Saturday, November 21, 2009
Book Report: America on Six Rubles a Day by Yakov Smirnoff (1987, 1993)
I enjoyed Yakov Smirnoff's humor back in the old days (those 1980s again) when his America vs. the USSR and incredulous immigrant schtick brought a unique perspective to being an American. This book recreates a bunch of those moments, and since I can remember what that was like, I can still laugh with it. Since I'm seeing the USA of today turn into that USSR of his humor, it's not humor without sadness.
I know Mr. Smirnoff has continued to work the comedy thing, so I have to wonder how much I'll enjoy the contemporary Yakov. Since I'm in Springfield, where Professor Smirnoff teaches at MSU and near where he has a theater at Branson, I'll find out, certainly. I might even run into him on the street someday.
So consider this review a preliminary suck-up.
- posted by Brian J. @ 8:31 AM
To say Noggle, one first must be able to say the "Nah."
"I will."
Heather L. Igert,
angelweave.mu.nu
"Genuis."
Neil Steinberg,
Chicago Sun-Times
"Some wanker."
Kim du Toit,
on the Noggle Library.
"Brian J. Noggle apparently forgot that the proper design for a tin foil beanie calls for the shiny side out."
Robb Allen,
Sharp as a Marble.
"I'm weeping openly right now. Thanks for hurting my feelings, pinhead."
Bob Rybarcyzk,
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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