Paul Livingston (1)

Many of these short stories are jokes he has told in appearances on TV, but having them at your fingertips is the better media. That is, as long as you have seen him enough to know his voice, his poetic timing, his delivery. However, to appreciate this book, one needs a strong sense of irony entwined in literate skills; as egregious puns and metaphors really are the meat of the humour. The titles of his stories are usually puns derived from common phrases, which almost give you the sense that you might relate somehow to the story, such as "Horizon Shine" (Arise and shine), "Toothloose and Fancy Free", or "A Penny For Your Afterthoughts". However, as soon as he begins, his verse turns to nonsense but written as prose. In this, we have to accept some surreal connections to allow him to deliver a punchline. Sometimes, these are intellectually fantastic bu they occasionally miss their mark.… (mais)