I’ve become obsessed with the HBO show “Bored to Death.” Created by Jonathan Ames, the series follows a writer (also named Jonathan Ames) who moonlights as an unlicensed private detective while struggling to get a second novel published.
My obsession with the show led to an obsession with Jonathan Ames. Perhaps it would have been more respectable if a love of his writing preceeded a love of the show, but I’m a TV junkie and I’m not afraid to admit it.
After reading Wake Up, Sir! , I became a full-fledged fan of Ames. That book is right up there with Confederacy of Dunces as one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. Being the Internet stalker that I am, I came across some Ames quotes:
“I’ve always been intrigued by Stockholm Syndrome. Reminds me of my childhood.”
“I didn’t think I was in a morbid mood, but it appears I am. My mind goes round and round trying to figure things out, but I always come back to the same two things: Loneliness and Death. Life ends before we figure anything out, most importantly how not to be lonely. Solitude is fine. But feeling like you have no one to love – abject lonliness – is not alright.”
And this one is my favorite:
“People don’t expect too much from literature. They just want to know they’re not alone with being confused.”