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Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite
Life Sucks: Memories and Introspection During the Great COVID Lockdown by PS Conway is a hugely funny, deeply satirical, and, at times, starkly dark look at life, especially during the pandemic lockdown. It is a collection of short, pithy essays that sum up the author’s thoughts and reflections on a wide variety of topics, from politics to religion, the supernatural, personal physical and mental health, and even colonoscopies. The essays also cover comments on the author’s family, his Irish background, and his upbringing in rural upstate New York. All of the essays are underlined by the author’s trademark dark humor, cynicism, and essential satirical bent. There isn’t a topic, no matter how controversial, to which Conway is afraid to add his unique brand of comedy.
Life Sucks was such a joy to read. As someone brought up on the definitely dark side of British humor, and having read several American satirical authors in the past, I was cynical about PS Conway’s ability to catch my attention and make me chuckle, let alone laugh out loud. The writing is sharply reminiscent of some of the best British satirical authors of the last three hundred years. It came as no surprise that Monty Python, Dickens, Shakespeare, Swift, and more are the author’s favorites. The material covers such a wide range of topics and situations that it would be impossible to do it justice in a short review. Although there wasn’t a moment that I wasn’t fully engaged with every story, in any collection there are always a few essays that resonate. The essay on manopause was not only hilarious but, for me, exceptionally relevant and relatable. The essay titled “10 Reasons I’m Better Than You” was simply “belly-laugh” funny, especially the section touting drummers as the highest form of musician. Finally, the author’s impassioned plea for us to stop telling each other what we “should” think was not only spot-on and inspiring but accurately pinpointed one of the greatest maladies in today’s fractured and bipartisan society. There is much to be gained from laughter, comedy, and out-and-out buffoonery and this author truly has hit the mark with this marvelous collection. I cannot speak highly enough of this work, especially for anyone who feels down, stressed, or out of place, in today’s world. I highly recommend it.
