Customer Reviews

An Unexpected Twist (Kindle Single)

5 star:		(333)
4 star:		(127)
3 star:		(67)
2 star:		(35)
1 star:		(24)

 

 

Any time a doctor says, "I'm going to be extra careful this time" you know you've got problems. Andy Borowitz with problems? Who knew? Andy takes on a very serious issue - and it's purely autobiographical - and somehow keeps us laughing throughout. I think what surprised me the most was the suspense I felt as I read this (kind of like each time I read "The Day Lincoln Was Shot" by Jim Bishop, and I hear myself muttering under my breath, "Don't go to Ford's tonight!"). Yes, Andy wrote it, so I sort of knew the ending, but I didn't know the message until I got to the end. Andy Borowitz is a brilliant writer and funny guy extraordinaire, but like our beloved Mark Twain, he is also acutely aware of human nature and the human condition. I also enjoyed getting to "meet" Olivia, Andy's wife (fun coincidence that has nothing to do with Andy's book: Mark Twain's wife was also named Olivia). Olivia is a keeper. So is this book. Thanks, Andy!

I surprised myself when reading this short piece on my Kindle, in my hotel room, alone, during a business trip. I laughed out loud several times, and at one point, found myself laughing UNCONTROLLABLY. That is, laughing in the way one does when talking with friends and someone says something that truly "strikes your funnybone"...and you just can't stop laughing for several minutes. Not a common experience, for me at least, and one I don't think I have **ever** had before while simply reading, all alone.

Partly it's Andy, of course, who is one of the funniest guys I've read, but it's also the very personal, very believable -- and somehow familiar -- experience he's recounting. Maybe you need to at least have had a colonoscopy at some point to fully appreciate it, but I call this HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Mr. Borowitz has encapsulated the patient experience in our healthcare system accurately, with whimsy and in such generous detail as to be excellent pre-op reading for the patient-to-be, either imminent or at any time in the indeterminate future ... in other words, good information for everyone living with potential exposure to the American Health Care System. Andy conjures up the do's, don'ts, agonies, & ecstasies of life under the knife. Highly recommended in my perspective as an RN with lots of pre-op & post-op care experience.

I absolutely loved this book. I went through a very similar experience and I never thought such a harrowing, near-death experience could be so funny! Andy Borowitz hit it out of the park with this one. I'm recommending it to everyone!An Unexpected Twist (Kindle Single)

Not to be missed!

I can only add my 5 stars to the pile! I am a retired nurse...I don't know if that made it funnier to me than to others, but I'm glad I was at home when I read this! I was braying like a mule, snorting like a pig and just plain laughing out loud. How the author could make a comedy out of circumstances that should have been anything but funny is a testament to his comedic talent. I hope he has written other stuff!

I heard an audio recording of this story nearly nine months ago. I instantly took a liking to Andy's misery, which doesn't say much about me as a person, but it certainly says a lot of good things about the Borowitz edge when it comes to telling a compelling story. I was so engaged after hearing this story that I immediately did two things: I put a link to the audio on my blog (Debutopia) and I prayed fervently for my own medical catastrophe (hey, sometimes I run out of material for my blog, o.k.?). You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll buy some Pepto-Bismol.

It's a pretty brief read, and priced at $0.99 cents, this Kindle Single feels like a steal. AN UNEXPECTED TWIST is a poignant look at someone whose idea of a comfortable life is brought to a halt because of health problems. It's filled with love, and the interactions/thoughts between the author and his wife are beautiful. The ride is a scary one, but it's nice to have a guide as fun as Borowitz.

After reading AN UNEXPECTED TWIST, I found myself frequently comparing it to the Will Reiser penned 50/50. Both stories are similar (but distinctive in their own right): both are humorous accounts of the author dying. Sometimes we have to make ourselves laugh so that we don't cry -- that's what Andy Borowitz goes through here. Simultaneously hilarious and horrifying, AN UNEXPECTED TWIST is able to bring its readers in to reflect upon their own lives along with the author.

I had no idea what to expect when I started to read this story. I chuckled at the first paragraph... I was hooked by the end of the 2nd page! It only takes about 30 minutes to read and I couldn't put it down. It's actually about a serious subject, but it's one of the funniest stories I've ever read! I work in a hospital and maybe that's why it just made me laugh out loud all the way through it. Loved this story though and I do highly recommend it. Can't believe I got it for 99 cents!! (For Adults Only)

I love Andy Borowitz' humor, and expected to find it in An Unexpected Twist. What I did not expect and found to be a wonderful gift within this short offering was Andy's joy and gratitude about his life. This was marvelously funny and very touching. I loved it! Laughed over and over and got teary at the same time. Short but very worthwhile!

I started following Mr. Borowitz on Twitter when I learned that he wrote a book. I immediately purchased the book. It was completely amazing. I loved his sense of humor. I will definately purchase any future books written by Mr. Borowitz and if the opportunity arises, go to a live show. It's a must have book.