false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1256228105m/7028402.jpg 22431 3 <I>Created in Darkness by Troubled Americans: The Best of </I>McSweeney's<I>, Humor Category</I>, a collection from the clever young writers that bring us the <I>McSweeney's</I> 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.<p> 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 <I>Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring</I> 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. <I>--Leah Weathersby</I> 23457 2004 Created in Darkness by Troubled Americans: The Best of McSweeney's Humor Category total:579|5:144|4:241|3:154|2:29|1:11| 579 2215 797 75 1 1 false false Wed Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Mon May 26 17:36:01 -0700 2008 Thu Jul 03 09:15:51 -0700 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false true Thu Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sat Aug 08 21:45:07 -0700 2009 Thu Sep 03 10:21:34 -0700 2009
This book is way too full of itself. But what was I expecting? It's McSweeney's! I've found that I get half-way through one of their books, and I just want to stop. The glow of reading something so self-referentially ...more...]]> 3 0 false false Mon Aug 31 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Aug 28 03:07:38 -0700 2009 Mon Aug 31 03:00:46 -0700 2009 http://www.mcsweeneys.net/2008/7/30schme...) , and like the website, I found this book occasionally very funny, often interesting and quite often just missing the mark completely. But after warming up to what it was doing...more...]]> 2 0 false false Wed Dec 24 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Tue Dec 23 10:21:11 -0800 2008 Fri Dec 26 11:13:26 -0800 2008 more...]]> 1 0 false false Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Wed Dec 19 11:00:48 -0800 2007 Thu Aug 21 15:31:13 -0700 2008 more...]]> 2 0 false false Sat Jul 25 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Jul 23 04:51:41 -0700 2009 Mon Jul 27 06:57:26 -0700 2009 more...]]> 1 0 false false Mon Mar 02 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Mon Nov 10 13:22:21 -0800 2008 Sun Mar 15 22:21:27 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Sun Mar 01 10:30:28 -0800 2009 Sun Mar 01 10:31:30 -0800 2009 5 0 false false Fri Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2006 Fri Mar 02 09:29:08 -0800 2007 Fri Mar 02 09:33:07 -0800 2007 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sat Nov 17 19:11:40 -0800 2007 Sat Nov 17 19:19:56 -0800 2007
1: Unused Audio Commentary by Howard Zinn & Noam Chomsky, Recorded...more...]]> 4 0 false false Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 -0800 2005 Mon Oct 01 19:06:00 -0700 2007 Mon Oct 01 19:19:28 -0700 2007
I read this book as I was in between reads of other books. Its not a novel, but reading it in sequence is very entertaining. While i don't believe many will argue it has much of an u...more...]]> 5 0 false false Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Wed Sep 05 10:02:02 -0700 2007 Wed Sep 05 10:09:45 -0700 2007
Funny. Very funny. And a brilliant mix of humor ranging in topic and style. Truly a collection of the very best.

As for some of the essays, I want to immediatley clarify that what some may mistake for pretentiousness is actually the opposite: very educated people ...more...]]> 4 0 false false Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2006 Mon Feb 18 15:02:31 -0800 2008 Mon Feb 18 15:08:16 -0800 2008 the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring DVD (Platinum Series Extended Edition), Part One." That among other pieces make this collection one of the funniest things political nerds like me have ...more...]]> 2 0 true false Wed Jul 09 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Mon Jul 07 18:04:18 -0700 2008 Wed Jul 09 11:33:16 -0700 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false false Mon Oct 12 12:32:04 -0700 2009 Mon Oct 12 12:33:08 -0700 2009 5 0 false false Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Wed Feb 25 13:25:31 -0800 2009 Wed Feb 25 13:26:15 -0800 2009 ]]> 4 0 false false Fri Nov 21 09:03:25 -0800 2008 Fri Nov 21 09:03:55 -0800 2008 0 0 false false Wed Jul 08 10:46:12 -0700 2009 Wed Jul 08 10:46:12 -0700 2009 3 0 false false Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007 Tue Jan 15 14:16:22 -0800 2008 Tue Jan 15 14:16:22 -0800 2008 the Lord of the Rings. 2 stars for comedy and wit. All in all, I liked it just fine.

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