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The stories within French actress and screenwriter Mahfouz's collection reveal an irreverent, hilarious, colorful body of short-form literary delights. From pieces arguing why the author should be awarded a Nobel Prize, to a sitcom Oscar's acceptance speech, to an address to local garbage collectors who've "stopped whistling at me," the humor in these pages is non-stop, showcasing the voice of a writer remarkably, joyfully off-kilter.
One story explains that the past three hours were spent searching an online assortment of cakes, about which Mahfouz has absolutely no regrets. "The Day I Became a TED Talk Hater" recalls her first encounter with the series, establishing listening to Pachelbel's "Canon in D" to "stimulation of amino acids in the brain and increases in our immune response." A newfound TED Talks obsession escalates uncontrollably, the author quickly spiraling down the rabbit-hole. Mahfouz's "Unreleased Version" of the children's classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar begins at Area 51, whereupon "a little egg lay on the flat Earth." An early-morning moon landing rehearsal pops out the hungry creature, who begins searching for President Obama's long-form birth certificate.
The author confesses in another account her desire to become Jewish after viewing the "Hot Rabbi" on Netflix. Playfully warning Adam Brody she'll "personally visit you in your San Diego mansion and break all your dishes while shouting Mazel Tov" is, naturally, part of their wonderfully imaginative "little kosher cat-and-mouse game."
An absolute delight to read, Mahfouz's stories tickle the funny bone, while exuding an intimate vulnerability in her writing style. Further, the tone and tenor of this work prove incredibly accessible. These thirty-nine stories will certainly provide leisurely pleasure for the reader seeking new material for the fun—and funniness—of it all. With an eccentric voice so utterly unique, this storyteller takes the cake and then some.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review