Let Me Count the Ways - A Novel

Peter De Vries

Beschreibung

The sins of the father are hilariously visited on the son in this witty and profound novel about the meaning of it all Stanley Waltz is a Polish American piano mover and pugnacious atheist married to a born-again believer. His heroes are H. L. Mencken and Clarence Darrow, and if he confuses “illusion” with “allusion” and thinks a certain style of egg is “bedeviled,” that does not mean his reasoning is any less sound. Unfortunately, his wife is immune to his intellect and insists not just on saving his soul but on taking their son, Tom, to the local gospel mission every chance she gets. It is enough to drive a man into the arms of a mistress “funny as a crutch and twice as perceptive”—and that is exactly where Stan goes. This leaves Tom twice as mixed up as the average son. In the second section of this side-splitting and thought-provoking comedy, he is a professor of English at the local college, his questions about faith, doubt, and morality as unresolved as they are inescapable. As an undergraduate, he stumbled from girl to girl, breaking up with one because she was a nonbeliever, another because she was too pious. His marriage to a beautiful professor of comparative religion is no solution. In short order, he has an affair, breaks his leg, leads a funeral procession hopelessly astray, and suffers a nervous breakdown. Only a miracle can save him—if he can figure out what one might look like. Stanley and Tom Waltz are a father-son duo unlike any other, and Let Me Count the Ways is Peter De Vries at his insightful, brilliant, lightning-witted best.

Verfügbar seit: 21.10.2014.

Drucklänge: 306 Seiten.

Weitere Bücher, die Sie mögen werden

Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town

Stephen Leacock

Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town is a sequence of stories by Stephen Leacock, first published in 1912. It is generally considered to be one of the most enduring classics of Canadian humorous literature.    The fictional setting for these stories is Mariposa, a small town on the shore of Lake Wissanotti. Although drawn from his experiences in Orillia, Ontario, Leacock writes in the introduction:    “Mariposa is not a real town. On the contrary, it is about seventy or eighty of them. You may find them all the way from Lake Superior to the sea, with the same square streets and the same maple trees and the same churches and hotels.”    This work has remained popular for its universal appeal. Many of the characters, though modelled on townspeople of Orillia, are small town archetypes. Their shortcomings and weaknesses are presented in a humorous but affectionate way.    Often, the narrator greatly exaggerates the importance of the events in Mariposa compared to the rest of the world. For example, when there is a country-wide election, “the town of Mariposa, was, of course, the storm centre and focus point of the whole turmoil.” (Summary from Wikipedia)

Zum Buch

Wait What?! - Life Advice From a...

J-Wunder

“A must-read book. His shocking tales and genius revelations reveal the absurdity of life and love and sex.”—Elizabeth Jayne Liu, Head Homette, Flourish in Progress J-Wunder has shocked, entertained, and advised millions of visitors on his blog, Ghetto Genius, since 2010. Wait . . . What?! collects the best and the most ridiculous stories, best-of lists, and advice columns, with never-before-seen insights into the wild life of J-Wunder and his partners in crime, Anonymous and The Ringer. Highlights include: The epic saga of hooking up with Cat Woman—the craziest cat lady on Match.ComThe Hate List of Facebook (parts 1, 2, and 3): Everything we hate about the largest social networkThe Daily Grind: advice and stories to encourage you to work hard and play even harderStraight talking relationship advice, from the only guy willing to tell it like it is   Blogging taught J-Wunder not to take life too seriously, and sharing his misfortunes not only makes people laugh, but helps them with their own problems. Like a train wreck you can’t look away from, Wait . . . What?!: Life Advice From a Ghetto Genius is filled with stories that are too hilarious and horrifying to be anything but true.

Zum Buch

The Negro Grandsons of...

Alain Mabanckou

The award-winning author of Black Moses is at his satiric best in this novel the catalogs the pain and suffering caused by the ravages of civil war. 
 
Set in the imaginary African Republic of Vietongo, The Negro Grandsons of Vercingetorix begins when conflict breaks out between rival leaders and the regional ethnic groups they represent. Events recorded in a series of notebooks under the watchful eye of Hortense Lloki show how civil war culminates in a series of outlandish actions perpetrated by the warring parties’ private militias—the Anacondas and the Romans from the North who have seized power against Vercingetorix (named after none other than the legendary Gallic warrior who fought against Caesar’s army) and his Little Negro Grandsons in the South who are eager to regain control. Translated into English for the first time, this novel provides a gritty slice of life in an active war zone. 
 
“Nearly twenty years removed from its French publication, Mabanckou’s aptitude for characterization and his unflinching glimpse of plight echo within every movement of Vercingetorix . . . With The Negro Grandsons of Vercingetorix, Mabanckou stresses that even as violence is an accomplice to life, perseverance is synonymous.” —World Literature Today

Zum Buch

Farts Aren't Invisible -...

Mick O'Hare

A mind-bending, brain-expanding cornucopia of facts for curious minds from the bestselling author of Why Don't Penguin's Feet Freeze?Own the room with this hilarious collection of fact-tastic myth-busters and jaw-dropping trivia exploring science, history, sport and lesser-known facts from across the universe.Did you know that the Moon has a Bishop? That ostriches DON'T bury their heads in the sand? And that powdered rice was used as cement in the Great Wall of China?What do souls weigh? What can't 60% of the human population smell? And what on earth is rhinotillexomania?And the big one . . . are farts actually invisible?The answers to these questions are all here.Challenge your brain, turn your world upside down and relish the irresistible mix of wit and wisdom. It's also a perfect gift for the brainiac in your life.

Zum Buch

Irish Proverbs and Sayings

Padraic O'Farrell

Unleash the power of Irish wit and wisdom with this collection of quotes, proverbs and blessings from Padraic O'Farrell. Discover the timeless wisdom of great Irish men such as Shaw, Wilde, Synge and Swift, as well as the unspoiled gems of Irish folklore and legend. Perfect for those seeking a taste of Irish culture, this book is a must-have for anyone celebrating St Patrick's Day and beyond.
 
* There's no point in keeping a dog if you are going to do your own barking.
* The best way to get an Irishman to refuse to do something is by ordering it.
* Initiative is praiseworthy when it succeeds, stupid when it fails.
* Burning the candle at both ends will soon leave you without a light.<
* The smaller the cottage, the wider the door.
* Morality is simply the attitude we adopt towards people whom we personally dislike. - Oscar Wilde

Zum Buch

Stay Sexy & Don't Get Murdered -...

Karen Kilgariff, Georgia Hardstark

This program is read by the authors, with Paul Giamatti, and includes sections recorded in front of a live audience.The highly anticipated first book by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, the voices behind the #1 hit podcast My Favorite Murder!Sharing never-before-heard stories ranging from their struggles with depression, eating disorders, and addiction, Karen and Georgia irreverently recount their biggest mistakes and deepest fears, reflecting on the formative life events that shaped them into two of the most followed voices in the nation.In Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered, Karen and Georgia focus on the importance of self-advocating and valuing personal safety over being "nice" or "helpful." They delve into their own pasts, true crime stories, and beyond to discuss meaningful cultural and societal issues with fierce empathy and unapologetic frankness.“My Favorite Murder started as a way for Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark to work through their fears. Now it’s a worldwide community…. Even its darkest moments are lightened by Karen and Georgia's effortlessly funny banter and genuine empathy.” —RollingStone.com

Zum Buch