Sadly, it’s not about Bob Ross painting “happy little tornadoes”…
I know what you’re thinking.
Okay, I know what you’re thinking after “Doesn’t he know that no one reads these things?”
A book review? A non-fiction book review?
Really?
Really.
Now bear with me for a second. Normally these are topics I stay away from on this site, but given the book’s subject matter – and how incredibly well this book reads – I figured I’d make an exception.
Just this once.
The Disaster Artist chronicles the making of one of most wonderfully awful films of all time – Tommy Wiseau’s self-financed, 6 million dollar The Room – as told from the point of view of Tommy’s friend and co-star, Greg Sestero (he played Mark). It switches timelines every other chapter, going from during production to detailing Greg’s pre-Room life and the growth of his relationship with Tommy.
This may be non-fiction, but that doesn’t stop it from being one of the most hilarious books I’ve read in a long while. Greg’s observations of Tommy’s eccentricities left me laughing out loud early and often, both in their pre-Room life and during production. If you haven’t watched The Room or seen interviews with Tommy Wiseau, you might have your B.S. meter going off at times – the anecdotes are that off the wall. Having seen his other work, though, somehow I can believe the stories.
That said, if the book was simply a gossipy tell-all that did nothing but make fun of Wiseau, it would not have been nearly as fun to read. The book does an incredible job, rather, of painting him as not just a crazy, unstable goofball – but also a beaten down by life, tragic, desperate loner with a dream his abilities just can’t reach. It’s a testament to the writing that despite his antics, Tommy comes across as extremely sympathetic.
The pacing is great – there are no real lulls in this book. And at 288 pages, it’s a quick read that doesn’t overstay its welcome.
The only real downside is where the book ends. I understand the rationale of ending where it did, but I would have loved an epilogue with a glimpse of life post-premier.
With James Franco’s production company picking up the rights to this book, I’m hopeful we get to see it on the screen before too long. And if it’s made I sincerely hope Tommy Wiseau is in it.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to look for a DVD of The Room and a handful of spoons…
9 Spoon Photos out of 10
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