Who, what, where, why, how (did I get them all) are your influences. I thought I knew a lot of mine. However, I just received a slight shock to my core by finding the influence to my influence. And that influence of the influencer has had as much impact on my writing as the influencer.

Sorry, let me see if I can sort that out.

I consider Harlan Ellison to be one of the greatest writers of our time. His essays, in particular, have influenced the way I write (when I’m allowed to write that way.) I knew one of his influences, and one of the first people with any gravitas to speak kindly about his writing, was Dorothy Parker. So, I finally picked up this volume of collected writings – short stories, poetry, reviews, and essays.

The short stories are fine. Some have particular impact, some are dated. They are not a bad read, and often a good read. If the collection was just these stories, a 3 – maybe 3-and-a-half – star rating would be warranted. The poems suffer. They all rhythmically rhyme as much poetry did back then. (Yes, incredible changes in poetry had already happened, but much of the poetry for the masses still had to sound like a song with no music.) Most are clever. Some laugh out loud funny. But the theme of “who needs a man”, as well as a couple of others, wear thin. And there just isn’t that far you can go when restricted by rhythm, rhyme, and wit. Poems alone, this might garner 2 or, if in a particularly good mood, 2-and-a-half stars.

But then the reviews. Biting, witty, praise where it is due, condemnation when warranted, as much about the writer as what is being written about. Almost every one is a jewel and almost every one has some quick turn of phrase that hits home while being worth every word expended. And in so much of this, I saw the influence it had on Harlan Ellison. Even some phrases he used were nigh-on verbatim (whatever that means) phrases I found in the book.

All to say that I am now a devotee of Dorothy Parker. And my strong rating for the book is based on my strong (not strong enough a word, but we’ll move on) adoration of the essays and reviews. ( )

Relats, poesia, articles i crítiques de lliteràries. Es caracteritza pel seu esprit irònic i sarcàstic. Es una molt bona observadora i desenmascara la hipocresia ( racisme, paper de la dona...) de la societat benpensant americana. La poesia és àcida i desenganyada. Les critiques literàries, sense concessions. ( )