Nonfiction Book Annotation

The Coloring Book
By Colin Quinn


Synopsis:
Comedian, former SNL "Weekend Update" host, and native New Yorker Colin Quinn has lived around people of various ethnicities and races his whole life.  He has also noticed Americans' rising levels of political correctness and sensitivity on these topics.  Quinn wonders what we are all so afraid of, as all ethnic groups have differences but this diversity should be celebrated and not denied.  Quinn asks the question of why acknowledging these cultural differences has become such as taboo in today's culture.

In The Coloring Book, Quinn explores this question while describing his many experiences with fellow New Yorkers of every ethnic background, from his young childhood through his early comedy years to today.  He describes cultural and ethnic stereotypes he believes are comical, are based on truths, have been warped and distorted over time, are actually offensive to the group, and why.  While this book explores Colin Quinn's personal opinions on race and ethnicities in America, Quinn helps people of any background learn to laugh at themselves... and sometimes others, too.


Some Elements of Non-fiction Titles:

Narrative Continuum:
This book somewhat reads as a novel as it goes through Quinn's life, from childhood to where he is today, with a few other observations and side notes thrown in.  Throughout the book, readers see how the different experiences in Quinn's life shaped his views of the world and the people around him. 

Subject:
This book is written by a comedian on the subjects of race and ethnicity in America, so it has elements of comedy books along with some semi-serious discussions and observations on people in various ethnic groups throughout recent decades.  People who like books which take a comedic look at social issues would enjoy The Coloring Book.

Storyline:
While the book is easy to read, Quinn seems to be writing for the dual purpose of entertaining his readers --he is a comedian after all-- and helping to educate them on general ethnic and cultural differences active in America.  The parts of the book where Quinn describes which stereotypes are actually offensive to each group and why are especially in the "teaching" and "educating" category.

Pacing:
This autobiographical- and memoir-type book has a decently fast pace to it.  This is likely due to the fact it reads more like a novel than a traditional just-the-facts non-fiction book.  Comedy books such as this one seem to usually have a faster pace to them.


Read-alikes:
Sick in the Head: Conversations About Life and Comedy by Judd Apatow

Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life by Steve Martin

I'd Rather We Got Casinos by Larry Wilmore

Instant Mom by Nia Vardalos