Book Reviews

We all need a good laugh. Physicians, philosophers, playwrights and preachers all seem to agree that laughter is therapeutic and good for the body and certainly for the soul.

 

The New Yorker Magazine comes out weekly. (Almost, maybe six times a year, two weeks are bunched together for a single “double issue.”) The New Yorker is full of serious fiction and nonfiction, reviews, NYC entertainment schedules and glamorous, glossy ads. Of course advertising keeps the magazine afloat and may even subsidize my low-cost “professional” subscription.

 

Years ago a bigwig at the magazine insisted his publication was never intended for “the little old lady in Dubuque.” My guess is that by now thousands of Iowans subscribe to the New Yorker, including many from Dubuque. And, like the rest of us, what do they look at first? The cartoons! 

 

Recently the New Yorker has added a new feature, giving readers a chance to vent their humor. Near the back of each issue is a page featuring three cartoons. One has no caption; readers are invited to submit one. Another is a reprint of a recent caption-less drawing, now with three possible captions chosen from those sent in by readers. The third is an earlier entry with the winning caption.

 

Dogs are a favorite subject of New Yorker cartoon artists. The July 2 issue of the magazine featured a dog cartoon with three suggested captions. One was submitted by Jennifer Iverson of Santa Ynez.

 

Playboy Magazine, at least in its heyday, also published serious fiction and nonfiction.  But did we believe those guys who claimed that it was the articles that made them avid Playboy readers?

 

The old Playboy surely did publish some great cartoons. While taking a nostalgic look through a newly published volume containing the voluptuous work of the magazine’s leading artist, I am marveling and also laughing out loud. The book is An Orgy of Playboy’s Eldon Dedini (Fantagraphics Books, $39.95). In case any defense is needed, a clergyman loaned it to me.

 

At one time Father Chuck Stacy’s dad, also an Episcopal priest, served a congregation in King City and the Stacys and the Dedinis were friends. Eldon started out as a comics-loving farm boy. Then came Hartnell Junior College in Salinas, art school, career, success at Playboy and finally settling in the Carmel area, where coincidentally, the young priest Charles Stacy was working.

 

In addition to creating posters for the Monterey Jazz Festival and Pebble Beach high society charity events, Dedini contributed artwork for Chuck’s church. And when Chuck moved down here to Saint Mark’s in the Valley, he continued to call on his friend Eldon Dedini when special artwork was needed.

 

Sure. Playboy can be appreciated for its art. Here’s how two cartoon editors summed up Dedini, “The image is basically who Eldon himself is: a font of originality, a cornucopia of fun and probably, overall, the finest cartoon watercolorist in the world. His grasp of mythology, classical art, pop culture and comics is nonpareil.”  “Dedini drew with such richness his black and white drawings seemed to be in color.” (Eldon Dedini 1921-2006)

Not every book in The Book Loft’s humor section is funny, but it is not hard to unearth some good ones. Just out in paperback is Jay Leno’s How to be the Funniest Kid in the Whole Wide World (Or Just in Your Class) (Aladdin, $7.99).

 

Enough of a challenge to perhaps be shelved in “Philosophy” instead of “Humor” Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar . . .Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes is an irresistible little volume, one of this summer’s surprise best sellers (Abrams, $18.95

 

Whisky is for drinking; Water is for fighting over. -Mark Twain

               

Only write for those who can read between the lines. -Kinky Friedman (Texas author, entertainer, sometime politician)

 

Salesman:  This vacuum cleaner will cut your work in half. Customer: Great!  Give me two. - Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar