The Book of Letters I Didn't Know Where to Send

by Steve Patterson

Steve Patterson’s The Book of Letters I Didn’t Know Where to Send is a collection of — wait for it — letters, written by award-winning stand-up comedian — you guessed it — Steve Patterson.

The host of CBC Radio’s The Debaters since 2007, Steve Patterson has become a household name, with more than 700,000 listeners tuning in each week. He has performed at several of the Just for Laughs prestigious televised galas, including one hosted by Steve Martin. Considered to be the highlight of the show by the audience and critics alike, Patterson’s performance prompted the legendary Martin to quip, “If I’d known he was going to be THAT good, I would have cancelled him.”

Patterson’s letters, long a staple of his stand-up comedy routine, address a number of recipients, from real people, to groups, to inanimate objects and concepts. He airs grievances, offers support or creates just plain confusion in unplainly humorous prose.

From the political to the personal, from the philosophical to the mundane, no subject — or target — is off limits. Patterson’s letters may not change the world, but frankly, it’s too early to tell. In these letters, he pleads, begs, cajoles, grovels, and always makes a compelling argument. He would like men to stop wearing Spandex bike shorts. He would like airlines to stop selling seats they don’t have. He would like gluten to explain itself. He would like his nine-year-old self to know everything will be all right...

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Canada, Comedy

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 2016

About the author

The host of CBC Radio’s The Debaters since 2007, Steve Patterson has become a household name, with more than 700,000 listeners tuning in each week. He has performed at several of the Just for Laughs prestigious televised galas, including one hosted by Steve Martin. Considered to be the highlight of the show by the audience and critics alike, Patterson’s performance prompted the legendary Martin to quip, “If I’d known he was going to be THAT good, I would have cancelled him.”

In addition to his stand-up comedy and radio work, Patterson has written for several publications, including the Globe and Mail, Irish Independent, London Free Press, Toronto Star, and Canadian Living. The Book of Letters I Didn’t Know Where to Send is his first book.

Reviews

[Hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to start this review by saying that I won a copy of this book by entering a goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

I heard of Steve Pattersons comedy skits and I was thrilled to hear that he wrote a book, and even more excited when I realized that I won a copy of it.

He is a very funny comedian and this was a very funny book.

What I like the most about this book is that each letter is written as a stand alone letter and it doesn't follow through as a novel would. I love this idea because it made it possible for me to be able to read a couple of letters each day and laugh about them and then go on to read another novel without getting mixed up with the plots since this novel doesn't really have one.

It's a very funny pick me up if you need a good laugh or if you have some extra time to kill. He writes about things that some people may think about everyday but don't really question, such as how much the letter "e" is actually used or how there aren't many people named Gary in the world. It's hard to imagine how topics such as knees, household paint and coffee can be funny, but Steve manages to write about these common things in an insanely funny way.
The letters are very short, I think the longest one is maybe 2 pages long so they don't take a lot of time to read at all and you get very good laughs from each one of them.

I would definitely recommend this book to anybody who loves to laugh because that is exactly what reading this book will make them do.

[Connie Lukey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book because as a Canadian, I found it totally relatable.

Who among us hasn’t walked into The Bay with the plucky determination of an 18th century explorer in search of the northwest passage, only to be met with the store’s vast tundra-like interior; its emptiness punctuated only by scantily dressed mannequins in Olympic toques and a high school student who doesn’t know where the washrooms are. We’ve all been there.

The book is a fun, warm hearted read. Fans of CBC’s The Debaters quirky humour will love it.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few weeks ago I attended The Debaters here in Edmonton. Steve Patterson was so funny! He read a couple of the letters from his book p- I think the one to The Bay is particularly hilarious.

Anyway, I was able to check the book out of the library. I had to limit myself to reading just 1 letter per evening before bed so that I could make the book last as long as possible.

I highly recommend that you read this book .

[Jacqueline Mudge-Cooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had started this book, while I was enjoying the show the debaters that he is a part of and now finally finishing this little time capsule of the 2010's in 2025 because sometimes you need a short read a day. Still think he's doing a good job, just can't get to the radio to hear him be a comedian with a day job. Would recommend for those who want a quick laugh or a mindset of the 2010's (Because I'm sure there would be some covid jokes if this was written in now)

[Mike · Rating 1 out of 5]

CBC's The Next Chapter had a great interview with the auhor, and I have enjoyed his humour on The Debaters. So I opened this book with great anticipation. And shortly aftee closed it with disappointment. Not very funny - IMHO - and I didn't like the style of a series of short letters.

[Nada Loughead · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy Patterson in his stand up routine and if you read these letters in his voice, some of them will have you smiling...a nice diversion from my regular reading choices. https://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/...

[Patti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Funny but repetitive after a while.

[Ross Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some laugh-out-loud moments in this book, for certain, but it wasn't hard to put down.

[Jean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Entertaining, flippant.

[Alejandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its a funny and entretaining!

[Ingrid · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave up on this book about halfway through. Sure, the letters are relatable as a Canadian, but rarely actually funny. I just got bored.

[Deb Mohr · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like the humour on ‘CBC’s ‘Debaters’, you will enjoy this book. #1513.

[Samantha Trillium (Just Reading in the Rain)☂ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Mr Patterson,

Thanks so much for publishing your collection of letters you didn't know where to send. I have been a fan of your stand up for a while now, and any time I can, I tune into the Debaters, and constantly harass other people to do so as well.

Your letters are funny but also at times, right on the mark. You get down to business, and are not afraid to have an unpopular opinion on popular issues. Some of your letters are a bit out there, (how impressive you managed to write to several letters of the alphabet and have a "letters worth" of things to say to them!) and some of them are more touching and sweet than funny.

I also think that it is proof that you don't need to be the most academic with countless accolades to your name in order to have a worthy opinion on current events or issues. (Not to say I don't think you're intelligent... )

Yours truly,
Samantha

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to Steve Patterson read one of these letters ("Dear The Bay") at a comedy event a few months ago, and his delivery must have been a big part of the reason I found it so funny at the time because the book as a whole was just okay. There were several good one-liners and I liked the tone, but overall there wasn't much to it.

[Jayme Holmes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate to give any book such a low rating, so should explain this one. His letters are very funny, light and fun to read. Except there are far too many of them. As in, if this book had been 1/3 as long I could have given it a solid 3 and maybe even a 4 star. Sadly I got to a point where it was just, oh another letter to a "letter" of the alphabet....

I enjoy him on the radio, and I no doubt would really enjoy a chance to see him live. But his book - just too much of a good thing, making it mediocre.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really 3.5 stars. However, there were some laugh-out-loud letters (Dear quotation marks in advertising, Dear baseball, Dear Wolf Blitzer, Dear PGA players) and some sweetly poignant letters as well. This is a terrific book to have around when you have a few moments to read but can't embrace a whole chapter at one sitting. Steve Patterson is very funny and this book is charming.

[Joann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to goodreads and the publisher for this ARC.

I quite enjoyed this book and I'm sure any Canadian would find at least some of the letters funny. You definitely have to be Canadian to understand the humour in many of the them.

I'll be passing this on to my 20 year old son as I know he'll get a kick out of it.

[Nicole Yovanoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know that authors would hate to have their hard work as "cute." But it totally was.

A fun, light, fast read that is great for those who commute to work, unless you actual are driving. Keep your eyes on the road buddy!

[Lydie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recommend reading it in bits and pieces over a stretch. The collection is amusing but the premise can lose it's appeal if you read several letters in one sitting. Some of the letters are hilarious, others are kinda meh.

[Joelle Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and amusing read.

[Harold Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this is not a book to sit down and read cover-to-cover, it is fun to pick up for a few minutes at a time for a chuckle.

[SR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so good! Funny quick stories that everyone can relate to. A must read!

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed at this the first time. So in a crazy week I chose to listen to it again. LOVED IT!

[SR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, funny and definitely worth reading!

[Barrette Plett · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I could remind myself to read a certain letter in the "Steve Patterson debaters deadpan", the text was a bit funnier and I caught more of the understated jokes. However, as a "read a few letters here and there" book, it mostly seemed (to me) to fall flat. Some funny parts in most letters, but this seems like a case where one every now and then could be pretty humourous, but a solid dose in a few sittings just felt like work.