National Lampoon’s Big Book of Love by Scott Rubin, Sean Crespo and Mason Brown (Rugged Land), 208 pages, $29.95 cloth. Rating: NNNN
Rating: NNNNN
If, like me, you sold your entire collection of National Lampoons at a garage sale in a misguided attempt to declutter your space, National Lampoon’s Big Book Of Love is for you. It’s an anthology of the crème de la crème of the politically incorrect though often hilarious mag’s best articles, graphics and comics.
In 208 pages, it explores all the aspects of love and sex (especially sex, which may explain why National Lampoon was, in its 70s heyday, a teen favourite). It’s a witty, sarcastic, bawdy collection of art and articles that range from razor-sharp intellectual parodies to low-brow yuks – think Dumb & Dumber on E at Hedonism.
There’s no plot, no character development (save for the reader’s own) or flow to the book. The first thing you’ll see when you open this delight is a helpful photo guide entitled Are You A Man-Whore? and Are You A Skank? Under headings such as Tools Of Love, Quest For Love, Look Of Love and Literature Of Love fall vintage pieces by P. J. O’Rourke, Doug Kenney and Ted Mann as well as the infamous Foto Funnies.
After 30 years, it still makes me smile, guffaw and snort, though not to the point of squirting milk out my nose. The writing is still sharp and hits the mark more often than it misses.
Read the book and have a laugh.
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