Random Readings 11

Once when no one was buying my cartoons I took a job ripping off the Tom of Finland books for an unscrupulous pirate publisher of gay eroticism. Deltoidal, no-necked, peach-bottomed sadists and cock-suckers wearing leather caps and curiously benign expressions, romping in a spunky never-never sodomitic kindergarten unimpeded by the needs or interdictions of wives and mothers. For a straight man who couldn't see what Tom of Finland had to offer, other than the clean lines of the illustrations and the absence, beyond twenty-four-hour on-tap buggery and fellatio, of any supererogatory fantasy or fuss, I reckon I made a reasonable fist of copying his creations.

– from Kalooki Nights by Howard Jacobson

That's what I read as I was sitting on the bus coming home after purchasing this book. Damn, I cannot wait to get to this. Yes, I've been reading some really lovely writing lately (and yes, I must start talking about some of these books here), but I must confess that I've really been craving something funny, I mean, goddam funny to read. And I don't just mean one inane joke after another kind of book – I mean something with substance, something about the human spirit, but written with an irreverent but sympathetic wit. At a party I attended recently I met a columnist for one of our national newspapers who just happens to be writing a novel. Knowing the kind of writing he does, I replied that I assumed the novel would be funny, and I was right. We talked a bit about roman á clef novels, the dearth of funny in Canadian Lit, and how much we miss Richler. And then over the weekend I discovered this book. How could I not buy it? Geez – the main character is a cartoonist.

Comments

[Alex Hallatt]

Ooh, I need to read a book like that! I went to see Zodiac recently and I enjoyed the film, but I wanted to see more of the cartoonist as a character (though Jake G is cute....) and I wanted to see more of his work. Yes, I know that isn't what the film was about, but still!

Alex, Arctic Circle cartoonist (currently reading Bryson's "A short history of nearly everything")

[John Mutford]

Richler is a loss, for sure.

Sounds like an interesting book to say the least. I always love those books that you secretly hope people will read over your shoulder, just so it shocks the bejesus out of them.

Is it a reference to Kalooki, the card game?

[Patricia]

John, I honestly did not know what Kalooki meant – was going to wait and find out once I read the book. But I would imagine that yes, it is a reference to that card game, based on the full cover, which shows a woman's hands holding some cards. Here's a link to the cover of the book I've got:
http://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/img/prod/46156ea7e0e21.jpg

[sarahL]

i'm reading this right now too!

[Patricia]

That is kalooki cool, Sarah!

[Steven W. Beattie]

So, I'm browsing through my Bloglines RSS feeds, and my eye stops on the phrase "peach-bottomed sadists and cock-suckers wearing leather caps"; Patricia, I'm blushing!

This one's been on my to read shelf for some time now. I really must get to it.

[Beth]

Wow, you're going to get some interesting hits from people Googling certain words after writing this post!

I miss Richler too.

[Patricia]

Good point, Beth. The last time a wrote a post with an indirect reference to a male's penis, I got some pretty strange emails. This might be interesting...perhaps a little too interesting!

[John Self]

Now I am a big fan of Jacobson's, having loved his previous four novels (from No More Mister Nice Guy through to The Making of Henry) - but! I struggled mightily with Kalooki Nights when it came out last year, and I gave up about one third through. He's never been a great plotter, and it was just too messy to keep a handle on. I might revisit it when the paperback is issued in the next month or so...

[Patricia]

Yes, John, I believe I actually read your review on Amazon. I'm hoping that I won't be disappointed, but I will give my honest opinion once I finish the book. Just from reading the first two pages, I can see that he is a lover of wordplay and witty dialogue, and that character is pretty important. Those elements of a novel are very attractive to me, but obviously I require more than that. We'll see!

[Patricia]

Steven, I like that I made you blush! Did you pop a cufflink, too? ;)

[Heather]

You know, I hadn't even thought about the fact that it's been a long time since I read a funny book. It never even occurred to me. I guess maybe it's because funny is so hard to do right, and so I've been disappointed by so many funny books. If you like this one after reading it I may have to add it to my wish list.

[OverTheSeas]

Haven't read this one yet but have you read, 'The Cover Artist' by Paul Micou, which also features a cartoonist (or characaturist to be pedantic)?

[Patricia]

Ooooo...no I havent, OverTheSeas. I will definitely check that out, thanks.