When the Cats Razzed the Chickens by Mel Bosworth, Folded Word Press. Reviewed by Lynn Alexander.
First of all, I have to start by saying that I happily ordered this book because I have never been disappointed by Mel Bosworth or the work of Folded Word. I wanted to write about it because I hope that you will read it, because it deserves mention, because I think you will be glad you did. Nobody asked me to review it, and even if Mel Bosworth was a tool (FYI- he is SO not a tool) I would want to ramble about it. There is an attention to detail that just makes me excited to have this book in my hands, tangible, “shelf-able”. I have this odd sense sometimes like web based literature feels transient, like something I won’t be able to go back to when I want to. I love that the web has made things accessible, but there are some things I want to keep. This book is one of them. The presentation is unique and thoughtful, with details that can only be done by hand collecting many of Mel’s pieces from the web into a well crafted presentation that is definitely worth taking a look at even if you have read some of them before.
The thing with Mel is that he is so endearingly sweet and funny that I lose sight at times of the fact that he is a very serious and cerebral writer- I read his work, and it just hits me over and over that what Mel does is really above the curve. It was pointed out recently that I am not a fan of the “fawning review” but so help me, I’m fawning. Mel’s work speaks for itself, sells itself. It does.
I can’t help but declare Mel’s tribute to the omni-beard the hands down winner- “Xyrophobic Me”.
My beard sings love songs to lonely women, and makes its own wine called “Follicle Blush.”
My beard helps the old carry their groceries.
“My beard is an avid firewalker, singed and beautiful.
My second favorite, being a sucker for “awww” moments, is “Sometimes Conditional”. Mel captures, in snapshots, the experience of a parent watching the miracle of his baby son as he drools, crawls, heads off to school.
“I saw his face grow into his eyes, those big lake blue eyes…”
There are the boys talking about physics, in a bathtub debate, and would-be celebrities spooning in their hut after a street show gone awry. I was glad to see one of his well known and deservedly praised pieces “Leave Me As I Lessen”:
“The children call me Melting Man. I hate pictures, but smile anyway, teeth dripping down my throat. Mom screams when my ears fall off and ooze like slugs to the ocean. My watery toes give dawdling chase.”
Cynthia Reeser has an excellent, thorough review of “Razzed” at Prick Of The Spindle, and you can check that out here. You can also peek in at Mel here, at his blog.
Check out Folded Word here.
When the Cats Razzed the Chickens by Mel Bosworth
ISBN: 978-0-9778167-2-9
Folded Word Signature Series, 2009
