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I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts: Drive-by Essays On American Dread, American Dreams (2010)

by Mark Dery(Favorite Author)

3.96 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0816677735 (ISBN13: 9780816677733)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Univ Of Minnesota Press

review 1: The "drive-by" description is apt. Dery doesn't get bogged down in deep analysis but instead serves as a sharp-tongued tour guide for some memorable curiosities and bizarre themes: hungry tourists stuffing their faces in an Auschwitz cafeteria, the subconscious reasons we're scared of teeth, the relationship between Santa and Satan, fan fiction, various fetishes, Facebook weirdness and lots more. He could stand to add a few new reference points - seriously, sir, step away from the Bowie albums and J.G. Ballard books - and, for better or worse, the book doesn't deliver on the book jacket hype of plunging recklessly into the darkest, deepest corners of the secret American psyche or whatever (we're talking about essays about HAL's sexuality and the "Hitler reacts to ___" vide... moreos). Overall: a unique, engaging collection of essays.
review 2: its a little bit jumbled and jivey. maybe its supposed to be like a poem, where the author just sort of throws out stuff and you sort of make "connections" between "ideas" in your "head". ? Its heady, and its crass, and hes just calling it like he sees it. . . or its just a bunch of pretentious garbage that looks like intellectual honesty because the subject matter and approach seem so "keepin it real". Reminds me of Jim Goad stuff, I guess I just dont have the intellectual stamina for it, (or is it a poets heart thats needed?). There is probably rich truths in there, I just cant see through the fog on the page. (the fog of my own mindbrain!) And i'll stand by this -one of us is a rambling idiot. Back to picture books. less

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