Clowns and Rats Scare Me

by Cary Clack, Naomi Shihab Nye (Foreword)

San Antonians love Cary Clack for the sparkle of wit and wisdom he brings to them in his column in the San Antonio Express-News. But his style and sensibility make his work equally popular far beyond that city. He offers pithy, probing coverage of national issues such as terrorism, racism, and child abuse, but his keen sense of humor often turns to the stuff of everyday life such as the inexplicable power of Krispy Kreme doughnuts and his terror of clowns. The columns collected here sample the best of 13 years' worth of Clack's amusing and thoughtful commentaries, and begin with an enlightening foreword by noted poet Naomi Shihab Nye.

Genres: Essays

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2009

Reviews

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A diverse collection of columns. The humor didn't really work for me, but the more serious stories connected. I felt grief and loss and hope, as he discussed heroes of the human rights movement, tragic victims of gun violence, and the aftereffects of 9/11. Overall, some fine writing.

[Chuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cary Clack is a jewel of a writer who needs to be better known. He writes with the humorous cynicism necessary for a writer to effectively cover politics in Texas, but remains affectionately proud of his home state while recognizing the absurdity of the behavior of many of its citizens, especially its elected officials.

In this, he reminds me of a young Molly Ivins, about the highest praise I can give, although it's a comparison I hesitate to make because Clack is a true Texas original. I compare him to other writers to praise, not classify. Clack loves his home city of San Antonio the way a parent loves his teenage son--sometimes with exasperation, sometimes with pride, and always with an eye toward what he hopes the city can become.

Clack writes about a wide range of topics--Texas politics, pets, old friends, family, his city, his pride in being African-American (he was a correspondent for CNN and wrote speeches for Corettta Scott King, MLK's widow).

Many if not most of his essays are humorous--my favorite is "Men, It's Our Patriotic Duty to Go to Club Boom Boom," written when our esteemed governor Rick Perry got the bright idea to finance public education in Texas by putting a $5 a head tax on strip club admissions. The essay is hilarious while pointing to the silliness of the policy.

Others are devastatingly serious, such as the series of articles he wrote on the 9/11 attacks (his paper sent him to NY to cover the disaster) which are included in their entirety. They stand up well . . .they have the immediacy of news but have the staying power of an H.L. Mencken essay, topical but universal.

Cary Clack is an author you have to discover. Highly recommended.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of editorial columns from San Antonio's own Cary Clack. He writes about current events, pop culture, and local heroes and happenings. Sometimes funny, sometimes moving, always straight to the point and telling the truth. My favorites include: "Shut Out of My Bailout" (comical), "The Colossal Battle Against a Giant Snake (funny), Angel Affirms Girl's Faith (moving), and "On the Road to New York." Mr. Clack writes with honesty and not a lot of flush. When he writes on historical figures or local heroes and role models, you feel as if you have known them. I look forward to reading more of Mr. Clack's columns in the future.