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Ferguson, Will
Penguin Anthology of Canadian Humour
Penguin Anthology of Canadian Humour
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Despite the best intentions of all involved, the oxymoronically titled Penguin Anthology of Canadian Humour (what next: a survey of Canadian Celebrities and Military Intelligence?) has three critical strikes against it. First, the funniest contemporary writer in Canada--Will Ferguson--contributes one slender story. And his role as editor is largely symbolic; these are previously published works. Second, the thing is a doorstopper, contradicting Ferguson's stated aim to cull "obvious choices." Third, and most troubling, the book is not funny. In fact, it's eerily unfunny despite the presence of tried-and-true talents such as Erika Ritter, Douglas Coupland, and Paul Quarrington. It could be these excerpts were poorly précis-ed or that this humour is too, ah, cerebral to be easily compartmentalized. But one defies anyone not under threat of eighth-grade flunking to so much as grin at Stephen Leacock's piece. Or Ivan E. Coyote's. Or Paul Hiebert's. Montreal's James Martin is kind of clever if you can get past his penchant for worryingly uphip faux-spellings, howev klever himself maybe. And frankly anyone who would include Toronto Star columnist Joey Slinger--a writer of such staggering badness that comprehending him is akin to untying a knotted shoelace--begs to be mocked. Wish granted. --Kim Hughes
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