On the 'Town'
Is the tie-in book a genre? And if so, is it even a credible one? If you were to have asked me before I read such books as America: The Book and I Am American and So Can You (both, coincidentally, extensions of Comedy Central fake news programs), I would've sneeringly replied "No way." But now that I'm an older and slightly more educated reader, I think it's worth a second thought - especially when the content of the book is so thoroughly satisfying.
Leslie Knope has more pride in her Midwestern town of Pawnee, IN than she knows what to do with. Here, she funnels all that pride and joy into a half-history book, half-tour guide pamphlet with her usual exuberance. Her coworkers from the Parks and Recreation Department also pitch in, sharing their stories and memories and occasionally doing a bit of self-promotion. Readers will learn about Pawnee's humble beginnings as settlers who muscled the Native American tribe off their land, and find out how Pawnee got its current town slogan - "First in Friendship, Fourth in Obesity." Detailing everything from its raccoon infestation to its love of Sweetums candy to its rivalry with uppity, pristine Eagleton, Pawnee chronicles the life and local flavor of a small town with a big heart ... and, apparently, equally large waistlines.
Okay, here's the thing: Most, if not all, of the people who would be interested in this book are people who are fans of the TV series Parks & Rec (Thursday at 8:30/7:30 c, NBC [I'm saying you should be watching this]). If, for some asinine reason, you are not a fan of the show, chances are this book might seem boring. And that's too bad, because it would be kind of amazing to pick Pawnee up without having seen an episode of the show and be introduced to the humor and pathos of the show via text. This particular tie-in (credited to Knope as well as the show's "creative team") captures the fun spirit, chaotic humor, and sincerity that are the trademarks of Parks & Rec. Ostensibly, this is an in-universe book that Leslie wrote to, among other things, propel herself into the political sphere of Pawnee. And much of the writing reflects her enthusiasm, her intelligence, and her frustrations of the town's hilariously violent history and snooty Eagleton (she's amazingly sweet, but definitely not impartial - which kind of makes her sweeter, in a way). We also hear from other characters such as Tom Haverford, a full-of-himself so-called lady's man; Ron Swanson, who takes "no-nonsense" to a new level; April Ludgate, whose lazy detachment qualifies her as the only person not happy with life in Pawnee; and Ben Wyatt, initially an outsider who has come to see the charms that Pawnee has to offer.
Oh, and another thing: this book is hilarious! Straight-up, laugh-out-loud giggle-all-night-long hilarious. Some highlights: Ron's "One Month Living in the Woods in Pawnee" essay; the program for The Pawnee Players' 2011-2012 season (most of the plays are crazy long and obscurely European); "What Pawnee Means to Me," an essay in the form of Facebook updates penned by the 2009 Miss Pawnee, Trish Ianetta, whose talent was hotness (it's riddled with Leslie's thoughtful footnotes); and an article about how most of Pawnee's scandals are committed by the family that owns the town's only tabloid. Along with tidbits from the show - Pawnee's unfortunately bloody history is a running joke - most of the smaller details have been expanded upon to create a surprisingly complete look at a small town that gets a lot of mileage out of itself.
It's an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon or so with characters from one of your favorite TV shows. I would say that it's a must-have for any Parks & Rec fan worth his salt. Rating: 5 trips to Food and Stuff out of 5.
Okay, here's the thing: Most, if not all, of the people who would be interested in this book are people who are fans of the TV series Parks & Rec (Thursday at 8:30/7:30 c, NBC [I'm saying you should be watching this]). If, for some asinine reason, you are not a fan of the show, chances are this book might seem boring. And that's too bad, because it would be kind of amazing to pick Pawnee up without having seen an episode of the show and be introduced to the humor and pathos of the show via text. This particular tie-in (credited to Knope as well as the show's "creative team") captures the fun spirit, chaotic humor, and sincerity that are the trademarks of Parks & Rec. Ostensibly, this is an in-universe book that Leslie wrote to, among other things, propel herself into the political sphere of Pawnee. And much of the writing reflects her enthusiasm, her intelligence, and her frustrations of the town's hilariously violent history and snooty Eagleton (she's amazingly sweet, but definitely not impartial - which kind of makes her sweeter, in a way). We also hear from other characters such as Tom Haverford, a full-of-himself so-called lady's man; Ron Swanson, who takes "no-nonsense" to a new level; April Ludgate, whose lazy detachment qualifies her as the only person not happy with life in Pawnee; and Ben Wyatt, initially an outsider who has come to see the charms that Pawnee has to offer.
Oh, and another thing: this book is hilarious! Straight-up, laugh-out-loud giggle-all-night-long hilarious. Some highlights: Ron's "One Month Living in the Woods in Pawnee" essay; the program for The Pawnee Players' 2011-2012 season (most of the plays are crazy long and obscurely European); "What Pawnee Means to Me," an essay in the form of Facebook updates penned by the 2009 Miss Pawnee, Trish Ianetta, whose talent was hotness (it's riddled with Leslie's thoughtful footnotes); and an article about how most of Pawnee's scandals are committed by the family that owns the town's only tabloid. Along with tidbits from the show - Pawnee's unfortunately bloody history is a running joke - most of the smaller details have been expanded upon to create a surprisingly complete look at a small town that gets a lot of mileage out of itself.
It's an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon or so with characters from one of your favorite TV shows. I would say that it's a must-have for any Parks & Rec fan worth his salt. Rating: 5 trips to Food and Stuff out of 5.
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