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The Call of the Weird
- Travels in American Subcultures
- Narrated by: Louis Theroux
- Length: 3 hrs and 48 mins
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Summary
Read by the author, this is Louis Theroux's hilarious and thought-provoking journey through weird America.
For 10 years, Louis Theroux has been making programmes about off-beat characters on the fringes of US society. Now he revisits America and the people who have most fascinated him to try to discover what motivates them, why they believe the things they believe, and to find out what has happened to them since he last saw them. Along the way, Louis thinks about what drives him to spend so much time among weird people and considers whether he's learned anything about himself in the course of ten years working with them. Has he manipulated the people he's interviewed, or have they manipulated him?
From his Las Vegas base, Louis revisits the assorted dreamers and outlaws who have been his TV feeding ground. Attempting to understand a little about himself and the workings of his own mind, Louis considers questions such as: what is the difference between pathology and "normal" weirdness? Is there something particularly weird about Americans? What does it mean to be weird, or "to be yourself"? And do we choose our beliefs or do our beliefs choose us?
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Overall
- CA Weir
- 26-06-07
One of my favourite downloads so far
If you love Louis, then what are you waiting for. I have his DVD box set of Weird Weekends at home and have always been fascinated and appalled with some of the excesses of humanity he's interviewed. Yet, I've always wanted to know...'What happened next?' Well, Call of the Weird will tell all...
This download, superbly and personally narrated by Louis, is HIGHLY recommended.
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21 people found this helpful
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- Owen
- 12-09-17
Why did he do the accents?
The book was fairly interesting but what was really strange is that Louis put on voices for all the people he spoke to rather than just quoting them. It was a bit annoying.
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7 people found this helpful
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- Richard
- 30-08-16
Louis listing "weird" Americans he once spoke to
no real content at all, seems like a quick money maker and not up to his usual standards
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5 people found this helpful
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- Ben
- 20-07-15
Fan of the show
Would you listen to The Call of the Weird again? Why?
I would listen to this book again as it's very short and I love the documentary series that the book proceeds
What did you like best about this story?
The book rounds up and more or less concludes the random 'weird' people Louis has met whilst recording his documentary with additional side stories throughout!
What about Louis Theroux’s performance did you like?
Louis accents are performed well and are not cheesey, luckily as I had doubts.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
It's not a book you need to sit and listen to in one go as the stories are seperate and each to their own. Like the episodes. They are not related other than Louis is documenting their activists and asking them about what they do and why.
Any additional comments?
If you're a fan of the shows then the book is worth while. If you've never seen the shows, either go watch them, or don't but this as you will have absolutely no idea who he is referring to. Even if you had heard of a few of the characters you'd need to have seen the show to fully appreciate the follow on, which is, this book.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Susan Random
- 24-10-17
The Call Of The Weird
This book only loses a star rating because it's abridged, but I think that it's a fantastic listen and complements Theroux's earlier documentaries. I particularly enjoyed the odder elements of the text.
Theroux really performs the book throughout and his different American accents are a pleasure to listen to.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Chris
- 23-04-12
This book does not disappoint!!
It's everything you could possibly want from a Louis Theroux book. PLUS, it's read by the wonderful man himself!!
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2 people found this helpful
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- Aude_Brownies
- 25-09-19
Nice follow up on Louis documentaries
Nice to catch up with some old subjects of Louis Theroux and hearing his reflections on them. And who is the best to read it than the man himself:)
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1 person found this helpful
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- andrew m.
- 18-09-19
Very Louis
Louis holds back giving his thoughts until quite near the end, but he is well worth a listen when he is in his flow, picking up gold from the rubbish.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Peter Meredith
- 21-08-19
I love it but could have done with a bit more!
I really enjoyed this book and Louis is absolutely brilliant at performing it but it was just a bit short for me in order for me to give it the full 5*s
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1 person found this helpful
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- JST
- 31-03-19
Top form from Theroux
Louis Theroux goes back to finish what he started and catches up with the weird and wonderful characters subject to his late nineties/ earlys 00s "Weird Weekends" documentary. Theroux looks to tie-up loose ends, ask the questions that were left unanswered and provide a "where are they now?" analysis of alien hunters, pornographic actors, survivalists who were anticipating the end of the world in 1998 (who are subsequently still alive and well) and Tina Turner's abusive ex-husband Ike.
Fans of Theroux's work will welcome the nostalgia of these personalities, and an element of closure is offered. However, Theroux does his bet to pry but there is always more to be learnt. This is not a criticism of the author - especially given the complexity of the webs he is seeking to untangle! The trademark delivery of the documentaries is retained.
Not that long of a read so good for those in a hurry!
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1 person found this helpful