World Famous Comics: Suzanne Kleid Created in Darkness by Troubled Americans: The Best of McSweeney's, Humor Category
Suzanne Kleid Created in Darkness by Troubled Americans: The Best of McSweeney's, Humor Category
From: Knopf Publisher: Knopf Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 256 Publication Date: August 10, 2004 Release Date: August 10, 2004 Studio: Knopf
Amazon.com Review: Created in Darkness by Troubled Americans: The Best of McSweeney's, Humor Category, a collection from the clever young writers that bring us the McSweeney's literary 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 the Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring DVD (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
Product Description: Now more than ever, Americans are troubled by questions. As sweaty modernity thrusts itself upon us, the veil of ignorance that cloaked our nation hangs in tatters, tattered tatters. Our “funny bones” are neither fun nor bony. Glum is the new giddy, and the old giddy wasn’t too giddy to begin with.
What can be done to stop this relentless march of drabbery? Not much. Nothing we can think of. It’s pretty much too late. The light of August turns to the overcast skies of autumn, and the taunting sting of winter cannot be far ahead on the highway of the road on the horizon. Who can sing a song without words? Maybe Bobby McFerrin, but is there anyone else? Where do we go when the party is over? Perhaps the afterparty. But what comes after the afterparty?
Questions, there are so many questions, and then some queries, arriving via fax. To these we respond in the only way possible: Talk to the hand, because the face ain’t listening. Nevertheless, we present the pages within as an offering of peace, as a message of hope, and as a perfumed hankie of love—a hankie drizzled with the intoxicating aroma that has only one name: ha-ha-oopsie.
...strong feelings that parts were written just for me... ^ Maybe it hints at my age or "demographic", but I was profoundly influenced and thoroughly troubled by this prose. Chomsky on Middle Earth? Cobra recruiting? The death star trash compactor? It's like it was written just for me!
As a mere imitiation of the original idea, I may try to continue the Star Wars essay concept by creating a marketing analysis on the faulty business model of itinerant Jawa scavengers on Tatooine. It's bugged me for a while, but come on, who starts a family business in the desert looking to collect errant droids? It's the desert! Desert+robot bounty=Return on Investment? Clearly there are much more successful droid scavenger companies out there with a lot less hassle. Amortizing a sandcrawler? The mileage is terrible not to mention the poor fit and finish. Attacks by Tusken raiders? The raiders know where the action is, so why not avoid the unhealthy competition? Sure this work suits the Jawa's disposition, but it's probably safer for them to be a lumberjack, drug dealer, work at Disney, or even be a magician's assistant by far!
Clearly an issue of location, seasonality, and optimization of the Jawa's service industry model.
This book is outstanding.
And the Oscar for 'Spot-On Review' goes to... ^ ...Eric J. Baur "Internet Consumer" (for which, see below on the reviews page).
Holy mother of comedy, Batman! Could a 'humor' anthology be any less humorous? I'll position myself slightly to the left(?) of Baur and say, I thought there was more than just one worthy entry in this volume, but no more than half a handful. And by 'worthy', I don't mean in the sense that they were laugh-out-loud funny, but that they prompted a giggle or two -- moments of almost ecstatic relief in an otherwise completely dreary reading experience.
On the other hand, I'll position myself slightly to the right(?) of Baur and say, much as I, too, despise new-SNL, I'd rather be forced -- Clockwork Orange-style -- to watch new-SNL skit after unending skit -- than be forced to read more Egger picks from the McSweeney's humor archives.
Suggestions for future CiDbTA readers (those with copy in hand): 1. read 'chapter' headings (pausing to chuckle occasionally); 2. skip chapter content; 3. deaccession CiDbTA, by any means necessary, from private collection; 4. never speak of this again.
Great doorknob ^ I bought this book thinking it would make a good bookstop. Doorknob. Showstopper. Whatever. I was quite disappointed. This book is not suitable for any kind of portmanteau. It makes you think, however. I had at least three, not, four thoughts while, before, instead and after reading it. For that, I will be inmensely grateful.
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.
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