My last two trips to the book store resulted in my paying money for hours of boredom.

I'm looking for something entertaining and mindless. Any suggestions?

AzureStarr said:

Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth is hilarious and entertaining.

entertaining & relatively mindless.

this is a good book too, though not mindless - Louis 14th and the scandal over supposed poisonings - kinda like a French version of the witchhunts:

kisscamille said:

Just looked this up on Amazon. Jotted it down on my list and I'm gonna look for it tonight when I hit Border's... thank you!

testicleman said:

Going Postal is on the list for tonight, too. The other is jotted down for when I'm in that frame of mind.

Thanks to you, too! This is really saving me from developing a huge headache. The last two times I've just kinda wandered around, really not finding anything and then coming home only to be disappointed with all that I'd bought.

AzureStarr said:

I hope you like it. It's about a guy who can't stop masturbating. True

I laughed my head off when I read it years ago.

Anxiety said:

Another good one - thanks! It sounds like it may be even better on audio, which I've never tried, but the reviews say that hearing Sedaris and the others makes it that much more funny. I might have to try that for the first time!

kisscamille said:

Sounds like a few ex's of mine!

AzureStarr said:

you are welcome.

i know what you mean about bookstore wandering. I have bought so much junk while browsing.

i can be both entertaining and mindless

fishbellyblack said:

Perfect! You're exactly what I'm looking for then!

AzureStarr said:

lol .. so do u want the hardback
or the softback version

Azure!!! Hello beautiful!!!


Look up this:

Lies My Teacher Told Me.


It's an awesome read.

I don't know how recent your books have to be but of the books I have read recently these two fit your requirements.



and

fishbellyblack said:

As a rule, I usually prefer the softbacks. In this case, I think I'd have to go with the hardback version.

Ya nut!

jerseykrs said:

Hi, you!

Jotted it down! I feel like a little girl waiting for Christmas morning... lol. I'm walking into Border's tonight on a mission and the weekend will be spent covered up and reading!

Thanks!

AzureStarr said:

it's really informative. It goes over all the bullshit that is taught in our youths curriculum and how wrongfully history is depicted.

PREDOMINANT said:

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime... that was a great book! I picked it up on one of those days where you don't know what to get and completed it that night before I went to bed.

Looking up the other suggestion. Thanks!

AzureStarr said:

good choice

jerseykrs said:

All this from a photo whore!

AzureStarr said:

Am I good one though???

jerseykrs said:

You could probably stand to post a few more... for good measure.

This book of various essays on pop culture is nearly priceless. Klosterman finds so much relevance in so many throw away items in items in pop culture at times its astonishing. And hilarious. I never thought Saved By the Bell or MTV's Real World could inspire even an interesting paragraph, but Klosterman finds a way to show the significance of these items at the same time conceding their banality in two excellent essays. It's very impressive.

The essay on breakfast cereal was completely mindless, and completely laugh out loud funny, especially the descriptions of the sociology and psychology of various cartoon characters in breakfast cereal ads.

Klosterman will take positions you'd never think he'd defend, like describing the brilliance of Billy Joel. I can barely tolerate this artist, but Klosterman has made me reconsider him, and frankly, he was about the last person I'd expect to do this. Nor does he take himself too seriously, as he describes his attendance at a Pop Music Conference for academics and music critics, which he totally skewers, even though he readily admits the conference is made for people like him.

And sprinkled through the book are some very insightful comments and insights about the human experience. And Klosterman clearly exposes his personal weaknesses throughout.
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[Edited 3/18/05 7:32am]

Stax said:

Another good one... adding and I thank you!

Stax said:

Yes, yes, yes!

AzureStarr said:

I love it when you find a great book that way, I picked up the "Bookseller of Kabul" like that. The absolute opposite to the situation that sparked this thread

Jersey... there's nothing here?

PREDOMINANT said:

I know, right! It's like a small victory... as if you've hit the jackpot... lol.