Items related to Human Amusements
Wayne Johnston’s fourth novel is a hilarious send-up of television’s early days, capturing all the nostalgia and innocence of the time.
It is the late 1950s and in lower middle-class Toronto, Audrey Prendergast, whose love for her family blinds her to all else, sees the new medium of television as the only means of climbing the social ladder. And climb it the Prendergasts begin to do when Audrey launches a children’s show called Rumpus Room, starring herself as Miss Mary and her young son Henry as Bee Good/Bee Bad. When the program becomes an overnight sensation, and the Prendergasts’ world begins to change, much to the chagrin of Audrey’s husband, Peter, family comedian and would-be novelist. Determined to keep his family anchored in reality, Peter refuses to have anything to do with Rumpus Room and throws all his energy into writing his novel and doing an almost non-stop and hilarious commentary on modern culture.
When Audrey’s second television series – the Philo Farnsworth Show – becomes a huge success, things begin to break down. Based on the real-life inventor of the television set, the show becomes a kind of camp classic, attracting a group of fanatic followers who call themselves “Philosophers” and more or less worship the teenage Henry. Sorrow and comedy mingle and blend as the Prendergasts struggle to retain their innocence and love for one another in the maelstrom of their changing lives.
It is the late 1950s and in lower middle-class Toronto, Audrey Prendergast, whose love for her family blinds her to all else, sees the new medium of television as the only means of climbing the social ladder. And climb it the Prendergasts begin to do when Audrey launches a children’s show called Rumpus Room, starring herself as Miss Mary and her young son Henry as Bee Good/Bee Bad. When the program becomes an overnight sensation, and the Prendergasts’ world begins to change, much to the chagrin of Audrey’s husband, Peter, family comedian and would-be novelist. Determined to keep his family anchored in reality, Peter refuses to have anything to do with Rumpus Room and throws all his energy into writing his novel and doing an almost non-stop and hilarious commentary on modern culture.
When Audrey’s second television series – the Philo Farnsworth Show – becomes a huge success, things begin to break down. Based on the real-life inventor of the television set, the show becomes a kind of camp classic, attracting a group of fanatic followers who call themselves “Philosophers” and more or less worship the teenage Henry. Sorrow and comedy mingle and blend as the Prendergasts struggle to retain their innocence and love for one another in the maelstrom of their changing lives.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review:
"Wise, funny, touching."--" The Globe & Mail
""Funny, eccentric, and touching . . . [Human Amusements] leaves us nostalgic for a kinder, gentler, mediascape, and the life that went with it."--"The Toronto Star
""Wayne Johnston's books are beautifully written, among the funniest I've ever read, yet somehow at the same time among the most poignant and moving."--Annie Dillard"
""This bittersweet novel touches the funny bone and the heart."--"The Edmonton Journal"
"Charles Dickens would have greatly admired Johnston's style and humor-And the old master would have envied the vivid scenes Johnston draws." -"Houston Chronicle
"
"[Johnston is] a master plotter whose wise words sting and stab."-"Entertainment Weekly
""Wayne Johnston is a brilliant and accomplished writer." -Annie Proulx
"One of our continent's best writers." -"Kirkus Reviews
"
"Johnston is an accomplished storyteller, with a gift for both description and character, which he uses masterfully."-"Booklist "(starred)
"Johnston [is] capable of fine psychological observation....His backers ultimately get their money's worth."-"Atlantic Monthly"
"Johnston is an authentic comic genius.... His timing and pacing are impeccable. He knows how to...create laughter out of a wonderful mixture of emotions." -"The Gazette" (Montreal)
"A prodigiously talented author." -"The Globe and Mail "(Toronto)
"Wise, funny, touching."--" The Globe & Mail
""Funny, eccentric, and touching . . . [Human Amusements] leaves us nostalgic for a kinder, gentler, mediascape, and the life that went with it."--"The Toronto Star
""Wayne Johnston's books are beautifully written, among the funniest I've ever read, yet somehow at the same time among the most poignant and moving."--Annie Dillard"
""This bittersweet novel touches the funny bone and the heart."--"The Edmonton Journal"
"Charles Dickens would have greatly admired Johnston's style and humor-And the old master would have envied the vivid scenes Johnston draws." -"Houston Chronicle
"
"[Johnston is] a master plotter whose wise words sting and stab."-"Entertainment Weekly
""Wayne Johnston is a brilliant and accomplished writer." -Annie Proulx
"One of our continent's best writers." -"Kirkus Reviews
"
"Johnston is an accomplished storyteller, with a gift for both description and character, which he uses masterfully."-"Booklist "(starred)
"Johnston [is] capable of fine psychological observation....His backers ultimately get their money's worth."-"Atlantic Monthly"
"Johnston is an authentic comic genius.... His timing and pacing are impeccable. He knows how to...create laughter out of a wonderful mixture of emotions." -"The Gazette" (Montreal)
"A prodigiously talented author." -"The Globe and Mail "(Toronto)
About the Author:
""Funny, eccentric, and touching . . . [Human Amusements] leaves us nostalgic for a kinder, gentler, mediascape, and the life that went with it."--"The Toronto Star
""Wayne Johnston's books are beautifully written, among the funniest I've ever read, yet somehow at the same time among the most poignant and moving."--Annie Dillard"
""This bittersweet novel touches the funny bone and the heart."--"The Edmonton Journal"
"Charles Dickens would have greatly admired Johnston's style and humor-And the old master would have envied the vivid scenes Johnston draws." -"Houston Chronicle
"
"[Johnston is] a master plotter whose wise words sting and stab."-"Entertainment Weekly
""Wayne Johnston is a brilliant and accomplished writer." -Annie Proulx
"One of our continent's best writers." -"Kirkus Reviews
"
"Johnston is an accomplished storyteller, with a gift for both description and character, which he uses masterfully."-"Booklist "(starred)
"Johnston [is] capable of fine psychological observation....His backers ultimately get their money's worth."-"Atlantic Monthly"
"Johnston is an authentic comic genius.... His timing and pacing are impeccable. He knows how to...create laughter out of a wonderful mixture of emotions." -"The Gazette" (Montreal)
"A prodigiously talented author." -"The Globe and Mail "(Toronto)
"Wise, funny, touching."--" The Globe & Mail
""Funny, eccentric, and touching . . . [Human Amusements] leaves us nostalgic for a kinder, gentler, mediascape, and the life that went with it."--"The Toronto Star
""Wayne Johnston's books are beautifully written, among the funniest I've ever read, yet somehow at the same time among the most poignant and moving."--Annie Dillard"
""This bittersweet novel touches the funny bone and the heart."--"The Edmonton Journal"
"Charles Dickens would have greatly admired Johnston's style and humor-And the old master would have envied the vivid scenes Johnston draws." -"Houston Chronicle
"
"[Johnston is] a master plotter whose wise words sting and stab."-"Entertainment Weekly
""Wayne Johnston is a brilliant and accomplished writer." -Annie Proulx
"One of our continent's best writers." -"Kirkus Reviews
"
"Johnston is an accomplished storyteller, with a gift for both description and character, which he uses masterfully."-"Booklist "(starred)
"Johnston [is] capable of fine psychological observation....His backers ultimately get their money's worth."-"Atlantic Monthly"
"Johnston is an authentic comic genius.... His timing and pacing are impeccable. He knows how to...create laughter out of a wonderful mixture of emotions." -"The Gazette" (Montreal)
"A prodigiously talented author." -"The Globe and Mail "(Toronto)
Wayne Johnston is the author of The Story of Bobby O’Malley, The Time of Their Lives, The Divine Ryans, Human Amusements, The Colony of Unrequited Dreams – all novels – and of Baltimore’s Mansion, a memoir. He lives in Toronto where is presently working on his sixth novel.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherVintage Canada
- Publication date2002
- ISBN 10 0676974597
- ISBN 13 9780676974591
- BindingPaperback
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ISBN 13: 9780676974591
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Book Description Soft cover. Condition: NF. Novel of lower-middle class Toronto in the late 1950's, first published in 1994. Seller Inventory # 1111086
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