Yes, I’ll finish that dragon

Not long ago I said I wouldn’t give a five-star review unless a bookmark came out and fed me chocolate while I was reading. Thanks to Barry Parham, I’ve gained five pounds and have chocolate smeared across my face. I guess that technology’s still in beta.

 

You Gonna Finish That Dragon?” Musings from a table for one is the latest of Barry’s books, and maybe it’s no coincidence that he shares a name with another of my favorite humorists, Dave Barry. Both have the ability to make me do something I, a grizzled long-time humorist, don’t do often while reading: laugh out loud.

“I hate it when women start comparing you to their ex-beaus. ‘Oh, move it along, would ya? Sheesh. My last three boyfriends bled out in 20 minutes. Tops.’”

 

I was a little concerned that Barry’s newest humor book would be a bit too political, but he covers almost every other topic under the sun instead – with the occasional jab at such easy targets as Joe Biden, which I’m also guilty of:

 

“That’s the third time today the Vice President has sworn out loud, during his speech here at the nunnery.”

 

Barry explains what the little fold-up table in public bathrooms is for (“Those occasional social situations that call for an impromptu human sacrifice”). He talks about Martha Stewart’s restraining order, the high cost of free stuff, and everything else from the Olympics to Christmas, in a book dedicated to Chinese food and Marco Polo. He also, as all thinking writers must, tackles such things as relationships:

 

“Did you know that the average American wedding now costs somewhere north of $25,000? And that’s not counting the cost of the divorce.”

 

And death:

 

“Eterno-Wrap is intended for the treatment of Erect Dysfunction, also known as extended horizontality, or persistent deadness. Discuss your status with your doctor to ensure that you are healthy enough for death.”

 

And it’s all divided up into nice, digestible column lengths, perfect for a laugh during lunch or a bathroom read. The only thing I don’t like about Barry … is that I don’t need the competition.

 

http://www.amazon.com/You-Gonna-Finish-That-Dragon/dp/1490556737/ref=la_B002PRLAM8_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1384684971&sr=1-9

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