Parody Books

Marcus Meleton's book, Hunting for Lawyers, is for anyone who had the pleasure of dealing with lawyers, watched the OJ Simpson defense team, or merely thinks the legal "profession" is just a cover for a satanic cult. Hunting for Lawyers is an escape to nirvana in good humor. Don't miss the ride.

Enjoyed reading about dating experiences that happened to me too. Entertaining book that reminds you that you don't have to have a man to be viable. Being picky is a good thing. Enjoyed the recipes, especially the chocolate ones.

Erma Bombeck was, hands down, the funniest humor columnist to ever grace newspapers and bookstores. Even now, years after she passed way, her writings are still funny and topical.

In "I Lost Everything in the Post-Natal Depression," as with most of her books, Erma Bombeck takes snippets of her life, her husband, and her three kids and relates them to us in a way that only she can. Everything from her husband's inability to start a fire in the fireplace to her own inability to cope with turning 40, nothing is sacred or forbidden when Erma writes about her life.

This book is funny, witty, relevant, and an easy read. If you're life is busy and complicated, take some time out to read this book. Erma has a way of making your life seem not so bad. If nothing else, it's a great way to spend a few minutes each day.

Esti Sheinberg uses a multi-disciplinary approach to present a theory for the recognition of musical language that implies irony, satire, parody, and grotesquerie. Her approach includes elements of literary theory and semiology rather than traditional music theory. One should have some familiarity with the Russian Formalist (literary theory) and a basic understanding of semiology prior to reading this book, however, any lacking should not deter you from delving in. Knowledge of traditional music theory is not very important to understand this book, but one should be familiar with the elements of music and musical topics (especially waltzes and marches!)

In each section, Sheinberg uses literary theories to define each type of rhetoric (irony, satire, etc.) Since the subject is Shostakovich's music, the Russian Formalist ideas of these terms are examined. Examples are given in literature and (visual) art before looking at music. Sheinberg then lists the musical elements that point towards ironic/satirical/etc. meaning and provides examples of each. The musical examples are not limited to Shostakovich, demonstrating that Sheinberg's theories can be applied to the hermeneutical analysis of any music.

The theory itself is based on "incongruities," that is, musical elements that are somehow out of place. For example, a waltz played too fast or with a heavy bass, or excessive repetitons of simple patterns. When these types of things are recognized by the listener, the meaning of the original musical topic becomes altered, whether it be for any of the purposes in the title.

With regards to Shostakovich, most of the music the book is concerned with appears in his two operas, and some is in his instrumental music. Though there are some limits to the discussion in terms of volume of material examined, one could go on an apply the theory presented to more. A second weakness is that Sheinberg quotes from "Testimony" frequently, seemingly accepting it as true regardless of its questionable authenticity. To her credit, she does this in a different manner than the "Revisionist Camp" (e.g. MacDonald, Ho, Wilson) who seem to want to impoverish the value of Shostakovich's music by ascribing one purport (anti-Stalin/fascism art). This is clear when she writes: "I believe that Shostakovich is saying much more than that." (See page 318.)

I recommend this book to anyone interested in musical meaning. It is well worth reading!

I purchased the Jewish Mother Goose for my mother-in-law for Mother's day. I'm back online today to order four more! The book is filled with hilarious send-ups of traditional rhymes complete with jewish terminology. Makes a great gift for any Jewish Mother...or ayoner with a sense of humor!

Outstanding in that the author, Kam Kavanaugh, not only tells you how but why. A must read for anyone who has had enough and wants to level the playing field.

Brilliant! Satirizes Worry Worts! I swear the author had spycameras in my parents home when I was growing up! Jewish people should especially relate to this book. Loved the diversified portfolio 50 different funds, 2% of total portfolio!

A must read for laughs!

Somewhere, I have a copy of this side-splitting parody. Few books have made me laugh as much as this one; the jabs at Charles Dickens, especially A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations, will have you rolling on the floor.

Accepting Domestication is the third collection of Kevin and Kell comic strips, covering September 1997 to August 1998. The online comic strip is about the Dewclaws; Kevin, a rabbit, Kell, a wolf and their two children, Rudy, a wolf and Lindesfarne, a hedgehog. In a world where you next door neighbor could be your next meal, this "mixed" marriage subjects the Dewclaws to a number of inconviences: being looked down upon by Rudy's girlfriend Fiona's parents, a pair of foxes (though it doesn't help that Fiona's father, a fennec fox, is mistaken for a rabbit because of his ears), and occasional threats to Kevin's life (though not serious) by Kell's brother Ralph. That is not to mention the usual tribulations of modern life: trips to school hunting championships, predator retraining at Herdthinners, Inc., threats to be downsized, and getting invited to the Jerry Springer-Spaniel Show. Mr. Holbrook is able to create great characters and stories, while balancing the dictates of the familiar yet unfamilar world that his animal characters inhabit. As an added bonus to this collection is a 10-page "pamphlet" covering Domestication, a dreaded condition when wolves are proud to be decended from the Big Bad Wolf.

If you have an amorous cat and a sense of humour, this is a must buy book. Richard Smith's witty writing marries up nicely with Susann Ferris-Jones Persian effected illustrations. For cat lovers whose cats love.