easy read and I admire his style of writing. The boy can tell a story.

Since the book was published in 2006, I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell has been made into an independently financed movie and his book has been revised and expanded with new material. You can follow all the movie's comings and goings on ihopetheyservebeerinhell.com. It's just about the only place that Tucker himself blogs regularly, when he is not on tour for the re-release of his book.

The Tucker Max book tour hit Boston last night and I had to see this guy for myself. The line to see Tucker snaked throughout the entire book store and his fans were rowdy. Let's just say that his fans are made up of 20-25 year old college guys and young ladies looking for a, er, um, a good time with Tucker the man. When I met him he looked spent. Maybe he had overindulged the night before and Tucker, 33 now, is no spring chicken anymore. This was not the Tucker in the book. I get the feeling he is more serious these days. He wanted to talk about the movie and how good it is, his pride showing, as it should be.

Funny, Tucker's way of greeting me with a smile was this, "It's really nice to see an adult here."
I'm not quite sure how to take that.
It was almost like he was resigned to his plight in life.

Regardless, he still signed my book like this:




Which reads: "Candy, I'm awesome Tucker Max"

23 comments:

will said...

As my daddy liked to say, "Only in America".

Piece o' Coconut Cake said...

I would have DECKED him! I'm surprised he didn't call ma'am (motherfuc*er)

Dr Zibbs said...

I've seen this in the bookstore as well and read the part where he was doing some chick in a bathroom stall.

If my sister's didn't know about my blog I would consider writing about some of my sexcapades.

Verdant Earl said...

Tucker Max is a tremendous douchebag.

He would probably take that as a compliment, but it's not how I mean it.

LYDIA said...

haha, I am definitely getting this book. Need something to read while I am in the great Price, UT anyway.

Scope said...

That book! I remember scanning it in a Borders a year or so ago, and thought, "What kind of person has a blog?"

And it flashed in my brain when Dr. Zibbs introduced us to "The Slopmaster."

I should get it, but I don't know how to read.

Bella@That damn expat said...

Umm I read a few of his blog posts awhile ago and I wouldn't buy his book if it was the only book left in the world.
And since I'm a bookworm, that says a lot.

MJenks said...

I shouldn't have gotten married in grad school...

Unknown said...

I fear they serve warm Corona's in hell without the lime. Guess I'll find out at some point.

Cowguy said...

I've read of TM before, the book thing escaped me though. I'm picking it up.

J.

Joe D. said...

I'm picking this up. I've been looking for some books to read.

Julia@SometimesLucid said...

I just went on his website yesterday on the reccommendation of another blog. So funny!

Andy - Instafather said...

Maybe there's hope you or I, one day, can each have our own book. And an inflated sense of self importance.

Sara said...

I bought his book a few years ago when it came out, and have to reread it every month or so. I'm addicted. Great pick!

Cora said...

Ooh. Never heard of this. Sounds pretty cool. Wonder if any bloggers we know would ever get their blog posts published in a book like that? If so, I think the smart money is on Poo or Zibbs. What do you think?

SkylersDad said...

Thanks for the gift idea, I have been looking for something to send to my priest.

Gwen said...

I read this a long time ago. I agree he's an amazing storyteller but I wasn't impressed. I'm impressed with his success but I wasn't impressed with the book. I expected there to be continuity - something that tied it together - and there wasn't any. He simply cut and pasted published blog posts into a book. It sold because he has (had?) a popular blog. I give him kudos but am "meh" about the book.

Scope: Don't buy it. You can have my copy.

Candy's daily Dandy said...

SkylersDad-A definite keeper for the 09' Hall of Fame.
Check the archives..

Tash said...

I flipped through that book. But my ex loved it (just goes to show), so I had to hate it on principle.

Anonymous said...

He makes Dick Masterson look like a pansy.

Alex Galvez said...

He sounds like the sort of chap women would hate if it were not for the fact he choose to be a blogger and writer. I think he sounds like a tool.

Fancy Schmancy said...

I found out about him about 6 months ago, and read all the stories for free at tuckermax.com. I also had a hard time suspending my disbelief, but was extremely entertained, and disgusted with myself for it.

slopmaster said...

I read his blog back before he got big, and I loved it. I spent like 4 hours going thru the whole blog. Some of those stories are pretty amazing and every guy has a little tucker in them.