Stephen Colbert, “I am America (and so can you!)”

If you don’t already know what this is, how are we friends?

THE LOWDOWN
Published: 2007, 230 pp.
Obtained via: Barnes and Noble
Date started: 11.22.07
Date finished: 11.26.07
What I especially liked: The chart describing the homosexual agenda (page 117), an illustration of what the liberal media puts on newsstands (page 152) and a transcript of his speech at the White House correspondents’ dinner (218). The pages of stickers are also a nice touch.
What I didn’t like: How right he is.
What I learned: Everyone should use footnotes and margin notes.

Tom Stoppard, “Arcadia”

I feel like I’d really need to read this play again to fully digest it. Basically, it switches back and forth between a group of modern-day researchers poking around a 19th-century literary mystery and the actual event they’re investigating. It’s so masterful I can barely comprehend it.

THE LOWDOWN
Published: 1993, 100 pp.
Obtained via: Marty
Date started: 11.11.07
Date finished: 11.18.07
What I liked: I love the parallels between the two story lines and how later on the scenes start melding together.
What I didn’t like: I just realized while reading this play how much more attention you have to pay to a story when there’s no narration. Not that I didn’t like it, I just had to use my imagination a lot more.
Unresolved questions: I’m still partially unsure which questions and hypotheses the researchers had were debunked and which were answered. Again, I’d have to read the play again or go back to my TA, Marty.

Harvey Pekar (editor), “The Best American Comics 2006″

Great roundup of comics, obviously. Some of these I’d already read in other forms, but I’ll point out my favorites.

THE LOWDOWN
Published: 2006, 320 pp.
Obtained via: Library
Date started: 11.4.07
Date finished: 11.6.07
What I liked: Anders Nilsen, Jaime Hernandez, Esther Pearl Watson, Tom Hart, Jesse Reklaw, Justin Hall, David Heatley, Robert Crumb.
What I didn’t like: I don’t remember.
The final word: If you want to get familiar with modern comics, start here.

Jason Roeder, “Oh, The Humanity”

“Oh, the Humanity! A Gentle Guide to Social Interaction for the Feeble Young Introvert” is one of the first books put out by a revived humor imprint called TOW, which is headed up creatively by one of the big dudes at McSweeney’s.

THE LOWDOWN
Published: 2007, 160 pp.
Obtained via: Work
Date started: 10.22.07
Date finished: 11.4.07
What I liked: Even though this book sets out to mock the insecure and emotionally stunted, there’s actual good advice in here, even if it comes through backhandedly.
What I didn’t like: Oh, the awkwardness.
What I learned: What friendship means.