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#parody
review
Robotswithpersonality
Nonsense Novels | Stephen Leacock
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Mehso-so

Not quite the thoughtless diversion I first took it for, which actually makes sense, because the sharply satirical Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town is the whole reason I picked up another work by Stephen Leacock.
I'll admit some of these entries - it's a collection of ten short stories - read a little goofier than others, but once you realize it's as much a commentary on different types of classic stories as it is a collection of individual 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? silly narratives, it's a bit more intriguing to pick out how Leacock is sending up the various genres: detective story, ghost story, chivalric romance, dramatic but not tragic gothic romance or is it?, country bumpkin corrupted in the big city, a series of diary entries pining over a forbidding love, a Scottish romance leaning a bit more tragic, a sailor tale, a Christmas tale - maybe poking a bit at Dickens?, and early sci-fi/time travel/ 5d
Robotswithpersonality 3/? social commentary.
These are genre send-ups, so the form is fooled with to the extent that most stories are actually a dark comedy of errors, many people are obviously made fools of by conmen or shown to be fools by their own actions, naming schemes are often ridiculous (which I fear wanders past stereotypical into xenophobic/racist when the tales have a clear cultural origin 😬),
5d
Robotswithpersonality 4/? and women come off looking slightly worse than men overall. The sci-fi story in particular, as sci-fi often does, comments clearly on the values of the time it was written in, and so you get a side order of hurray capitalism/puritanical work ethic, with a sprinkle of women are silly, whether because of how they choose to enjoy fashion or because they campaign for votes and equal rights and that means they want to be 'like men'. 😮‍💨 5d
Robotswithpersonality 5/5 For the record, the casual mention of suicide and mistreatment of children seems to be inserted more carelessly into the text than it would be these days, so be warned.
I don't actually think this book offers enough to the modern reader that you need to seek it out, but it hasn't completely put me off checking out Leacock's other works either.

⚠️mention of suicide, cannibalism, child abandonment, infanticide, misogyny
(edited) 5d
11 likes4 comments
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Robotswithpersonality
Nonsense Novels | Stephen Leacock
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My new (old?) definition of a comfort read: a book which “may bring some passing amusement...or some brief respite when the sadness of the heart or the sufferings of the body forbid the perusal of worthier things.“

11 likes1 stack add
review
MemoirsForMe
Weird Al: The Book | Nathan Rabin
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Pickpick

I‘m still on a comedy kick, so why not turn to the funniest purveyor of parody? Gotta love the weirdly creative mind of this man! Remember all those hilarious parodies he did back in the 80s, 90s and 2000s (Eat It, Like a Surgeon, Tacky) Guess what? Weird Al is still at it and currently on tour. He even wrote a children‘s book! This is a crazy fun read that will send you right to YouTube to reminisce and rewatch your favorite parodies. 😁🙌🏻

LiseWorks Oh I love Weird Al 2w
Ruthiella I love him too and love that he is still going strong. 2w
See All 7 Comments
MemoirsForMe @LiseWorks Agreed! He‘s such a talented musician and comedian. 2w
MemoirsForMe @Ruthiella Me too! Now I want to read his children‘s book. 2w
PurpleyPumpkin I do still watch him sometimes on Youtube! He's always a good pick-me-up.👍🏽 1w
MemoirsForMe @PurpleyPumpkin He always cracks me up! 😁 5d
40 likes7 comments
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vlwelser
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Pickpick

This is very meta. I am definitely late to the party on this author. But I get it now and I will continue to read his backlist.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

BookmarkTavern I adore this one of his! And the sequel! 2mo
TheAromaofBooks This one has been on my shelf for a while! 2mo
42 likes2 comments
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willaful
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In some ways this is just as silly as When the Moon Hits Your Eye, but it has so much more sweetness and heart. A reread for me, and just as good as the first time.

*#AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

PuddleJumper 😂 3mo
BookmarkTavern LOLOLOL This is the shirt to wear to a Star Trek convention. 3mo
willaful @BookmarkTavern I actually own a replica t-shirt of the red with a printed com badge... also a blue. Passed down from a friend, I swear! 3mo
Leftcoastzen 😂love it ! 3mo
Soubhiville Great shirt and great book! 3mo
34 likes5 comments
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Texreader
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Pickpick

Scalzi plays on all the stereotypes of fantasy and sci fi to write the opening to a series that doesn‘t exist. I repeat, even though it says it‘s book one, it‘s not. It‘s a parody of a series opener. It‘s very short (an 11-minute read) and often funny. An easy final read for June‘s #authoramonth @Soubhiville

Soubhiville This title is hilarious! 3mo
45 likes1 comment
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Texreader
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Texreader
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I started this short story last night to squeeze in one more book for #authoramonth. @Soubhiville

35 likes1 stack add
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LapReader
Pistache | Sebastian Faulks
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Friday night‘s walk home from pole dance showcase rehearsal requires a detour into the book swap. Then a wine while stretching then straight to bed.

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Blueberry
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InkedBookworm13 I loved this book when I was a kid. ❤️ 3mo
Eggs 🧀😂👍🏼 3mo
52 likes2 stack adds2 comments