Paperback 1087: Pal Joey / John O'Hara (Bantam F2892)

 Paperback 1087: Bantam F2892 (3rd ptg, 1965)

Title: Pal Joey

Author: John O'Hara

Cover artist: [Uncredited]

Condition: 7/10

Value: $5

[Autumn Leaves bookstore, Ithaca, NY, May 2020]

Best things about this cover: 

• Yes, this cover is very very ... let's say beige? ... but what a great sense of geometry. It's a picture of recognizable things, but it also steers toward abstraction, pure shape and color. That red rectangle colliding with that amazing right triangle formed by the bottom of the page, the stair railing, and the man's back and cane. It's got the heat of desire mixed with the austerity of geometry. And a large houseplant of some kind! All the visual food groups!
• Her dress is hot. Giant polka dots or white flowers or whatever that pattern is—very pretty, very summery
• But back to the houseplant. Is it supposed to look like that? It looks, well, frankly, dead. Amazingly bold choice to put that single stem directly in front of her face. Like, they are hiding the least amount that they could be hiding. The appearance of discretion with none of the actuality. 

Best things about this back cover: 

• Can't say the image improves with repetition.
• There were three kinds of women to Joey. Joey had just two things on his mind. Joey was no good with numbers bigger than, say, five.
• Very impolite to just leave the hat and cane there. Tripping hazard. But Joey does not have a brain capable of considering the wellbeing of others. It's just dames and success up there. He's already forgotten he even owns a hat and cane.

Page 23~ (there is no p. 123! book's only 120pp. long!)

Well the train pulled out and that is the story of how I am now in Chi. I am singing for coffee and cakes at a crib on Cottage Grove Ave. here. It isnt much of a spot but they say it is lucky as four or five singers and musicians who worked here went from here to big things and I am hoping.

[sic] on that "isnt" there. The book is epistolary, a series of letters to a guy back home named Ted, and the letters are full of all Joey's idiosyncratic spellings. "Briefley," "et cetra," that sort of thing. "I am singing for coffee and cakes at a crib on Cottage Grove Ave." is a wonderfully musical line. Now I want coffee and cakes, so if you'll excuse me... 

~RP

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Paperback 502: Onionhead / Weldon Hill (Popular Library SP13)

Paperback 502: Popular Library SP13 (1st ptg, 1958)

Title: Onionhead
Author: Weldon Hill
Cover artist: Mitchell Hooks

Yours for: $9

Best things about this cover:

• This book is all about this guy's insatiable appetite. He likes to eat. Hence "onion." And "head."
• "Oh, Onionhead, you're so ... ribald."
• When the S.F. paper calls your book about a girl-crazy sailor the "gayest novel in years," you might have a marketing problem on your hands.
• Mitchell Hooks is a highly underrated coverartist. His stuff is generally sketchier and more whimsical than the work of the more famous Great Girl Artists, but I always find it very engaging. Love the rough black line work. Also, LOVE the redhead's outfit.

Best things about this back cover:

• On the cover, the girls thought Onionhead was in the Navy. Here, they learn he was in the Coast Guard.
• FOOD OR SEX? They're really pushing this appetite parallel a lot. Unless this book culminates in Onionhead eating large plates of pasta and various desserts off the naked bodies of gorgeous young ladies, I'm going to be very disappointed.
• Again: Ribald! For her pleasure.

Page 123~

Al began browsing among the supplies, getting oriented. He noticed a recipe for muffins on a bag of cornmeal, and got a brilliant idea. He had to learn how to cook, so he ought to practice, learn by experience, trial and error. He would make some goddam muffins.

I want an apron depicting the front cover art and the caption: "He would make some goddam muffins." I would wear it every day.

~RP

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