Blog Archives
The Arts Council
When I finished The Arts Council, a satirical novel by Dolly Gray Landon, I felt like I’d been dropped into a carnival mirror version of the arts world. The book follows Honorée Oinkbladder, a gifted young artist raised inside a family business that quietly manufactures the physical tokens of achievement for institutions everywhere. Through her eyes, we watch a small city’s arts ecosystem twist itself into a tangle of ego, corruption, favoritism, and theatrical self-importance. Her tense rivalry with Modesty Greedance unfolds against a backdrop of inflated awards, misused donor funds, and a once-noble arts council that has drifted far from its original ideals. The result is a story that sits squarely in the literary satire genre, though it often reads like a character-driven dramedy with teeth.
The writing is lush, verbose in a way that feels deliberate, like Landon wants the excess itself to be part of the joke. There are long, winding sentences loaded with wordplay and invented terms, and then sudden needle pricks of clarity. It’s funny, but also strange, because the humor is threaded through moments that cut close to the bone: the way Honorée hides her beauty so she won’t attract the wrong kind of attention, or the way Modesty relies on spectacle instead of craft because spectacle is what the system rewards. The satire bites hardest when the book peels back the arts council’s history, revealing how a once-merit-driven institution slowly rotted after a leadership collapse. The contrast between past ideals and current dysfunction is one of the book’s most memorable tensions.
What I liked most was how much the novel asks us to think about value. Who gets to decide what counts as art. Who benefits from the illusion of fairness. Who learns to play the game and who refuses. Even the absurd elements feel purposeful: Honorée’s family literally manufactures the symbols that feed inflated egos, yet they see through them more clearly than anyone else. That irony gives the book a reflective core I didn’t expect. The novel also manages to be playful without losing its edge. It mocks the arts world, yes, but it also mourns what the arts can become when honesty gives way to self-interest. I found myself chuckling at one page and nodding in recognition on the next.
The Arts Council is a bold, brainy satire with a lot on its mind. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy literary fiction that doesn’t mind being a little unruly, especially anyone curious about the messy intersection of art, ego, and institutions. If you like stories that mix humor with critique and aren’t afraid of dense, stylized prose, this one will keep you thinking. For readers who enjoy sharp, offbeat takes on creative culture, it’s a fascinating ride.
Pages: 558 | ASIN : B0G2TFBLHZ
The At-Your-Beck Felicity Conveyor
The At-Your-Beck Felicity Conveyor is a satirical novel that dives into the exploits of a grocer, Justyce Dreadmiller, and his turbulent interactions with Yvette Cartier, a wealthy young kleptomaniac. It’s a story riddled with irony and dark humor as Justyce maneuvers through moral dilemmas, exploring the complexities of revenge, economic strain, and the lengths one might go to protect their reputation and livelihood. This “sin and retribution” novel pairs outlandish scenarios with striking reflections on class, character, and consequence.
The writing was both a joy and a challenge. Landon’s language is exuberant, full of wordplay and intricate descriptions. Justyce Dreadmiller’s inner monologues often had me chuckling and groaning at the same time; he’s dramatic, even flamboyant, in his thoughts about revenge. For example, when Justyce fantasizes about the exaggerated consequences for his bully from prep school, we get insight into his deep-rooted vindictiveness. It’s over-the-top but hilariously so and gives the story a unique and theatrical vibe.
The characters are as absurd as they are fascinating. Justyce’s obsession with his store and his frustration with Yvette’s petty thefts contrast sharply with his idealization of himself as a “pillar of the community.” This duality paints Justyce as both relatable and ridiculous. Yvette, meanwhile, is as enigmatic as they come. Her lifestyle suggests privilege and luxury, yet her compulsive stealing and mysterious persona make her more complex than your typical antagonist. Author Dolly Gray Landon uses these dynamics to satirize social expectations, which felt relevant.
What I found most engaging was the novel’s underlying tension between justice and self-interest. Justyce’s attempts to address Yvette’s thefts go beyond practicality into the realm of personal vengeance. His conversations with friends and allies, like the dean at Yvette’s college, feel almost conspiratorial, showing how community respect can turn into a weapon when someone feels slighted. It’s a darkly humorous yet unsettling reminder of the lengths people go to maintain their version of “justice.”
The At-Your-Beck Felicity Conveyor is a must-read for those who enjoy biting satire with a flair for the absurd. If you’re a fan of stories that poke fun at human flaws while diving deep into moral quandaries, this book is right up your alley. This novel is bold, strange, and refreshingly unfiltered. A true delight for anyone craving something a bit unconventional.
Pages: 203 | ASIN : B0DHB3PXSV
Nothing is More: a High Black Comedy in Verse with Music for Six Actors
![Nothing is More: a High Black Comedy in Verse with Music for Six Actors by [Landon, Dolly Gray, Noland, Gary Lloyd]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61fQeaJCkRL.jpg)
This physiological thriller is amusing and engaging right from the start. Act one introduces us to the characters, all of which I found interesting but one more particularly so was Purvel Schlignatz. He’s a graduate student who is focused and open-minded, but gets convinced to do things that he sometimes does not subscribe to and I was not comfortable with the influence that Pelvin Penisovich had on him.
The drama and romance blended easily and were equally entertaining. I loved how Purvel Chlignatz was ready to risk everything just to be with Kitty Walters. I closely followed the drama that led to Pelvin Penisovich and Dronah Stackbut’s break up and learned a few things about friendship along the way. The romantic themes explore how pals and lovers sometimes get betrayed, and the result is anger that could be destructive.
Dolly Gray Landon’s story is exciting if not interesting and filled with characters with quirky names having engaging conversations. Melody wasn’t a favorite for me, but not for a lack of character development, quite the opposite. Her attitude and lack of empathy made me dislike her character. She was full of herself and abused the influence she had. I, however, appreciate that the author made her one of the main characters, as her role added more spice in the book. I also got to learn a few new words, as the jargon used by the Stool candidates was compelling. ‘Nadaism’ is one of the words I found to be amusing throughout the book.
Everything from the plot, literary stylistic devices used, character and writing style were excellent. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading plays and wants to enjoy a good story. Keep a dictionary handy as this story will surely increase your vocabulary.
Wealth, power, the socialite life, education, relationships, and peer influence are some of the themes covered in the book. The author’s sense of humor is subtly apparent throughout and serves to deliver a larger satirical story that kept me laughing, entertained, and quickly flipping pages.
Pages: 306 | ASIN: B07P3L7C7R
LITERARY TITAN 