29 August 2008

My Fringe '08 Bookshelf

Now that I have more or less recovered from my playmania of the past two weeks, I wanted to spotlight a few books I'm adding to my "Want to Read" list because of what I saw at the Fringe Festival. Of course, I'm always looking for book recommendations even when I'm on the clock doing other things. Hence, my Fringe short list:

Jennifer Toth, THE MOLE PEOPLE. Journalist Toth inspired a lot of skepticism in her fellow reporters with this account of the real-life counterparts to the mythic albinos living in the subway. The idea of alligators in the sewers is too horrible to contemplate but I am curious as to what would motivate someone to live in an abandoned tunnel full time. Source: Radiotheatre Presents "The Mole People."

Jason Fagone, HORSEMEN OF THE ESOPHAGUS: COMPETITIVE EATING AND THE BIG FAT AMERICAN DREAM. Catching a solo show about a year driving the Oscar Mayer signature vehicle didn't really make me want to eat hot dogs, but it did make me think of the Nathan's hot dog eating contest at Coney Island and hence, this book whose quirky title has always stuck with me. Source: "My Salvation Has A First Name: A Wienermobile Journey."

Dorothy Parker, THE PORTABLE DOROTHY PARKER (ed. Marion Meade). The Fringe was the second time this summer I'd encounter Mrs. Parker onstage and given how both meetings turned out, I should wish to see her much more often. I'm especially interested in her criticism and journalism, but couldn't find a collection specifically devoted to that, so this omnibus will have to do. Source: "That Dorothy Parker."

Matt Haig, THE DEAD FATHERS CLUB and Nick O'Donohue, TOO, TOO SOLID FLESH. After one full version of "Hamlet" and this work inspired by and rearranging the Shakespearean tragedy at the Fringe, Hamlet has been on my mind (if he ever leaves). These two novels both offer novel takes on the play: In Haig's book, the prince is an 11-year-old in Britain whose uncle is taking over his dead father's pub; O'Donohue's scifi approach involves a set of androids performing "Hamlet" whose designer is unexpectedly murdered. Source: "Bound In A Nutshell."

2 comments:

Elizabeth said...

So first I went to Goodreads, and all I learned about TOO, TOO SOLID FLESH is that it was published by Wizards of the Coast (and here I thought you might be above reading something published by them).

Then I went to Amazon and learned nothing more, so I had to turn to Google, and guess who is the No. 1 hit for "nick o'donohue too too solid flesh".

Ellen said...

I wish I could find now where I read about TOO, TOO SOLID FLESH -- but I do try not to discriminate based on publisher! Now I feel obligated to find this book and save it from the ash-heap.