The New Yorker Book of Literary Cartoons

As in wonderfully original and sharply intelligent. Only The New Yorker can capture the essence of true literary wit by being as gloriously and cruelly aware of the humour that spears bookish writers and readers in their most vulnerable funny bones.

This group of 104 cartoons features works by Charles Barsotti, Roz Chast, J.B. Handelsman, Ed Koren, Victoria Roberts, and Jack Ziegler. The cartoons capture the wittiest New Yorker views, and leave you with a wry taste in your mouth. Selected by Bob Mankoff (cartoon editor of The New Yorker since 1997), this collection is one of the best that has been produced recently from the past offerings of that venerable publication. If you like authors, books, and reading, you'll love this book! I graded down the book because of the inexplicable lack of an introduction. What better subject for one than literary cartoons? The books in the series which featured such introductions are clearly more interesting than the ones that don't. It was hard for me to pick a few cartoons to feature for you. I was tempted to include all but a few. Author humor (1) Man leaving home wearing suit and carrying a brief case: 'Wait a minute. Where am I going? I'm a writer.' (2) James Joyce's refrigerator to-do list: 'Forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race.' (3) Raven says to Poe: 'Nevermore. And you can quote me.' Publisher humor (1) Editor to Dickens: 'I wish you would make up your mind, Mr. Dickens. Was it the best of times or the worst of times? It could scarecely have been both.' (2) 'It doesn't work as a novel. But we're willing to publish it as a desk calendar.' (3) 'Chicken Vindaloo for the Hindu Soul is but the tip of the iceberg in our initial strategy of global expansion.' Book Seller Humor (1) 'Let me get you another copy. Someone left a slice of salami in this one.' (2) Book shelves organized by length of attention span. (3) Book shelves organized by size of author advance. Reader humor (1) 'I do want to solve all my problems, but I'll wait till it comes out in soft cover.' (2) 'Lately, I've been reading Jane Austen -- just to clear my palate.' (3) Fan to author: 'I really enjoyed your hype.' Media humor (1) Talk show host holding enormous tome, addressing author: 'If you were to boil your book down to a few words, what would be its message?' (2) 'Oprah is definite, Barnes and Noble is giving you front windows and Norman Mailer has agreed to a feud.' The others are just as good or better. These are just samples to whet your appetite. After you have read, chuckled, and enjoyed these wonderful cartoons, consider why we find these cartoons to be funny. Is it because books have become a commodity, rather than works of important ideas and art? Is that really so funny? What should we do about that? If you find these questions provocative, read The Business of Books.

Thank you . Great book, funny with a great sense of humour.

Mala calidad del papel y la impresión.

Als je van literatuur houdt, maar het niet erg vindt als de literaire wereld op de hak wordt genomen, is dit een perfecte verzameling cartoons. Het is wel al wat ouder boek, dus fenomenen als ebooks of de nieuwste schrijvers komen er niet in voor.

Love this book. Great literary cartoons from a great Magazine. This book is mostly for writers and English majors. smiles

Der Preis ist schön ein wenig happig. Das Buch besteht bloß aus schwarzweißen Bildern, nur wenige davon gefallen mir. Es scheint so, als ob der Illustrator sich nicht wirklich Mühe mit Zeichnungen gemacht hätte. Kommt jedenfalls lieblos rüber. Ich aboniere The New Yorker auf Instagram und die Covers, die ich dort kostenlos betrachten darf unterscheiden sich gewaltig von den Zeichnungen dieses Buches. Humor ist auch nicht so ganz meins! Für einen Preis von unter 10 € wäre es vielleicht noch in Ordnung, aber 12 € für kaum Inhalt und solche lustlose „Witze“, werde es zurückschicken

a fun read