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Digging Up Mother cover art

Digging Up Mother

Written by: Johnny Depp - foreword, Doug Stanhope
Narrated by: Doug Stanhope and Friends
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Publisher's Summary

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.

What listeners say about Digging Up Mother

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Unsettling, hilarious, and heartwarming

You will be offended by this book. It is a brutally honest story of a kid who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks and made a life for himself. Doug has a way with words and can weave an amazing story. He pretends to be a simple drunk, but this book proves he is a thoughtful and deeply introspective man.

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Couldn't Take My Headphones Off

Great story with a fantastic read. The interludes from the people involved add fantastic depth to the story and helped create a connection so strong I listened to the book in two days.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Tragical Comedy or Comical Tradgedy?

I had never heard of Doug Stanhope before listening to this book. I learned several things from it.
1) I would listen to some of his comedy, but only on headphones.
2) I would never entrust this man with anything I value or love.
3) I enjoyed this book and thank him for his sharing the very personal, horrible, relatable experience of a his mother's life and her death. We all face death eventually, I hope mine is as good as hers was.

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The Best Book on Audible

A+ From beginning to the end. Dough Stanhope always makes me laugh. Simply said, This is a must have.

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Was way better than I expected

I like how it's just Doug and his buddies narrating, but the have interjections so the whole experience turns into a audiobook/podcast

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Where has Doug Stanhope been hiding all my life?!?

Gotta love a guy who loves his Mother! I can't download his next audiobook fast enough!!

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I laughed. I cried. I vomitted. I screamed.

For me, this is two books, the first chapter which is great, but then it quickly goes downhill. I am returning it becase I can't waste my brain time listening to anymore than seven more chapters of life in the gutter.

I. Chapter one:

This part is great therapy for someone (me) whose demented almost 90-years old mother just died. I watched her die over the last weeks, days and hours (plus ten years of institutional life). It was a very disturbing experience to fail to be able to reduce her suffering much. This first chapter is real, unsentimental and practical about not-assisted suicide. I have no complaints with the first chapter and the parts where the author talks about his eccentric working-class mother and his obvious love for her, despite her faults.

II. Chapters two to eight: The author sounds like a self-indulgent, moronic, drunken juvenille delinquent with zero conscience. Maybe even a socio/psychopath. Also, I'm not sure I liked havng friend's read aloud the text, although the recorded casual conversations were a plus. But he has a great voice when sober.

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Raw, brutal, funny, advisory.

Not sure if this is a warning or an inspiration. Tales of debauchery this honest are only normally shared after the demise of the protagonist, but I guess Mother was the protagonist after all. Thoroughly enjoyed the different voices, and you were right, Doug, Chad was made for this.

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Masterful work of Literature

This book made me miss my mother...She is still alive but can be anoyning at times.

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I couldn't stop

This book is an excellent insight into a comedian i knew little about but had much interest in. i will now go ahead and listen to his next book as well as his vast backlog of comedy specials. My genitals ache with anticipation.

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