Book Review - Awkward Family Photos by Mike Bender and Doug Chernack
Category Book Review Mike Bender Doug Chernack
'Fess up... you have those "family photos" that you hide from others, hoping nobody every finds them. At the time the images made sense or sounded like a good idea. But now? <shudder> Just hope your kids don't get hold of them and send them off trying to get you included in the book Awkward Family Photos by Mike Bender and Doug Chernack. If that happens, you might as well join the Witness Protection Program, because you'll start to think that wherever you go, someone will recognize you... and laugh (and we will!)
Bender and Chernack started a web site posting a few funny family photos. You know the ones... where all the members in the family are wearing the same outfit... you're posed in front of some "cool" backdrop... the person next to you just wet their pants. They thought that was about the extent of their fun, until a local radio station started playing up the site. It then got picked up by a few more, then a few more, and suddenly they were getting new submissions and emails from others who were *thrilled* they weren't the only ones with awkward family photos. The website took off, and led to this book.
They cover all the bases when it comes to topics: The Family Portrait, Mom and Dad, The Kids, Siblings, Grandma and Grandpa, The Relatives, Pets, Vacation, Birthdays, Graduation, Weddings, Holidays, and Strange - Not Awkward. If you're like me, you'll be smiling/laughing/cringing from the first page. Why did Dad think it was OK to pose in a Speedo? Why did you dress up your pot-bellied pig for a "family portrait"? And there's always the "this family looks like they're a little *too* close" pictures...
If you've followed the Awkward Family Photos website, you will have seen some of the pictures included here. Others you can only see in the book. But even if you run into the same pictures in the book, you'll probably get a bit more context or background as to what was going on with the picture at the time.
Awkward Family Photos is not some great or deep literary masterpiece. It's just a quick, fun ride looking at a slice of life that we've all experienced (and hope that no one else ever gets to see)...
Disclosure:
Obtained From: Library
Payment: Borrowed
'Fess up... you have those "family photos" that you hide from others, hoping nobody every finds them. At the time the images made sense or sounded like a good idea. But now? <shudder> Just hope your kids don't get hold of them and send them off trying to get you included in the book Awkward Family Photos by Mike Bender and Doug Chernack. If that happens, you might as well join the Witness Protection Program, because you'll start to think that wherever you go, someone will recognize you... and laugh (and we will!)
Bender and Chernack started a web site posting a few funny family photos. You know the ones... where all the members in the family are wearing the same outfit... you're posed in front of some "cool" backdrop... the person next to you just wet their pants. They thought that was about the extent of their fun, until a local radio station started playing up the site. It then got picked up by a few more, then a few more, and suddenly they were getting new submissions and emails from others who were *thrilled* they weren't the only ones with awkward family photos. The website took off, and led to this book.
They cover all the bases when it comes to topics: The Family Portrait, Mom and Dad, The Kids, Siblings, Grandma and Grandpa, The Relatives, Pets, Vacation, Birthdays, Graduation, Weddings, Holidays, and Strange - Not Awkward. If you're like me, you'll be smiling/laughing/cringing from the first page. Why did Dad think it was OK to pose in a Speedo? Why did you dress up your pot-bellied pig for a "family portrait"? And there's always the "this family looks like they're a little *too* close" pictures...
If you've followed the Awkward Family Photos website, you will have seen some of the pictures included here. Others you can only see in the book. But even if you run into the same pictures in the book, you'll probably get a bit more context or background as to what was going on with the picture at the time.
Awkward Family Photos is not some great or deep literary masterpiece. It's just a quick, fun ride looking at a slice of life that we've all experienced (and hope that no one else ever gets to see)...
Disclosure:
Obtained From: Library
Payment: Borrowed
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Comments
Second, I often find myself at this website. I am proud to say that I am not the subject of any of the photos. I am proud and a little surprised.
I will have to check out the book.
Thanks.
Posted by Norman Cox At 06:37:00 On 31/08/2010 | - Website - |