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Review of Louder Than Fiction:

Posted: 06 Feb 2025, 02:26
by Anu Anand
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Louder Than Fiction:" by Weldon Gaines.]
Book Cover
5 out of 5 stars
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“Louder Than Fiction: Weapon of Mass Discussion or Life is a comedy. Be serious.” by Weldon Gaines is a collection of funny essays and personal anecdotes by the author. The author uses humor to talk about his experience growing up during the time of racial integration, the challenges faced, and the lessons learned along the way. The story discusses serious topics like racism, inequality, and life struggles; the author presents this in a light-hearted, funny way. The book makes us think and laugh at the same time.

The chapters are short, even though they left a lasting impact on me. The author’s writing style is conversational and humorous; this made the content engaging. The content was very relatable too. I had a good laugh and learned some life lessons too.

The author shares the harsh truth about society in a funny way and includes a variety of topics like labor unions, politics, slavery, family, etc. One chapter in the book made me laugh a lot because of the smart wordplay, like “HISteria,” “HERnia,” “MENtal illness,” and “SHEnanigans” to express gender stereotypes. And there was this other chapter, “Taking the keys,” where the author uses a joke that goes like this: “I want to die like my grandfather died—quietly in his sleep. Not crying and screaming like his passengers.” I really didn’t expect the twist in this joke at all, that the grandfather was actually sleeping while driving. The author uses such dark humor to highlight serious topics and makes us aware of the consequences of our actions through these unexpected jokes.

The author mentions that he uses humor to cope with life’s challenges. I think that’s a great way to relieve stress and worries. I really enjoyed reading this book. There wasn’t anything that I disliked or wanted to change about this book. The editing was also impeccable. Thus, I’m rating this book 5 out of 5. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy wit, humor, and a thought-provoking read.

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Louder Than Fiction:
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Re: Review of Louder Than Fiction:

Posted: 13 Feb 2025, 08:51
by Gerry Steen
This book sounds like a real hoot!! The value of laughter about thought provoking topics is priceless. We are forced to give some thought to serious issues while having a good time. This author has a real skill. Thank you for recommending this book. I am adding it to my bookshelves.

Re: Review of Louder Than Fiction:

Posted: 17 Feb 2025, 03:29
by Arshadq
Wow, I love me a humorous book. Topics like the ones you mentioned need more attention, and the way the author talks about them makes it more interesting and engaging to read. Like the author, I also use humor as a way of coping with problems. It would be interesting to read the book myself. Thank you for your amazing review. I will surely add the book to my bookshelves.

Re: Review of Louder Than Fiction:

Posted: 17 Feb 2025, 07:37
by Chi Chiu Michael Mak
The wise John Whedon once said, 'Make it dark, make it grim, make it tough, but then, for the love of God, tell a joke.' And boy oh boy, does this book tell many jokes about racism, slavery and other sensitive topics.

Re: Review of Louder Than Fiction:

Posted: 17 Feb 2025, 21:56
by Priya Murugesan
Wow! I adore these kind of books with dark humor. Your review certainly piqued my interest! Will surely look out for this book. Thanks for your review!

Re: Review of Louder Than Fiction:

Posted: 19 Feb 2025, 14:34
by Julie Marie Basil
This sounds like a very interesting collection of essays. I am glad to hear that it was a source of laughter and that you enjoyed reading it.

Re: Review of Louder Than Fiction:

Posted: 20 Feb 2025, 10:06
by Pearl Flourish
Using humor to tackle serious issues is an art, and it sounds like the author does it brilliantly. The mix of wit, social commentary, and personal stories makes it feel both entertaining and insightful.

Re: Review of Louder Than Fiction:

Posted: 21 Feb 2025, 10:18
by Shaniz Tobiaz
The cover page of the book is already brainstorming, i will give this book a try. Great review there pal.

Re: Review of Louder Than Fiction:

Posted: 21 Feb 2025, 10:28
by Amy Luman
I sure do love the play on words. This book seems to take some very serious topics and make them easy to read. Hopefully this will get a lot of people thinking about these important areas. Thanks!

Re: Review of Louder Than Fiction:

Posted: 25 Feb 2025, 10:19
by George Bastem
Weldon Gaines really knows how to blend humor with tough topics, making serious issues easier to digest while still leaving a lasting impact. The clever wordplay and dark humor had me laughing out loud, but also made me think. A really enjoyable and thoughtful read.

Re: Review of Louder Than Fiction:

Posted: 04 Jul 2025, 03:37
by Seetha E
Louder Than Fiction: Weapon of Mass Discussion or Life is a Comedy. Be serious - the title is the first thing that instantly drew my attention. The author's approach of using humor, as demonstrated by you in the review, to discuss some serious topics is interesting.
Thank you for your recommendation @Anu Anand