Center of the universe
Simon RichSimon Rich reads his very funny short story “Center of the Universe” from his collection “The last girlfriend on earth” which, in what one presumes must have been a moment of sheer boldness, he dedicated to his girlfriend. The reading was part of a Valentine’s day bash Dan Savage held for “all the bitter single people” of Seattle.
This recording was a part of the Savage Love Podcast.
“Okay, but what about your colours from two months ago? Temptation Red? Considering Adultery Blue? Considering Adultery Yellow?”
—Simon Rich, “Crayola Co.” (from 2007’s Ant Farm).
Finn’s been on a real drawing kick these days, and this story comes to mind every time I stop to wonder who thinks up the names for crayon colours.
(Rich’s new collection, The Last Girlfriend on Earth, just came out. Imma read it.)
Simon Rich swears that, unlike the characters he writes about, he’s good a communicating. Listen to this interview from Live Wire Radio about his career as a humorist, novelist, and television writer, and judge for yourself. And after the interview, there’s a full cast reading from “Missed Dog Connections,” from his latest book, The Last Girlfriend on Earth.
“I think that it is the most fun that I’ve had reading this year, and I feel like it’s going to hold that place for me for 2013 the way that Angelmaker held that spot last year -- this was just really fun and it’s going to be hard to top.”
—Rebecca on Simon Rich’s The Last Girlfriend on Earth (Episode 54)The Last Girlfriend on Earth, Simon Rich
- Josh: She creates this imaginary friend, who is a goat wearing a petticoat, and they hang out together and have a great time, and frolic. Then at one point the goat tries to kiss her and she realizes that she thinks it’s a platonic relationship -- but he does not think it’s platonic.
- Lacy: That goat’s gotta figure some stuff out.
- Jenn: Is he still wearing the petticoat the whole time?
- Rebecca: He’s a gender-bending goat.
Goodreads giveaway: The Last Girlfriend on Earth
Goodreads Book Giveaway
The Last Girlfriend on Earth by Simon Rich
Giveaway ends November 30, 2012.
Simon Rich - The Last Girlfriend on Earth (review)
music: how to destroy angels - the believers
rating: 3 out of 5 starsI should have enjoyed this book. It was, however, just OK for me. Although some of the stories were funny, most of them seemed to fall flat for me. Reading this book was kind of like a joke that gets told one too many times—it’s funny at first but after the sixth, seventh, and eighth time of the same type of punchline (man hooks up with a hairy beast, man tries to get help for robot girlfriend, etc) it just wasn’t funny anymore. I’m glad these were short stories, because I honestly don’t think I could sit through an entire novel written by this author.
