Official Review: If your nose runs and your feet smell, a...

[Dolor]

Reading the title "If Your Nose Runs, and Your Feet Smell, Are You Upside Down?" gave me the hint that this book is an interesting compilation of jokes. Sad to say, jokes about disability and offensive ones should not have been included. Errors can cause a turn-off, too.

[cpru68]

People still write joke books? That amazes me because this genre seems so outdated with all the online advances we have made where at a moments notice, we can look at multiple jokes and be the life of the party. That aside, I find myself wondering at times, when does humor cross a line? When is it not funny anymore but rather demeaning or even bullying? I am all for a good laugh when a certain delivery is made. And I think you touched on that in your review as far as the author taking shots at people or subjects that should be regarded in a different light. I once heard this: If everyone isn’t laughing at the joke, especially the person who is the intended target, then the material isn’t funny. I find myself enjoying comedy that is general in nature or even someone who examines their own shortcomings/faults and makes it funny and relatable to others. Otherwise, it can be twisted into something that is forced and just not worthy of a laugh. Good job on this review. I just wrote my own novel here in the comment section, but your good words kind of sparked that reaction. Thank you for this review.

[MsTri]

It's a shame about the grammatical errors, but this still seems like the kind of book that's right up my alley, even if it does have some less-than-tasteful "jokes"; I'm think irreverent enough to enjoy even those... Thanks for the introduction and thorough review!

[kfwilson6]

The book includes off-color items (around ten percent of the total) featuring swearing, obscenity, toilet humor, blonde jokes, and making fun of the disabled and disgraced. I personally don’t recommend those jokes and wish they were not part of the collection. I especially dislike the derogatory blonde jokes and take great offense at the Helen Keller jokes. I also don’t care for the jokes demeaning celebrity junkies, pedophiles, and errant politicians. These may be acceptable for private sharing, but not for wide publication.

Don Davis uses the phrase “written by” on the title page. This phrase bothers me as I traced a good number of the jokes to different sites on the Net. While a portion of his material may be original, he may be on the safer side by using the phrase “compiled by” and including a disclaimer regarding authorship (as specific attribution may be impossible). As gleaned from one site in the Net, “plagiarized jokes are no laughing matter.”

So what’s the fear of long words called? It’s simply hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia. If that’s not scary enough for you, spell it!

Seriously Mr. Davis? Helen Keller jokes and stolen content? For either of these points, I would not read this book. I can't tolerate jokes about the disabled. I can stand a blonde joke if it's in good fun, but some of this is very tacky. This sounds like it is for a crowd with a "no holds barred" kind of attitude.

Nice ending! I stopped reading that word after the hippo part, so I certainly won't try spelling it.

[kfwilson6]

People still write joke books? That amazes me because this genre seems so outdated with all the online advances we have made where at a moments notice, we can look at multiple jokes and be the life of the party. That aside, I find myself wondering at times, when does humor cross a line? When is it not funny anymore but rather demeaning or even bullying? I am all for a good laugh when a certain delivery is made. And I think you touched on that in your review as far as the author taking shots at people or subjects that should be regarded in a different light. I once heard this: If everyone isn’t laughing at the joke, especially the person who is the intended target, then the material isn’t funny. I find myself enjoying comedy that is general in nature or even someone who examines their own shortcomings/faults and makes it funny and relatable to others. Otherwise, it can be twisted into something that is forced and just not worthy of a laugh. Good job on this review. I just wrote my own novel here in the comment section, but your good words kind of sparked that reaction. Thank you for this review.

Wonderfully said. I agree with everything you wrote.

[Helen_Combe]

It sounds a bit of an eclectic collection. Pity there are unsavoury jokes in there.
“plagiarised jokes are no laughing matter,” made me laugh.

[Manang Muyang]

Reading the title "If Your Nose Runs, and Your Feet Smell, Are You Upside Down?" gave me the hint that this book is an interesting compilation of jokes. Sad to say, jokes about disability and offensive ones should not have been included. Errors can cause a turn-off, too.

Hi, Dolor! My exact thoughts! Stay well and good!

[Manang Muyang]

People still write joke books? That amazes me because this genre seems so outdated with all the online advances we have made where at a moments notice, we can look at multiple jokes and be the life of the party. That aside, I find myself wondering at times, when does humor cross a line? When is it not funny anymore but rather demeaning or even bullying? I am all for a good laugh when a certain delivery is made. And I think you touched on that in your review as far as the author taking shots at people or subjects that should be regarded in a different light. I once heard this: If everyone isn’t laughing at the joke, especially the person who is the intended target, then the material isn’t funny. I find myself enjoying comedy that is general in nature or even someone who examines their own shortcomings/faults and makes it funny and relatable to others. Otherwise, it can be twisted into something that is forced and just not worthy of a laugh. Good job on this review. I just wrote my own novel here in the comment section, but your good words kind of sparked that reaction. Thank you for this review.

The rhetorical questions are good, clean fun. "Why does quicksand work slowly?" "The Dalai Lama telling the pizza guy, 'Make me one with everything!' " had me giggling too. That's despite it being an old joke that has been circulating the Net for a while. There's even a version on YouTube where somebody tells the joke to the Dalai Lama himself; he didn't get it. I couldn't tell if he was offended.

The line is difficult to identify, and we invariably cross it one time or another. Let's be more vigilant to make sure we do not disrespect those who are different from us in color, faith, ability, and sexuality.

Thanks for your novel.

[Manang Muyang]

It's a shame about the grammatical errors, but this still seems like the kind of book that's right up my alley, even if it does have some less-than-tasteful "jokes"; I'm think irreverent enough to enjoy even those... Thanks for the introduction and thorough review!

Hi, MsTri! I think it is a good book to pack with the potluck.

Thanks for visiting.

[Manang Muyang]

Seriously Mr. Davis? Helen Keller jokes and stolen content? For either of these points, I would not read this book. I can't tolerate jokes about the disabled. I can stand a blonde joke if it's in good fun, but some of this is very tacky. This sounds like it is for a crowd with a "no holds barred" kind of attitude.

Nice ending! I stopped reading that word after the hippo part, so I certainly won't try spelling it.

I initially thought that hippo thing was a joke. There's even a song about it. But it is the "official name" for the fear of long words. It made me terribly afraid.

As to the offensive jokes, I didn't find them funny too.

Thanks for sharing your two cents!

[Manang Muyang]

It sounds a bit of an eclectic collection. Pity there are unsavoury jokes in there.
“plagiarised jokes are no laughing matter,” made me laugh.

Hi, Helen! Eclectic it is!

Now, let's see if you can guess this word. 36 letters.

[Helen_Combe]

It sounds a bit of an eclectic collection. Pity there are unsavoury jokes in there.
“plagiarised jokes are no laughing matter,” made me laugh.

Hi, Helen! Eclectic it is!

Now, let's see if you can guess this word. 36 letters.

Ah yes, hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia. I often slip it into conversations these days

[Manang Muyang]

Ah yes, hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia. I often slip it into conversations these days

I hope you still have friends.

[AbbyGNelson]

Thanks for the review! Sad that it wasn't better edited. That makes all the difference!

[Manang Muyang]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, AbbyGNelson! Yes, bad editing can ruin the punch line.