Uganda Be Kidding Me by Chelsea Handler

Uganda Be Kidding Me Reviews

• 
  Deanna

  2.5 Stars
  
  I came across Chelsea Handler by accident about 9 years ago. At the time "Chelsea Lately" wasn't airing in Canada and unless you had satellite TV with US channels you were out of luck. Well my parents happened to have a dish and I just so happened to be spending a lot of time there (No, not just because they had satellite TV with awesome American TV programming).
  
  So I was flipping channels and came across this loud blonde interviewing Tom Cruise (pre-crazy Tom? I think? or maybe not). But I thought this was the weirdest interview I had ever seen, he was giving some really strange answers to some really strange questions. It was sooo freaking funny though. I'm ashamed to say it took me way too long to realize that this was fake and she was using answers from his other interviews to answer her crazy questions. It was seriously funny. I was now hooked on "Chelsea Lately". I liked the round table and the other comedians, as well as her guest interviews and of course I loved Chuy. I was sad when the show ended in 2014.
  
  Okay that's enough about her TV show. However, if it hadn't been for her show I may not have come across her books. By that time both "My Horizontal Life" and "Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea" were out. I LOVED both of those books and read them quickly wanting more. Then in 2010 "Chelsea Chelsea, Bang Bang " came out. I enjoyed it for the most part, but in my opinion it just wasn't as funny as her previous books. I actually didn't read the next book written by her friends so I'm not sure how that one was. Then "Uganda Be Kidding Me" was released and it felt like I was seeing it everywhere. I avoided it for a long time. But one day I was shopping and saw it sitting there again and so I thought I would give it a try.
  
  Now in regards to how I felt about this one? Meh....
  
  Barely recovered from ACL surgery, Chelsea gets a hesitant okay from her doctor to go on an African Safari. She books this spontaneous vacation for her and some friends and family. They include her cousin Molly, her friend Shelly (whom she actually refers to as lesbian Shelly), her friend Hannah, Sue (friend and co-executive on her show), as well as her sister, Simone.
  So most of the book is about the South African Safari trip as well as some other travels to the Caribbean, Switzerland and some other places that I can't remember. I liked it at first. I liked the color pictures that were included. However, I just wasn't laughing as much as I had when I read her previous books.
  
  I don't think my sense of humour has changed. I am not easily offended (although I do have my limits). I enjoy some good toilet humor now and then. Don't get me wrong there were still some very funny parts, but for me not nearly enough. I just know that it took me a very long time to finish it. I would pick it up and read a few pages get distracted by another book and it would be put down again. I finally finished it recently. While this was far from my favorite book, I do still enjoy a lot of her comedy and would likely still give her next book a try. However, I would probably go through the library to get it.
  
  
  “Sleep is my friend and is the only place in this world where I don’t get into fights with other people.”
  
  “Sometimes I just have to rock myself back and forth and say, “You’ve offended so many people at this point. Don’t try to keep track now, girl.”
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  Darth J

  Oh Chelsea, you've lost your touch.
  
  I've enjoyed her previous books because they were anecdotes. Half of this book is dedicated to her trip to Africa where she and her gaggle of lady friends act like the worst kind of American tourists, whether it be braying idiotically or drunkenly pawing at her tour guide (who was not interested). The book felt forced, like she couldn't really enjoy this trip because she was too worried about making a snappy comeback for the sake of her audience.
  
  
  After she gets back from Africa, we hear about similarly unfunny stories about some pushy guy in the Bahamas (somehow it's alright for her to make unwanted advances on her tour guide, but she's allowed to be grossed out by someone else doing the same thing...), her goofy story about skiing, and other various stories under the vague heading of "vacation" anecdotes.
  
  
  I think Chelsea needs to take some of her own advice, mainly this little diddy from page 52, "The two major components necessary for storytelling is for it to be either (A) funny or (B) compelling. Please pick one."
  
  Yes, Chelsea, please pick one for your next book.
• 
  Naomi

  I don't get it. I think I am missing something. After falling in love (and still quoting) Chelsea's dynamic book
  Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea, I read everything that I could get my hands on by this author. But this book was like the clap, it went painfully on and on with no sense of sense. It was like pulling teeth to continue to read this book. What I can't figure out for me is that I wasn't reading it for review. I could have stopped reading the book. Alas, I knew that humor had to be in there (it is Chelsea Handler) so I continued on...yet none was to be found. Just stupid one liners about the same old stuff of getting drunk, stupid and ignorant behavior. I can't believe I am saying this, but I would like the time back that it took me to read this book, please.
• 
  katyjanereads

  1. I loved that the pictures were in color. That doesn't happen very often in books.
  2. I love Chelsea's schizophrenic brain. Her stories don't seem like they are going anywhere and, to be honest, I don't really care. She's so funny that she would write the book in crayon and I'd still find in hilarious. But then the stories do make sense somehow when she's finished.
  3. She commented on how bad she hates poor grammar and there were like 5 typos in the book.
  4. I laughed so hard at her just adding an "Sh" in front of people's named to make them "anonymous."
  5. I love how well her friends know her. They never ask questions. They. Just. Know.
  6. Gina's online dating profile story killed me. So hilarious.
  
• 
  Kelly (and the Book Boar)

  Find all of my reviews at:
  http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
  
  ARC from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley!!!!!
  
  3.5 Stars
  
  First, let me take care of a little bidness. Introducing my new guest blogger – Frank Engator. He likah da funny books and just laughed and laughed while reading his first selection by Chelsea Handler.
  
  
  
  
  Now, on to the review . . .
  
  If it weren’t for the fact that seeing her on television or hearing her voice makes me want to stab her in the face, Chelsea Handler would probably be at the top of my fave celebrities list. Luckily she writes books so I can just picture Elizabeth Banks’ in my head as the leading lady while reading all of Chelsea’s stories. Seriously, it works. They totally have that “separated at birth” thing going for them . . .
  
  
  
  
  Once again, Chelsea’s book brought the funny that her television show just doesn’t seem to be able to do for me. Her tales of various travels told in her signature self-deprecating style with 100% ownage of the fact that she is a complete imbecile gave me multiple LOLs.
  
  While the book is about Chelsea’s various vacays, for me (someone with the mentality of a 12-year old) the true guffaws came from her stories of public urination and one gutbuster about crapping her drawers.
  
  The only problems I had were the signature “Uganda” story made up for about half of the book by itself and then the tales turned back to the normal essay style I’m used to while reading books by comedians. I also had a problem with the feeling of déjà vu I was left with at the end of the book – the realization that I’m more than likely a huge jerk for my unjustified rage whenever I see Chelsea on my T.V. screen and the feeling that she is probably the nicest asshole one could ever meet. After all, she was kind enough to leave me with the warning to never forget that “dolphin rape is a very real thing” that I’m now passing on to all of you.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  Shane

  This type of shallowness and self-indulgence requires more depth and less self-indulgence to pull it off more successfully (e.g.: "French and Saunders" or "Absolutely Fabulous"), but there's a few laughs along the way.
• 
  Dana Fontaine

  This is probably one of Chelsea Handler's best. This book is so funny and true and heartfelt that I have gained a lot of respect for her, on top of a brimming bowl of respect, that she can be so honest. Everyone, who has a sense of humor and is not easily offended, should read this book.
• 
  Denise Lamoreaux

  Hilarious! I've read some articles from people who think Chelsea is crude and unimaginative. Maybe it's just me, but I find her hilarious. Chelsea books may be a guilty pleasure but they're definitely a reprieve from day to day life and I cannot help but giggle out loud every time I read one-- Uganda Be Kidding Me was no exception.
• 
  Suzzie

  I love Chelsea Handler books. She is so amusing and comfortable in her own skin. I always love how unapologetic she is with actions and honestly her books show how big of a heart she has with her family friends. A majority of her books feature this fact with her constant purchasing of things for her friends and family and traveling adventures. Just love her and her books! ❤️
• 
  Florin Pitea

  Funny and easy to read.
• 
  Kay ❦

  Old reviews went missing. How does save not working?
  
  Handler is funny. Some love, her some don't. I do!
• 
  J.L. Guzior

  Love me some Chelsea. Laugh out loud funny as always! My husband kept looking over at me like I was nuts while I was reading this book.
• 
  Kristen Cansler

  After reading Uganda Be Kidding Me, my new mission in life is to get white girl wasted with Chelsea Handler in South Africa while watching stampeding elephants. It's been such a long time since I laughed this hard at a book. I even snorted. Chelsea brings back her perverted and saturated with alcohol humor in her latest book that gives us a peek into traveling her way.
  
  I'll admit that I'm not usually one for non-fiction unless it's a really well written memoir, and Chelsea Handler delivers. The majority of the book follows Handler & Co. on a safari escapade in South Africa. The stories will have you getting the side-eye from anyone around you as you dissolve into bouts of laughter. If you ever doubt Chelsea's account of the trip, she provides copious amounts of entertaining pictures.
  
  The rest of the book is comprised of tales from her other adventures. It's a refreshing break from the norm, and I loved every second of it. Chelsea's writing style is very authentic, and it feels like she's recounting a story in person. Her humor and wit prevail and make the experience that much more enjoyable. She's fearless with her words, and it's an absolutely refreshing quality in a book. I definitely recommend picking up Uganda Be Kidding Me if you're a fan of dry humor and questionably offensive wit.
  
  **I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Chelsea Handler.
• 
  Leonel

  I recently got tickets to Chelsea Handler's comedy tour, which she was doing to promote her new book, Uganda Be Kidding Me. I soured on her because she made the crowd wait an hour and twenty minutes before coming on (who does she think she is, Madonna?) and I actually left early and didn't finish the show. So I was curious to find if the book is as irritating as her act. Well, it is. The book is mostly structured on her recent travels. Half of it is from her South African Safari trip. Interesting enough topic, but clearly this book is only about Chelsea, and Chelsea, and most importantly, Chelsea. It would make sense, because her fans would only want to read about Chelsea. I wish the boo had just a little depth, but that may have been really asking for much. I found myself cringing throughout the rest of the book, which mostly tells about unfunny escaped everywhere else: the Caribbean, Switzerland, Wyoming. This is strictly for her fans. Just like her live show, it barely made me crack a smile.
  
  
  
  http://luhathoughts.blogspot.com/2014...
• 
  Georgette

  I have read all of Chelsea's books. I tried, and failed, to finish the one before this one that her friends wrote about her. It just wasn't funny. Nothing against the friends, but maybe the only person who can tell the world about Chelsea is- Chelsea.
  In this case, she tells us of her travel (mis)adventures.
  You have the usual bitchiness and the usual suspects in her traveling companions. You have some unique adventures.
  So what unsettled me?
  Not so much unsettled as bored. She writes about trying to seduce the safari guide Rex. Haven't we read this before? It just seems like the same thing over and over again, but a new guy and a new location. I guess I'm just tired of that.
  Halfway through the book, right before Switzerland, things start to pick up and it gets much funnier. Chelsea somehow seems more human to me halfway through the book. The first half, not so much. I enjoyed it.
• 
  Laura

  I've seen clips of Handler, but I'm not sure I've ever seen a full episode of her show. I knew she was a bit abrasive and vulgar, but this book was over the top. She manages to insult pretty much every group of people ever and doesn't come off as very likable for most of the book. I enjoyed the last chapter about her friendship with Whitney Cummings, but that was about it.
  Received from netgalley.
• 
  Rossy

  exhausting.
  
• 
  Miranda Lynn

  DNF at 90 pages.
  
  When I first started reading Chelsea Handler's books a couple of years ago, I really enjoyed them. Her humor was snarky, risqué and different than other female comedians I'm a fan of…but it seems like her work has been quickly going downhill in the past few years. Her last book (if you can call it that) was absolutely awful, but I was hopeful that Uganda Be Kidding Me would be better, especially because it was written by herself, not just her family and coworkers. But, nope, just more of the same off-base humor that leaves me with only one feeling: I kind of hate this woman.
  
  Chelsea is just a very unappealing type of narcissist. I do think that, sometimes, narcissism can be funny and ironic. But with Chelsea, it's just not. Maybe she's trying too hard? Although I'm starting to think that it's actually her real personality and not a front. Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me was a very eye-opening book that makes me think that she's maybe a little bit too much like the character who she "pretends" to be.
  
  At one point, she even tells a story about how she forced her sister to stay awake until 2 a.m. on the night before her wedding so that she could calm Chelsea down because she was upset that her sister was deserting her by getting married and having kids. To me, that isn't funny…it's just very selfish and sort of depressing.
  
  I was also really offended by her use of the "r" word in the book. It only happened once (in the 90 pages I actually finished), but my feelings about that word are very strong. I don't think it's okay to use certain words in any circumstance, and especially not when you're just joking around and trying to be funny. The "r" word isn't funny. Ever. It's gross, and now I can say — officially — that I'm done with Chelsea and her stupid, not-funny-at-all books.
• 
  Allison

  I'm over Chelsea Handler (I think Chelsea is kinda over Chelsea Handler, too). I was kinda over her before I started reading, but this book sealed the deal. Why did I even read this book then? Well, I've read all of her other books and didn't want to be a quitter, so I decided to go for it. This book only half takes place Africa, it is mostly just her travel stories, but not actually stories... long-winded anecdotes. There was little plot to this book or point. It was annoying how Chelsea assumed all readers knew who she was. It was infuriating how much her money was alluded to. All these trips were taken in very high luxury, but she still managed to make everything a mess. Being a trainwreck was cute and funny when she was young and poor, but now that she's successful it is offensive she claims to be this dumb. Chelsea got successful for here say-whatever-she-wants attitude and that's great, but a couple of her jabs at celebrities seemed like she was trying too hard and weren't really funny. She does seem to be very generous with her friends and family and dog, but none of the people in her book/life had any validating characteristics. Super glad she's done with her show. Girl's tired.
• 
  Shannon

  Uganda Be Kidding Me
  
  The Characters:
  
  Chelsea Handler and a host of friends, family and random people me while traveling.
  
  The Story:
  
  Chelsea is crazy and I mean that in the best way possible. I am unsure how much of these stories are fabrication and how much is truth but I honestly doubt even Chelsea knows. Her alcohol laden tales are a delight to listen to.
  
  I’d love to travel with her one day.
  
  The Random Thoughts:
  
  
  
  4 Stars
• 
  Em W

  It was one long run on story that would never end
• 
  Ashley

  lololol
• 
  SuperHeroQwimm

  I will use quotes from the book to show you briefly why I enjoyed it so much.
  
  "'When did Africa come up? I thought you were going to the south of France?' 'I want to know where rappers come from. You know that's always been a passion of mine.'" Pgs 6-7
  
  "Can you imagine the man you were sitting next to taking a good, hard look at what you left behind in your seat and coming to the conclusion you had miscarried?" Pg 16
  
  "Then she looked down and asked me why I was wearing one motorcycle boot and one sneaker. I had no answer to this line of this questioning due to the fact that I had no recollection of losing a shoe." Pg 52
  
  "It was a foggy Tuesday night in may, and I was into my own rhythm (rollerblading) and feeling the beat of the drum, and before I knew it, a deer popped right out of the woods and struck me down." Pg 56
  
  "I really can't believe I bleached my asshole. I don't even know what the original color was and I don't know what color it is now. Who did I bleach it for?" Pg 73
  
  "My brain was weighing all options, but the only option that was not an option was shitting my pants while standing up. I found the nearest dune, hobbled over to it, and pulled down my bathing suit bottom just in time for me to detonate." Pg 133
  
  "I'm against thermometers, because 1) I believe they are archaic, and 2) they've fucked me over in the past. Specifically, when I was eight and trying to feign illness in an effort to avoid a math test that was supposed to be given at school that day." Pg 167
  
  "As I was midway through talking to Chunk in the annoying baby-talk voice I use with him, Ben walked in the room with a bottle of wine and sat down. Chunk was licking the screen on Shelly's iPad, and I was kissing my phone. I said goodbye to Chunk and explained to Benjamin that after I saw him meditating, I decided to call my dog." Pg 213
  
  
• 
  Nikki

  Chelsea is nothing if not abrasive. But I definitely respect abrasiveness, plenty of people probably feel the same way about me. But I did feel as though Chelsea went overboard with her abrasive ways, in fact I thought she was absolutely absurd and rude at times in the book. I think some moments she includes must be hyperbolic, but at the same time they don't seem terribly unbelievable either. One thing for sure? You won't catch me doing any of this crap, hell I don't even drink.
  
  Overall the book was dull and simply offered a lot of drinking and ridiculous behavior by supposedly grown women. I also was irritated by the treatment of the trips in Africa, they were apparently seen as a way to ingest as much alcohol as possible rather than coming to appreciate the amazing beings we share the planet with. Also, going to a camp where they keep elephants to ride rubbed me entirely the wrong way. Places like that should not be getting anyone's money! Overall what a fucking waste of a time in Africa. The latter half of the book was better than the first but still offered me no real laughs and didn't really interest me.
• 
  LiteraryMarie

  3.5 out of 5 RATING
  
  "I woke up at 4:45 a.m. in Johannesburg, South Africa, in my bra, underwear, and eyeshades. My head was torqued to the right due to the length and width of the pillow I was resting it on, which had the same dimensions as a panty liner. The duvet accompanying this 'pillow' was an inch or two wider and could have doubled as a buffet napkin." ~ pg. 12
  
  And so begins the misadventure of comedian Chelsea Handler on safari in Africa. Complete with pictures, this fifth release by the E! Television star is hilarious. Never mind recovering from ACL surgery, Chelsea books an impromptu vacation for her and close friends/family.
  
  Bloody Marys and champagne for the morning safari rides. Back-to-back 90-minute massages. Grandma in the back, sunroof top. Visiting an orphanage where each child had an iPad Mini or Macbook. Hot travel tips. Shenanigans of lions, tigers, baboons and elephants. These are just some of the funny moments explained in Uganda Be Kidding Me.
  
  It's also not a Chelsea Handler book without at least one reference to a black person that causes a mayjah side-eye (see: Mount a Negro chapter). I expect nothing less from her. If you are sensitive to dry humor, then Uganda Be Kidding Me is not the book for you to read. However, if you are anything like me and enjoy sharp wit in the form of laugh-out-loud anecdotes, then add Uganda Be Kidding Me to your reading lists. It is a great choice for reading material while traveling, starting with the frequently asked traveler's questions.
  
  Literary Marie of Precision Reviews
• 
  Nadine Lumley

  I watched Chelsea Handler's Netflix show Uganda Be Kidding Me. My whole life I've been a huge huge huge fan of female comics and will watch them as a great fan. I haven't seen her show or read any of her books so I was going in fresh here.
  
  I hated it. I really, really hated it, and I'm the sort to go support a female comic just because she's a female comic raising issues I never hear get raised by male comics.
  
  I was disgusted, turned off, not funny to me (maybe if you watch it high or drunk in a room full of friends, or if you're used to rude and crude, maybe you'll like it). But I can not recommend it at all. Rude, crude, no heart or humanity at all. Just ME ME ME ME ME MEMEMEMEMEMMEMEMEMEMMEmemememememem and her effin stupid dogs. Nice life.
  
  Just the onslaught of filth and depravity and the narcissism going on and on and on about her "assistant' over-labeling her house (we get it Chelsea, you have many paid friends who cater to you, we GET IT!!!!) and putting her dogs by themselves on a private plane and basically shoving what she must think is her great rich lifestyle IN YO FACE B!TCHEZZZZ (seriously, she can't possibly have that much money, I predict a bankruptcy down the road, in her near future, sounds like her spending is seriously out of control).
  
  Anyhooooooooooooooooo, I would even watch Sarah Silverman before I'll ever try Chelsea again, and I'm don't like Sarah that much, but I still support her as a woman like 30%.
  
  -00-
• 
  Candy

  This might be one of the worst books I've ever started. I see no reason to progress beyond 30% read. The subject matter is trivial, ridiculous, and a complete waste of time. Drugs, alcohol, sex dominate where exploring on safari could have been interesting. This book should not have been published. Yuk.
• 
  Kim Kardash

  barely read half,...it's definitely time to return this to the library. This book is bad. Thought it would be an interesting subject matter...African Safari, but it's barely about a safari, and more about how much she loves alcohol drugs and sex. Subject matter had a lot of potential, but it's just not good. And, doesn't even make sense....seriously choppy writing.
• 
  A.

  She never even went to Uganda. She went to South Africa which is a completely different country. And also to like Switzerland, England, and the Bahamas, which are also not Uganda. But considering how incapable she apparently is at doing anything, it’s not surprising that she put Uganda in the title when it actually has nothing to do with Uganda.