Duff,
Well, I have read it three times now and still laugh my ass off just
as hard as the first time I read it. To me, there is no one more brilliant
than the person who can take a horrible situation and see the humor
in it. And this you have done in spades. I am sorry I have taken this
long in responding to you about it but I wanted to really let it sink
in.
The first thing I noticed was how graphic the descriptions are, utterly
stripped of bullshit. Everything is made blatantly clear and is quite
easy to visualize. As I read, I go from pity filled shock and horror
to laughing so hysterically that I think I might wet myself. (pun
not intended but take it however you like.) And as far as toilet humor,
all I can say is, shit happens. I know it couldn't be helped and the
way you tell it is fucking hilarious. I do have to say that at the
part with the smoldering dog shit, I laughed so hard I swear I ruptured
something, and all I can do is pray it heals itself, whatever it was.
I hope it wasn't an organ I needed. I would note every little line
and part that made me laugh but I think I would be quoting damn near
the whole thing. But I will say that I was in stitches many many many
times. Just about every bit of dialog from Mouse cracked me up . .
. what a character.
I know you heard from some of the girls who read it that it is a "guys
story" and well, no shit. But that doesn't mean the perspective can't
be appreciated by women. I find it very amusing and informative, offering
a glimpse into a world many can't imagine. It is sad, touching, filled
with hope, horrifying, disgusting, shocking, hilarious, crude, and
raw. Just like life. A good story should touch upon all your emotions
and this one certainly did. I laughed, cried, got angry, got happy,
was amused, frightened, shocked, you name it. Great story Duff. Great
story and so well told.
Take care,
Nikki
California
Hey Duff,
I just finished reading your book and absofugkinglutly loved it. In
a weird way it reminds me of my growing up. You know, some alcohol,
drugs, and an occasional nookie from time to time. I got more out
of your book than just that, mostly alot of laughs. I tell the hooker
on the beach joke any chance I get. I think you are an excellent write
and storyteller, and that Mouse is quite a character too. I'm not
just blowing smoke up your ass either.
Hey by the way, Mouse is right. That book should be a movie, a damn
good one at that. Keep up the search and don't give up. Somebody should
raise an eye to it. They publish plenty of stupid romance crap for
all those lonely housewives. Why not throw the sex, drugs, and rock
and roll subculture a bone. There has to be a market for that stuff.
Take it easy and good luck,
Jake
California
Duff, Oh My God!!!!!
I thought I would just read a couple chapters of your book the other
night. Well I was hooked from the beginning. I have not laughed so
hard and cried reading just one book before. I freaked out when right
in the middle of the book I lost power. All night last night I kept
waiting for the power to come on so I could start reading again. You
wrote it so well it is like I know you and Mouse now.
You did a wonderful job! This is a must read for all adults. (The
language and some scenes prevent it from being a book for teenagers
but that is my opinion.) The book opens your eyes to alot of things.
There are so many people who I want to tell them to run out to the
bookstore and buy it.
Oh My, I am still laughing at the different parts as they run through
my head. Thank you for writing this book for 101 reasons, some you
may never realize. Though I do have one question because it has been
bothering me since I read it. I just don't understand this part. Why
did you rub baby oil behind your balls? Call me naive or leading a
sheltered life, but I have no clue and it is driving me crazy wanting
to know why.
Thank you for allowing me to read your book,
Brenda
Texas
Hey You, You rock eh.
Thank you so much for sharing your book with me . . .I loved it,
from start to finish. And I'll let you know it is the first book
I've managed to read entirely since I had my accident several years
ago. Sooooo you've helped me accomplish somethin' on that end of
life and again I loved it. It was funny and thought provoking and
brought back some memories...good and bad. You guys seemed to have
a blast throughout all your pain and problems and I think it's awesome
how you dealt with all of it.
I feel a common bond because I was in an accident that left me with
some interesting new views and attitudes myself... and I think humour
was a major part in my recovery and getting through it all to become
this new person with a whole lot of new things to deal with.
I found it interesting the you chose to look on the bright side
and be funny and make others smile while you went through your ordeal.
I did the same... because as you well know, SOME things you HAD
to try to make funny or you just couldn't bear it.
How one can have to deal with becoming a brand new person from a
certain point in their life, not knowing yourself or the new person
you become with new challenges you hope you can overcome.
A great way to deal with it all was to look at it from a humourous
perspective as much as you could to keep from being depressed or
fed up. To keep from giving up and to have the strength to keep
going as you learn new things about yourself and how to deal with
it all .. the good and the bad.
This book is a wonderful read that kept me smiling and laughing
even when it brought up memories that i would have liked to forget
... but this time the memory was easier because Duff put a funny
twist into it.
I LOVE the book and I recommend everyone read it... from young
adults to old, from mothers to sons, from patients to nurses...
Basicly from Duffs to Mouses everywhere and every kind of person
in between.
The book is inspiring, funny, motivational, informative, and I'd
even say therapeutic for some of us.
Thanks again eh, and thank you for the pics to help put a visual
in my mind while I was reading.
You be good and keep smilin',
Zanna
Vancouver BC Canada
Hey,
I read the book and was hooked from the beginning! The amazing life
trials of Duff and his determination to walk again is just amazing!
Plus, waiting to find out what the next crazy thing to happen to
either Duff or his friends made it a very hard book to put down.
This book (A Tale of Two Gimps) takes the reader through all the
emotions a person can have, but the amazing talent of Duff's writing
had me laughing most of the time.
A book that does not hold back on the "normal" daily activities
of a person living and/or recovering from a devastating injury.
When I turned the final page, I knew the story had changed forever
how I perceive my life.
Take care,
Annie
This book ROCKS!
It is a wonderfully humourous, yet serious look at how a young person
can deal with and try to learn how to live with a life altering
injury. Heroes in my opinion, "Duff" and "Mouse" manage to keep
others laughing and smiling, as well as themselves, while they share
in their recovery, healing, trials, tribulations and triumphs of
their new challenges.
I think this book would be an especially great read for those who
are dealing with the healing and rehab of a serious injury. I was
in a serious accident a few years ago and I found the book to ring
true on so many of my own feelings, thoughts, and warped humour
as I was overcoming my new found disabilities and the reactions
of my friends and family around me while I was dealing with it all.
It helps to know that others share in these totally foreign and
new challenges one must face, and they do it with the same odd,
yet interesting, humourous approach to help make it not so bad.
This was the first book that I have been able to read from cover
to cover and thoroughly enjoy since my accident that left me with
a brain injury. I think that should be able to give you an idea
at how interesting, funny, well written, and just plain fantastic
that this book is.
Thank you for writing it eh Duff :)
I hope it reaches all the people who could use a little smile and
some insight while overcoming something that has changed their lives
dramaticly.
A great fan of yours,
Susanna
Duff,
The Book was soooo AWESOME! That isn't even good enough. I wanted
to give you a true review so here goes.
This is a great read for anyone who appreciates learning what life
was like for teens in years past, i.e. Duff and Mouse. A marvelous
story about courage, loyalty, perseverance, and the meaning of friendship.
I gave my heart to the brave and determined Duff and his friends and
I think you will too. In this book are true people who survived many
obstacles and continued on with life.
This book was an excellent well told story of a young man and his
friends who were all victims of circumstance at one time or another
in their lives. Duff, who is the main character in this book and is
also the author, tells about his overwhelming obstacles with health
and life. He discusses his amazing recovery and yet somehow focuses
on his friends and family.
In this book, Duff clearly demonstrates to the reader that no matter
your circumstance don't give it to the so called "stereotyping." It
doesn't matter if you are rich, poor, famous, unknown, well educated,
or uneducated, or even a dedicated taker, (Mouse) you can find a way
to love life and friends.
For me I particularly loved the vignettes about the many nurses and
the parties. Duff took his life and put the truth on paper for me
I couldn't wait to see what trouble was lurking from page to page.
These two young men (teenagers) took life and just ran with it if
you will; never letting anyone put circumstances in front of them.
In my opinion Duff is a genius at making it easy to give and receive
and live one's life more meaningfully.
Sometimes the reality of everyday needs feels overwhelming. For this
reason, it's possible to go through life feeling some level of alienation
that peoples' needs are so immense and daunting and it's difficult
to know just where to begin. And yet, he includes some dramatic and
very moving stories which animate his life. This book will make you
laugh and cry. Mostly laugh at the humor of how much trouble two strangers
could get into.
Personally, I let my son, family and friends read this book. I can't
stop talking about this book. What an amazing story and so well written.
Jerriann C.
Spokane Wa.
