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 Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Romance Biography

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Brutal. Terse. Disgusting. Brilliant. Stanhope's retelling of his life story framed by his Maternal relationship is a heady mix of hilarity and pathos. A fascinating and funny listen with Stanhope occasionally writing Bukowski levels of deadbeat poetic prose. The 'directors commentary' sidetracks make it stand out from other polished narration too.

Deadbeat Romance

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Doug Stanhope takes the mundane old audiobook, gives it a violent, chaotic kick up the backside and creates a whole new literary genre.

Moving, disturbing, hilarious, disgusting, everything you'd expect from Stanhope at his best is in here, but it's also, deep down, a sentimental memoir and a love story. Bonnie Stanhope fits no definition of the perfect mother, but despite all the troubles they inflicted on one another, it's clear he wouldn't have wanted her any other way.

The delivery is excellent. Bringing in friends to read passages, reminisce or just argue about how things really panned out was an inspired idea. It's like the director's cut of the book, read out live in a bar after hours.

Not every mother's audiobook

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After reading the book I then did the audio, as recommended by Doug. Engaging, funny and I got lots of strange looks on the train for my involuntary snorts. Have since bought another 2 hard copies and 2 audio books as gifts for the likeminded!

Didn't want it to end!

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Fantastic story and performances and great addition of the cut aways. just like the podcasts. every audio book should do that. well done Mr Shank. Hope it leads to more work.

Thank you Douglas Gene

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This book gives a master class in writing life and relationships in all their funny, tragic, filthy, wonderful and terrible guises. It's gut wrenching honest to the point of causing pain, sometimes from laughing, sometimes from recognition..
The fact that Doug and friends narrate it with plenty of off piste commentary makes it feel like you're in the room with them.
Awesome

I love this book

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