One of Steve Almond’s earliest influences was Kurt Vonnegut, and
although his writing has an entirely different flavor, Almond is
nonetheless trying to do the same work. Before you remark upon how
insightful and sharp this literary analysis is, it’d be fair to note
that Almond pretty much says this himself in his latest collection,
(Not That You Asked). His 50-odd-page exploration of the
author’s life and work is the book’s second essay, and sets the tone
for everything that follows.
And what follows is often laugh-out-loud funny, interlaced with
touching moments of raw humanity and anguish over what we, as a
species, have become. In the chapter “How Reality TV Ate My Life,” he
picks apart his near miss at appearing on VH1’s Totally Obsessed, and the ridiculous lengths he went to in order to make
himself into what they wanted.
“Demagogue Days” documents Almond’s attempt to take a stand by
resigning from his adjunct position at Boston College when they
contracted Condoleezza Rice to speak at commencement. In addition to
receiving eloquent email missives from representatives of the stalwart
right (“I support Condoleca Rice [sic] as a brave and
magnificent princess who is trying to save the world.”), he also was
noticed by talk radio and Fox News. He held his own on Hannity &
Colmes and was actually cut off and dropped during a live
interview—immediately after rendering Hannity speechless with a
Fox-style jab at Bill O’Reilly.
Almond’s a funny guy. He’s smart, sharp, and accessible in a way
that makes non-literary types recognize themselves, and literary types
just slightly undervalue him. A self-proclaimed narcissist (what decent
writer isn’t?), he’s at his best when he’s sifting through the pieces
of his life and trying to make sense of them—from Oprah to waxing
his chest hair to fighting with lit bloggers to becoming a father. Like
Vonnegut, Almond has an abiding love and fear for the human race.
Making us laugh about the stupid, cruel, and loveable things we all do,
he is trying to help us make our time here matter, the best way he
knows how.