Jennifer A. (curvymommy) -
Helpful Score: 8
I absolutely love Laurie Notaro's non-fiction books, and had high hopes for her first novel. But, for me, while it was funny, it wasn't laugh-out-loud funny like her other books.
It's a wacky story, but some of the characters were just TOO unbelievable, or TOO stereotypical. The plot was also predictable - it didn't take me long to figure out the "mystery", and I'm not usually the type of reader to pick up on plot clues.
It's a fast read, and does have it's share of silly moments, but I'd recommend her other books over this one.
It's a wacky story, but some of the characters were just TOO unbelievable, or TOO stereotypical. The plot was also predictable - it didn't take me long to figure out the "mystery", and I'm not usually the type of reader to pick up on plot clues.
It's a fast read, and does have it's share of silly moments, but I'd recommend her other books over this one.
Candy B. (candieb) reviewed There's a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to Hell: A Novel of Sewer Pipes, Pageant Queens, and Big Trouble on + 239 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
I had only read The Idiot's Girls Guide to Christmas or whatever it's called from this author before and it was funny - like really funny - so I had high hopes for this one. Plus the title is enough to crack me up. I'm very mixed on this book. The first half really wasn't all that funny. I was thinking "Yeah, and there's a very good chance I'm going to throw this book across the room in disgust". But once they dubbed "Finding Nemo" it got funnier. It ended on a pretty funny note, but left me wondering about Ruby. It's worth a read. It may have been I just wasn't in the mood for this book, but I wish the funniness was in the first half too. It just fell flat for me in the start.
Kim V. (Kimivan) reviewed There's a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to Hell: A Novel of Sewer Pipes, Pageant Queens, and Big Trouble on + 115 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I have loved everything that Laurie Notaro as written- I consider myself a definite "Idiot Girl"...however, I'm not as crazy about her fiction, as her other books. Sure, there were a few laugh-out-loud moments, but not as many as her other collections.
I see a lot of the humor in "Spaulding, WA." AKA Eugene, Oregon, as I live in Eugene. Many of her observations are spot-on. Yes, I know this isn't really about Eugene, and in this book, that's really not the issue. One can certainly divine her affection for her new home town. Not a bad book, I just think I like her collective stories better.
I see a lot of the humor in "Spaulding, WA." AKA Eugene, Oregon, as I live in Eugene. Many of her observations are spot-on. Yes, I know this isn't really about Eugene, and in this book, that's really not the issue. One can certainly divine her affection for her new home town. Not a bad book, I just think I like her collective stories better.
Angie C. (nolemommy) reviewed There's a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to Hell: A Novel of Sewer Pipes, Pageant Queens, and Big Trouble on
Helpful Score: 2
This book had me laughing out loud all the way thru it. One of the funniest books I have read in a while
Aria K. (anilakevani) reviewed There's a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to Hell: A Novel of Sewer Pipes, Pageant Queens, and Big Trouble on + 20 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Not as funny as I thought. Not a lot of substance. Stopped reading when something kind of negative was mentioned about homeless people.
Jodi B. reviewed There's a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to Hell: A Novel of Sewer Pipes, Pageant Queens, and Big Trouble on
Helpful Score: 1
This was a cute, quirky quick read.
Sonja H. (Sonar) reviewed There's a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to Hell: A Novel of Sewer Pipes, Pageant Queens, and Big Trouble on
Helpful Score: 1
Laugh-out-loud adventures of a woman who moves to a new town and tries to make new friends...hilarious and warm-hearted.
Stephanie B. (blucanary) reviewed There's a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to Hell: A Novel of Sewer Pipes, Pageant Queens, and Big Trouble on + 15 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Just love Notaro, and while this wasn't at ALL what I expected after reading her nonfiction, it was good. Not laugh-out-loud funny, but an amusing read.
Nicole R. (GothamGal) reviewed There's a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to Hell: A Novel of Sewer Pipes, Pageant Queens, and Big Trouble on
Helpful Score: 1
With There's a Slight Chance, her fiction debut, Laurie Notaro proves she's an awesome writer.
E. R. M. (PA-Mebusts) reviewed There's a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to Hell: A Novel of Sewer Pipes, Pageant Queens, and Big Trouble on
I loved the title of this book! The book was so-so. I found it to be overly descriptive which really detracts from the book. It was not Name of the Rose descriptive, but still pretty over the top.
It was cute and would probably make a cute movie. But overall the author tried too hard and it shows.
It was cute and would probably make a cute movie. But overall the author tried too hard and it shows.
Kimberley O. (jkzjs) reviewed There's a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to Hell: A Novel of Sewer Pipes, Pageant Queens, and Big Trouble on + 67 more book reviews
I've never read this author before, but I will again. This book is laugh out loud funny! I don't think I've ever laughed so much reading a book!
Nancy S. (raney) reviewed There's a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to Hell: A Novel of Sewer Pipes, Pageant Queens, and Big Trouble on + 16 more book reviews
Notaro pulls off an engrossing farce with her first novel. The protagonist, Maye, leaves a perfectly fine life in the city to accompany her husband to a small town for his new university job. She soon learns it's not easy to be new, to make friends, to start over finding people to know and trust. Instead, she experiences snafu after snafu until she decides the one way to make friends is to enter and win the town's annual Sewer Pipe Queen pageant.
Notaro's townspeople are guaranteed to make you laugh, wince, smile and cringe. From the sleazy newspaper reporter (who works alone and hollers "CUT! at the end of his scenes) to the dog-baiting Yeti-like mailman to the dance-naked-in-the-moonlight lesbian witches to...oh, way too many great characters to list.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Thank goodness Notaro took time out from her essays to foray into fiction. It certainly lived up to the intriguing title.
Notaro's townspeople are guaranteed to make you laugh, wince, smile and cringe. From the sleazy newspaper reporter (who works alone and hollers "CUT! at the end of his scenes) to the dog-baiting Yeti-like mailman to the dance-naked-in-the-moonlight lesbian witches to...oh, way too many great characters to list.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Thank goodness Notaro took time out from her essays to foray into fiction. It certainly lived up to the intriguing title.
Jason R. (jrehde30) reviewed There's a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to Hell: A Novel of Sewer Pipes, Pageant Queens, and Big Trouble on + 124 more book reviews
I absolutely loved this book! I would literally laugh out loud because her humor is so forward and similar to mine. I wasn't sure at first how the book was going to be, but I immediately started to enjoy it. At the end, I even felt satisfied unlike many books I've read in the past. I definitely suggest reading this book if you are looking for a good laugh!
misskitty914 reviewed There's a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to Hell: A Novel of Sewer Pipes, Pageant Queens, and Big Trouble on + 2 more book reviews
i really enjoyed this book - great summer read. like a Sweet Tart - sweet story dipped in saucy humor.
Lyla T. (thepinkpapayagirl) reviewed There's a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to Hell: A Novel of Sewer Pipes, Pageant Queens, and Big Trouble on + 12 more book reviews
The authors personality came thru loud and clear and the snarky comments got tiresome. It was funny but slow moving.
Peggy M. (Pema) -
I loved this book!!! It was absolutely hilarious! I wish they'd make a movie of it!
Regina (Gr8Smokies) reviewed There's a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to Hell: A Novel of Sewer Pipes, Pageant Queens, and Big Trouble on + 98 more book reviews
To be honest, this book sat on my shelf since 2007. I was slightly put off by the cover and even wondered why I had bought this book. In a fit of "I have to read something light and funny", I picked it up.
I found it quite funny. A woman and her husband, an academic, move to the Northwest, where she DEFINITELY does not fit in. I laughed out loud at several parts. The way that Maye dressed up her dog....(you'll have to read to understand).
The solving of the mystery at the end was not as compelling as I had hoped, but it was overall a good book and a pleasant diversion.
I found it quite funny. A woman and her husband, an academic, move to the Northwest, where she DEFINITELY does not fit in. I laughed out loud at several parts. The way that Maye dressed up her dog....(you'll have to read to understand).
The solving of the mystery at the end was not as compelling as I had hoped, but it was overall a good book and a pleasant diversion.
