Book Review: The Quotable Drunkard
For some reason, I get a kick out of reading quotations, and I expect I’m not alone, explaining why so many books of quotes are on the market. Steven Kates turns to a natural topic – the bottle – for this themed book of musings, and for the most part it’s a solid one.
Split into chapters of natural topics, Kates takes on beer, wine, alcoholism, hangovers, and more, with special sections devoted to quotes about drinking from various books and movies. Historical figures are also amply represented in the text, as is the Bible.
Now maybe I’m old fashioned, but I do believe that no book about drinking, however frivolous, should ever quote Dharma & Greg. And it definitely should not do so three times. Sure enough, these quotes aren’t even remotely amusing, and if Kates’ book ever suffers, it’s in his editing: As if he simply punted and did a few IMDB searches for “rum,” “wine,” and “drinking” and just copy-and-pasted everything that turned up into his manuscript.
But hey, compiling quotes probably isn’t as easy as it sounds, and by and large Kates does good work here. You may even learn a thing or two courtesy of the drinking fun facts interspersed throughout the tome.
Until next time, remember, “I used to think drinking was the only way to be happy. Now I know there is no way to be happy.” (Laura Kightlinger)
A- / $10 / [BUY IT FROM AMAZON]
The Quotable Drunkard
$10
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