Investigative humorist Henry Alford has worked as a chauffeur and an earlobe model, studied at the Wilfred Academy of Beauty, and hired a nude housekeeper to see if she'd do windows. Now he offers readers a collection of "arch, smart, and exquisitely absurd" (The Village Voice Literary Supplement) pieces that "demands to be savored" (New York Times Book Review.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Freelance writer Alford here gathers a mixed bag of his humor pieces--some of them original, others reprinted from Mademoiselle , the New York Observer and other publications--in which he places himself in a variety of everyman situations. As a job applicant at Macy's or a vendor at a street fair, he reports what develops, although not every situation turns out to be funny. Some of the best include "Drive, He Said," a tale about Alford as the "VIP driver" for Governor Romer of Colorado during the 1992 Democratic National Convention in Manhattan, and "Dread and Breakfast," a diary he kept as a guest at various New York City "Bed and Breakfast" apartments. But there are also "In Search of . . . Nubbins ," a tedious tract on the creation and marketing of Nubbins, a snack of chocolate encased in French bread, and "You'll Never Groom Dogs in This Town Again!," about jobs few would think to apply for. There are 33 ponderings entitled "What If" (i.e., "What If the Pope Were a Dog") which are uniformly unfunny. Alford is a humorist with punch who would have benefited from a more careful selection of his material. Author tour.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Booklist
A renegade journalist whose "preferred mode of inquiry" is idle speculation, Alford nevertheless rouses himself to conduct "comic investigations" so that he can amass all the facts about such crucial matters as what exactly a clutter consultant can do for you; whether singles can register for gifts at department stores (after all, they like presents as much as couples); or what exactly a "nubbins" looks like. Alford will subject himself to extreme humiliation and endure any number of potentially disastrous absurdities to get his story. Other escapades include the hiring of two nude housecleaners to see if they do windows; volunteering as a driver for the 1992 Democratic National Convention in spite of never having driven in New York City traffic (he was assigned to the crusty governor of Colorado who tolerated his callowness and encouraged him to eat desserts); and going on a test-taking spree for various occupations that culminated in the spectacular failings of both human and dog-grooming exams. Amusing as these goofy inquiries are, it's Alford's dry-martini humor and unfailing wit that get you: he is simply devastatingly deadpan, tears-to-your-eyes funny. Donna Seaman
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Laugh out loud funny,
This review is from: Municipal bondage: one man's anxiety-producing adventures in (Paperback)
This is one of the most hilarious books I have ever read bar none. First, Alford provides some incredibly witty accounts of different "investigations" he conducts in New York City, such as hiring a clutter consultant, trying to get some fake heirlooms auctioned off at Sotheby's, trying to find a good bed and breakfast in Manhattan, hiring a nude housecleaning service, etc. In between each of these stories are some hilarious lists, such as "What if Frank Sinatra taught acting at UCLA" or "What if unemployed actors worked at banks instead of restaurants". The whole thing is great. I found myself consistently laughing at some of the things Alford did in his investigations, such as gauging what happened when he asked the nude housecleaners to do things like bleach his tub or wash his windows from the outside. All in all, this is a very satisfying book for any fan of humor.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Highly Entertaining!...,
This review is from: Municipal bondage: one man's anxiety-producing adventures in (Paperback)
...in my opinion! Essays in the style of David Sedaris. The author takes tests for proficiency in dog grooming, hairstyling, and cement mixing. He invents an odd snack that he attempts to sell at a street fair. Best of all (oh, the best!) he investigates the listings for "Bed and Breakfast" operations in the middle of New York City and actually stays the night in several! Quaint country inns are one thing, but the middle of Manhattan? I loved this book and will seek out his other book pronto!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Jorney of Tomfoolery,
By
This review is from: Municipal bondage: one man's anxiety-producing adventures in (Paperback)
Reading like a collection of Magazine articles, Henry Alford's little book (a comforting 231 pages) is fine chuckle reading. Again and again he casts himself into silly situations and somehow turns normal citizens into fonts of comedy. Alford seems very much like an Andy Rooney for the `90s.
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