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Created in Darkness by Troubled Americans: The Best ofMcSweeney's, Humor Category, a collection from the clever young writers that bring us theMcSweeney'sliterary journal and Web site, and co-edited by their leader, Dave Eggers, is funny from the first page. And by "first page," we mean the table contents. Of course not every essay, list, and swatch of dialogue are created equal, but the collection has many tasty morsels that are well worth a read, a read to friends, and then a re-read, after a decent interval has elapsed.
Most appealing in the book's starting lineup is J.M. Tyree's "On the Implausibility of the Death Star's Trash Compactor." Humorous as well as thought-provoking, this essay makes the perfect amuse bouche for what is arguably the collection's main course of hilarity, "Fire: the Next Sharp Stick?", "Candle Party," and "Unused Audio Commentary by Howard Zinn and Noam Chomsky, Recorded Summer 2002, for theLord of the Rings: Fellowship of the RingDVD (Platinum Series Extended Version), Part One," all to be found in the early middle. Though a familiarity with candle parties, Howard Zinn, sharp sticks, and other topics satirized in this book is helpful, it's not necessarily required for understanding the jokes. The biggest risk here is binge-reading, as you may exchange audible laughter for the feeling that you are being force-fed an ice cream sundae. If you pace yourself--say no more than four to six pieces at a time--you should have the energy for the final third, including the funny list marathon at the end. Or save a few portions for later when you are really starving for a good laugh.--Leah Weathersby
Hm. My rating stars may be tainted. I was so extremely bored by the stories, that the time I got to the lists I was almost falling off of my couch laughing. I loved the lists. Loved. But I must be honest and wonder if this was a true literary effort, or a study regarding the effects of different types of comedy on vaguely intelligent human beings.
If the latter is the case, myself and my boyfriend were tearing the book out of each others hand to giggle endlessly over the absurdity of the contents.
Cran-Pepper Hen Loaf, Spiced Saucetail, And Fleen Overall this is an excellent book, with only a few disappointments, which are inevitable in a compendium of this nature. My favorite part of the book is at the end, and consists of humorous lists (my title comes from a list by Steven Tomsik, "Eleven Lunch Meats I Have Invented") of all varieties.
McSweeney's is always a mixed bag, and this volume is no exception. Most of the material is very good, yet there are some articles that are weak or overly lengthy ("Journal of a New COBRA Recruit" and "Unused Audio Commentary by Howard Zinn and Noam Chomsky, Recorded Summer 2002, for 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring DVD (Platinum Series Extended Edition), Part One'" come to mind here, respectively). Despite these exceptions, the majority of the pieces are very clever and entertaining. Especially noteworthy are "How Important Moments in my Life Would Have Been Different if I Was Shot Twice in the Stomach", "Fire: The Next Sharp Stick?", and "A Letter From Ezra Pound to Billy Wilder, 1963", to name but a few.
This book isn't for everyone, but people who are inclined to academic humor or clever wordplay will love it. I highly recommend this book. Perhaps you can enjoy it over a brumschlagen sandwich. GET THE DOOR. IT'S ... THE LUNATIC FRINGE! Now, more than ever, Americans are troubled.
By bladder-contol, erectile dysfunction, evolution and cat litter. By Humvees masquerading as family sedans, and SUVs that brake for cracks in the pavement! (I mean, really! Who are these morons?) By a government that spews out cant about "morality" and "values" and lies like Hitler at a torchlight rally! By Celebrity Bimbos (male, female, and not sure), who have taken it upon themselves to "explain" to us how we should feel about everything from Bush to babies. By childish books about Da Vinci Codes and Sorcerers' Stones that out-sell anything containing an actual original idea! By ...
... Well, you get the idea. Nothing seems quite right any more in the Great Republic; it's all just ... well ... wrong! Despite the fire-and-brimstone blandishments of the `New' Right, despite the timid bleatings of the Other Guys (what's the name of our "Opposition" Party again? I can't seem to remember) ... we're still troubled. Terribly, terribly troubled. It's evident from the state of the "culture" (Low Brow, Middle Brow, Hi!, and Not Sure), that we've reached a sorry state indeed.
What to do?
Well, you could do worse than follow some our brightest minds across the thin line that separates "us" from The Lunatic Fringe. If this collection of offerings is anything to go by, the trip is short and painless, and it's not nearly as Dark and Fearful over there as you'd think. Sean Condon's "Pop Quiz" for instance sheds considerable light on the great imponderables: Who's That Girl? Why Do Fools Fall In Love? Who Are You? Are You Experienced?, etc., etc. And Tom Ruprecht provides convincing, albeit anecdotal, evidence that "It's Not Actually A Small World" after all. Jim Stollard reveals what you've always suspected: The Supreme Court has nothing to do with the Supremes ... and everything to do with Basketball. Jason Roeder brings "Words of Hope and Wisdom" that'll stick in the craw of insomniacs everywhere. And John Moe provides a representative list of some "Cancelled Regional Morning TV Shows" that'll make your stay out there on the Lunatic Fringe so much more enjoyable ("Wake the Hell Up Knoxville!").
If all of this is too ... well ... Low Brow ... for you, then John Hodgman's "Fire: The Next Sharp Stick" should bring you up to speed on the revolutionary new technolgies that are changing our world; J. M. Tyree's disquisition "On the Implausibility of the Death Star's Trash Compactor," will answer those questions we all have about space excrement (it's a bigger problem than you'd think); and Jeff Alexander's and Tom Bissell's brilliantly insightful Zinn/Chomsky commentary on "The Lord of the Rings" DVD Collection will bring to light hidden depths in ... well ... The Lord of the Rings trilogy!
Though not all of the pieces in this collection will grab your attention, the best have a sort of anarchic brilliance that'll have you howling with laughter. Many of those that don't will catch you unawares when you double dip later. Even the quietly "unfunny" ones have their magic. Give them time.
I'm not an American, but this kind of humor strikes me as quintessentially American. It's intelligent, literate and highly irreverent. No holds are barred, and it takes no prisoners. (What a Crock of Cliches!) Like everything else with Eggers stamp on it, it reminds me of some of the more deranged moments in Zappa or "Catch-22." It bubbles up like a deranged guffaw from an improbable stew of what Ezra Pound'd call "Kitch and Kulcher".
