Katzenjammer - Reviews
From BookReads
Occasionally a book will come along that completely defies literary traditions and ground rules. Jackson Tippett McCrae’s Katzenjammer: Soon to be a Major Motion Picture is one such book. As in McCrae’s first book (The Bark of the Dogwood: A Tour of Southern Homes and Gardens), he takes a historical literary figure (in this case, Max Perkins, famous editor to Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and Wolfe) and creates a fascinating protagonist around him. The premise of Katzenjammer is not that unusual—a writer in New York City attempting to get his book published—but, like thematic materials used by Beethoven, which are not that interesting in themselves, it’s not the idea but rather what the author does with this material that’s impressive. McCrae’s latest book is sure to please anyone with a sense of humor and an interest in books and movies. Tie-ins to famous films, along with short easy-to-read chapters make this a sure winner. The writing style will remind many of Sedaris—the wit and panache are undeniable and parts of the books are wickedly funny. A modern day Faustian tale of madness, with the city of New York as a main character itself, Katzenjammer does just what books are supposed to do—enlighten and entertain.
Breaking just about every conceivable mold possible is the novel Katzenjammer by Southern-born writer Jackson Tippett McCrae. The book is a wonderland of cultural references, but don’t think this is some high-brow form of literature. Rather, it is a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants plot which is not only clever, but so well crafted that you’ll probably want to read the book all over once you’ve finished it.
Katzenjammer is the story of an author in New York, trying to get his work published. Now, while this may seem anything but new, it is not this all-to-familiar theme that sets this book flying, but the intricate and harmonious coming together of a cast of characters that could have fallen straight out of a Seinfield sitcom. And that is not to say that this book is derivative or shallow—anything but. A male prostitute, a book editor, a fellow artist-turned-bitter receptionist, and a bevy of bosses and roommates that could be straight out of a mental hospital keep this spectacular novel jumping with no sag in the middle.
The elements that make Katzenjammer so appealing are as numerous and varied as the stars. First, our protagonist is named Max Perkins, after the famous editor who whipped into shape the novels of Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and Wolfe. At the beginning of the book, Max bemoans the fact that he feels obligated to live up to his namesake, even if his parents had no idea who the original Max Perkins was. Second, but no less important, are the themes of searching for an apartment in New York during the mid 80s and also looking for a job. The travails that Perkins is put through are nothing short of hilarious and at the same time touching. Witness Max Perkins as he goes from apartment to apartment, being subjected to the whims and idiosyncrasies of lunatics who have actually managed to find a place to live; or the bosses who don’t seem to be able to keep Max employed. They’re just as prevalent as the urban cave dwellers who Max is trying to coerce a place to sleep out of.
Finally, we have the classic attempt to get published. This involves Max having to constantly invent himself, not only for the benefit of others, but for himself also. There’s a hilarious trail through focus groups where poor Mr. Perkins must become a new person, complete with career and background, all because he needs to know where his next meal is coming from.
To cap off these colorful and brilliantly-written escapades, author McCrae sets them in short chapters with wit and panache not seen since Oscar Wilde’s time. Couple this with a prologue and epilogue set in a mental hospital and you simply won’t believe the twisted and perverse ending. It made my head spin just trying to figure out how the author—any author—could come up with something this good, this unusual, and this surprising. Think Chuck Palahniuk meets David Sedaris and you’ve pretty much gotten the idea. Featuring solid and oblique references to movies, books, paintings, and the city of New York, this novel comes alive with fire and wit from page one until the last word.
If you want a book that is not only fun, fly-by good, but crafted better than just about any other “pop” novel out there, then Katzenjammer is the game you should be playing. Grab it while you can as this type of book only comes along once in a great while.
