Fraud: Essays

by David Rakoff | Entertainment |
ISBN: 0767906314 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingGoryDetailswing of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 6/11/2003
Buy from one of these Booksellers:
Amazon.com | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT | Bol.com
This book is in the wild! This Book is Currently in the Wild!
1 journaler for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Wednesday, June 11, 2003
Pre-numbered label used for registration.

I wasn't sure what to expect from Rakoff - he's been compared with David Sedaris a lot, and since they are friends (and since there's a wonderful cover-quote from David S. saying "With 'Fraud,' David Rakoff manages to successfully pass himself off as the wittiest and most perceptive man in the world") it only encourages the comparison. But I found Rakoff - while very funny indeed - much less, um, bizarre? "out there"? quirky? - than Sedaris; in fact, he made me think of Bill Bryson in some places, with a more quiet style that sneaks up on you. (The Bryson comparison probably started because the very first article was about Rakoff's hike up Mount Monadnock, which is a thoroughly-climbed mountain not very far west of my house; the humorous, in-over-my-head travelogue style was very Brysonesque. "I do not go outdoors. Not more than I have to. As far as I am concerned, the whole point of living in New York City is indoors. You want greenery? Order the spinach.")

Then there's the article about Rakoff's stint playing Sigmund Freud in - ready? - the window of Barney's department store in New York as part of the Christmas display (!).
In the window, I fantasize about starting an entire Christmas Freud movement. Christmas Freuden everywhere, providing grown-ups and children alike with the greatest gift of all: insight. In department stores across America, people leave display window couches, snifflingly and meaningfully whispering, "Thank you, Christmas Freud," shaking his hand fervently, their holiday angst, if not dispelled, at least brought into starker relief.
In other adventures, Rakoff visits Loch Ness, participates in a Wilderness Survival School, and gets a two-day role on a major soap opera - and skewers all of them (and himself). He's very funny and I hope he produces another book soon.

Update: Since reading Fraud, I've listened to an audio version of selections from it read by Rakoff himself - definitely recommended.

Journal Entry 2 by wingGoryDetailswing at Shell Station At Exit 4 in Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Thursday, June 26, 2003
Released on Thursday, June 26, 2003 at Shell Station at Exit 4 in Nashua, New Hampshire USA.

I plan to leave this near the ice chest outside the door of the convenience store, at around 11:30.

Are you sure you want to delete this item? It cannot be undone.