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Thursday, November 20, 2008

Books I Like Calvin Trillin

Posted by Paul Constant on Thu, Nov 20, 2008 at 5:02 PM

Who doesn't like Calvin Trillin? Have you ever read the Tummy Trilogy? It's got to be the worst-titled good book I've ever read—some really great food writing. And About Alice was a pretty exceptional book, too. And Tepper Isn't Going Out was a really charming little novel about parking in New York City. It knew exactly what it was (a comedy of manners about, well, parking in New York City) and it didn't strive for more. It was just about perfect for a small comic novel.

But when I get shit like this in the mail, as I did just a few minutes ago:

515HsNeC0-L._SS500_.jpg
(Yes, that's right. It says Deciding the Next Decider: The 2008 Presidential Race in Rhyme)

Well, it's almost the sort of thing that gets a book critic wondering exactly why I liked an author in the first place. Here is what the back cover says:

On OBAMA:
Obama's rhetoric, she said, was lofty
But unsubstantial air, like Mister Softee.

On McCAIN:
His party was no longer torn asunder,
And all he'd had to do was knuckle under.

On BIDEN:
Joe carries many thoughts inside his head,
And often leaves but few of them unsaid.

On PALIN:
On Russia's being not so far away
She sounded eerily like Tina Fey.

A 116 page rhyming poem about the 2008 election. Seriously, was Tepper Isn't Going Out really that good? I don't remember anymore...

Comments (12) RSS

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Trillin has been writing little political ditties like this for 30-odd years now. Why do you all of a sudden have a problem with it? Not respectful enough of Obama?

And yes, "About Alice" was remarkable and moving.

Posted by David Wright on November 20, 2008 at 5:12 PM

Yeah, so I'm like having this problem with believing that's the worst-titled good book you've ever read.

Posted by Mr. Poe on November 20, 2008 at 5:14 PM

Hmmm. Brings to mind Steven Bochco's "Cop Rock."

Posted by flamingbanjo on November 20, 2008 at 5:16 PM

Trillin's piece about the best Texas BBQ in this week's "Frizzel..." Ooops, I mean "New Yorker" is well written.

Posted by Jubilation T. Cornball on November 20, 2008 at 5:40 PM

Ok, his other shit is really good, though. "About Alice" almost made me, like, believe in love again. :/

Posted by violet_dagrinder on November 20, 2008 at 6:06 PM

It's probably a compendium of his poems in the Nation - one every issue. I assume he still does that.

Posted by Terry on November 20, 2008 at 6:11 PM

Isn't he some guy from 1970s copies of "New York" magazine left on a coffee table in a doctor's office...

Posted by John Bailo on November 20, 2008 at 7:01 PM

I love his prose, but, yes, it's hard at times to forget he does this light verse horseshit. Ogden Nash he is not.

Posted by sw on November 20, 2008 at 7:01 PM

It's not like this is the first book of political rhyme he's written. Somebody gave me a copy of A Heckuva Job several years ago, which has sat unread on my shelf ever since.

While we're on books of political poetry, have you heard of Pieces of Intelligence? That book is the motherfucking mad note.

Posted by Greg on November 21, 2008 at 12:04 AM

Someone gave me a copy of "Feeding a Yen" a year ago -- it really revved up my appetite and made me a laugh a ton. But I've always hated those little poetry bits, I can't imagine anyone would pay for them.

Posted by Uncle Vinny on November 21, 2008 at 8:13 AM

What Terry said @6. Every week in The Nation Trillin has a rhyming political poem. I'm not sure what your complaint is, Paul Constant.

Posted by DOUG. on November 21, 2008 at 8:31 AM

I highly recommend Calvin Trillin's touching nonfiction book about his Yale classmate, Remembering Denny. It is about Denny Henson, gay but mostly closeted, and the difficulty he had reconciling his sexual orientation with his upbringing and career in the foreign service.

Posted by Bub on November 21, 2008 at 8:46 AM