Joe Queenan
Encyclopedia
Joe Queenan is a humorist, critic
and author
from Philadelphia who graduated from Saint Joseph's University
. He has written for numerous publications, such as Spy Magazine, TV Guide
, Movieline
, The Guardian
and the New York Times Book Review. He has written 11 books, including Balsamic Dreams, a scathing critique of the Baby Boomers, Red Lobster, White Trash, and the Blue Lagoon, a tour of low-brow American pop culture and Imperial Caddy, a fairly scathing view of Dan Quayle
and the American Vice-Presidency.
In 2005, Queenan became the subject of a brief controversy when he criticized the book The Know-It-All, published the previous year by Esquire
editor A. J. Jacobs. The criticism, which was published in The New York Times Book Review
, caused New York Times readers to write letters in defense of A.J. Jacobs and his book. Jacobs himself responded to Queenan's review of his book, which expressed his hurt feelings towards the review, yet was written in a humorous tone.
.
His latest book, Closing Time, is an account of his abusive father and his working-class upbringing in East Falls, Philadelphia, especially in the Schuylkill Falls housing project.
Queenan is married, with two children, and lives in Tarrytown, New York
.
His books include:
Balsamic Dreams: A Short But Self-Important History of the Baby Boomer Generation
If You’re Talking to me Your Career Must be in Trouble: Movies, Mayhem, and Malice
The Unkindest Cut: How a Hatchet-Man Critic Made His Own $7,000 Movie and Put It All on His Credit Card
Imperial Caddy: The Rise of Dan Quayle in America and the Decline and Fall of Practically Everything Else
Red Lobster, White Trash, & the Blue Lagoon: Joe Queenan's America
Closing Time: A Memoir
My Goodness: A Cynic's Short-Lived Search for Sainthood
Malcontents: The Best Bitter, Cynical, and Satirical Writing in the World
Queenan Country: A Reluctant Anglophile's Pilgrimage to the Mother Country
True Believers: The Tragic Inner Life of Sports Fans
Confessions of a Cineplex Heckler: Celluloid Tirades and Escapades
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
from Philadelphia who graduated from Saint Joseph's University
Saint Joseph's University
Saint Joseph's University is a private, coeducational Roman Catholic Jesuit university located partially in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia and partially in Lower Merion Township and located in the Pennsylvania Main Line, Pennsylvania, United States.The school was founded in 1851 as Saint...
. He has written for numerous publications, such as Spy Magazine, TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
, Movieline
Movieline
Movieline is a website, formerly a Los Angeles-based film and entertainment magazine, started in 1985 as a local magazine and went national in 1989. Known for its cult status and popularity among film critics, the magazine eventually was retooled and named Movieline's Hollywood Life. The magazine...
, The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
and the New York Times Book Review. He has written 11 books, including Balsamic Dreams, a scathing critique of the Baby Boomers, Red Lobster, White Trash, and the Blue Lagoon, a tour of low-brow American pop culture and Imperial Caddy, a fairly scathing view of Dan Quayle
Dan Quayle
James Danforth "Dan" Quayle served as the 44th Vice President of the United States, serving with President George H. W. Bush . He served as a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from the state of Indiana....
and the American Vice-Presidency.
In 2005, Queenan became the subject of a brief controversy when he criticized the book The Know-It-All, published the previous year by Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
editor A. J. Jacobs. The criticism, which was published in The New York Times Book Review
The New York Times Book Review
The New York Times Book Review is a weekly paper-magazine supplement to The New York Times in which current non-fiction and fiction books are reviewed. It is one of the most influential and widely read book review publications in the industry. The offices are located near Times Square in New York...
, caused New York Times readers to write letters in defense of A.J. Jacobs and his book. Jacobs himself responded to Queenan's review of his book, which expressed his hurt feelings towards the review, yet was written in a humorous tone.
Biography
Queenan Country documents his lifelong fascination with Great Britain. In it, he describes the special relationship Americans have with the BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
His latest book, Closing Time, is an account of his abusive father and his working-class upbringing in East Falls, Philadelphia, especially in the Schuylkill Falls housing project.
Queenan is married, with two children, and lives in Tarrytown, New York
Tarrytown, New York
Tarrytown is a village in the town of Greenburgh in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, about north of midtown Manhattan in New York City, and is served by a stop on the Metro-North Hudson Line...
.
His books include:
Balsamic Dreams: A Short But Self-Important History of the Baby Boomer Generation
If You’re Talking to me Your Career Must be in Trouble: Movies, Mayhem, and Malice
The Unkindest Cut: How a Hatchet-Man Critic Made His Own $7,000 Movie and Put It All on His Credit Card
Imperial Caddy: The Rise of Dan Quayle in America and the Decline and Fall of Practically Everything Else
Red Lobster, White Trash, & the Blue Lagoon: Joe Queenan's America
Closing Time: A Memoir
My Goodness: A Cynic's Short-Lived Search for Sainthood
Malcontents: The Best Bitter, Cynical, and Satirical Writing in the World
Queenan Country: A Reluctant Anglophile's Pilgrimage to the Mother Country
True Believers: The Tragic Inner Life of Sports Fans
Confessions of a Cineplex Heckler: Celluloid Tirades and Escapades
External links
- Joe Queenan Article archive, at The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
- Africa on the Silver Screen, Here on Earth - Radio Without Borders radio show, interviewed by Jean Feraca, April 5, 2007