I sort of ran across Ford while working at the library (his books ... not the author). I had never heard of him and I am always good for a good laugh so I figured I would give him a try. His earlier books, of which this is the third, are actually collections of essays while he seems to have shifted primarily into writing novels in more recent years.

The essays in this volume are full of sarcastic wit that makes the whole thing just so much fun. Some of the pieces look back on his life, allowing him to both parody and satirize events. Others focus more on various aspects of our culture with some focusing on the GLBTQQ community and others on American or small towns or other subgroups.

Readers even get a chance to learn about a new boyfriend he meets and forms a relationship with. In the introduction, it is made clear how the whole process, including their later breakup, changed some of his views, but it is definitely fun to hear him, knowing where things are going.

Because of the age of the book and the regular references to pop culture of the time, it is filled with references to Bill Clinton and the Columbine High School shooting, among others, but a lot of what is discussed throughout the essays is still in the news. For example, he often refers to how he disagrees with the idea of same-sex marriage because he thinks it means that queers are giving up their own identity in an attempt to find acceptance by modeling straight couples. It is an argument I heard before and one that is still being mentioned.

There are also a number of essays that are just pure satire and usually include a set of lists or timelines such as a history of gay cinema, penis size, or even the reverence many people play(ed?) to Stevie Nicks. They are definitely not to taken seriously, but they are loads of fun. Like most satire, though, there is a whit of wise thought behind the laughter.

I definitely want to try out some of his other series of essays and maybe even his fiction. In some ways, he reminds me a lot of David Sedaris, though Ford's essays are shorter and more focused. I would definitely recommend him for people who enjoyed Augusten Burroughs' collection of essays entitled Possible Side Effects. The humor and the writing style are pretty similar.