Wes Locher's Blog - Posts Tagged "amusing"

Dave Barry's Greatest Hits by Dave Barry


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is one of those timeless humor books that holds up just as well today as it did when it was initially released 15 years ago! Dave Barry's mastery of the written word is at peak performance with this collection of columns. When they stuck the words "GREATEST HITS" on the cover, they were absolutely not lying.

Sure, some of the events and people discussed within these pages may be dated, but if you were alive for those times (or took a history class in school) then you'll still appreciate a fresh and hilarious perspective.

This book contains my all time favorite Barry column titled "Molecular Homicide" which tells the tell of the author having the flu and what happens when he is unable to get out of bed to monitor his young son's activities. This column alone is worth the price of the book. If you enjoy that column then there are plenty more that will tickle your funny bone.

This is a good starting point for anyone getting into Barry for the first time. It's a book that's easy to pick up whenever you have a few minutes and since each column is only 2-3 pages in length you can always come back to it later without having to worry about remembering what you read previously. Though don't be surprised if you find yourself reading some columns numerous times! It's a perfect book to keep in the bathroom for those quick visits, or in the kitchen for when you're microwaving some food.

If you make it through his "Greatest Hits" then I highly recommend "Dave Barry's Only Travel Guide You'll Ever Need," followed by "Dave Barry is Not Making This Up."
You can't go wrong with any of his books, but I found the 3 mentioned to be the funniest.

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I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
If you read the quotes that adorn the front and back covers of Sloane Crosley's "I was Told There'd be Cake" the you can see that she's compared to humorists Sarah Vowell and David Sedaris. These are dangerous comparisons for some writers as they are high standards to live up to. Does Crosley sit on that same level? Sometimes. When she's on, she's on, but there were also some essays that just missed he mark completely.

Part of this book reads as a love letter to New York City, but for me, someone who has never been and does not live there, references to common locations often went over my head and occasionally made me feel like I wasn't "in the know."She opens strong with a tale about plastic ponies that sets the bizarre and silly tone for the rest of the book, however, the rest of the essays that follow either exceed the first in quality or falter altogether.

I highly enjoyed her tales about suffering through a distant friend's wedding as a bridesmaid, as well as her story about working for a publisher, and laughed my way through the mystery to uncover which of her friends may have poo'ed on her floor one night after a dessert party. Some essays fell flat and I was unable to relate either because I'm not, nor do I ever plan to be a woman, or because I am not a vegetarian. The style in which the essays are delivered are conversational, as if she's a friend telling you the story in person, but there are often quick and confusing cuts between thoughts, and her humor is mainly situational and you have to look for the irony in the situations she gets herself into. Her attempts at straightforward jokes are sparse and often feel forced and out of place.

Overall I found the book amusing and perhaps better suited to a female audience, but I think Sloane has a ton of potential. I've heard that she has a new book on he horizon, and based off of my experience with "Cake," I will more than likely give it a read as I'm sure that she has had more time to find her voice and develop her style a bit more. I look forward to seeing her grow as a writer.

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