I heard Chick Klosterman interviewed on NPR last week. He was promoting his new book, Eat the Dinosaur (more about that book in a few days after I read it), but a quick search of Klosterman’s previous books revealed this gem. Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs explodes with an analysis of breakfast cereal, reality television, tribute bands, Internet porn, serial killers, and the Dixie Chicks. Oh, and a lot more. Klosterman writes with popular culture in mind and he’s funny. My only complaint is that popular culture grows stale very quickly. Even though this book was published in 2003, references to The Legend of Zelda and The Sims are dated. If you’re looking for insightful cultural commentary and a few laughs, give Klosterman a try. GRADE: B
Cocoa Puffs grow stale quickly, too!
I figured you would pick up on that, Bill! SEX, DRUGS, AND COCOA PUFFS is a great title, but inadvertently reveals the flaw of writing about pop culture.
And those dated references are very noticeable when you read writers like Bobbie Ann Mason, who built her style around them. I enjoy them at the time, but later it makes the plot itself seem dated. Did you see the new cereal being advertised by Special K that has actual chocolate pieces in it. Can this be a good thing?
I find the whole idea of chocolate pieces in cereal repulsive, Patti! But, some people will buy it. You’re right on the money with Bobbie Ann Mason. Those dated references tend to increase the staleness of her work. That’s the same flaw that weakens SEX, DRUGS & COCOA PUFFS.
George, I read your review and thought, No, this isn’t for me. Why? I’ll tell you.
– breakfast cereal, I don’t do that.
– reality television, I don’t watch that.
– tribute bands, I don’t listen to that.
– Internet porn, I don’t look at that.
– serial killers, I don’t read books about that.
– the Dixie Chicks, I don’t listen to that.
That’s just the things you named, I can only guess how much more there must be that “I don’t”. Plus it’s stale. I’m not big into stale. But thanks for the warning.
My students live on breakfast cereal, junk food, reality TV, Internet porn, FACEBOOK, YouTube, and Twitter, Rick. I try to understand their world even though, like you, I don’t dwell there.
One of the things Rick listed, I like very much. I’ll leave it to your imaginations which one.
Bobbie Ann Mason’s writing seems dated now because we’re too close to it. Four or five decades in the future, her stuff will be considered period pieces, to be read to understand how people lived and thought back in the late 20th century.
I picture you as a reality TV junkie, Drongo. Time is cruel to artists. Very few of their works pass the test of Time. You might be right that Mason’s works will still be read 50 years from now, but the odds are against it. Just look at all the great novels in FORGOTTEN BOOKS that are out-of-print and completely off the radar.
I’d make a bet with you George, about how popular Mason is in 50 years, except in 2059 you’ll be dead and I’ll be trying to avoid incontinence.
I hope you’re right, Drongo. I worshiped her twenty years ago. What is the thing with students and cereal? It is sooooo boring.
My students carry Ziplock bags of cereal with them, Patti. They’re constantly munching on the stuff.
Patti, I suspect it’s because cereal is fast and easy, can be eaten wet or dry, can be carried, isn’t much different fresh or stale. My father used to call it “horse food”.
“Horse food,” indeed, Rick.