disappointing
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As an old (Kazakh) fan of Borat, a bit disappointed, as the book recycles materials from the movie and the series. After the latter it just doesn't seem funny. Could this be beggining of an end for Borat?
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There's nothing "funny" about child sex abuse
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There is a "Parental Advisory" on this book, however, I think it should have a "not to be sold to persons under the age of 18" on it too.
I am not into censoring my son's (age 17) reading material; in fact it is the fact he has always been able to choose his own books which has contributed to him being such an avid reader of well-written literature, as well as being able to enjoy some of the more frivolous stuff; as we all do.
However, I was pretty revolted when I asked if I could borrow this; thankfully he has not yet read it as someone bought him this for Xmas and he has a small pile of other books to get through. It isn't just smutty reading, typical of the books we are led to believe are "suitable" for "normal" teenagers (which I certainly wouldn't censor) Put it this way: "Viz" is funny, "Borat" is rather disturbing. It isn't just reading material, it is graphically portrayed simulated sexual intercourse and implied child sexual abuse. I really don't want my son to see photos of a young boy, penis barely covered, next to Sacha Baren Cohen's face. what can he gain from this? It's sinister.
I thought Ali G was pretty borderline, it was misogynist and mildly homophobic, however my son was old enough, at 15.5 to realise that it was satire. now, I'm not so sure whether Cohen is not simply using his "characters" to project deeper held beliefs, and when this includes the sexual abuse of children then I'm afraid he is better off acting out his issues in some other, less damaging way.
It isn't the fact of the implied sex abuse I object to per se, but the fact it is somehow portrayed as humourous; as is the anti Semitism. Are we to think it is "OK" for cohen to make horribly anti Jewish remarks because he himself has a Jewish name".
I cannot believe that this book is actually selling; I can only assume it is because people don't realise how abysmal it is until they get it home!
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Pornographic Pictures
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Great book, very funny but watch out if you're giving it to one of the kids for Christmas. Bought it for my 15yr old son but he won't be getting it under the Christmas tree because I don't want my 12yr old daughter seeing pictures of Borat having sex with his sister!
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A great stocking filler, but not a bookshelf 'must have'.
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When you flick through this book, it's obvious that it's been brought out to be a Christmas Stocking filler. At any other time of year this wouldn't really be a big seller. It'll make you titter and the humour is in the usual Borat vein of Anti-Political-Correctness which sometimes feels a bit forced to pad out the full book.
But having said that - there were many parts of the book which made me laugh out loud, the references to the US&A, and the outrageous names and articles are comedy gold. I've given this 3 stars as it is pretty average - it's not something I'd revisit with any regularity, but it does entertain you when you first read it. There was a massive amount of surplus material when the film was made, and this is a good way to use some of it. I am a Borat fan and the book, although not fantastic, is still a worthy read.
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Cyrillic-abuse
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The last time I was so incensed about Cyrillic alphabet abuse was at the posters for a movie "THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING!..." in 1966. The title as printed using cyrillic letters is "BOYADT" and makes no sense if the character is supposed to be from a country formerly of the USSR where in that era they learnt Russian in school, unless he is also supposed to be totally illiterate in Russian/Cyrillic, as well as extremely reactionary and sexist etc. The constant "joke" is that he is extremely stupid about foreign culture, not that he is so slow intellectually he is illiterate in the language he'd have learnt to use for everything at school. The latter clashes with the image of a cunning character who has "got ahead" in the imaginary culture presented as his background.
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