Book Review: duck duck wally
Imagine a James Joyce/Woody Allen love child reincarnated as Young Jeezy. Oy, ga-vizzelot!
Everyone wants to know what's up with this book's title. Two sources come readily to mind: the children's game, "Duck, Duck, Goose" and the rude gesture of goosing another person. But you must read clear through the last chapter of the book to get it. No cheating, either, because you won't understand if you skip the rest of the book. Hah!
This is not bedtime reading, either. If you like to read yourself to sleep, save "duck duck wally" for the day. Two reasons, one is that you'll never fall asleep enjoying this much hilarity. You may even wet the bed with laughter. The other reason is the dialogue which will stick in your mind so thoroughly that it will still be running through it in the morning. This could be a dangerous situation if you need to speak with other adults. Read this book when you're weary or stressed out. It will give you a lift or convince you that you're life isn't so bad after all.
About that dialogue: The entire story takes place in Wally's mind as he tells us the unbelievable tale of what happens to a foul-mouthed little Jewish guy who secretly writes rap lyrics in L.A. But you don't need to suspend your disbelief, because this goosed-up rhyme is so intricately amazing and amusing. It's just that those damned rap verbalizations keep vibrating through your consciousness, tripping off your tongue at inappropriate moments, if you don't watch out and, let's face it, who can keep his attention on what he's saying at each and every moment of his drab existence. That's an example of the overrun stream of consciousness Wally displays, only his is polluted with a lot of trash talk, profanity and effing. Be forewarned.
The story doesn't need the inclusion of Wally's XXX-rated nursery rhymes (Old Father Goose, if you will) on contemporary adult life, but there they are, set in italics and presented as if facsimiles from a published book. Maybe they will be some day. Just one would have done for an example of what the characters mention peripherally.
Debut author Gabe Rotter may not have a career ahead in rappish adult poetry, but as a humorist he's made a comedic grand entrance on the pop culture sha-zeeny!
A slightly different version appears on Blog Critics and is syndicated in several regional newspapers.
Everyone wants to know what's up with this book's title. Two sources come readily to mind: the children's game, "Duck, Duck, Goose" and the rude gesture of goosing another person. But you must read clear through the last chapter of the book to get it. No cheating, either, because you won't understand if you skip the rest of the book. Hah!
This is not bedtime reading, either. If you like to read yourself to sleep, save "duck duck wally" for the day. Two reasons, one is that you'll never fall asleep enjoying this much hilarity. You may even wet the bed with laughter. The other reason is the dialogue which will stick in your mind so thoroughly that it will still be running through it in the morning. This could be a dangerous situation if you need to speak with other adults. Read this book when you're weary or stressed out. It will give you a lift or convince you that you're life isn't so bad after all.
About that dialogue: The entire story takes place in Wally's mind as he tells us the unbelievable tale of what happens to a foul-mouthed little Jewish guy who secretly writes rap lyrics in L.A. But you don't need to suspend your disbelief, because this goosed-up rhyme is so intricately amazing and amusing. It's just that those damned rap verbalizations keep vibrating through your consciousness, tripping off your tongue at inappropriate moments, if you don't watch out and, let's face it, who can keep his attention on what he's saying at each and every moment of his drab existence. That's an example of the overrun stream of consciousness Wally displays, only his is polluted with a lot of trash talk, profanity and effing. Be forewarned.
The story doesn't need the inclusion of Wally's XXX-rated nursery rhymes (Old Father Goose, if you will) on contemporary adult life, but there they are, set in italics and presented as if facsimiles from a published book. Maybe they will be some day. Just one would have done for an example of what the characters mention peripherally.
Debut author Gabe Rotter may not have a career ahead in rappish adult poetry, but as a humorist he's made a comedic grand entrance on the pop culture sha-zeeny!
A slightly different version appears on Blog Critics and is syndicated in several regional newspapers.
Labels: books
posted by Georganna Hancock M.S. | 9:52 AM
1 Comments:
This sounds like a real hoot. I'm going to put this book on my library wish list! Thanks.
Post a Comment
<< Home