Shallman’s The Tyrrany of Desire is a laugh-out-loud riot that seemed to come out of nowhere. It tells the story of grade-A loser Puchy Mushkin. He has a lot going wrong every day. His jobs, lovers, and even daily routines scream dead-end Coen Brothers schlimazel. But he has one thing going for him that no one seems to believe, even himself – a truly, horrifying giant… er… personal endowment. In fact, if there was some way to describe the opposite of an Achilles heel, in its most literal sense, it would be Mushkin’s Member. In navigating all other aspects of his life, he will never be satisfied until he is blessed with the fortune and accomplishment he feels he deserves. In pursuing this, he takes a personal Shakespearean vow to banish all desire beyond that which will enrich and encourage his success, he finds more and more problems piling up and getting in his way with no help from his third leg to arrive at his destination.
I absolutely loved Shallman’s novel. It is probably one of the most Jewish novels I have read in some time, pulling tropes and jokes that mirror any number of folk tales, comedies, stereotypes, and even the echoes of self-deprecating racist beliefs. Shallman spins them on their head and delivers an incredibly well-written standup routine of a novel that I flew through, and then I immediately began to recommend it to friends. It is simply a masterclass in comedy writing about a down-and-out loner who can’t get close to anybody without it going horribly wrong. A raucous, funny read that in the hands of any other author would never have the momentum, hilarity, and engagement that this piece does.
Easily one of the funniest books I have ever read, but an absolute favorite for 2023.
Garrett Zecker 