I didn’t think this was possible, but the quantity of content in Entertainment Weekly seems to shrink with each new issue that arrives in my mailbox. Since the quality bottomed out ages ago, I guess it’s all relative, but it sure seems like their white-space percentage has increased.
In spite of that, there are actually a couple of useful tidbits in the latest issue. First is a review of a new book, Alternatives to Sex, by one of my favorite authors, Stephen McCauley. For those of you who only know McCauley via the dreadful film version of Object of My Affection, I can only tell you that none of his books were ever designed to be a Jennifer Aniston vehicle.
His novels are funny and bittersweet, focusing on complicated relationships, contentious families (either of birth or choice), and flawed, endearing characters. My favorite is probably Easy Way Out, though The Man of the House has a wonderful subplot that’s both hilarious and sad and perfectly represents McCauley’s world view.
This seems to be the season where all of my favorite authors put new novel on the market at once. I see that Christopher Moore has a new one, A Dirty Job. It’s so nice to fall even further behind in my prose reading.
The other EW blurb of interest is a review of a production of Stephen Sondheim’s Company in Cincinnati, directed by the genius whose revival of Sweeney Todd is destined to win a billion Tony Awards. What John Doyle is doing directing anything in Cincinnati is beyond me, but if you’re anywhere nearby, get a ticket if you’re able.
EW neglects to mention precisely where this production is running or for how long, though they do give a phone number. Because I care about you, I looked it up. It’s at Cincinnati’s Playhouse in the Park and runs through April 14.
And that’s all EW had to offer. So let’s move on to the week in comics.
If I hadn’t already picked up the singles, I’d certainly buy the collection of Banana Sunday (Oni). It’s great fun, especially Go-Go. There’s been some positive buzz about The Great Catsby (Netcomics), though the price tag ($17.99 for 224 full-color pages) is causing some distress. And Tokyopop brings the love with new volumes of Fruits Basket and Dragon Head. Well, it brings the love to me.