15 Bytes Book Award
2021 Independent Publisher Book Awards, Gold Medal Winner In English disparate means "different" or "miscellaneous"—apt descriptors of these essays by Patrick Madden. In Spanish, however, disparate means "nonsense, " "folly, " or "absurdity, "—words appropriate to Madden's goal of undercutting any notion that essays must be serious business. Thus, in this collection, the essays are frivolous and lively, aiming to make readers laugh while they think about such abstract subjects as happiness and memory and unpredictability. In this vein, Madden takes sidelong swipes at weighty topics via form, with wildly meandering essays, abandoned essays in honor of the long tradition of essayists disparaging their own efforts, and guerrilla essays—which slip in quietly under the guise of a borrowed form, abruptly attack, and promptly escape, leaving laughter and contemplation in their wake. Madden also incorporates cameos from guest essayists, including Mary Cappello, Matthew Gavin Frank, David Lazar, Michael Martone, Jericho Parms, and Wendy S. Walters, much like a musician features other performers. Disparates reflects the current zeitgeist by taking on important issues with a touch of cleverness, a dash of humor, and a little help from one's friends. Read Chapter 1.
- 208 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
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Table of contents
- Front Cover
- Half Title Page
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication Page
- Contents (may Have Shifted)
- Contents (in Order of Appearance)
- List of Illustrations
- Acknowledgments
- /disparate/
- Writer Michael Martone’s Leftover Water: Imbibe literary genius (dozens of authors) in one swig!
- Nostalgia (feat. Lawrence Sutin)
- Insomnia (feat. Lina María Ferreira Cabeza-Vanegas)
- Unpredictable Essays
- Laughter (feat. Jericho Parms)
- Order
- Memorizing the Lyrics
- Repast
- Happiness (feat. Amy Leach)
- Memory
- Alfonsina y el Mar
- Mea Culpa
- Expectations (feat. Desirae Matherly)
- Freewill (feat. Joe Oestreich)
- In Step with… Montaigne (feat. David Lazar)
- Timing
- Inertia
- Thumbs (feat. Elena Passarello & Wendy S. Walters)
- Smells (feat. Stephen Haynie)
- The Proverbial __________
- Poetry
- Old Time Rock and Roll (feat. Michael Martone)
- The Arrogance of Style
- Distance (feat. Joni Tevis)
- Beat on the Brat
- Against the Wind
- Pangram Haiku
- Plums (feat. Matthew Gavin Frank)
- Solstice
- Listening (feat. Mary Cappello)
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Yes, you can access Disparates by Patrick Madden in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Literature & Literary Essays. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.