I appreciate stories that reveal the quirks of the author, and I feel like this book did just that. I had no idea Novak (who played Ryan on The Office) was a writer. His twisted humor powers most of the stories, though some of them feel a bit repetitive. The opening story - the reimagining of The Tortoise & the Hare - was among my favorites from this collection.
Some very light pieces of "micro fiction" and several thought-provoking tales about authenticity.
What is authentic about a work of translation? Is it art?
What if you are genuinely attached to ambition and material success? Isn't inauthentic to behave otherwise?
What is the very best thing in the world? What could possibly qualify as such?
Sure, there were a couple of clunkers. But hey, I still buy albums too.
It's important to know that this is not a book of short stories: It's a book of jokes, some in a more extended format, by the guy who played Ryan on The Office. If you go in with that expectation, it's amusing, and that's what the three stars are based on. As an example, one of the pieces is about how the real-life Duke of Earl visits America in the 1960s, and is perplexed to find that everyone who meets him is humming the same song. If you like that sort of thing, this is a fast and amusing read.
