More Mirth of a Nation

November 1, 2002
Regular readers of the New Yorker's Shouts & Murmurs page and the Modern Humorist will likely have already digested some of the fare in this biennial collection of humor pieces, nearly all of which have been published elsewhere. Though big names like Steve Martin and Bruce McCall are trumpeted on the cover, the real treats can be found in the work of less famous contributors. Francis Heaney's "Holy Tango of Poetry," which imagines the results of poets writing poems whose titles are anagrams of their names-e.g. "I'm Leery Jocks" by Joyce Kilmer, or "Toilets" by T.S. Eliot ("Let us go then, to the john,/ Where the toilet seats wait to be sat upon")-is irresistibly goofy. Tim Carvell's account of his solo attempt at being a Neilsen family (he manufactured a couple of kids and wife named Gladys and made them all Eskimos) should be required reading for anyone who has ever longed to lie on annoying questionnaires. And Jeremy Simon's parody of an existential Zagat's guide is a witty send-up of a city staple (the entry for the opposable thumb reads: "While this 'innovative' evolution-a 'pick-up joint' for the klutzy-is valued by locals for 'synergy' with its surroundings, dissenters dis it as 'overrated' 'finger food'"). Silly lists, "unnatural histories," fake correspondences and countless other oddball selections round out this amusing volume.

November 1, 2002
Regular readers of the New Yorker's Shouts & Murmurs page and the Modern Humorist will likely have already digested some of the fare in this biennial collection of humor pieces, nearly all of which have been published elsewhere. Though big names like Steve Martin and Bruce McCall are trumpeted on the cover, the real treats can be found in the work of less famous contributors. Francis Heaney's "Holy Tango of Poetry," which imagines the results of poets writing poems whose titles are anagrams of their names-e.g. "I'm Leery Jocks" by Joyce Kilmer, or "Toilets" by T.S. Eliot ("Let us go then, to the john, / Where the toilet seats wait to be sat upon")-is irresistibly goofy. Tim Carvell's account of his solo attempt at being a Neilsen family (he manufactured a couple of kids and wife named Gladys and made them all Eskimos) should be required reading for anyone who has ever longed to lie on annoying questionnaires. And Jeremy Simon's parody of an existential Zagat's guide is a witty send-up of a city staple (the entry for the opposable thumb reads: "While this 'innovative' evolution-a 'pick-up joint' for the klutzy-is valued by locals for 'synergy' with its surroundings, dissenters dis it as 'overrated' 'finger food'"). Silly lists, "unnatural histories," fake correspondences and countless other oddball selections round out this amusing volume.

Copyright 2002 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2002
Following the crowd-pleasing "Mirth of a Nation "(2000), editor Rosen offers a second anthology of the funniest voices in America writing today, with a helpful introductory warning not to drink milk while reading. Along with such comedy veterans as Steve Martin, Ian Frazier, Bruce McCall, Merrill Markoe, and Paul Rudnick, Rosen includes dozens of up-and-comers, generously shining the spotlight on a new generation of talented humorists. Standouts include Judith Podell's instructional "Blues for Beginners" and John Moe's "Terrible Names for Hair Salons" ("Shear Hostilit . . . Dude, I'm so Buzzed . . . Mein Coif"), as well as Chris Ware's novelty company ads, selling products like "Dramatic Cigar," "New Thing," and "Magic Adjectives" ("Just the thing to modify your product or service!"). Near the end, Henry Alford's "Questions for Reading Groups" posits that a biennial may just be "a book that's afraid to own up to the truth about itself." Could be, but with 175 pieces and more than 60 contributors, this supremely entertaining biennial includes something to please just about everyone--except, of course, readers who identify themselves as serious. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)