Another hilarious collection of short stories with heart from Simon Rich. This book literally had me cracking up to the point that my wife basically mAnother hilarious collection of short stories with heart from Simon Rich. This book literally had me cracking up to the point that my wife basically made me read sections aloud to see what all the fuss was about. Even though I'd read a few of them before in The New Yorker (notably, 'Mario', 'We're Not So Different, You and I', and 'Thanksgiving Rider'), they were still hilarious the second time around, and I know I'm going to go back and re-read them again when I need a pick-me-up.
My favorite stories were the aforementioned 'Mario' and 'We're Not So Different...' 'Punishment', 'Riding the Rails', and 'The Emperor's New Clothes'. But honestly, each one was fantastic in its own way.
I've heard people deride Rich's work as a little formulaic, which might be true, but goddamn if that formula doesn't hit every time for me. He's the funniest author going for my money, and he can have my money for as long as he keeps putting these books out....more
I generally like it darker. I like it when a story has an unhappy ending, especially if it's well-earned. But what's interesting about this book, is tI generally like it darker. I like it when a story has an unhappy ending, especially if it's well-earned. But what's interesting about this book, is that Stephen King has the opportunity, time and again, to take the darkest possible route with his stories. Sometimes he does, usually when it's one of his shorter tales such as 'The Fifth Step' or 'Red Screen'. But more often, when he's really winding a story and getting close to the characters, he seems to prefer to give his characters the grace of a relatively happy ending. And what surprised me the most about that, is that it's what I realized I'd wanted by the time we got there.
King is such a rich storyteller, always making his characters feel warm and lived in, and more often then not, you like them. You don't want them to end up in the worst possible outcome, even if you thought you would when you started. And King clearly has endings on his mind in this collection, as evident right from the jump with the story 'Two Talented Bastids'. It's King's way of grappling with his own unbridled success, and why it happened. If you'd asked me 15 years ago, I'd say that King knew exactly why he was successful, and he detailed it in his quasi-memoir, 'On Writing.' He works hard and is constantly pushing himself to be the best writer he can be. He treats it like a job, even though he could have retired 40 years ago and still had more money than he could ever spend. But that's not what it's about for him - he treats it like work because he loves it.
But here's the rub - couldn't you say that about lots of people? And how many of them have had the success King has had? It's almost as if the years have softened his conviction of why he has so trenchantly connected with fans all over the world. And 'Two Talented Bastids' is his way of grappling with that success. What makes a talented person great? And what makes that greatness connect at the highest possible chances of success? Who knows. Just luck meeting opportunity? Or maybe it's aliens.
The most interesting thing about this story to me was what King was saying with the ending. Does he think his kids, relatively successful as they've been, are as talented as he is? Is he admitting that it's all luck, even when you put your thumb on the scale? Who can say. But it's a great way to kick off the collection and really set a tone that King matched throughout. Thoughts on each of the stories below.
Two Talented Bastids - Incredibly well-told story about a night in the woods that changed everything for two friends in terms of their career success. Especially interesting for what it says about talent and how being able to turn natural ability into success is often inscrutable. Also interesting for what it says about nepotism, especially given the relative success of King’s sons in their respective fields. The end of the story could almost be seen as a dig or at least somewhat meta commentary on them, especially given that it leads the book. I don’t necessarily think this is what King was going for, but it begs the question.
The Fifth Step - A short and sweet (or sour?) little story that draws on King’s deep knowledge of twelve step programs and battles with alcoholism, before taking a fun and nasty turn at the very end. I loved it, this is what short horror fiction is all about, and it benefits from King’s ability to tell a well-written story that tugs on your heartstrings without taking a turn for the macabre. You never quite know if it’s meant to be uplifting or horrifying until the very end, when it makes its intentions all too clear.
Willie the Weirdo - Not really sure what this one was after. An interesting twist, but almost feels like a longer story crammed into a shorter one. I didn’t really understand what King was getting at in his depiction of Willie. It had a “We Need to Talk About Kevin” type of aura hanging over his depiction, as in what do you do when your kid is inherently rotten, but then it kind of gets subverted by the ending. I’m not really sure what Willie’s relationship with his grandfather was meant to indicate, other than the supernatural twist that closes the story. All of King’s stories are well-written and engaging, so it’s not bad, I just didn’t totally get it.
Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream - The book’s longest story, it’s a riveting tale about mistaken beliefs and obsession. The obvious nod to ‘Les Miserables’ in the name of the obsessive (in more ways than one) Inspector Jalbert is a nice touch, and it’s a fast paced and engaging story. I would argue that it doesn’t go as dark as the title of the collection would imply, but truth be told, I didn’t want it to. Danny Coughlin seemed like a good man. A twist to the contrary, while interesting, might have been ultimately disappointing, as would a darker turn at the story’s end that is hinted at but quickly snuffed out.
Finn - An interesting spin on “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” strangely set in England (or Ireland), and yet chock full of American references. But maybe that’s part of the surrealism of the story? Finn has bad luck his whole life, and is kidnapped in a case of mistaken identity? Or is he? It’s all up for interpretation, explicitly mentioning Ambrose Bierce’s famous story at the end to ensure that we’re properly flummoxed.
Slide Inn Road - Awesome little story. King does a great job of just recreating the tension of a family car ride. You viscerally feel like what it’s like to be in that car, lost, GPS not working, the dad a powder leg just waiting to go off. I’ve been in that car on many a trip as a kid, and it brought me back, for better or worse. Then realizing it’s a Stephen King story, so you know some shit is going to go down.
Once again, King undercuts his own title again. This story absolutely does not get as dark as it could have, a darkness that King sometimes engages in (and his son also did to terrible (in a good way) effect in NOS4A2), but lately prefers to give a relatively happy ending. And honestly, I’m fine with it. King is so good at creating atmosphere, and allowing the implications of what could happen speak for itself without being explicitly acknowledged. You know the threat of sexual violence and torture exist without it being voiced by any of the characters. He’s able to allow your fear and disgust to bubble to the surface without having to speak into being the unspeakable acts that may follow. And you know he’s capable of taking it there - he did it a few stories ago.
So when the denouement of the story is American whippersnappers these days are too soft, probably because they didn’t have to suffer through a war that affected everyday citizens, it’s actually great, and kind of a sense of relief. Because King isn’t being a boomer, he’s admitting culpability in both sides of the coin. He’s both the no nonsense Grandpa in some ways, and the milquetoast scared dad, too.
Anyway, I really liked this one.
Red Screen - I really liked this take on “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” but I wanted more. It was dissatisfying as a short story - I hope he fleshes this one out into a full length book.
The Turbulence Expert - Just okay for me. Wasn’t especially interesting or exciting. Sort of like if ‘Final Destination’ premonitions saved people, rather than condemning them.
Laurie - One of my favorites in the collection, this story is nothing showy, a story of a grieving widower who reluctantly accepts a pet puppy from his sister, and the way it ultimately helps him heal. Because it’s a Stephen King story, you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop - is the puppy evil? Some sort of demon waiting for the right moment to strike? The actual horror is much more realistic and much more powerful.
Rattlesnakes - The much anticipated sequel to Cujo, this story features one of the best lines in the book - “The world is full of rattlesnakes. Sometimes you step on them and they don’t bite. Sometimes you step over them and they bite anyway.”
One of the most classically scary stories in the book by the end, the first 2/3s or so deal with the low-key haunting of Vic Trenton following the death of his wife, and the processing of his recent grief over her passing (as well as the time together that was lost following their break-up after the death of their son during the events of Cujo) as well as life during COVID, and works excellently on those merits. The final 1/3 deals with Vic’s high-key haunting of two dead children near his vacation home, and the way he depicts it is unique and powerful. It’s haunting as a mental illness, akin to OCD, and the realness of that is terrifying.
It’s a great addition to the King canon and a must-read for Cujo fans. There are also a number of references to Duma Key (which I haven’t read yet), that should be satisfying to fans of that book.
The Dreamers - Another favorite of mine. A tight story about a Vietnam vet whose PTSD has left him sleepwalking through life, despite being objectively talented. He’s drawn into the vague experiments of an independently wealthy mad scientist, who is searching for connections to a world just beyond ours. He finds it, and surprise! It’s more than he bargained for. Relatively short, but powerful in its depictions of post-war life for a vet and what horrors may lie beyond our understanding.
The Answer Man - King may have saved his best for last. In the afterword he mentions this is one he started many years ago and was inspired to pick back up and finish recently, and it’s all the better for it. King is again grappling with his own encroaching mortality, and this story speaks to that fear of the unknown beyond in a beautiful way. The answers we seek may not come from the questions we ask. But a life well-lived will always be worthwhile....more
It’s always darkest before the dawn. Some really messed up things happen in this book, but it wraps up in a really lovely way. Hard to believe KirkmanIt’s always darkest before the dawn. Some really messed up things happen in this book, but it wraps up in a really lovely way. Hard to believe Kirkman and company was able to land the plane so beautifully. A true achievement in storytelling. I only hope the series can live up to it....more
A must-read for Office super fans, this book really does a deep dive on the history of ‘The Office.’ There’s nothing in here that’s shocking, but it’sA must-read for Office super fans, this book really does a deep dive on the history of ‘The Office.’ There’s nothing in here that’s shocking, but it’s great to hear that everyone on the show seemed to be genuinely good people (especially Steve Carrell, who every single person associated with the show lavished with praise from every conceivable angle, from his kindness to his talent and professionalism and everything in between).
There’s some fun tidbits and great insight. Everyone seemed to feel like season 8 (the Robert California year) was a low point, and although James Spader was a good sport, it sounds like it was a fun experiment that was ultimately a failure (side note - James Spader talked about being broke like half a dozen times - Spades, what are you spending your money on my man? My goodness…). I loved hearing that Stanley’s character was shaped by him rushing across town in brutal LA traffic from another audition and being a little disheveled and cranky as a result. Lots of fun stuff like that sprinkled throughout, and everyone seemed to realize even at the time what a special experience it was....more
The way this book deals with heavy philosophical issues while also being insanely entertaining is sublime. Without getting into spoiler territory, I’lThe way this book deals with heavy philosophical issues while also being insanely entertaining is sublime. Without getting into spoiler territory, I’ll just note that the characterizations are excellent, the story and plotting are fantastic, and it’s just entertaining as hell.
The thorny way Cecil and a Mark have to weigh the overall greater societal good with the moral good is really interesting. It’s funny seeing where both of their lines in the sand are and the way their allegiances shift. The way Cecil rehabilitates D.A. Sinclair, but won’t even consider that Dinosaurus (and the fact that I can’t help but feel ridiculous seriously contemplating the moral implications of a character named Dinosaurus, and yet he’s such a compelling character that it proves my point that a comic can be silly, fun, and still have thoughtful, intelligent and meaningful observations about life) could be equally rehabilitated and serve a greater good. It’s about power. Dinosaurus’ methods are wrong, but he doesn’t care about power, only the long-term health and survival of the planet and its larger inhabitants. He sees humans as just another part of the ecosystem, but an important one. But you don’t worry about razing an ant colony building a playground. He sees it as the same thing.
Cecil on the other hand is obsessed with power in the name of a greater good. But only his view on it. Robot and Immortal similarly have a different but similarly complicated perspectives, and those perspectives are similarly further complicated by their long lifespans (which also applies to Mark, Nolan, Oliver, all viltrumites really).
Anyway, it’s great. Couldn’t wait to jump into the next one and I feel so bad for people who had to wait months for each next issue....more
Invincible might be my favorite comic book ever, certainly since Watchmen or The Killing Joke. The plot is zippy and funny, but contains depth and patInvincible might be my favorite comic book ever, certainly since Watchmen or The Killing Joke. The plot is zippy and funny, but contains depth and pathos that most comics only hint at, and the artwork is second to none.
A friend lent me the 3 volume compendiums after we talked about how much we were enjoying the Amazon Prime series. This first compendium more or less covers these first two seasons of the show, but allows the space for a deeper, more fulfilling experience (although the changes the show makes, both to character and plot, are good ones, though it doesn’t take anything away from the viewing or reading experiences).
Recommended for any comic fans or fans of the show....more
A fascinating look at just how many supporters fascism and the Nazi party had in America prior to Pearl Harbor. It’s both somehow comforting and distuA fascinating look at just how many supporters fascism and the Nazi party had in America prior to Pearl Harbor. It’s both somehow comforting and disturbing, given how bad things are in this country right now, to know that things were similarly divided in the run up to the United States’ entry into WWII. Hart does a fantastic job setting the stage with Charles Lindbergh’s America First rally in the summer of 1941, the last time it seemed possible America could have done more than dabbled in fascism prior to the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. It also really illustrates just how seminal a moment that was, and had Japan not jumped the gun, causing American patriotism to coalesce and rally around a clear enemy, things may have gone another direction.
Hart beautifully illustrates those important flash points in American history where things could have gone in another direction by highlighting a number of organizations (far right groups like the Bund and Silver Legion), individuals (congressman, private business owners, far right religious figures, and even college students and faculty) and political adversaries that were primed to bring about American fascism under the right circumstances.
I was left with a chilling recognition of how easily the road not taken could have led to a wholly different outcome for the United States. For example, had Charles Lindbergh gotten more directly involved in politics and become the front man for the America First movement sooner, he may have had a real shot at unseating Roosevelt. If that happened, who knows if Japan would have attacked at all, and Britain may have been left on their own against Germany. Had Hitler’s spy network been more of a priority and well-organized, it’s entirely possible the threat would have come even more directly from inside the corridors of power in Washington. It’s further chilling to think that far right figures of today, such as Vladimir Putin, has learned from these mistakes and been far more successful in prioritizing that kind of instability in American politics. One need to look no further than current MAGA figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene and how hard she and her far right colleagues are working to limit aid to Ukraine to realize that it’s already working, and most of the population is totally unaware of the threat to our democracy right under our noses.
What this book showed was that this type of subterfuge was always present, but perhaps less effective. I used to believe that Donald Trump was a 21st century Hitler analogue. While there are certainly still similarities, I know think that Putin is the greater threat, and understand that Trump is simply a tool to achieve his goals. Unfortunately, it’s working incredibly well, and I worry that the historians of the 22nd century may not be able to write a book like this one. That’s why it’s so important to understand the past, a fact that Hart clearly realizes, and does a wonderful job making clear throughout, without making the direct connections to our present day.
I was especially galled by the avarice of wealthy business owners like Henry Ford. Their not only willingness, but seeming excitement to work with the Third Reich was disgusting, and sadly reminiscent of our current American oligarchs. If there’s money to be made, capitalists will find a way to justify it, and evidently rarely pay any real price for it. Just put out a company wide apologia and move on to counting the money.
Overall, a great book by Hart and a chilling reminder that although the past may not repeat, it certainly rhymes....more
A must-read for fans of The Get Up Kids, obviously, but also for anyone interested in the realities of life as a working band. Although the level of fA must-read for fans of The Get Up Kids, obviously, but also for anyone interested in the realities of life as a working band. Although the level of fame is different, the realities of life on the road reminded me of 'So You Wanna Be a Rock And Roll Star' by Jacob Slichter, drummer for Semisonic (best known for their hit 'Closing Time'). It's mostly mundane, with bits of chaos thrown into the mix.
I'm a huge fan of Pryor's music, and although he can come off as a little prickly (which I think he would admit to, and more or less does, throughout this book), he's very genuine and it's great to hear his memories of the early days of The Get Up Kids and formation of The New Amsterdams. He's a rarity in music -- a (mostly) clean-living guy who just loves his wife and has stayed loyal to her and his band for over 20 years, and it's clear he and his bandmates are all good guys (which is probably why they're still able to go on tour 20 years after their peak, unlike so many of their contemporaries who have been effectively cancelled).
I do wish there was a little more shared on the broader emo/punk scene around that time, because it was really a golden age. He says that if you're interested in those stories, they've been shared elsewhere, to which I say - where?! I want to read them, Matt, point me in the right direction! I did love his Vagrant Records 20th anniversary podcast from a few years ago, and that definitely scratched that itch. The one with Jim Suptic delved a bit into why The Get Up Kids never became as big as they should have -- essentially, Matt missed his wife and was sick of touring, and they missed their shot. It's a shame, because they were infinitely better than some of the bands that stepped into their place (and better guys, to boot), but that's life. They still lived their dream and can make a living on it, which is more than most can say. Still, it would have been nice to hear a little more about that, and how he feels about it now in more depth. Maybe for his next book......more
I'm a big fan of the podcast '60 Songs That Explain the 90s', upon which this book is based. I thought that, having listened to virtually every episodI'm a big fan of the podcast '60 Songs That Explain the 90s', upon which this book is based. I thought that, having listened to virtually every episode, this book wouldn't have much to offer me, but I still wanted to support Rob Harvilla, so I read it anyway. There was definitely some redundancy, sure, but much like David S. Pumpkins, it's really it's own thing.
Harvilla makes the wise decision to group each song into loose but broadly accurate categories, such as 'Sellouts or Not' 'Villains + Adversaries' and 'Big Feelings'. In a way, it's more coherent than the podcast that spawned the book, as it gets right to the music and discussion with less diversions. Then again, the diversions are kind of the best part of the podcast, so take that for what it's worth. Which isn't to say there's no riffing at all - it's there; it's just, shall we say, edited.
I love Harvilla though. His enthusiasm, his broad knowledge of music and music history, and how much he genuinely loves music are all traits that make both his podcast and this book so engaging and enjoyable. If he has a flaw, it's that he gets a little hyperbolic about mediocre art. For example, take this line from the section on TLC's Lisa 'Left-Eye' Lopes:
“Lisa Lopes died in a car crash in Honduras on April 25, 2002; the 21st century is so much emptier without her in it, without TLC at full power guiding it.” (P. 69) We're talking about the same group here, right? TLC? No Scrubs? Red Light Special? We all loved the 'Waterfalls' video, man, but let's not get carried away. Not enough? Don't worry, Rob can go even more over the top about even less consequential music. To wit, from the section about Juvenile of 'Back That Azz Up" fame:
“And then Juvenile jumps on “Back That Azz Up” and raps every last line - “Girl you working with some ass, yeah/You’re bad, yeah” — like it’s the chorus, like it’s the best chorus ever written, like every last word should be etched onto your family’s coat of arms.” (P.97) Jesus Christ, Rob. Seriously, settle down. Not even Juvenile feels that way about the song. I know it's a little tongue-in-cheek, but even so. At the same time, that's part of the appeal. The guy just loves music.
I especially vibed with the section on mix tapes and mix CDs. It really brought back the memories. It reminded me of a girl I briefly dated in college who actually put the whole Sunny Day Real Estate album that Harvilla discusses in the book on a literal mix tape for me in college (and Ultimate Facebook, for what it’s worth). She actually had the Sunny Day Real Estate sun from the “How It Feels to Be Something On” album cover tattooed on her calf (and of course the Nautical Star that was so popular in the scene in those days on the other calf). She was a cool chick, and I really liked hanging out with her until she slept with my friend. I wonder what she's up to today?
I digress, but that's kind of the point of the book. It just transports you back to how you felt listening to those songs, and Rob's recollection of his memories triggers your won recollection. Overall, it obviously doesn’t go as in-depth as the podcast, which makes sense, and for some songs, really makes sense. But it is a bummer when it’s a song you really like and he devotes like 2 paragraphs to it, and really doesn’t link it to a broader theme or even personal anecdote, which happens a lot. But it’s cool, it’s a big ask, and this isn’t that kind of a book. It’s not a giant think piece trying to say something about the broader cultural moment (title be damned). It’s just a dude reminiscing about the songs he came of age with, and yeah, sure, maybe linking them to broader themes when the mood strikes, but mostly just shooting the shit. Like smoking a J and listening to classic tunes with an old buddy. The way he groups the songs together is very well done and surprisingly accurate, and does most of the heavy lifting of contextualizing the 90s. But that's all I'm looking for, and Rob Harvilla delivered. Tip of the cap, friend....more
Douglas Coupland's books are always interesting, engaging, and thought-provoking, and this book is no exception. I enjoyed the breezy, epistolary-stylDouglas Coupland's books are always interesting, engaging, and thought-provoking, and this book is no exception. I enjoyed the breezy, epistolary-style, and even though every character kinda sorta felt like Douglas Coupland speaking through the character to his usual themes, I like his usual themes and I like his writing voice, so I enjoyed it.
Glove Pond, the story within the story, made for a really interesting lens through which to view the rest of the book, and it was made all the better by the ending, which pulls the rug out on the reader in the best way possible...
[(*spoiler alert*] It turns out the whole book is just the main character's writing assignment in a community college writing class, and really changes how you interpreted all the quasi-drama that preceded it. It's like a Russian nesting doll of thought-provocation. It is kind of a mind-fuck to then tease out what was based in Roger's real reality - did he really work at Staples? Did he really have a marriage that ended in divorce due to the death of his son? Was Bethany just a girl who he knew from afar and turned into his muse, or did he have a real relationship with her? Or did she exist at all? How much of Glove Pond was just Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe fan fiction, vs. an actual basis in reality? Was it actually his interpretation of the inner-life of his stuffy windbag community college professor (the answer to this one is almost definitely, yes)? It really made the book for me, and I realized I actually kind of loved the book as a result). [*end of spoiler alert*]...more
Another great short story collection from Simon Rich. This one is mostly a handful of quick, humorous stories, and the novella that would become the mAnother great short story collection from Simon Rich. This one is mostly a handful of quick, humorous stories, and the novella that would become the movie ‘An American Pickle’ starring Seth Rogen. It’s pretty entertaining, and I’d recommend it if that piece of shit David Zaslav didn’t nuke it from existence for tax reasons. Below are my individual thoughts.
Animals - Hilarious opener told from the perspective of a mistreated (is there any other kind?) elementary school classroom pet hamster. Hilarious and heart-warming, as the best Simon Rich stories all tend to be.
Gifted - An upper class mother bends over backwards to give her literal demon son the best in life. One joke, but well told.
Semester Abroad - A love struck college student goes abroad and ignores the local culture in favor of obsessing over her deadbeat boyfriend back home. The twist? Her trip is to another planet. Cute and funny.
Sell Out - The aforementioned Seth Rogen joint. This is the bulk of the book, and it’s clear that Rich could’ve padded it to a full book, but preferred to keep it tight and focused instead. It pays off, as it’s a great story that doesn’t overstay it’s welcome. It has a lot of great points to make about consumerism and the luxury of having money, and it does them in a funny way without being preachy.
Guy Walks Into A Bar - A hilarious inversion of the old 12 inch pianist joke. I absolutely loved this one.
Family Business - A chimpanzee doesn’t want to follow in his father’s footsteps, but still loves and respects him. Another cute one with a nice message.
The Tribal Rite of the Strombergs - When a young man finally beats his father at Scrabble, he’s horrified by the consequences. One joke, but it’s taken to it’s absolute limit in the best way.
Distractions - Maybe my favorite story, about a writer who thinks everyone is out to get him. But just because you’re paranoid, doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you.
Played Out - A hipster takes his disdain for the mainstream to extreme lengths. Amusing and doesn’t overstay it’s welcome, although the resolution is basically the same as Family Business.
Rip - A modern retelling of Rip Van Winkle with twice the skewering of hipsters and yuppies.
Elf on the Shelf - Maybe the straight up funniest story in the collection, one of Santa’s Elves comes to regret his career choice. A true Christmas classic.
Upper East Side Ghosts - A breezy look at how detached old people in Manhattan are. It’s fine.
Big Break - A band thinks they’ve finally gotten their big break, only to have their dreams literally killed. A cute look at knowing when to hold them and when to fold them....more
Once again, a thoughtful review has been timed out by Goodreads. This book was fine. It played a little fast and loose with the timeline, which I founOnce again, a thoughtful review has been timed out by Goodreads. This book was fine. It played a little fast and loose with the timeline, which I found strange, and it had some facile observations about religion and the exploitation of desperate people via reality television, but ultimately none of it was particularly insightful or thought-provoking. It was just there, like a pinata full of empty calories at a kid's birthday party. I know most people either loved or hated this book, and that feels about right. I can see both sides, but it wasn't scary at all, which was my #1 requirement, and it wasn't that entertaining either, which was requirement #2. But I liked it well enough, all things considered. The ending was appropriately ambiguous and grounded in reality. I hated the blog aspect of the book, it was too try-hard. It would have read better had it just been excised entirely (and it goes along with the whole confusing nature of the timeline - when does this book take place? Marjorie is using an iPhone, but Merry is writing blogs some 20 years later? When was the last time you read a blog, even in 2015?), but what can you do? 3 stars feels generous, but somehow appropriate....more
Pretty meh, honestly. It was a decently fun read, and relatively propulsive, but the characters were pretty one-dimensional, and it felt like a fun tiPretty meh, honestly. It was a decently fun read, and relatively propulsive, but the characters were pretty one-dimensional, and it felt like a fun title in search of a plot. It was never really clear why any of the main characters were friends (there was a lot of telling and not showing in the text), character's motivations were unclear, and some of the action was hard to follow. In particular, the inciting incident was an absolute mess - I had no idea what was going on or why. The girls all dropped acid, but nothing happened, and then the titular best friend jumped off a dock during low tide, and somehow disappeared and got lost in the woods? And when they found her she was possessed, I guess? It was strange and hard to follow.
Otherwise, it's a decent quick read. Not very scary, but there's enough rising tension to make it a propulsive enough quasi-thriller, with some fun wrinkles and humor. I prefer my horror with a little more intensity, but overall I enjoyed it well-enough....more
3.5 stars. It's a great read for 'Anchorman' fans, obviously, and a great trip down memory lane for people like me who have seen the movie a few dozen3.5 stars. It's a great read for 'Anchorman' fans, obviously, and a great trip down memory lane for people like me who have seen the movie a few dozen times at least and can quote most of it from memory (I even have 'Wake Up, Ron Burgundy' on DVD and have watched that multiple times, despite it barely even being a movie). So for super fans like me, it's a real treat, and even had some interesting tidbits that I was not really aware of, such as Veronica Corningstone being loosely based on the career or Jessica Savitch, or Ron Burgundy being loosely based on legendary Detroit newscaster Mort Crim (of 'Detroiters' fame to Tim Robinson-stans like me, and probably others outside of the Detroit metropolitan area).
I also appreciated the seriousness with which Austerlitz treated the movie's comedy. He appreciates the absurd humor of the film, and the larger Ferrell-McKay oeuvre, but he also does a good job at getting at what makes it so special and hilarious, without dampening your enjoyment of the source material. He also acknowledges some of the jokes or characters that haven't really stood the test of time without being preachy about it (mostly), while also acknowledging how progressive the politics of the film are (again, mostly).
Finally, he delves into each of McKay and Ferrell's post-Anchorman careers and how they have grown together and diverged, and it's an interesting postmortem on both the movie and the careers of the principle architects of it.
Ultimately, I think the subject matter has a ceiling - how great can a book about 'Anchorman' really be? But the answer was surprisingly good, and that's a credit to Austerlitz, who clearly did his homework in researching the book and the history of the film itself. It's a must-read for die-hard 'Anchorman' fans, and a nice read for people who liked it....more
Loading...
