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Gary Shteyngart Does Humorous Thing With Marketing Budget
I get this blank look when anyone mentions Gary Shteyngart, because I still don't really "understand" who he is or "get" it and I suspect that's my fault, but I will give props to this book trailer, which I do "get." As does a very shiny and bedraggled James Franco.
Srsly, Russian Debutante's Handbook and Aburdistan are both hilarious. Try them!
WHO PAID YOU TO SAY THIS?
(Was it Sloane Crosley??)
I had no idea that Gary is a "thing", I swear. I am always surprised when I see his name pop up somewhere. My MOTHER gave me Russian Debutante's Handbook. I am old, I live in suburban Maryland, I am no one's anything! I am genuinely sorry that aokay didn't like Absurdistan as it makes me feel like maybe I have no taste. (It's not as good as RDH, but I still thought it was funny.)
I actually think I'm in the minority on Absurdistan. I just don't get it. Don't worry about me being some arbiter of good taste though, I'm most definitely not.
I'm with you, Titty! I thought Absurdistan was great.
That was pretty effective. Can you make one of these things with a Brownie?
excerpt in new yorker fiction special was pretty great
Seriously, Absurdistan is one of the worst books I have ever read. I forced myself to read the whole thing so that people who liked it couldn't pull the "Oh, it gets soooo much better" card. It's a collection of unlikeable assholes, unfunny humor and the least subtle satire this side of the movie Crash. boo-urns.
I think it gets worse but it starts up high enough it has plenty of room left. Just one man's opinion though. That's what's nice about diversity, tolerance and freedom; we can disagree without me having to carve anything into your charred corpse. Thank someone in uniform every time that doesn't happen.
That book is shit. Yakov Smirnoff is funnier.
James Franco even does 'ugly' hot.
I enjoyed the winking irony of him talking about "bears".
Hey Choire! You should read some books by Gary Shetyngart! He has three of them now. I can give you the ISBN's if you want.
:(
Punchline to "why working with Gary Shteyngart has been a singular experience" joke should have been, "because he demands his advance be paid entirely in singles." Other than that, this is hilarious.
I agree. The "smoked meats" schtick is old hat whereas the cheap pun is on the upswing. I mean this seriously.
Jay McInerney is kinda hot. There I said it.
I kept waiting for Christopher Guest to chime in.
I don't get James Franco. And not just in a "oh ha he is not for me" way, in a "this celebrity has fallen through from some parallel universe where vapid average looking dudes are considered super cool" way. He's like a British celebrity.
ahem, have you learned nothing from the last two days?
I will cut you.
-whips out butterfly knife, snaps fingers-
Who complains about James Franco? What a gift this guy is! He has fame and stardom but wants to be a bohemian and does cool stuff unpretentiously. If all of Hollywood were like this guy Hollywood would be great again.
All you haters just need a good fuck.
Thank you, @SpyMagician; I was trying to say just that, more or less, but then got distracted on wikipedia (assembling my annotations) where I learned he dated Gia from Full House in the past, so maybe I have a shot?
Does "wants to be a bohemian" include "writes really shitty prose"? Or going to Yale to get a PhD in English?
Deeppomega, where do you get the idea all bohemian's are perfect artists? Ever read an Allen Ginsberg other than "Howl"? The guy is actually a bit mehhh… And please, let's not even play the "he's going to Yale" card; news to world: He is rich! But guess what? He could be a d-bag with that money or be just a decent fella. And he's choosing to be a decent fella.
I'm not trying to start a fight about James Franco! I promise! (Also, for the record, "all you haters" is pretty much only me! I am resigned to living in a world where everyone but me loves him). But I don't think writing lame stories that would never have been published if he wasn't famous = not a d-bag. That's actually kinda high on my douchebag-o-meter, personally. Which is cool! If I were famous, I'd be a douche, too! But I don't understand why his flavor of celebrity douche is considered bohemian is all.
deepo, I think what you need is a little Freaks and Geeks. But if you didn't cry at the end of Milk, you are probably hopeless and possibly a sociopath. (Whatever you do, do not watch The Company under any circumstances!)
-sigh- I tried to tell you, Deepo.
[I don't really give a shit one way or another about JF, honestly- he's an actor. scads of girls think he's hot. whatev, don't tar and feather me!]
oh and LaBute movies BE ILLIN'.
I will take a good fuck from James Franco plz thnx.
@Art – I REGRET NOTHING.
@garge – The Freaks and Geeks angle makes some sense of this for me! I've not seen it (!) but my understanding of it, and knowing that this was early in his career before he was in a soap opera and writing poorly, helps bring this all together!
So. James Franco was in my office building and I didn't see him. Dammit, there are very few perks in this biz, they should notify us when beautiful/hungover/unshowered JF is in our midst.
I might buy this book just because Mary Gaitskill was in the trailer?
You have to enjoy linguistics in some manner to enjoy Absurdistan. But I defy you to listen to Arte Johnson's audiobook reading (!) of the novel without enjoyment. "We must reject European music categorically. Even so-called progressive house!"