Sellevision: A Novel

Sellevision is one of the funniest books that I have read in quite a long time. Sellevision is one of the premier television shopping networks and the book follows the lives of its colorful hosts. The reader is taken behind the scenes of Sellevision into the almost soap operatic environment of backstabbing, sex, love, greed ... and the list goes on and on. It is truly a voyeur's dream.

Peggy Jean Smythe, a devout Christian and star host of the network, is brutally harassed by an unknown person via email and is taunted with thoughts that she is growing hair all over her body and that her voice is becoming masculine. Her downward spiral into drug and alcohol dependency is sad but one cannot help but find humor in her paranoia. Her husband's attraction to the young girl next store does not help matters either.

Then there is Max, who as a result of an "unfortunate exposure," loses his job at Sellevision. Not able to find work because of his "overexposure," Max turns to the grittiest of possible professions -- a gay porn star.

And finally, we have Bebe, who finally finds the man that she loves and wants to marry, only to find out that perhaps she "relates" to him in more ways than one.

These are only three of a myriad of characters who make the train wrecks that their lives have become so comical in nature. Burroughs takes a quick and witty stab at the the home shopping industry and does so brilliantly. Buy this book and you won't be watching the shopping networks in the wee hours but enjoying every delicious and voyeristic page of this novel.

Obviously Augusten Burroughs thinks dimly upon the entire concept and execution of shop at home cable stations. You know, primly dressed women wearing plastic smiles while peddling some jewel or bauble. In 'Sellevision' he takes a fictitious network and lampoons all the network presenters as neurotic, hypocrites or at least egomaniacs. His sarcastic wit is quite entertaining and, of course, the characters and their plights are not at all believable. It all hangs together very well but I found the ending to be a bit flat.

Bottom line: a funny, farcical read. It would make for a great movie!

Sellevision, by Augusten Burroughs was a good read, a funny read. I finished the book within 24 hours which is a feat in itself for me. Rarely is a bood such a good read that I suspend any and all other activities in order to finish the book as quickly as possible.

However, I could only give the book 4 stars because of a few flaws. First, I detest books that wrap up numerous story lines in one final chapter. The final chapter of this book is called "One Year Later," and the author ties up all the loose ends. There are better ways to wrap up the story lines, and Mr Burroughs is an experienced writer and should have handled the ending better.

Secondly, there are inconsistencies in many of the characters. Max is having an affair with a 16 year old neighbor girl, and somehow his wife Peggy, is oblivious to the entire event. Peggy even calls home and the girl answers the phone while she and Max are having sex and Peggy thinks it is "cute" that the 16 year old girl is helping her husband around the house. Not believable. Nor is the fact that the girl's parents allow the teenage girl to sleep over at Max's house unsupervised.

Also, the dating arrangement between Bebe and Elliot was not handled well. We are never shown their breakup, only told of it in a later line of dialogue. Again, Mr. Burroughs knows to "show, not tell."

The identity of Zoe, the person driving Peggy crazy with emails and calls was handled well by the author. I thought it was one character, and when it was revealed who the real Zoe was, I was surprised. Well done!

Overall, this is a funny book, a good read I would highly recommend, but a few flaws prevent it from being a 5-star book.

This, Augusten Burroughs's first book, is sort of a combination soap opera and farce. It's fast moving, irreverent in the extreme, and very funny. It's also a bit crude at times, which I mention simply as a point of information, not as a criticism.

When I mention farce, I automatically think of P.G. Wodehouse, against whose works all farce must, I think, be measured. Sellevision measures up reasonably well. Burroughs doesn't have Wodehouse's gift for language, but, then who does? Four stars instead of five because the plot seems a bit too contrived and arbitrary for my taste, but definitely worth a read.

I didn't know that Augusten Burroughs had written a novel, so when he mentioned in his memoir Possible Side Effects that his first novel Sellevision is about a host of a home shopping channel whose penis slipped out while on the air, I knew that I'd be reading it.

Burroughs is the author of four best selling memoirs, the most famous being Running With Scissors, which has also been made into a movie. According to Burroughs's official website, Sellevision is in production to be made into a movie as well, and is scheduled to begin shooting in November of 2008. In his memoirs Burroughs has running themes, the main ones being: his weird family upbringing, his battle with alcoholism, and his relationship status as a gay man.

Sellevision is an account of the gradual destruction of a home shopping channel. The book has an ensemble of characters which is the books strongest and weakest points. The book starts with the aforementioned flashing, which leads to the mainest of main characters, Max, finding out that such a gaffe makes finding further employment almost impossible. Peggy Jean, a fundamentalist Christian who sells such trinkets as crucifix cufflinks and star of David money clips, starts drinking and pill popping when a stalker will not stop sending her e-mails that point out her unwanted body hair and other bodily flaws. Bebe is a forty-two year old shopping addict and star of Sellevision. These are the main characters of the book. Unfortunately, nobody told Burroughs.

For so small a book (229 pages with big font) there are too many characters. It was only towards about page 180 that I figured out that Trish and Leigh were two different people. I had somehow combined them into one super character in my head until that point. I'm sure that this specific problem didn't occur for many, but it is just an example of how confusing it can be to introduce six main characters within a span of 50 pages. The big characters were Max, Peggy Jean, and Bebe. He should've either stuck with them or made this a 350 page book.

Another drawback of the book is that it took too long for the action to start. There were too many references to the Selevision inventory and inner workings. I understand that he was trying to be detailed and draw us into the "world of home shopping", but instead it just made the pace drag. Once he cut the rate of the references down about a quarter of the way through the book, it was a lot more enjoyable. If Burroughs had written this way throughout the whole book, it would have flowed much better. The meat of the story was the characters and once he focused more on them, it got really good.

I don't want to be overly critical of the book, because it was a really enjoyable read. Burroughs was funny as ever, but it just seemed pretty obvious that this was his first try at a novel because of the structural flaws. I hope he gives fiction another try.

Sellevision was recommended to me by a friend, who suggested the book because I love the writing of Max Barry (of Company and Syrup fame). It turned out to be a great match.

Sellevision is a hilarious book -- simultaneously dark humored and lighthearted. It follows the lives of four hosts on the Sellevision network, a home shopping network. It might sound a little boring, but in the course of a year there is incest, genitals on live television, a nervous breakdown, a dead rat, and copious amounts of alcohol.

This book is hilarious from start to finish. Centered around the inner workings of a shopping network, sort of an R-rated version of the old Mary Tyler Moore Show (for anyone either old enough or versed enough in 70's trivia). The set up at the beginning is that one of the hosts gets fired for accidently exposing his weaner while modeling a pair of boxers. How this happens and what it leads to will give any reader tons of laughs. Full of riotous subplots with a great, wild ending. Read the book then watch one of the shopping networks, and it'll never seem the same...

Damn, this book is nasty! Author Augustin Burroughs holds NOTHING back in his gleeful lampooning - no - HARPOONING - of the advertising business, a profession he spent many years in. The story is about several folks who work for a television shopping channel. Some are jerks and some are decent. Many twists of fate occur and mayhem ensues. To see where the chips ultimately fall, you will have to read this book. I absolutely could not put this book down and read almost all of it in one sitting.

I also recommend Burrough's sobering yet humorous memoir, Dry

This is Augusten Burroughs (the phenomenal author of Running With Scissors and Dry) only novel thus far. And he handles the form rather well, though he is known for the short memoir-vignette. But he definitely has the potential to write great fiction, and I think he has run out of things to write about from his life (they get less interesting as his books go on). I will say that Sellevision is a little cliche and that at times Burroughs tries to hard. It's like his idea of his life if it were fiction. BUt definitely worth a read.

I read Sellevision after reading Magical Thinking, You Better Not Cry, and Dry. Probably not the best idea - after my reading (and enjoying) the REAL Augusten, this book seemed lightweight. Parts were obviously drawn from the author's real life, but nothing in this book had the hard edge (or humor) of the real life accounts. It made for a fun diversion, easily read in short nibbles, but it is not representative of the fierce power or honest humor of Burroughs' gripping memoirs.

I love all of Augusten Burroughs' work, but reminded myself before beginning this book to keep an open mind, because it was not a memoir, but a fictional story. Because of that, I was able to love this, too.

Anyone that reads his memoirs and expects Sellevision to be along the same lines, will be heartily disappointed. The only thing the two seem to have in common are the name on the front of the book and the hilarity within.

This review may seem somewhat disparaging, be aware that it is not; it is merely advisement for devoted fans to keep an open mind so that they can enjoy this wildly amusing work.

First, let me say that Augusten Burroughs is one of my favorite authors overall. But this book just did not work. I kept waiting for it to get better, and wanted to throw it across the room when I finally finished it. I wanted my money back. More than that, I wanted my life back -- the time I'd wasted reading this. The characters are despicable and unlikeable. I checked into the order of his work, and found that he'd actually written this BEFORE "Running With Scissors." In my opinion, each book he's written has gotten consistently stronger. Running With Scissors was good, but a bit uneven in pacing and dragged at times. "Dry" was perfection. "Magical Thinking" was outstanding as well. I feel like Burroughs' talents have evolved as a writer, and Sellevision was a sophomoric effort. I think they are riding on his other successes to get this published and sold now. Or at least that's what I thought until I saw so many positive reviews for the book. Still, do know that his other books are ALL memoirs and this is fiction, and it just doesn't have the same voice at all. The whole thing felt very forced to me.

Sellevision, By Augusten Borroughs, is sadly dissapointing. It is predictible and childish. By neglecting to develop some of the characters the depth of the main character is limited. This is the story of Peggy Jean, the second leading host on the home shopping network, Sellevision. Peggy Jean is plagued by a stalker, and then devoleps a drug addiction. Lame. Another character, Max, has an embarrassing moment reminiscent of that is broadcast live on national television and is forced to leave his job at Sellevision. To handle Max's struggle to get a new job, Burroughs resorts to a gay cliche in a plot riddled with Cliches. turns to gay porn. Another character, Leigh, has an affair with the boss at Sellevision, and struggles to obtain his love. Bebe, the lead host on Sellevision, is very lonely, and channels this abandonment through shopping. She starts to go on a wide array of dates through the internet.

The thing that really bothered me in Sellevision, is that, the gay man conquered the least. In most books I read, the homosexual man is put down. I thought this would be different from a gay author. I know the world can be more difficult for gay men, but I thought that possibly, for once, the gay man would triumph. All the characters in the book make great accomplishments, While Max struggles to keep hold of his life.

I found Mr. Burroughs two memiors, Dry and Running with Scissors. That is what made me want to read this book, the fact that I really enjoyed his other ones, RwS more than Dry. And I don't feel I wasted my time.

I don't read that many humor books and this one really brightened my day and amused me. But it was also light and it didn't seem there was any real climax. It pokes fun at loads of people, using cliches and sterotypes. But everything seems wrapped up almost a bit too tightly.

The characters are a bit too two demensional for my tastes but still amusing, which I'm sure was the intent. This book didn't really make me think, it was a bit mind numbing, but again, I think taht was part of the intent.

Not a horrible book overall, a ligth read, easy to get through and a great day passer.

I'm not surprised to see some reviewers express astonishment that this is AB's first novel. In my view its the best. The other books which have been mentioned are only so-so for me. They are however, different books. You have to have a particular sense of humour to get this book, and let's face it not everyone is going to get it. The "show don't tell" mantra is clearly expressed in this book. I was entralled by the writing which not only brought the characters (unsavoury or otherwise) to life but gave me such a vivid view of what I was reading coupled with a laugh out loud experience I have rarely gotten with other books. In fact, one other author does this for me - Hunter S Thompson. The observations are knife sharp. This book isn't about plot really, for me, its like reading a well executed tawdry, bawdy comedy which opens up the world of repression, obsession and cheap consumer consumption. Brilliant.

I found Mr. Burroughs two memiors, Dry and Running with Scissors. That is what made me want to read this book, the fact that I really enjoyed his other ones, RwS more than Dry. And I don't feel I wasted my time.

I don't read that many humor books and this one really brightened my day and amused me. But it was also light and it didn't seem there was any real climax. It pokes fun at loads of people, using cliches and sterotypes. But everything seems wrapped up almost a bit too tightly.

The characters are a bit too two demensional for my tastes but still amusing, which I'm sure was the intent. This book didn't really make me think, it was a bit mind numbing, but again, I think taht was part of the intent.

Not a horrible book overall, a ligth read, easy to get through and a great day passer.

I'm not surprised to see some reviewers express astonishment that this is AB's first novel. In my view its the best. The other books which have been mentioned are only so-so for me. They are however, different books. You have to have a particular sense of humour to get this book, and let's face it not everyone is going to get it. The "show don't tell" mantra is clearly expressed in this book. I was entralled by the writing which not only brought the characters (unsavoury or otherwise) to life but gave me such a vivid view of what I was reading coupled with a laugh out loud experience I have rarely gotten with other books. In fact, one other author does this for me - Hunter S Thompson. The observations are knife sharp. This book isn't about plot really, for me, its like reading a well executed tawdry, bawdy comedy which opens up the world of repression, obsession and cheap consumer consumption. Brilliant.

Augusten Burroughs displays his biting wit and a tinge of bitter sarcasm in his novel "Sellevision." Like "Soapdish" of the television shop-at-home crowd, all of the real action takes place in the private lives of its screen stars. Following the antics of several "home shopping network"-style television personalities, Burroughs again thrills with his humor and insight, proving that he is an author to watch!

If you're looking for something "out there" and off-the-wall funny, then read this book. This is the third book I've read by Burroughs, and I've enjoyed all of them. Each character in this book has a very unique problem, yet each one is hilarious. From the peeking penis incident to the hairy woman, you will find yourself saying, "Oh my lord!" This book gives you a behind the scenes look at a home shopping network, but with twists. If you know how to take Burroughs, you'll love this book. Give it a read!

The first fictional tale in Augusten Burrough's repertoire (and his first book), "Sellevision" is a tongue-in-cheek look behind the scenes at a home shopping network. Rife with quirky characters and on-and-off-camera hijinks, "Sellevision" is a quick read, and a fun retreat from reality. Light and clearly written, this is an enjoyable book, but one you probably won't mind leaving on the beach after you've finished it.

I didn't like "Running with Scissors," but wanted to give the author another chance. I really enjoyed this book! It was quirky, sarcastic, and completely over the top. The characters at "Sellevision" are a motley mix of characters one might see at any large corporation, and their rise or fall is dependent on the tides. I couldn't sleep and read it in a few hours. It's not great literature, but it is a great read!

Never having heard of Augusten Burroughs until my sister sent me the Washington Post review of "Running With Scissors", I didn't know what I was missing. Now I do and I want more. I read "Running With Scissors" then went back and read this book. I seldom read novels but real or imagined, Burroughs' characters are as remarkable as the situations in which they find themselves He seems to really love his wild assortment of human beings and to appreciate their plight. No preaching, no redeeming social value, not really even a story, just a bunch of everyday oddballs you miss as soon as you finish his books. I really like Augusten Burroughs and am happy to say I've had a few friends who closely resemble him.

Having worked at a 'Sellevision'-esq place, although I won't get into specifics, I was rolling on the floor- laughing while reading this. It was so much like the real thing, it amazed me. I'm a HUGE Burroughs fan and wasn't too sure if a novel would be a good read by him, but I was wrong. Being able to relate to the subject made this book a million times more enjoyable, and I can see how many readers weren't big fans. Being able to connect made it easier to visualize the situations and characters. If you work for/worked for QVC, HSN or any of the other 20 or so shopping channels, you MUST read this book!

I became a fan of Augusten Burroughs after I bought Dry. Sellevision I enjoyed it even more. Burroughs definitely has the same quick wit and I never before have a come across a book that had the harsh realities of life sound so funny. I love Burroughs' writing. Grab this book if you want to laugh at anything that has gotten you down at work or just in life.

Augusten Burroughs "Sellevision" is a Dazzling Diamonelle of a read! I really loved this book because, as my friend who turned me on to it commented, "It's like the movie Soap Dish set in the world of television retail." The book goes behind the scenes showing us glimpses of the glamourous lives of TV retail hosts and hostesses. The biting humor of the book made me want to go out and buy some of the outrageous products touted on Sellevision such as Moisture Whik Control Panties, the Running Wolf simulated turqoise cabochon belt buckle, or Joyce's Choice Mid-Life Oasis Foaming Bath Puree supposedly created by star of the small screen, Joyce DeWitt. This is a campy read that will have you laughing out loud. If you enjoy dark humor but are looking for a fast and light read, this is your book!

Twisted yet real, hysterical yet sad-what a great story! I consumed it in one terrifically enjoyable sitting. The TV sales-hosts are so like the audience they're selling to it's frightening. Trailer-park chic backdrops tell a lot about our own materialistic tendencies. When can I place an advance order for Burroughs' second novel?

A GREAT READ! The other reader reviews have spoken enough of the plot and the crazy cast of characters such as the immoral Jesus freak, the unloved, the envious and the jobless homosexual TV anchorman. So rather than rehash, let me just say this;
This book reads like a Bret Easton Ellis novel without the violence. If you are into ironic satire, this is your book!

Sellevision is by far the least enjoyable Burroughs book I've read so far. Although the premise is quite interesting, the execution falls flat on its face. I didn't become invested in any of the characters and couldn't care less what happened to them. The storyline never fully captured my interest and I was basically reading the book just to finish it, not to find out what happened next.

However, what annoyed me the most is that the book is rife with misspelled words. One that springs to mind is "trillian", which was correctly spelled "trillion" later in the book. I find it hard to believe that a book by a best-selling author can be published and sold with so many spelling errors (especially when I paid $13 for it).

Sellevision was a huge disappointment.

Sellevision. Can we say BRILLIANCE? Augusten Burroughs had such writing talent that he can take a subject like home-shopping networks and make it so witty, humorous, and interesting that I couldn't put it sown. If you are reading this and are even considering buying this book, DO IT!!! You will not be disappointed in the least when you read this novel that has the perfect balance of comedy, drama, and jaw-dropping situations. Augusten Burroughs had yet to wirte a book that is not sheer genius, and this novel is a prime example of this.

Sellevision is a terrific dark comedy. The characters are great, the book well-written. You will laugh out loud. I wish there had been more of it. I couldn't get enough of the characters and their antics. If you like Carl Hiassen or Douglas Coupland, I think you will also enjoy Sellevision.

I bought this book because I went to a conference in which Burroughs gave a pretty decent speech. I read two of his books (Magical Thinking and Sellevision) and the humor must have gone over my head. I don't really care what grown ups do in their spare time, as long as it doesn't frighten the horses, but this one seems cliche-ridden and the jokes fall flat. I know the literary marketplace has niches, but Sellevision's only redeeming virtue was that it was a quick read. He missed some of his best opportunities at humor, and the "poetic justice" fizzled out when the exploititative director of programming John Smythe winds up happily divorced with his jailbait girlfriend at a cheap motel. Max, the gay protagonist goes from flop (no pun) to failure to porn star (I wondered how long it would take for him to get there, since the plot development almost telegraphed it). Thin on plot, two-dimensional characters with cardboard brains. How long did it take the author to dusctate this one? Mybe John Watters could do something with it, but he would have to bring it to life with a decent writer.

The third book by Augusten Burroughs is as enjoyable if not more so than his previous two. I plowed through this book in two afternoons, it was so funny I had a hard time putting it down (except when I would drop it by accident I was laughing so hard).

For his first piece of work, I was surprisingly appreciatitive of the same style, detail, and work that goes into many of his pieces. At first, I was concerned that the book not being a memoir (like his other book) would not work or capture the same interest, but I was gladly surprised when I continually laughed page after page. Augusten IS my favorite author and its nice to see that his pieces are so fluid and consistent.

The book was good for the most part - very humerous. It got a little soap opera-ish towards the end. If you are into very intellectual books that you learn things from, this is not the book for you. However, if you are just looking for some good "trashy" entertainment, then definitely read this book. Burrough's is a fantastic writer Sellevision was the last book of his I read. It borders on the "come on" theory - as in "come on, like that would really ever happen" but it was definitely a fun read and i found myself laughing outloud several times.

What a riot! This book is my introduction to Augusten Burroughs, and it certainly won't be the last of his that I read. If you're looking for something light that entertains but doesn't demand a lot of you, Sellevision is the way to go. It's constantly funny and easy to read in just one sitting.

I loved Sellevision! I saw the author speak in Boston last year, prior to reading any of his books. This was the first one I chose to read, and I certainly don't regret it at all! The book will really make you check twice next time you find yourself channel surfing and pass QVC or the Home Shopping network... It's amazing how the world of the main character falls apart so fast, and from such a high altitude. Enjoy this book, and read it a few times.

I went into this book expecting nothing and i would now tell anyone who is looking for a funny,silly book to read this one. I felt like i was watching tv the whole time. A good book if you are looking for something fun to read.

Fun idea, great writing style, but Burroughs seems to want to take down everyone in the story who is successful. So aside from some great humor, the tale spirals downward into a grave dug with spite and petty revenge.

Starts out well, but ends badly. I was disappointed, since everything else he writes is spectacular.

I loved this book! It is hysterical and still, weeks later I think of little things from the book (like the TV remote/lotion dispenser) and I giggle insanely. Very clever and a wonderful satire about 3rd rate celebs. A must read.

The story starts out funny and becomes absolutely hysterical. If you're annoyed by pompous religious idiots, you'll love this book. The world of TV shopping is well-researched, the characters are true to themselves, and the whole thing is quite the wild ride. It's witty and almost poetic. One of the best reads in years. I'd like to see Borroughs indulge his fiction jones more often.

This book made me want to watch the shopping networks - just for the humor of it all. (And no, I've never watched or bought before.) Everything in the story is described as if it were for sale, including the characters. I couldn't put this book down and ended up finishing it in one afternoon. A very entertaining laugh at the shopping mentality and the people behind it. "Get your order in soon -- this item is sure to sell out quickly!"

I am a devotee of Augusten Burroughs' other writings and read this one last. It is quite amusing but it is more in keeping with light (and, granted, very funny) satire by Dave Barry, say, than Burroughs' usual trenchant style. Therefore I would recommend it as being quite entertaining but it might disappoint those used to Burroughs' later works.