Lunatics

Dave Barry,
Alan Zweibel

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zany humor

absurd international incidents

comical narrative style

unlikable characters

fast pacing

light hearted tone

comedic collaborations

laugh out loud moments

formulaic plot structure

chaotic settings

easy read

absurdity over deep

distinctly opposite protagonists

'Lunatics' by Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel is a hilarious tale that follows two very different protagonists who end up involved in a series of unlikely and comical international incidents. The writing style is filled with zany humor that will make readers laugh out loud, even waking up family members in the process. The collaboration between Barry and Zweibel results in a unique storytelling approach where each author writes chapters from the perspective of one of the protagonists, creating a funny and entertaining narrative.

Characters:

The characters are distinctly opposite and primarily unlikable, contributing to a lack of emotional investment in their fates.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is humorous and informal, often employing crude language and showcasing the authors' comedic backgrounds, resulting in a light-hearted tone.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot consists of two protagonists repeatedly facing similar absurd situations that ultimately result in them being viewed as heroes, but it becomes tedious due to the formulaic nature of the narrative.

Setting:

The setting is contemporary, varying across locations due to the absurd and chaotic international incidents the characters encounter.

Pacing:

The pacing is fast, characterized by quick transitions and a focus on chain reactions, making it an easy read.

My name is Philip Horkman, and I own a pet shop called The Wine Shop—a modest store I opened fifteen years ago with money my in-laws, Lillian and Gerald Wine, loaned me on the condition that I name th...

Notes:

The book was written by Dave Barry and Alan Zweibel as a result of a bet or challenge between them.

It's described as having a sitcom-like premise with two main characters who are very different from each other.

The authors took turns writing the chapters, each from one character's point of view.

Readers find it hilarious and entertaining, but some mention it feels repetitive and formulaic.

The humor is described as crude and absurd, which provides a good escape from reality.

The characters are seen as unsympathetic, making it hard for readers to care about their fates in a tense moment.

The audiobook version, narrated by the authors, is especially praised for being funny and engaging.

The story involves two men who accidentally become heroes while dealing with various calamities.

Some see the book as a mix between Forrest Gump and Monty Python in terms of humor and absurdity.

From The Publisher:

Philip Horkman is a happy man, the owner of a pet store called The Wine Shop, and on Sundays a referee for a local kids' soccer league. Jeffrey Peckerman is the proud and loving father of a star athlete in the girls' ten-and-under soccer league, and he's not exactly happy with the ref.

The two of them are about to collide in a swiftly escalating series of events that will send them running for their lives, pursued by the police, soldiers, subversives, bears, revolutionaries, pirates, and a black ops team that does not exist. Where all that takes them you can't even begin to guess, but the literary journey there is a masterpiece of inspiration, chaos, and unadulterated, well, lunacy. And they might even learn a lesson or two along the way.

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