Literary Lollapalooza, April/May Edition

Okay…so yeah, yeah, yeah I skipped a month and cheated by doing two months together. Big whoop. Wanna fight about it?

I read some really good things but found myself really short on reading time, so not as much as I’d like. I make up for it, though, by pimping. Seriously. Read on.

This is Literary Lollapalooza, April-May 2010 Edition.

Books Read These Months: Never Let Me Go by Kashuo Ishiguro, Y: The Last Man by Vaughn, Guerra, and Marzan, Bedwetter by Sarah Silverman, Becoming a Successful Manager by Grossman and Parkinson, The Next 100 Years by George Friedman, The Life and Times of a Transitional Boyfriend, Vol. 1 by Ryan E. Barbe, The Passage by Justin Cronin

Books Acquired:

Fiction: The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall, Netherland by Joseph O’Neill, Tell-All by Chuck Palahniuk, The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, The Magicians by Lev Grossman, Say You’re One of Them by Uwem Akpan, Faithful Place by Tana French, Another Thing to Fall by Laura Lippman, The Passage by Justin Cronin and The Zoo Story and Box by Edward Albee

Non-Fiction: Becoming a Successful Manager by Grossman and Parkinson, The Life and Times of a Transitional Boyfriend, Vol. 1 by Ryan E. Barbe, My Horizontal Life by Chelsea Handler, Confessions of a Cineplex Heckler by Joe Queenan, and Parting the Waters by Taylor Branch

E-Books: The Life and Times of a Transitional Boyfriend, Vol. 1 by Ryan E. Barbe

Books Borrowed: Bedwetter by Sarah Silverman

Currently Reading: The Great Perhaps by Joe Meno

Reviews of These Months’ Books:

Never Let Me Go by Kashuo Ishiguro

Never Let Me Go is a rare piece of fiction that is part science fiction, part literary coming-of-age tale, and part mystery. Set at an exclusive boarding school, the book centers on a trio of friends, tracing their friendship from grade school to adulthood. Theirs is a life of privilege, and every care is taken that their creativity be cultivated and encouraged. But there is a secret being hidden from them: a secret so dangerous and profound that its coming to light is sure to alter their lives forever.
Okay seriously, I can’t get anymore specific without giving away key plot points here. But trust me this is a hell of a book. Deeply engrossing and intriguing, it is a book that works on many levels at once. The mystery at its core that turns the entire premise upside down is sure to inspire moral and ethical debate, but the heart of the novel lies in the emotional reality of the deeply drawn and affecting characters.
That Ishiguro takes what could be a simple and effective science-fiction or mystery/thriller premise and recasts it as a heartbreaking and emotional coming-of-age tale is proof positive of his not-inconsiderable talents as a literary craftsman. Spellbinding fiction.


Y: The Last Man, Vol. 1 by Vaughn, Guerra, and Marzan

I have a confession to make, before this time I had never read Brian K. Vaughn’s now classic comic Y: The Last Man: I know, COMIC BOOK NERD FAIL.
What many consider to be one of the finest written comic book series in the EVER, and has subsequently made it into pop-culture history via its legion of adoring fans who have paid it honor in their own subsequent pop-culture entries (Chuck, Heroes, Lost…I’m looking at you.) How did I let it go so long without tracking it down? I honestly don’t know. What I can say is that it has a very interesting premise: Inexplicably, at the same instant on the same day every man on Earth dies suddenly leaving a world populated solely by women. Oh yeah, and one guy.
The comic book tells the story of this post-apocalyptic world and the lone guy trying his damnedest to stay alive despite vehement opposition from a sect of uber-feminists, while also single-handedly carrying the last Y chromosome on the planet. It is funny, terrifying, and absolutely pitch-perfect.
Vol. 1 is called Unmanned and it tells the beginning of the story, how we got be where we are and who the main players are going to be. Outside of that it’s pretty thin. I’m sure the characters and plotting will get better as the story goes along, but already at this early point it is a sharply drawn and vividly told intro to what I’m sure will continue to be an intriguing series. I look forward to following the adventures further.

Bedwetter by Sarah Silverman

I’m never sure with comedians what I’m getting when they publish a book. A memoir, a collection of comedy bits…a self-help book? (Paul Reiser…I’m looking at you.) It’s a dicey thing, always has been. Are they going to be honest and show they can be more than funny, even…dare we say…damaged? Are they going to publish their comedy acts by rote? Are they going to moralize and try to proselytize about how we can be more successful versions of ourselves? I was very pleased that the real Sarah Silverman showed up for her memoir.
That’s not to say she’s trying to be serious, either. Silverman is dangerously funny, and seems honestly unable to keep from being funny. The consummate class clown, she’s always looking for her way in: the first and best opportunity to say something ridiculous and outrageous. She needs the attention! Let’s not fault her that. We all have our foibles, if mine were near as entertaining as hers were I’d be amazingly obnoxious. Okay, more obnoxious than I already am.
The surprise is how emotionally tuned-in Silverman turns out to be: She is at once honest, self-critical, vulnerable, and defensive. She recounts her life and career with clear-eyed introspection, and calls herself on her own bullshit, her own hang-ups and idiosyncrasies. The result is a charming, informative, funny, and emotional memoir. Probably the last thing one would expect from the girl most likely to make a vagina joke. But then again, maybe not: the title is in reference to her uncontrollable problem of peeing the bed through all of her childhood years and even into her teens and adulthood. Living with something as embarrassing as chronic bedwetting is sure to put one on the offensive. Maybe that’s why Silverman is always the first to go just a little too far. In any case this is a highly enjoyable memoir, from her days as a hairy little bedwetting Jewess at summer camp, to her days as an underappreciated non-ivy-league SNL writer, Silverman is uncompromising and unflinching. I expected something fun and funny. I got so much more than that. I got a peek into Silverman’s real life. Oh, and dick jokes.

Becoming a Successful Manager by Grossman and Parkinson

This was homework. Go ahead and make fun of me. Jim and Carmen already did. I just wanted to read something that would help me feel more comfortable making this career adjustment in my life. So I got a “be a better manager” book. So what? Big deal!
Now, the truth is…this is pretty fundamental shit. Really. This book really is the reason people make fun of these books. Example: Listen to people when they talk. Really? That’s your advice? Show them you’re on their side. Ooo-kay. Be positive. Yep, sure thing. Lead by example. Puh-lease. This thing is a cliché wrapped in a joke beat over the head with good intentions.
Okay, so now that I know that people respond better when you treat them with respect I feel better about my abilities as a manager.
Skip it.

The Next 100 Years by George Friedman

I approached this book, in many ways, as a joke. A fun diversion. I mean really, Friedman honestly tries to predict the future 100 years on this planet in terms of geopolitics? It’s ludicrous. It’s ridiculous. Mexico will be our next major world power? Ok, sure. China is going to be a geopolitical non-entity in the next 100 years? Whatever.
At a glance Friedman’s foray into the future is an elaborate guessing game. A parlor trick involving crystal balls and ominous knocking on tables and walls. But then something interesting happens: It starts to make sense. Slowly, of course, bit by bit. But before you know it, you’re nodding along in agreement, certain that he’s got it dead right. This is the way the world is going.
Geopolitical forecasting is far from a science. It is far from flawless, and it often leads to incredibly ridiculous conclusions, which undermines its credibility, making it harder and harder to believe or buy into the stuff. Then you start reading further, and suddenly it’s not so hard to believe. Suddenly, Mr. Friedman is making a lot of sense.
I’m not saying there is merit to any of the claims in the book at all: on the surface it all seems rather inconceivable. But you never know. Maybe he’s right.
I really enjoyed this book, and please don’t try to convince me one way or the other, I enjoyed it. Let’s leave it at that. I think in the end it got me thinking about world politics in a way I hadn’t been thinking previously. I really don’t believe any of it, per se. But I like the thought it inspires, the conversations it encourages, and the questions it urges.
Maybe in the final analysis, it is not the answers we should be seeking, but the dialogue. A fascinating read, nevertheless.

The Life and Times of a Transitional Boyfriend, Vol. 1 by Ryan E. Barbe

THIS. IS. THE. BEST. BOOK. EVER. WRITTEN.

Go buy it now!!! This is the link for the lowest price. (You eReaders out there can get it for $3.00!) (http://www.authorhouse.com/Bookstore/BookStoreSearchResults.aspx?SearchType=smpl&SearchTerm=ryan%20e%20barbe)

Okay, seriously. The first four pages of this book are the best I’ve ever read…or wrote. Okay, so I’m shilling for my friend Ryan here. But to be honest I wrote the forward to this memoir/travelogue, so in all honesty I should be shilling.
This collection of short essays is a jumble of recollections, memories and running commentary on various travels and exploits Mr. Barbe has encountered during his time on this planet. It’s good plain fun. It’s a fast read and an enjoyable one. The stories range from a short one or two page ramble to a full-fledged travelogue through Tennessee whiskey country. It’s filled with delightfully colorful characters, most of which I have the honor (and sometimes shame) of knowing. Myself included.
Just do me and my friend Ryan a solid and buy the book. It’s cheap, it’s entertaining, and you get to read the first book of a very dear friend of mine. Spoiler alert: Me and President Dubya appear in the same story! Oh yeah, and those first four pages? Dynamite, I tell ya. Pure literary gold.


The Passage by Justin Cronin

You’ve all heard the buzz on big books before they’ve come out. The papers are always touting the next BIG THING: The next blockbuster that you haven’t even heard of yet. Avid readers, prick up your ears: If you haven’t heard of it yet, The Passage by Justin Cronin is THAT BOOK.
This hotly touted new title has garnered Mr. Cronin a multi-million dollar deal to flesh out a trilogy of books continuing the story, and Ridley Scott has optioned the film rights. And it hasn’t even been published yet. The Passage is set to drop next Tuesday, June 8. And ladies and gents, run do not walk to your local Borders superstore and pick up this hefty tome because this thing is going to be huge.
I first became aware of this book last November when I attended Times Talk Live with Stephen King and Janet Maslin. In the interview Ms. Maslin asked King what books he was excited about, and he said there was a new book by a young guy named Justin Cronin that was incredible. He called it, way back then, saying this thing was one of the best things he’d read, and that he was excited because it would be coming out this summer. Well folks, summer is here. And…wow.
The Passage is an epic sci-fi/horror novel most easily compared to King’s opus The Stand. Starting at a point a few years ahead of us in the future (but basically modern day) we see the creation of a top-secret military weapons operation and how it goes horribly dreadfully wrong. I know, not really new ground there, but what Cronin does with the premise is astounding. Spanning generations and multiple sets of characters that are wholly unrelated, this is epic storytelling unlike most anything being written.
At its most basic The Passage is a biological vampire tale much like The Strain or Patient Zero, where vampires are created by a viral strain (here they are called simply virals. Or smokes. Or sticks. Read the book, you’ll get it.) But where this novel exceeds its peers is in the scope and vision. We see our world. We see our world die. We see the remnants of a world in chaos. And then we see the world reborn. At 700+ pages this is a pretty hefty beach read, but you won’t find a more engrossing and engaging beach read this year.
Cronin is a highly-skilled writer and his words flow effortlessly. He deftly balances character and action and finely-hewn details to create not just a believable fictional world but several. Friends, we have seen the arrival of a major new voice in fiction.
What else can I say? Buy this book. Trust me. You will thank me for it.