Every comedian goes through a rite of passage: grind on the stand-up circuit, achieve success, record live specials for streaming, and then venture into writing books that often can’t be compared to their performances.
Take, for example, “Big Stupid Eyes: A Simpler Heart Stories” by Nate Bargatze. I laughed so hard I shed tears during his Netflix special, “Your Friend, Nate Bargatze,” but the moments that made me laugh while reading “Big Stupid Eyes” can be counted on both hands. It’s not that Bargatze lacks charm; it’s just that books aren’t the most captivating format for stand-up comedians. His live act thrives on his distinctive drawl and self-deprecating humor, and while he aims to bring that essence into the book with its subtitle “A Simpler Heartful Stories,” the humor doesn’t resonate on the pages like it does on screen.
Bargatze seems aware of this, admitting in his introduction that he “is on record as not enjoying reading books.” However, as a published author, he believes that traditional capitalism gives him a good reason to write.
Nonetheless, for die-hard fans and those eager for entertaining tales that go beyond what they’d see Bargatze perform on screen, “Big Stupid Eyes” offers a straightforward reading experience. The book includes some grainy black-and-white photographs of Bargatze throughout the years. For those who haven’t seen his specials, the book provides insight into his upbringing, highlighting the humor and theatrical flair he inherited from his father, a talented clown and magician, as well as the influence of his decade-younger sister, Abigail, who helped curb his self-centered tendencies while growing up in Old Hickory, Tennessee.
My favorite chapter, filled with the most laughs, is titled “My Sister The Alien.” It recounts a humorous episode when Nate, his brother Derrick, and their father forgot to pick up Abigail from church on a Wednesday evening. Upon arriving home, they realize she is missing, leading Dad to exclaim, “Don’t tell your mother.” When they return to the church, they find Abigail with a couple, wandering a graveyard “moving from gravestone to gravestone like a character from a demonic fantasy.”
Bargatze also shares several anecdotes about his wife, Laura. Towards the end, she even makes her presence felt through footnotes, saying, “Obviously, I knew this too. Consider it now and go ahead and discuss it with Nate. I can’t wait to see the look on his face.”
Lastly, in the “Conclusion” on page 2, Nate offers a congratulatory note to readers who’ve made it this far: “Perhaps they should move around a bit more or include healthier activities, like watching TV,” he suggests. Sound advice indeed. I endorse it by saying, “Your friend, Nate Bargatze.”
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AP Book Review: https://apnews.com/hub/book-reviews
Source: apnews.com