WHAT'S SO FUNNY? A Cartoonist's Memoir

In wry tones, T. Ryder Smith deftly narrates David Sipress's bittersweet and charming memoir about growing up in New York City in the 1960s and his rocky road to being a successful cartoonist for the NEW YORKER. Smith gives Sipress's father a brusque tone and Brooklyn accent that is in direct contrast to the relaxed tenor of the rest of the narration, artfully conveying Sipress's tenuous relationship with him. Smith's meticulous enunciation ensures that the listener doesn't miss a moment of this tongue-in-cheek, sometimes heartbreaking story, which reminds us that the greatest inspiration for humor is everyday life. The accompanying pdf, filled with family photos, textually appropriate visuals, and the author's cartoons--including his very first one, done as a child--is icing on the cake. E.E. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2022]