Overall one of CK's most satisfying books, even though I subjectively feel each and every essay is just a tad too short for some reason (I have not attempted to determine whether this is true by any objective measurement.) ( )

I like Klosterman, but this is his [b:Me Talk Pretty One Day|4137|Me Talk Pretty One Day|David Sedaris|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165389015s/4137.jpg|1030767]-the point at which the initially charming shtick starts to wear thin, and the author needs to break some new ground. ( )

Fun. Like sugary cereal or a donut. ( )

Hmmm....well....hmmm. Have you ever read the celebrity profiles in magazines like Esquire, Vanity Fair, Spin, etc? Well, if so - and you like them - you've got the spirit of Chuck K. IV is a collection of his essays, which he introduces with a short lead-in. The lead-ins provide context on his thinking or approach at the time and they were generally interesting.

The book is a play in three acts:
Act 1, "things that are true," are reprints or, in some cases, unedited originals of some of his celebrity profiles and interviews. These range from a young Britney Spears to Steve Nash to Val Kilmer to Jeff Tweedy and Thom Yorke. My personal favorites are the ones about Styx and the 70s music cruise and his investigative reporting on his local clairvoyant scene. His interviews are humanizing rather than salacious and he mostly lets you draw your own conclusions.

Act 2, "things that might be true," is a collection of cultural perspective pieces. These I liked more. He's an interesting brain and while I don't always agree with his point of view, that's what makes him interesting. Also, his writing is funny, self-deprecating and incisive. I found myself laughing out loud at several of his essays and unfortunately it's turns of phrase that don't work outside the context of his writing. Some of his phrasing, I'd love to steal, but it'd just be peculiar. Particular favorites: Nemesis, Stories about Pants.

Act 3, "something that isn't true," is a short story that's...marginal. CK's perspective on the story is more interesting than the story itself. It just reads, unfinished and inserted because he didn't really know how to stick the landing and wanted to round out the content beyond stuff previously published in periodicals.

This is a book that's easy to dip in and out if you're in a line or a doctor's office and need a book that's easy to put down when your number is called. One week later I'm left with a mildly positive perception, but can remember few specifics. It's like a dessert--it tastes good at the time, but it's not particularly memorable and not nutritious.

Recommended if you're interested in pop culture and appreciate different perspectives on it. And bonus if your pop culture flavor is circa 80s or even 90s as that's about the right time period to appreciate it. ( )

Meeh.... ( )