Episode · The Book Review · 2024-03-29
Books mentioned on Books That Make Our Critics Laugh
Alexandra Jacobs discussed American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding, Heartburn by Nora Ephron, and Money by Martin Amis. Dwight Garner discussed Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin. Gilbert Cruz discussed Airships by Barry Hannah, Lightning Rods by Helen de Witt and others, Then we came to the end by Joshua Ferris, A far cry from Kensington by Muriel Spark, and A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
-
American Psycho
American Psycho is a controversial and satirical 1991 horror novel by Bret Easton Ellis that explores the hyper-materialistic, ultra-violent life of Wall Street yuppie and serial killer Patrick Bateman.
Discussed“I mean when Dwight said suggested American Psycho for this list and I'm not I think I was shocked into silence but then I read his very eloquent explanation and I was convinced”
Where to get it
-
Bridget Jones's Diary
Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding is a landmark contemporary comedic novel that popularized the Bridget Jones series and captured the experiences of a single British woman navigating romance and professional life in the 1990s.
Discussed“I know that all our all our readers clocked the extra words there in the middle but I mean there's again there's so many different kinds of funny that the slap stickness of Bridget Jones's Diary where the these absurd situations pile up and the narrator's self-deprecation accumulates to the point where I don't know somebody help me”
Where to get it
-
Tales of the City
Discussed“and I I read some things I'd never read before and one of them the tales of the city books by armistad mopin I was just so pleased to read that book which IID always thought I don't know what I had thought I knew it was serialized in a newspaper”
Where to get it
-
Heartburn
Heartburn by Nora Ephron is a semi-autobiographical comedic novel that explores the painful breakdown of a marriage with sharp wit and emotional depth.
Discussed“I found uh rereading heartburn very interesting um because I remembered it in such a pure way and the fact is heartburn should probably run with a couple foot and it you know there's some questionable passages in there”
Where to get it
-
Airships
Discussed“I imagine with someone like him also his this is a guy that wrote airships I think maybe most famously Dwight correct me if I'm wrong that's the book that's hard to read now and it's it's an amazing book”
Where to get it
-
Lightning Rods
Lightning Rods by Helen Dewitt is a daring, highly satirical novel known for its provocative premise, dark humor, and unconventional narrative structure.
Discussed“it's a book called lightning rods it's by Helen DT who people might know if they know her for a book called The Last Samurai but she also wrote this I don't know how to describe it bizarre novel”
Where to get it
-
Then we came to the end
Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris is a sharply observed, darkly comic novel that chronicles the final days of a failing Chicago advertising agency through the collective voice of its anxious employees.
Discussed“then we came to the end yes by Joshua Ferris”
Where to get it
-
Money
Money by Martin Amis is a satirical 1984 novel that skewers the excesses, crass consumerism, and moral bankruptcy of 1980s celebrity culture through the chaotic perspective of protagonist John Self.
Discussed“there's a book by Martin Amos on here 1984 book called money”
Where to get it
-
A far cry from Kensington
A Far Cry from Kensington is a 1988 novel by Muriel Spark that explores post-World War II London through the experiences of a spirited boarding house resident and publishing worker.
Discussed“but you put a book by her from 1988 called a far cry from Kensington”
Where to get it
-
A Confederacy of Dunces
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole is an absurdist, darkly comedic masterpiece centered on the eccentric and pompous protagonist Ignatius J.
Discussed“it's called A Confederacy of dudes the funniest book of all time never so excoriated for exclusion as I recall”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (4) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“Alexandra you brought up heartburn by Norah Efron”
“it's a book called lightning rods it's by Helen DT who people might know if they know her for a book called The Last Samurai”
“what about Kingsley what about lucky gym which you know was published before our cut off our arbitrary cut off”
“Jen I want to ask you about Muriel spark an author that I know uh primarily for the prime of M Brody”