15 Comments
Welcome back to the book club! Remember, everyone who comments by 10/1 is eligible to win free books, Lemondrop T-shirts, and who knows what else. If you missed the first question, you can read it here.

Discussion Question 2: Does Russell take his humor too far?
One of Brand's most outrageous stunts is chronicled in the book. This man showed up to his MTV VJ job in London on September 12, 2001, dressed as Osama Bin Laden. While decked out in a turban and a robe, Brand introduces his drug dealer "Gritty" to Kylie Minogue. He is fired two days later. (Makes his jabs at the Jonas Brothers' abstinence at last year's VMAs look positively G-rated.)

Today, eight years later, we still sometimes wonder if it's OK to make jokes about the event. Sure, showing up to host a TV show dressed as the man who masterminded deadliest terrorist attack ever on America the day after it took place is ill-advised (that's being diplomatic), but what about now?

In "The Hangover," we cringed a little at Zach Galifianakis' passing crack about everyone being "so sensitive" about masturbating on planes post-9/11. In the 2005 film "The Aristocrats," 9/11 jokes seemed shocking -- maybe because the comedians were going for the taboo laugh; maybe because the event was still relatively recent.

We're asking: Is this something to joke about? Has time plus tragedy allowed for the possibility of humor? Can there be "tasteful" 9/11 humor? Are Americans overall too sensitive about 9/11, or is it simply one of those no-no topics?

Discussion Question 3: Is Russell at all dateable?
Russell Brand visited "The View" yesterday to promote his hosting of the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday. Brand flirted shamelessly with co-host Sherri Shepherd, which got us thinking about the role of women in "My Booky Wook." Today we'll talk about that in light of his documented in-patient stint at a sex addiction rehab.

In Chapter 21 of "My Booky Wook," Brand writes, "Women were goddesses who could be saved through worshipping. Thus I was forever on my knees before women, hungrily devouring truth, seeking out redemption wherever it may lie -- usually squandered between someone's thighs."

When you read about how he treats some of the women he encounters: spitting in the face of a stripper, taking advantage of girlfriends for places to crash, money for drugs, etc., it doesn't mesh with this idea of the woman as goddess.

It seems like there's only one woman who may truly be worthy of worship: Russell's dear old mum, whom he clearly adores. You have to love a man who loves his mother, but is he a nightmare mama's boy?

Would you date Russell Brand, or is he strictly a one-night stand? Let's put it another way: If you had a daughter, would you want her to date Russell? You might want to keep in mind this tell-all from Russell's ex-girlfriend that appeared in a British tabloid before you answer. What's the worse offense: having a threesome while your SO is off shopping with your mother or having 20 copies of your memoir in your bedroom?

Let us know what you think in the comments. Click "next" for our post-VMAs discussion.