Digging Up Mother cover art

Digging Up Mother

A Love Story

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Digging Up Mother

By: Johnny Depp - foreword, Doug Stanhope
Narrated by: Doug Stanhope and Friends
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About this listen

Doug Stanhope is one of the most critically acclaimed and stridently unrepentant comedians of his generation. What will surprise some is that he owes so much of his dark and sometimes uncomfortably honest sense of humor to his mother, Bonnie. It was the cartoons in HER Hustler magazine issues that molded the beginnings of his comedic journey, long before he was old enough to know what to do with the actual pornography. It was Bonnie who recited Monty Python sketches with him, who introduced him to Richard Pryor at nine years old, and who rescued him from a psychologist when he brought that brand of humor to school. And it was Bonnie who took him along to all of her AA meetings, where Doug undoubtedly found inspiration for his own storytelling.

Bonnie's own journey from bartending to truck driving, massage therapy, elder abuse, and stand-up comedy and acting never stopped her from being Doug's genuine number one fan. So when Bonnie's alcoholic, hoarding life finally came to an end so many weird adventures later in rural Arizona, it was inevitable that Doug and Bonnie would be together for one last journey.

Digging Up Mother follows Doug's absurd, chaotic, and often obscene life as it intersects with that of his best friend, his biggest fan, and the love of his life: his mother, Bonnie. And it all starts with her death - one of the most memorable and amazing farewells you will ever hear.

BONUS: As fans of his stand-up and listeners of his podcast will attest, Doug is not a "by-the-book" type of guy. This audiobook is no exception. In what he refers to as the "director's cut commentary," Doug forgoes the confines of a straight-read and creates a truly unique listening experience, going off-script to riff throughout its sections and bringing in a cast of colorful characters – childhood friends, his podcast co-host, and fellow comedians and musicians – to voice letters from teachers and guidance counselors, diary entries from his mother, and even old homework assignments. Additionally, Doug has several of the folks mentioned in the book expound on and give their version of events and stories, often remembered quite differently. The result is a wildly fun audiobook that's as distinct as the comedian's own brand of humor.

A special note from the author:

Good news for all my blind and/or illiterate fans! The audio version of my book Digging Up Mother is now available on Audible!

It's read podcast-style by myself and the golden-throated Chad Shank and features guest performances from those who appeared in the book, dropping in to share their own blurred memories of our sloppy pasts and ugliest stories. Guests include my childhood delinquent partner in crime Chris O'Conner, and Greg Chaille, Bingo, Mat Becker, Sarah Hyland (now Sarah HylanDER) and more.

©2016 Doug Stanhope; Foreword copyright 2016 by Johnny Depp (P)2016 Audible, Inc.
Entertainment & Celebrities Performing Arts Celebrity Comedy Witty Funny Romance
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a must listen for anyone with a mother or a habit. glorious and shambolic. ill read it again, sometime in future when i need a laugh or a cry.

Touching, crude and hilarious

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Disclaimer: I'd already read "Digging Up Mother" and passed it on to my millennial son who, although possesses an aversion to paper, has nearly finished reading it. If this is the first or only actual "book" he reads, I expect my contribution to humanity to at least get one tick on the right side of literature. Yeah, you read me Poindexter.

As for the Audible version?

It's more of the same. In the best possible way.

It's the same raw/raucous story telling typical of Stanhope's stand-up, rolled into a tale that drips off the page like the sloppy wisdom of ancient drunks, capped with a satisfying whiff of middle-age reflection. But now with extra added reflection! As supplied by people-that-were-actually-there first hand accounts, a voiceover cast worthy of whatever accolades there are for such things, all strung out and together by an increasingly and appropriately inebriated Stanhope.
Chad Shank excels at co-narrating the story, his rich timbre perfectly suited for an audiobook format and no doubt a sirens' song for Killer Termites.

You may get a little teary-eyed, unless you're dead inside - but either way you will be entertained. Hand the man his freedom.

Shock and aww

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This was an amazing story about Doug Stanhope's life.
Not only did he read the book with a life long friend but he has a discussion with friends and people that were involved at the end of each or most chapters, making a perfect blend of story and podcast.
I will definately re listen to this!

Better than a Movie!

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Sheer brilliance!!! Doug wrote one hell of a book! And Chad Shank gave this a certain kind of excellence not seen before in recorded spoken word or audio books!

Sheer brilliance!

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

A long time coming, of course I'd recommend Digging Up Mother to a friend! Everyone should read this book, it should be in Universities across the world and worshiped as point of study for centuries to come.

Who was your favorite character and why?

That Stanhope guy, he was alright.

Have you listened to any of Doug Stanhope and Friends’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I think I've listened or seen every recording available (probably many Doug wishes weren't available), this is Doug more refined, more concentrated and obviously performed with a more collaborative approach from his standup material.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It both horrified and sexual aroused me, I'm not sure in which order that happened.

Stanhope, bloody Stanhope

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I really can't recommend this enough. It's a journey. Doug tells the story of his life, framed by his mother's life and death, goes off script and gets drunk with friends who fact check his dodgy recollections. What's great about it is that his stories are true, he doesn't hold anything back and being the great storyteller he is, by trade, all the way through this book feels like the full spectrum of an epic life all packaged up and caught somehow. Oh and it's p!ss funny.

Honest and funny, real, sad and brilliant.

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Loved it, the podcast style commentary is awesome words words words words words words words

Painfully hilarious with a twist

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There is so much added in the reading of this book that you won’t get in the print version. It’s a fantastic ride to take.

This is what audio books where made for

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Great listen, podcast plus. Director's commentary is awesome, great editing, content is great... Thanks team Bingo!

Thanks Stanhope, congrats Chad.

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Just when you thought you'd found an unsurpassable curmudgeon, Doug ruins it with a nuanced, beautiful and complex take on the human spirit.

Gross.

I found this book completely disgusting.

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