Readers know what to expect from Barry: antic takeoffs on thenews and home life, frequently prompted by participantobservation. This collection of columns is best read in segments:while Barry uses the same basic bag of tricks, a judicious dose canstill provoke involuntary laughter. "Florida's #3 industry, behindtourism and skin cancer, is voter fraud," he declares, amid a serieson his home state's elections. At political conventions, parties are"sponsored by large corporations with a sincere public-spirited desireto become larger." Utah was chosen to host the Olympics afterofficials "carefully weigh[ed] numerous wads of cash supplied by localorganizers." At home, his windows suffer from "some kind of windowleprosy." Yorkshire terriers, he declares, were "originallydeveloped... to serve as makeup applicators." And feeding his toddlermeans "picking her food off the floor and checking to see if it'sstill clean enough to eat." He ends the book with two effective,somber pieces written after the September 11 attacks, but notes thathe'd rather not write about serious topics, because that meanssomething bad has happened. Barry's a franchise, so while this hardlybreaks new ground, it should consistently please his considerable fanbase. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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From Publishers Weekly
Readers know what to expect from Barry: antic takeoffs on thenews and home life, frequently prompted by participantobservation. This collection of columns is best read in segments:while Barry uses the same basic bag of tricks, a judicious dose canstill provoke involuntary laughter. "Florida's #3 industry, behindtourism and skin cancer, is voter fraud," he declares, amid a serieson his home state's elections. At political conventions, parties are"sponsored by large corporations with a sincere public-spirited desireto become larger." Utah was chosen to host the Olympics afterofficials "carefully weigh[ed] numerous wads of cash supplied by localorganizers." At home, his windows suffer from "some kind of windowleprosy." Yorkshire terriers, he declares, were "originallydeveloped... to serve as makeup applicators." And feeding his toddlermeans "picking her food off the floor and checking to see if it'sstill clean enough to eat." He ends the book with two effective,somber pieces written after the September 11 attacks, but notes thathe'd rather not write about serious topics, because that meanssomething bad has happened. Barry's a franchise, so while this hardlybreaks new ground, it should consistently please his considerable fanbase.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From
Barry has never been as funny as he is in this rip-roaring, hilarious new collection of columns, which parodies everything from the 2000 election snafu to so-called smart appliances. Barry went to the Republican and Democratic primaries, where he saw Republicans "'getting down' as only Republicans can" and Al Gore give a "speech that really 'rocked the house.'" Next Dave is off to the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where he grapples with the some of the competitors' amusing names and the controversy surrounding the French skating judge. ("Don't trust any judge with two first names," Dave sagely cautions.) But lest readers begin to think Dave only goes to high-profile places, he also includes several essays about his trip to North Dakota, a state he often gently pokes fun at. North Dakotan politicians entreat him to visit the state, and when he does, they name a sewage lift-station for him. Barry also tackles cell phones, feng shui, and deck building, with nothing less than outrageously funny results. The collection concludes with two moving pieces on the aftermath of September 11 and the bravery of the passengers on Flight 93. Whether funny or serious, Barry is always on target. This work on the "booger beat" is nothing short of excellent. Kristine Huntley
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