Carsick: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America
Carsick is the New York Times bestselling chronicle of a cross-country hitchhiking journey with America's most beloved weirdo.
John Waters is putting his life on the line. Armed with wit, a pencil-thin mustache, and a cardboard sign that reads I'm Not Psycho, he hitchhikes across America from Baltimore to San Francisco, braving lonely roads and treacherous drivers. But who should we be more worried about, the delicate film director with genteel manners or the unsuspecting travelers transporting the Pope of Trash? Before he leaves for this bizarre adventure, Waters fantasizes about the best and worst possible scenarios: a friendly drug dealer hands over piles of cash to finance films with no questions asked, a demolition-derby driver makes a filthy sexual request in the middle of a race, a gun-toting drunk terrorizes and holds him hostage, and a Kansas vice squad entraps and throws him in jail. So what really happens when this cult legend sticks out his thumb and faces the open road? His real-life rides include a gentle eighty-one-year-old farmer who is convinced Waters is a hobo, an indie band on tour, and the perverse filmmaker's unexpected hero: a young, sandy-haired Republican in a Corvette. Laced with subversive humor and warm intelligence, Carsick is an unforgettable vacation with a wickedly funny companion--and a celebration of America's weird, astonishing, and generous citizenry.BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
I love John Waters; did not love this book.
The first two "novella" sections seem like filler material and are completely skippable. Waters decides he's going to hitchhike across the country from his home in Baltimore to his other home in San Francisco. Great premise! Sounds like a really cool adventure. But first he imagines what all his best rides would be, then what all his worst rides could be. Kind of fun at first to get inside his brain and see what weird things his imagination can come up with, but the themes get a little repetitive, and outlandish, even for Waters.
Then we get to what really happened, and it becomes a more engrossing, quick read, worrying along with him whether he will ever get a ride, while he stands in the pouring rain for hours trying not to look like a down-on-his-luck and/or homeless and/or psycho person. (One of the signs he holds up even says "I'm Not Psycho" - not completely reassuring to the drivers, I'm sure.)
He does eventually get rides, of course, but a lot of frustrating, angst-filled hours waiting and wondering when the next ride will come.
He meets some interesting people on the way and makes new friends, including a surprising one, a (young, straight, Republican) guy he dubs The Corvette Kid. Made me want to jump back in the car for another cross-country road trip myself!
(And no, I would not have picked up a hitchhiking John Waters...even if I recognized him!)
Part 1 Novella - *
Part 2 Novella - *
Part 3 Real Trip - ****
Awesome soundtrack listing at the end of the book - ****
Bravery points for completing the trip! - *****
Average - ***
The first two "novella" sections seem like filler material and are completely skippable. Waters decides he's going to hitchhike across the country from his home in Baltimore to his other home in San Francisco. Great premise! Sounds like a really cool adventure. But first he imagines what all his best rides would be, then what all his worst rides could be. Kind of fun at first to get inside his brain and see what weird things his imagination can come up with, but the themes get a little repetitive, and outlandish, even for Waters.
Then we get to what really happened, and it becomes a more engrossing, quick read, worrying along with him whether he will ever get a ride, while he stands in the pouring rain for hours trying not to look like a down-on-his-luck and/or homeless and/or psycho person. (One of the signs he holds up even says "I'm Not Psycho" - not completely reassuring to the drivers, I'm sure.)
He does eventually get rides, of course, but a lot of frustrating, angst-filled hours waiting and wondering when the next ride will come.
He meets some interesting people on the way and makes new friends, including a surprising one, a (young, straight, Republican) guy he dubs The Corvette Kid. Made me want to jump back in the car for another cross-country road trip myself!
(And no, I would not have picked up a hitchhiking John Waters...even if I recognized him!)
Part 1 Novella - *
Part 2 Novella - *
Part 3 Real Trip - ****
Awesome soundtrack listing at the end of the book - ****
Bravery points for completing the trip! - *****
Average - ***
I'd normally give it a higher rating, but I liked the non-fiction part a lot more than the stylized best/worst case scenarios.
Still John Waters of course.
Still John Waters of course.
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