Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Paperback 102: Don't Get In My Way / Frances Clippinger (Popular Library - Eagle Books EB50)

Popular Library - Eagle Books EB50 (1st ptg, 1955)

Title: Don't Get In My Way
Author: Francis Clippinger
Cover artist: uncredited

Yours for: $11


Best things about this cover:

  • Mixed messages: "Uh, lady, I'd be happy to get out of your way if you'd just let go."
  • Yellow jumpsuit! If this is indeed a "Movie Colony," then she is a stand-in for the lead in "The Ronald McDonald Story"
  • The Sacramento Bee always gives the best blurb: "Love and hate? ... you don't say!"

Best things about this back cover:
  • "A story of people who hate themselves and bore themselves" - hey, it's about grad school!
  • Ah, the Loser Hug (the head-to-breast kneel-hug performed by loser man on girl who is too good / hot for him). Here's another version (same publisher, interestingly)
  • "I can't hear your heart!" / "Uh, that's my spleen."
  • "Aw, gee, why won't the hot naked blond lady look at me? Can't she feel my raw, nervous power?"
Page 123~

She was sitting on the edge of the green garden couch and she looked up at him with a dumb, savage helplessness that excited him brutally.

~RP

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

"dumb, savage helplessness that excited him brutally"

There are many different approaches to the craft of writing. Some authors spend months searching for the right word. Others throw "Captain Bob's Big Book Of Adjectives and Adverbs" up in the air, then have a friend throw an uncapped highlighter at it, and use whatever words have some yellow on them.

Michael5000 said...

What man DOESN'T crave a stupid, savage, helpless mate?

Anonymous said...

...er, shouldn't that be brutally crave a stupid, savage, etc?