The Driver's Guide to Hitting Pedestrians

By: Andersen Prunty

Narrated by: Andersen Prunty

Length: 2 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's Summary

A pocket guide to the 23 most painful things in life, written by the most well-adjusted man in the universe.

Does it make you sad to be alive?

Boo-hoo. You're living all wrong.

My name is Andersen Prunty. I'm happiest while napping. I am a man with tennis shoes. They get older every time I put them on. This is how I deal with the pain of being alive. Now is our chance to deal with our pain together. You'll thank me later.

©2011 Andersen Prunty (P)2013 Andersen Prunty

How did I live without this vital information?

What did you love best about The Driver's Guide to Hitting Pedestrians?

The idea behind the entire thing. At first I thought it was so stupid but when it was over I was begging it wouldn't end.

Which character – as performed by Andersen Prunty – was your favorite?

I just can't choose.

Any additional comments?

Mr. Prunty's books are completely unique in every way. I enjoy how this is so digestible and challenges my every conviction. Just think of the most insane things you can come up with then multiply them by 100 and put it into a book. I love it.

Hire a Good Narrator

I really like Andersen Prunty, I own several of his books, the printed ones are great, but I have a problem with his narrating, I know some people like his narrating, but for me he almost puts me to sleep, and some of his narrating, on some books are annoying. When he does hire a narrator it is mostly enjoyable. But like I have said in the past, I think Andersen is a talented writer, I just wish he would consider using a narrator on more of his books...Okay enough of my ranting on the narrating. For you folks who do not know Anderen Prunty yet, check him out, either in printed form or audible, and I think you might be pleasantly surprised, he has a lot of books to choose from. I received this audiobook for free in a promotion, and I am voluntarily giving my honest and unbiased review.

I cannot think of a title…

Since when did being confused and appalled, disbelieving equal entertainment. Not to mention having the book read to you from someone who sounds like he is on the verge up killing himself. I guess the day this book came out. The narrator who on a personal note I just want to say smile, baby it’s going to be all right! Back to the review sounds likeHe is just trying to decide whether to hang himself or slit his wrist. Anyway, this book is like a book of train wrecks and call racks and plane wrecks all the things people find it hard to look away from. They even have a man who has a litter box just like your cat is the kitty litter box he is a box of litter in the back of this van so when he’s riding around running over pedestrians he doesn’t have to stop and use the bathroom. So if you like watching cops, because it reminds you of home or it’s the only family home movies do you have this is the book for you. I’ll joking aside it was confusing I was dismayed at times but I listen to the whole thing in one setting. Either this guy is a genius or him and I are both idiots. I’d like to think it’s the former. They are original short stories and when I say original I mean very original from a group of laughing people who take you out of your house and if you cannot join the laughter they beat you to death. Yes that is the whole story. You just have to read it I cannot do it justice. Clearly I loved it! Get it!

A collection of short stories read by the author

Short story collections are always a tough one. A reader/listener can connect with all of them, some of them or none of them. When they are read by the author, as in this case, the tones of the story are set well as the narrator being the author knows exactly how they wanted the stories portrayed. That being said, I add this to the review: We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. This particular set of shorts was tough for me to get into. It had a few I enjoyed such as the one about purchasing an author (great metaphor for buying a book). This series may resonate better for you than for me. Give it a go. P.s. not recommended for young listeners. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator or publisher

Odd

I received this book for free. I am voluntarily posting this review and all opinions expressed herein are my own.

I thought after reading the title and the blurb - I would really love this collection of stories. I didn't enjoy this at all - in fact, I could not even finish it. After listening to a few of these stories, I was just left wondering - What was the point of that? Why were these stories written? This book has good reviews so there is an audience for this, but clearly I'm am not one of them.

The narrator of this book is the author himself. His delivery is very mundane and droning. Unfortunately, this narration style added to my dislike of these stories.

Fun

A mix of bizarro flash fiction
From the rules of a pedestrian hitting game to a man with a chainsaw mouth this is a great peek into the world of the weird
Well narrated by the man himself check it out
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review

Kept me entertained, even while puzzled

A new-to-me author and a bit of a departure from my usual reading with Andersen Prunty's short story collection comprised of mainly short flash fiction pieces. The common theme judging by the contents page is pain.

Contents
The Driver’s Guide to Hitting Pedestrians Pain: Pedestrians
The Laughing Crusade Pain: Laughter
Architecture Pain: Work
Chainsaw Mouth Pain: Teeth Napper
Pain: Consciousness
Princess Electricity Pain: Light
The Balloonman’s Secret Pain: Longing
Reading Manko Pain: Authors
Alone in a Room Thinking About All the People Who Have Died Pain: Death
The Tailors Pain: Pants
The Champion of Needham Avenue Pain: Winning
Teething Pain: Rebellion
Toss Pain: School
Where I Go to Die Pain: Fate
The Ohio Grass Monster Pain: Friends
The Cover-up Pain: Fathers
Lost Pain: Mustaches
Dog in Orbit Pain: Relationships
Two Children Who Want to Drive Off a Cliff Pain: Childhood
Rivalry Pain: Neighbors
A 3-Legged Dog Dying of Cancer Pain: Pets
Divorce Pain: Separation
The Melancholy Room Pain: God

Best story for me was the title piece, The Driver's Guide to Hitting Pedestrians where a competition exists for drivers to do win points for doing exactly that. Kill them and you lose points, oh and every time you score you have to take the victim to the hospital. A big money prize awaits the winner. Simultaneously there is a pedestrian competition with a prize for obviously not getting hit.

I quite liked some of the others, insofar as they display a great imagination and fascinating ideas, obviously the product of a creative and possibly diseased mind....... a moustache that disappears during oral sex and is next spotted in a porno when his ex-partner appears on screen copulating; a man who's teeth up sticks and depart his mouth, returning later, each with a partner; a girl who stands on a rooftop generating electricity for a town. I can't say I understood the point of them all or that they made any great sense but. I can't say I was bored by the collection either.

The best bizarro/speculative fiction I've ever read. Actually the only bizarro/speculative fiction collection I've ever read. Passed the time, kept me entertained and brought a smile to my face occasionally.

3 from 5

Read - (listened to) July, 2020
Published - 2011
Page count - 108 (2 hrs 23 mins)
Source - Audible purchase
Format - Audible

Hit and dump.

I found the stoties concept strange, and ridiculous.
The narration by the author, was a huge No No... He sounds like a depressed stoner, tired of... Well everything.
I gave the book 15 minutes, and l just couldn't give it any more... High adrenaline movements and action, read in this way is, depressing... Punctuation is also ingnored.

A Poorly Handled but Intersting Idea

The Drivers Guide to Hitting Pedestrians has potential. Unfortunately very little of that potential was unrealized. Somehow I found this audio-book boring even though the concept definitely wasn't.