Customer Reviews

The Great Indoors: Favorites, 1987-1996 (Wisconsin)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First of all, I am not related to nor do I personally know Eric Broder...but he is wicked funny and he causes me to run to the newspaper rack each week to read his column. Rants about small animals, his celebrity garden at the Home and Garden show, potato chips...plus some faux "60 Minutes" fantasies to boot? Pure comedic genius. By the way - I met someone who used to work with him at a bookstore many years ago - she reports he's ALWAYS been like this, it's not just a front.

A very amusing and easy read, Broder's "Great Indoors" is simply a must have of anyone who has followed the man's weekly column in the Cleveland Free Times (or the old Cleveland Edition). It's a veritable autobiography of an indoor intellectual in serial form, and myriad points of cosmic import are established. You'll read, and will doubtlessly recognize yourself somewhere in Broder's tales of tribulation and triumph set here in the wondrous urban armpit of our Great Nation, Cleveland. The best part is that these columns are presented chronologically, and in bite-size readings. So you can put it down whenever you like. Read a couple bits on the bus. Peruse a few more nuggets while making your evening toilet. You'll come to realize that you aren't the only one who does silly and stupid things when left alone in the confines of one's domicile. This stuff is funny, and the author is to be lauded profusely.

I am reviewing this book because Eric Broder, rules, ok? He RULES! Is that sufficient enough for ya? (see how I pick up the Broder speech patterns? Read the hilarious book, you'll see what I mean). Ok ok, Broder influenced MANY of us fellow Cleveland writers, took us thru endless drab rainy lunch hours downtown as we read his weekly column, Eric Broder deserves his place up there with the masters, dangit! And I mean no paper plate award ceremony, either!Dont keep it such a secret, Eric! Spread your words to the masses! In my own lovely comedic writing, I often scorn the fact that Broder is not writing for Letterman or Conan.. if u like those two, you'll see broder as their 'brother'. And, dont worry if youre not a big reader, the essays in this book are just as easily skimmed than read. I carry GREAT INDOORS in my special CA packing suitcase place, the only book I'll take on the long plane ride.. ok, so I had nothing better to do today but review this (Eric, if youre reading this, kiss kiss hug hug.. although youre taken). WENDY W cleveburg, oh

Just reading the table of contents of this book makes me laugh. I'll show you. I'll close my eyes and put my finger someplace on one of the 4 pages listing the two-page long essays in the book. I'll bet that reading just the titles of the 5 entries nearest my finger will make you laugh. Here goes-

My Hot Date with Ivana Trump; Fashion: Pants and Stains; Attack of the Kitten People; Impending Domestic Bliss; You'll Hear from My Psychologist.

To prove my little theory to myself I made several more points (of my finger). These points, as well as making me laugh, reminded me that these reprinted columns from almost 10 years of the Cleveland Edition and the Cleveland Free Times are cumulative in their funniness as the reader learns all that he/she really doesn't need to know about the author, Eric Broder. The author himself does a good job of giving the flavor of the book so I'll just quote a section of his introduction to the work. "The theme of the endless, futile, Homeric search for the lost snacks of youth. The theme of raging hypochondria and medical misinformation. The theme of enraged babies and cats. The theme of whining and sniveling at every minor inconvenience. And don't forget the theme of sexual self-delusion. That one's in there big-time."

The book is wierd and useless and about the funniest thing I have ever read. I'm kind of worried about what that might mean, but I think YOU should get this book and dream along with Eric Broder.

PS: I AM NOT related to Eric Broder. I don't even know him.