May Focus: Satire![C:\Documents and Settings\Gordon Hauptfleisch\My Documents\My Pictures\1494600343[1].jpg](http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/ghaupt/14946003431.jpg)
![C:\Documents and Settings\Gordon Hauptfleisch\My Documents\My Pictures\1494600343[1].jpg](http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/ghaupt/?action=view¤t=14946003431.jpg)
--Jonathan Swift, Battle of the Books
The ever-voluble Voltaire, one step into the grave on the not-so-merry month of May -- the 30th day in 1778's -- might have characterized such a Swiftian and titular lit tiff as more a war of words when he contended "It is far better to be silent than merely to increase the quantity of bad books."
satirical-like, gussied up for two -- count 'em! -- two societal scoffers, Joseph Heller and Terry Southern, born 1923 and 1924, respectively.Between the calendric extremes lies, to certain degrees, derision-delvers from Ogden Nash, who died May 19, 1971, to Thomas Pynchon, born May 8, 1937. Alexander Pope springs not so eternal, living from the 21st of 1688's month under discussion to the 30th of 1744's.
And though Raymond Chandler, who walked these mean streets until the 26th of May 1959, was ![C:\Documents and Settings\Gordon Hauptfleisch\My Documents\My Pictures\8619100012[1].jpg](http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/ghaupt/?action=view¤t=86191000121.jpg)
not himself satiric, his hardboiled style sure did inspire reams of parodic and satiric pulp-ish prose.
Speaking of influences, Jean Cocteau -- who at the time was seeking to answer the call for a new artistic, avant-garde, and often satiric perspective developing in the 1920s -- helped create the ballet Parade, which was first performed in Paris on May 18, 1917 after being cowritten with Pablo Picasso, Erik Satie and others.
![C:\\Documents and Settings\\Gordon Hauptfleisch\\My Documents\\My Pictures\\8324600040[1].jpg](http://s142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/ghaupt/?action=view¤t=83246000401.jpg)
Books Editors: Natalie Bennett (You can email me at natalieben AT gmail DOT com)
and Gordon Hauptfleisch (email)
and Kevin Eagan (email)
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Recent Books Articles
- May 9, 2008
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Book Review: The Dark Tide by Alex Gross — Karen is surprised and finds it hard to believe her husband led a secret life that put him and their family in danger.
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Book Review: Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner— This is a book about life and living. Parts are laugh out loud hysterically funny and parts will just make you cry.
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Interview with Joel Richardson, Co-Author of Why We Left Islam: Former Muslims Speak Out— "If I remained silent, it would be hateful to the [book's] brave individuals, many who are living under a death sentence for leaving Islam."
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Book Review: Death Walked In (A Death On Demand Mystery) by Carolyn Hart— Annie and Max Darling track down a killer close to their new home.
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- May 8, 2008
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Book Review: Taken By Storm – The Album Art of Storm Thorgerson by Storm Thorgerson— "I was in that half-sleep, half-awake stage and I was dreaming of a red desert, and a bunch of balls sitting on the sand.”
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Book Review: Hours of Devotion - Fanny Neuda's Book of Prayers for Jewish Women by Dinah Berland— This is a beautiful book full of solace and understanding for Jewish women of all backgrounds and levels of faith.
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Book Review: The Little Man In the Map by E. Andrew Martonyi— This is a cute book and perfect for kids who are studying geography and particularly those who might be struggling in the subject.
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Book Review: Madison Avenue Maxi by Elke Gazzara— While sappy at times, this book appeals to the best in human (and canine) nature.
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Book Review: Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah— The author captures the best and worst of an enduring friendship.
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Book Review: The Philosopher At The End Of The Universe by Mark Rowlands— A romp through sci fi films to get at the deeper questions that propel them.
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Book Review: The Wisdom Of Whores by Elizabeth Pisani— The Wisdom Of Whores paints as true a picture as possible of the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS.
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Book Review: Spark - The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John J. Ratey and Eric Hagerman— Exercise is good for everything that ails your brain.
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Book Review: My Life As A Fake by Peter Carey — A poet, an invention of an Australian bicycle repair-man in Malaya, writes blissfully. The problem is he does not exist.
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Book Review: Knitwear by Sasha Kagan— Knitwear is geared towards more advanced, more traditional knitters.
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Interview with Multi-Genre Author Mary Jean Kelso — Multi-genre author Mary Jean Kelso talks about her latest children's books.
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- May 7, 2008
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Book Review: The Venus Week by Rebecca Booth— A book for women who may be missing some of the important times in their lives.
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Book Review: When We Get to Surf City - A Journey Through America in Pursuit of Rock and Roll, Friendship, and Dreams by Bob Greene— A nostalgic journey into the life of a 1960s rock and roll touring band.
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Book Review: The Body in the Gallery - A Faith Fairchild Mystery by Katherine Hall Page— Faith must figure out the identity of the woman who died in a fish tank, but can she do it before the killer finds her?
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Book Review: The Travel Writer’s Handbook - How to Write and Sell Your Own Travel Experiences by Louise Purwin Zobel and Jacqueline Harmon Butler (Contributor)— Ready. Set. Write!
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- May 6, 2008
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Video Training Book Review: Data Access in ASP.NET 2.0 Framework by Stephen Walther — If you want to learn data access in ASP.NET 2.0 Framework, then this will provide a good introduction.
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Book Review: A Tale of Two Kingdoms by Heather Kendall— Bible students will welcome this accessible, comprehensive, and concise Bible guidebook.
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Book Review: Flight by Vanna Bonta— This novel within a novel will captivate readers with a story of space travel between dimensions.
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Book Review: Cotillion by Georgette Heyer— Contains all those elements which are essential for good dramatic romance.
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Book Review: Ruby Among Us by Tina Ann Forkner— The beauty of the roses surround much heartbreak and uncertainty but represent all that is loved and remembered.
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Book Review: Binu And The Great Wall by Su Tong— A beautiful and magical story cut with the sharp taste of reality; a perfect myth.
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Book Review: The Screenwriter's Bible by David Trottier— Is this an essential tool for a screenwriter?
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- May 5, 2008
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Book News: Musician Jimmy Buffett Hams It Up In New Book Swine Not?— This is one of the summer reads I'm really looking forward to. Jimmy Buffett is a great all-around enterainer.
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Interview with Karen Harrington, Author of Janeology— Harrington's novel explores a controversial issue: what prompts a mother to kill her own child?
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Book Review: Founding Faith by Steven Waldman— Where did the American idea of religious tolerance come from? An unexpected source.
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Book Review: Dancing with Wonder - Self-Discovery through Stories by Nancy King— King enriched my ability to tell stories and to use those tales to assist with the healing process in others.
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Book Review: Pasta Fazool for the Wiseguy's Soul by Brian M. Thomsen— A great read, with a laugh on every page. But the Godfather may not be amused!
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Interview with Children's Book Author Donna J. Shepherd— "If you want to be a writer, write! Don't just talk about it," says Shepherd.
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Ugliness Is Skin Deep— Ugliness is a learned concept, said my writing teacher Khambatta.
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Interview: Author Kate Jacobs of Comfort Food, The Friday Night Knitting Club— The author uses metaphor to examine female friendships and family dynamics.
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Comic Book Review: Graphic Classics Free Comic Book Day Sampler— A solid sampling of graphic literary adaptations gets released for Free Comic Book Day.
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Book Review: Penin Guide to Spanish Wine— Discover the new values of Spanish wine.
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All BC Articles