Digging Up Mother

A Love Story

By: Johnny Depp - foreword, Doug Stanhope

Narrated by: Doug Stanhope and Friends

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.

Exactly what I hoped for!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Highly recommended to friends that truly understand "humor, tragedy, and love" rolled up into a spitball.

Who was your favorite character and why?

All characters involved were my favorites.

Have you listened to any of Doug Stanhope and Friends’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I like all of his material. He stands out like a hammered thumb.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Nothing "par-tic-u-lar-ly" moved me. All of it moved me.

Any additional comments?

I listened to "Diggin Up Mother" in two days. Doug is a weed in the rose garden. He has survived pesticide sprays, droughts, and floods. One doesn't have to be pretty to survive and thrive. I want to shake his hand and say, "I understand." I will listen to it again to pick up on subtleties I may have missed.

Funny, Heartbreaking, Heartwarming and All-Telling

I've been following Doug's career for 20 years now. I've always loved the delivery of his work and his book is no exception. It explains so much about why he is the person he is today and how he came to be. While I don't know him personally, I feel we're friends and I consider very few to be actual 'friends' of mine. This book had me laughing, made me angry and at times, I wanted to cry. Thank you for making me laugh, for pissing me off and for making me fall even more in love with the human you are today. Loved that you incorporated so many of your friends in the book as well as having them read. Not to name drop but because they were there and helped you piece it all together. Fantastic work everyone! And Chad Shank-you need to do more readings! You were made for this! When's the next book coming out?

Sweet and funny

This is tough to review. It is funny just like his stand up. Loved the podcast type interruptions. Loved the premise. The rub is that Stanhope is only likable from a distance. Love to hear the stories, but his pride in his persistent delinquency is sad. The celebration of his utter disrespect of other people gets old. At least during his stand up, you can tell yourself it is just an act and is entertaining.

Surprisingly good

I didn't think I liked this book. I kept thinking I would give up on it and start a different book. But I kept wanting to know more until I had to listen to the last 3 chapters uninterrupted. It is definitely a love story. The way Doug Stanhope felt about his mother rings true for the way I feel about mine. So loved. So annoying sometimes. So brilliant. Miss you Mum.

If you like Stanhope you should listen!

Great listen with additional spliced in interviews with some of the characters from his stories. Ex girlfiends, friends... etc good times.