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Book reviews for "Chapman,_Graham" sorted by average review score:

The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus : All the Words, Volume 2
Published in Paperback by Pantheon Books (1989)
Authors: Graham Chapman and Monty Python
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"Ah...it was the middle one."
The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus: All the Words, Volume 2 is the second half of a set containing the scripts of the entire series (45 episodes). This book, volume 2, contains scripts for episode 24: "How not to be seen" through episode 45: "Party Political Broadcast". This book is more fun than an endless supply of "lupins". Both volumes make great companions to the MPFC video/dvd collection ("There you go, can't be bad.") and also unlike the DVDs, there are no edits, these are the original words. So that horrible "m" word that Graham said in episode 31: "The All England Summarize Proust Competition" is in this book. Enjoy!

Yours etc., Brigadier Mainwaring Smith Smith Smith etc., Deceased etc.

The companion volume to Volume I is this, Volume II
"It's satire."
"No, it isn't. This is zany madcap humour."

With that immortal exchange, nearly everything Pythonian is summed up. For those who haven't memorized every single Python skit (or for those who have and who are looking to free up some short-term memory), this book and its companion volume ("All The Words, Volume I") are must-haves. Every single word from every single bit ever done on "Monty Python's Flying Circus" is in here. It's a joy and a treasure and a non-stap laff riot.

Every Python nut is familiar with the "wink, wink, nudge, nudge" tale, the dead parrot sketch, the Ministry of Silly Walks and so on. But even beyond these justly famed classics, there is wonderfully silly stuff herein. I never realized until buying this and the companion Volume I how utterly the Python crew had mastered the gorgeously silly non-sequiter. To wit:

"Would Albert Einstein ever have hit upon the theory of relativity if he hadn't been clever?"

"Don't call me señor! I'm not a Spanish person. You must call me Mr. Biggles, or Group Captain Biggles, or Mary Biggles if I'm dressed as my wife, but never señor."

"I'm afraid we are unable to show you any more of that letter. We continue with a man with a stoat through his head."

"Were you worried when his head started to come loose?"

It just doesn't get any better than this, and being able to sit and peruse the scripts without watching the frenetic activity on the screen only goes to strengthen the generally accepted view that these guys were genius writers. As the book back states, these volumes are the winners of "the 1989 PYTHON PRIZE for their own books." ARE there higher honors than this?

It's....
a wonderful collection of the scripts to the BBC television series. The only thing missing are the animated sequences by Terry Gilliam, but I can't see those translating well into the written word.

Even if you have all the videos, this book is worthwhile. Seeing the skits played out in your mind without any limitations in budget or special effects or with audience laughter is often superior to watching the TV show, especially since many of Python's skits are driven largely by dialogue or easily imagined visuals (e.g. the Parrot sketch). Even the more surreal skits can be more surreal when imagined from the scripts.

Don't be silly. Buy it.


A liar's autobiography, volume VII
Published in Unknown Binding by Eyre Methuen ()
Author: Graham Chapman
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For Monty Python fans
Having just finished A Liar's Autobiography by Graham Chapman, I can tell you that Monty Python fans will love it. Not only did it offer humerous accounts of the author's life before Python, but it was often very touching as well. We learn about Chapman's journey through medical school and his struggle with drugs and alcohol, as well as his realization and acceptance of his homosexuality. The reader will also learn about his family, friends, travel experiences and good times during the many Monty Python tours, films and television episodes. Enjoy!

adds new meaning to the term 'splunge'
Obviously, Monty Python fans will want to read it, but aside from that, this is one of the most entertaining biographies I've read. Although the least successful of the Pythons in terms of solo career, Chapman may well have had the most interesting life - doctor, homosexual, alcoholic, mountaineer. By turns hilarious, angry, sad, and very silly.

The True Python
The title of this highly amusing book is both informative and misleading. Informative firstly because the "liar" part refers to Chapman tendency to drift of into fantasy land and relate stories from Biggles books and other bizarre episodes as if they were part of his life. Misleading secondly because usually autobiographies are written by the subject - whereas for this one much of the writing was done by three others with the occasional footnote by the author (if that makes any sense). But that aside this is a highly enjoyable read as well as being painfully poignant and also thought-provoking. There is little doubt that Chapman was one of the great comic geniuses of our time, and this is a book that well represents his playful insanity.


Monty Python and the Holy Grail Screenplay
Published in Paperback by Methuen Publishing, Ltd (2002)
Authors: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, and Eric Idle
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Hilarious!!
This hilarious screen play is great for any Monty Python fan. I would reccomend buying the movie before you get the screen play but if you don't feel thats necessary then there won't be anyone to stop you. My favorite parts are the musical descriptions. "Possibly, atmospheric music playing in background." Even though I had already memorized the whole Monty Python and the Holy Grail movie this still entertained me for hours and hours.

The Paperback of the Screenplay of the Film!
Yes! Finally! The screenplay! Without all those colour pages! Without all of those annoying photographs! Without all of that jettisoned material! Without the accountants statements! Without any of that boring old "extra" rubbish!

It's just the screenplay.Or is it? Not exactly. Of course to the new Python fan,this is sold gold treasure.( Rightly so! ) So newbies...purchase away,without question!

BUT....what's in it for the jaded old "been there,seen that,tired of the tumultuous deluge of boring reprints",Monty Python fans? Well....firstly it has a NEW Cover!( Including four(!) reviews from some fine media sources! ).Secondly...it includes the full script to the recently re-edited in...."Missing 24 Seconds"! Thirdly....it has some alternate photos from the film! And perhaps most collectable of all....PAGE 75! Not just any Page 75,mind you. This Page 75 has an error! It has a full page photo of.....STAND INS! Yes,Brother Maynard and his friend,Eric Idle & Michael Palin,are missing,but a photo of their stand-ins IS included! How's THAT for a bargain?

Whether using it to re-enact the film with your Insurance Salesman,or beating the neighbour's terrier,or simply using it to balance that wobbly coffee table in your foyer; This is the book for you!


A Pocketful of Python
Published in Hardcover by Methuen Publishing, Ltd (2003)
Authors: Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Graham Chapman
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Another Portable Laugh (Not that that's a bad thing)
A funny, useful little companion. Including classics and unknowns. This is definitely something Python fans will love. This outrageous, must-reread, book has tasty tidbits of Python humor, song lyrics, and some not-as-well-known sketches. If you're a follower of Monty Python, You have to read the Pocketful of Python series. Definitely worth ordering.

Glorious, simply glorious
Spamtastic! It's so nice and little, I can carry it around with me in my purse and backpack! It's great when I need a Python fix. It has "The Lumberjack Song" and "Spam" and "Every Sperm is Sacred" Lyrics, but it also has really funny, lesser known skits like "Constitutional Peasants" (from Holy Grail) and "What Have the Romans Ever Done For Us?" (from Life of Brian). I was really torn between this one and John Cleese's Pocketful of Python, but the "Truth About Protestants" skit (from Meaning of Life) made me get it. Every Python fan should own this. It's a funny and wonderful mix of popular and unpopular Python and will make you [at least] giggle every time you read it.


The Changing Geography of Africa and the Middle East
Published in Hardcover by Routledge (1992)
Authors: Graham P. Chapman and Kathleen M. Baker
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The changing Geography of North Africa and The Middle East
I will submit it after recieving the book


A Pocketful of Python: Volume 2
Published in Hardcover by Methuen Publishing, Ltd (01 September, 2000)
Authors: John Cleese, Graham Chapman, and Terry Gilliam
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NEE!
THIS BOOK WILL MAKE YOU READ IT OVER 10,000,000 TIMES! WHEN i GOT THIS BOOK I LAUGHED SO MUCH! MY SUGGESTION IS IF YOUR A PYTHON MANIAC YOU MUST BUY THIS BOOK.(NEE!)


Spot the Loony
Published in Audio CD by Right Recordings Limited (2000)
Author: Graham Chapman
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CLASSIC!
...This is a really great CD. I never realized how funny Graham Chapman was until I heard this. I mean, without a script or props, just as a funny person. He tells a lot of great stories here--a natural storyteller--that will leave you rolling! It's a shame he's no longer with us as I'd like to hear more. A classic comedy record, highly recommended!


The Fairly Incomplete & Rather Badly Illustrated Monty Python Songbook
Published in Paperback by Harperperennial Library (1995)
Authors: Terry Gilliam, Gary Marsh, John Hurst, and Graham Chapman
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For Silly Glee Club Members Only
This book is filled with lots of hillarious song lyrics, ranging from the witty to the weird and silly and is useful if you feel the need to sing along to some of your favourite Python songs while listening to a Python* CD, especially when you come across parts where it is difficult to understand what they are singing. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend buying this book. The artwork is interesting**, but is not worthwhile in itself, and just reading the lyrics is less rewarding than listening to the songs. And none of the songs are new. So if you just like LISTENING to Python CDs and don't feel the need to join in***, there is no point in buying the book. Furthermore, if you want it for playing the songs on the piano, as some of the other reviewers point out, it is often difficult to read, and it is also impossible to prop up properly without causing some damage to the spine (of course if you don't care, you could just cut out the pages, etc.).

*Not recommended for singing along to death metal bands...

"And Always look on the Bright Side of life.."*Whistle*
Wow. I have the big box set of Monty Python's Flying circus, and had basically memorized all of the songs. I also have most of the movies. So finding this little jewel was a real treat! Now I can play them on my trusty piano, and have the background music. This will make for some weird family reunions :)

Inflammation of the foreskin reminds me of your smile. . . .
This is a book for every Monty Python fan out there! It is really excellent, and includes almost all the songs, excluding a few of the lesser ones like "Sgnt Duckie's Song" and "The Window Cleaner Song" but just about everything else is in there. Admittedly, it's a bit annoying about some of the music being illigeble, such as "Eric the Half A Bee" appearing in a sphere shape, and "Bing Tiddle Tiddle Bong" being flipped totally around. However, it's still a great book, and the foreword, afterword, and middleword by Elvis and God are very funny. There's nothing better than to sit down at the piano sometimes and just play magnificent songs like "I've got a Ferret sticking up my nose..." This is a super book!


The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus: All the Words
Published in Paperback by Pantheon Books (1989)
Authors: Graham Chapman and Monty Python
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Verrrry nice
This is a very nice book, this is. It's very nice. That's why I like it. Because it's verrrry nice.

"Ah, now then, did you write this symphony...in the shed?"
The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus: All the Words, Volume 1 contains the scripts for the first 23 episodes of the show. From episode 1: Whither Canada to episode 23: Scott of the Antarctic (from Seasons 1 & 2). Also included are broadcast & recording dates for the episodes, black & white photos, and an extensive index to help if you're searching for a certain sketch. Its fun to read the sketches, but it will just make you want to watch the show that much more. It really comes in handy if you are traveling and can't take your Monty Python videos or DVDs with you. Which brings me to my next point - this book and Volume 2 are nice companions to the complete Monty Python's Flying Circus DVD set! ("Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.") I like to keep these two books on top of my TV, right next to my exploding penguin!

Sincerely,
Sir Brian Eliot Brian Holloway (Mrs.)

"And now for something completely different."
If you are not a fan of Monty Python than I can say to you "The Raymond Luxury Yacht interview" and you will not know how to say his name properly, but this book can tell you. If you are a fan of the show, and if you are not why are you reading this, this book is a wonderful companion to The Complete Monty Python's Flying Circus All The Words, Volume Two. These two books together have all the scripts from all four seasons of the Television show, Volume one the first and second then Volume Two the third and fourth seasons. This is a great book for those of you that did not catch all the words when you watched the show. I highly recommend this book for every Monty Python fan


Graham Crackers: Fuzzy Memories, Silly Bits, and Outright Lies
Published in Hardcover by Career Press (1997)
Authors: Graham Chapman and Jim Yoakum
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Graham, how did you ever manage...
...to write a book from inside an urn? I wish I was you. Well, actually not...it might be rather cramped and dark in there. You've given us a book which is nothing like your written masterpiece, A LIAR'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY, but you've still managed to supply us with some great light-hearted fun. And as a true blue member of the Python Crew, that's just what we'd expect you to do. We'll never forget you, old chap...thanks for the memories; thanks for the book.

Graham Chapman rises from the dead to write Graham Crackers
Graham might be dead, but he can tell a lot of interesting stories. This compiled report of Monty Python's Graham Chapman's memoirs is hilarious. It's short and sweet, and provides information that gets you behind the scenes of Monty Python. The book gives a more dark look at the famous comedy troupe, and even darker look at Graham himself. Great for the Python lover or the Monty Python learner. He only downsides are that it's short, and one or two stories ramble on to no result. Warning: basic information about Monty Python is needed to understand this book. Take a chance and take the book!

A "Must Have" for Monty Python/Graham Chapman fans!
Anyone who loves Monty Python and/or Graham Ghapman will love this book. It's filled with typical "Chapman" humor, and the rare personal photos add a nice touch. Jim Yoakum did an excellent job compiling past stories about Graham, which were collected during the many conversations they had in the final years before Graham's death. Very funny, yet touching. Don't miss this one!


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