“David Rakoff, a gay, Jewish, Canadian-American actor and essayist who was a regular contributor to Public Radio’s This American Life, wrote humorous pieces that garnered him much acclaim and many awards. Many of his essays were autobiographical, and most of them were so funny they left the reader gasping for air. Before he succumbed in 2012 to the cancer that had plagued him for more than a decade, he gave us a novel in verse that is funny, wise, sly, and full of the most delightful wordplay!
“Love, Dishonor, Marry Die, Cherish, Perish is packed with characters that are witty and sad and true, full of longing and regret and heart and hope, and I fell in love with (almost) every single one of them as they made their way in and out of each other’s lives, crossing gender and generational boundaries with abandon. (A special thanks to Mr. Rakoff’s friend Chip Kidd, a book designer of extraordinary talent who assembled the author’s words in an unusual and totally appropriate package.)
“My advice to you: You need to read this book aloud to yourself. Take it somewhere where no one can hear you and jump in. You’ll stumble over some of the words, perhaps, but let the meter carry you, and you will have so much fun. I promise.”
—Roberta Dyer, Broadway Books, Portland, OR
You can grab your next great read-aloud (or book on CD) at Broadway Books or your local independent bookstore.