I was discussing those “Chicken Soup” books today with a friend. We both agreed they are very inspiring and uplifting. I was wondering if anyone had any stories to share along these lines. I have only read “Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul”. I don’t have a story, but I do have a sweet Sheltie named Blaze who is a joy to come home to. No matter what kind of day I’ve had, he always makes me feel good with his happiness to see me.
Any stories to share?
Ummm, no, I don’t like them. I won’t risk insulting you by telling you my unedited opinion on them, but lets just say that I don’t find them uplifting.
Of course, I haven’t been able to read an entire Chicken Soup book. Usually someone gives me an excerpt, or reads me part of theirs, and that’s plenty for me. But I’m glad that you get something out of them. If it works for you, keep reading them.
Hmmmm…no wonder you didn’t enjoy Fight Club.
I’ve thrown around the term “Chicken Soup for Shitheads” more than once in the Pit - I guess I associate them with those sappy “heartwarming” forwards about angels and puppies and the self-help stuff along the lines of “7 Habits of Highly Effective Corporate Drones”. But the truth is that…
(for all of you hoping for some kind of revelation of Maggie’s sappy side, sorry to disappoint)
…I’ve never actually read one. So they could be incredible inspirational and uplifting. I’m glad they work for you and that some people find comfort in them. There’s something about them that says “not for me.”
I do read and enjoy the chicken soup series of books. Like Delores said they are very inspiring and uplifting.
Actually, I find them quite depressing.
Gag gag gag…
http://www.rinkworks.com/peasoup/
Warning: if you like you are offended by bitter, sarcastic and mean parodies, please don’t click this link.
(I know you will though…teehee!)
Fuck no.
Yer pal,
Satan
*I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR:
Six months, three days, 19 hours, 2 minutes and 32 seconds.
7471 cigarettes not smoked, saving $933.97.
Extra life with Drain Bead: 3 weeks, 4 days, 22 hours, 35 minutes.
I slept with a moderator!*
Yeah, I know they’re really corny, but what does that have to do with not liking Fight Club? Are you insinuating I’m not intellectual enough to understand Fight Club 'cuz I like Chicken Soup stories? I didn’t get to see all of it because I was outvoted and the movie was due back at the store. I was also trying to cook dinner, so I probably didn’t pay enough attention. From what I saw I was confused and so I didn’t like it. I was glad I had a forum in which I could ask about the ending, because I almost always watch a movie all the way through.
There are several facets to my personality. Don’t you have a sappy bone somewhere in your body? The one that makes you tear up when you hear of a dog getting rescued off a roof in the middle of a flood and returned to his owner? Or the story of a kid who survives cancer, or something? These stories are corny, sappy, and sweet. Just right for sad, depressing times when you want to feel better.
Sorry if I’m over-reacting, and I know you said you’re glad I liked the books, but that Fight Club remark felt like a put-down.
Dolores, the Fight Club comment was NOT a put-down! Fight Club is a dark, dark, dark, dark movie that wallowed in its own cynical nihilism- the OPPOSITE of Chicken Soup for the Soul. Notice I didn’t say anything about you not “getting” Fight Club, just “no wonder that you didn’t enjoy it.”
I do have a little bit of a sappy side - I have a warm fuzzy kitty that runs to the window to watch me walk down the street when I leave for work in the morning and meets me at the door when I come home, and I coo over her and talk to her in the most silly way. I read a lot of poetry. I really like hugs. But the Chicken Soup books (I’ve read excerpts in the forms of forwarded email glurge and reviews) do NOTHING for me. The stories seem so contrived, not uplifting at all to me - like a lot of things that are designed to be “inspirational” - all the emotional impact of Footprints in the Sand shellacked onto a cross section of a tree and hung in the front hallway.
Sorry this thread didn’t turn into the warm fuzzy “I love those books too, and this is the story that changed my life” hug-fest you were hoping for - I debated about just keeping my opinion to myself but since I’d used that phrase so often in the Pit thought I might as well be honest. I’m hardly alone, judging by the rest of the responses.
Despite the fact that some of the stories in these books should have inspired the editors to call them “Corn Chowder for the Soul,” I admit that a number of these stories moved me. I don’t know why so many people are down on the fact that others are touched and inspired by these books…“too sweet,” “sickeningly saccarine,” “friggin’ happy endings,” etc. Like lolagranola sez: “if it works for you…”
…what’s wrong with a little positive philosopy?
Sorry Magdalene. I’m PMS’ing. Of course you’re entitled to your opinion! I didn’t mean to get so defensive. 
I wish someone who did like them would post a good cheerer-upper for me, though. PMS sucks.
Sorry, Dolores, I’m with magdalene on this one.
I don’t mind at all if you or anyone else likes to read them (although it does look like the author and publisher are just milking the market by now), but it drives me crazy when somebody (and there’s always somebody) insists on mailing those stories around or pinning them up on the bulletin board.
I admit some of the stories are corny, but deep down inside I have a major sappy bone. A few of those stories have brought a tear to my eye. I have almost every copy. I don’t go around shoving them in peoples’ faces and saying, “Read this or die!” though. I keep them to myself. In fact, I’m kinda selfish with my books, so they don’t leave the house anyway.
Satan has condensed and expressed my own feelings better than I ever could. quote: Fuck no!
I thought you were going to wait for marriage to do tha-- oh, not what you meant.
(Note: I apologize to everyone, everywhere for that comment… but you see, it’s been a long week, and that was the first thing that popped (ha!) into my head, and… I’m sorry. I just had to.)
I’ve read some of them; some stories are good, some are stupid, and some are nauseating. I have nothing againist the people who worship the book, but I usually prefer to read something else.
I also think they’ve started going to far with the series, especially when it hit “Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul”
There is a parody book our there called Chicken Poop for the Soul.
I think that title is a dead-on description of the Chicken Soup series as well.
I’ve read a few of these books – especially at my in-laws house where there is nothing else to read. I will admit that a few of the stories thumbed my one of my ‘sappy buttons’ – children, long marriages, patriotism… And, I read a few that tickled my funny bone. However, the vast majority of the stories just triggered my gag reflex.
I don’t particularly care for them. And since they rip off and exploit their authors*, they are, at base, a bunch of hypocrites.
*Chucken Soup authors are paid a flat fee for their stories. The books make millions but the publishers can’t be bothered to share that (via royalties) with the people who are responsible for their success.
Isn’t there also the Beavis and Butthead version: Chicken Soup for the Butt?
I WANT IT! I saw it at Borders and it was so funny!
I thought of some alternative titles:
Tomato Soup for the Communist Soul
Chicken Soup for the Souless
Vegetable Soup for the Vegan Soul
Blood Soup for the Vampire’s Soul
Chicken Soup for the Pervert’s Soul
Human Soup for the Cannibal’s Soul
The first one I read was the original book. I liked it a great deal at the time.
It was, however, when I kept on getting them as gifts… I got chicken soup for the teenage/teenage II, graduate’s, christian’s, daughter’s… one or two more that I’m forgetting.
It got old… I never did read the rest of them.
