Corrections to My Memoirs

by Michael Kun

Book Overview

Stories about the lives we lead. And the lives we wish we led. How much of your life is fantasy? That is the question the offbeat characters in this collection seek to answer. From the fabrications of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1849821887
• ISBN13: 9781849821889
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: M P Publishing Limited
• Length: 241 Pages

Customer Reviews

Shades of Barth

John Barth makes a sly cameo in this wondrous potpourri from Michael Kun, as an erstwhile writing teacher of the author. I might otherwise not have noticed how much Corrections resembles the playful self-referential fiction of Barth; most notably the intermittent notes from the publisher that recall Giles Goat-Boy. The publisher's notes offer an ongoing commentary on the works included, like a stoned Greek chorus, and they provide added comic momentum to a collection that never quits being funny. Kun also shows a gift for satire this time around with everything from office memos to a lawyer's brief to advice on how to be a lawyer and writer at the same time (an ongoing joke). My real faves are the longer pieces, where Kun has room to display his gift for sharp characterization, dialog with perfect comic timing and, inevitably, the tinge of sadness. You can't beat "One Last Story About Girls and Chocolate," a dinner party from hell and in hell. "A Place Like Here, Only Different," features one of Kun's classic lonelyhearts, as does the superlative "Did She Jump or Was She Pushed." Kun pokes fun at the sales performance of his novels, but maybe this one will end what he considers his losing streak. Unless Kun publishes another book this year, Corrections has to go down as the funniest book of 2007.

Not Just Really Funny

This book alternates between plain hilarity and the kind of subtle humor that requires reading two or three times before you really get it. The book isn't just funny though. It's full of observations about aspects of life or other people's quirks that are reminscent of the old Seinfeld show and make it clear that Mike Kun is paying attention to what's going on around during his boring lawyerly workaday duties. As a lawyer myself, I can quote Roberta Flack and say that at times, the author was "killing me softly with his song." Nonetheless, I really liked it.

Another Gem

I was lucky enough to receive this in advance of its release date, and I read it the same night it came in the mail. Kun is absolutely the best at balancing funny and sad, pithy and poignant. Here he does just that with his collection of short stories. The obvious thread running throughout the book is the send-up of James Frey and the "poetic license" that people take with the memoir genre these days. However, there is so much more to these stories than parody. There are commentaries on the workplace that would make die hard fans of "The Office" proud, delicate and sophisticated relationships, and truly memorable characters at every turn. I've long insisted that Kun is at the very least the American answer to Nick Hornby and this effort only advances that claim. His ability to reinvent the format of storytelling is once again on display, as is his writing skill and understanding of our culture. I loved this book and already can't wait for the next one.

That Michael's a funny guy!

Admittedly, I have not yet read this book. (I just got the email from Amazaon that this book is now even available for god's sake. Give me some time to buy it. Geez.) However, I'm going to bet it's rip-roaring (hey, Mike, how do you like that adjective?) funny. I used to work at the same firm as Mike and he regularly had me in stitches but AT NO TIME did I laugh harder than the time he sent a letter to a female associate in the firm purporting to be from a company she regularly ordered shoes from. The letter was supposed to be serious but was so funny without giving it away that it was a joke. The poor girl had no idea - she (a fashion queen) was appalled by the contents of the letter. Meanwhile, those of us who knew what was going on, were wetting our pants. Anyway, I'm imaging that this book is full of that kind of hilarious nonsense. I know of no one who can pull such comedy off better than Mike! I've found his other books to be laugh-out-loud funny too. (P.S. So I assume Mike's still alive then??? Ah, never mind - it's just that rumors are circulating...)