University Daily Kansan, August 27, 1984
Page 23
ENTERTAINMENT
Mailer book dances in circles
By United Press International
Tough Guys Don't Dance, By Norman Mailer
(Random House, 229 pp $16.95)
The title for Pulitzer Prize-winner Norman Mailer's new novel comes from an anecdote about a mobster who makes his awkward companions take to the dance floor at a nightclub in New York and a dead pool in Boston. When the mafioso is urged to take his turn and swing to the music, he replies that he won't because "tough guys don't dance."
He manufactures self esteem by putting others in a bad light — like a 7-year-old bully making his 5-year-old friends hold a doll, then saying that big boys don't play with them.
THAT'S THE MORAL of "Tough Guys Don't Dance," a point the author makes in circuitous fashion. Tim Madden is a struggling near-alcoholic writer. His wife and
financial support, Patty Lareine,
leaves him for a black man. That is
when Madden begins to hit the bottle.
After one binge and an ensuing
blackout, he discovers blood over the
front seat of his Porsche and later
finds the severed head of a woman in
a secret hiding place where he
usually keeps marijuana. Madden served a three-year sentence for selling cocaine. Maybe he killed the woman during his drunken foray. He doesn't know.
REVIEW
The woman's male companion shows up dead in the trunk of a car. Apparently, he committed suicide. Next, Patty's head appears in the marjuana hiding place and the acting person is Prowinetown Cod, where all this takes place, begins to look suspicious at Maiden.
ladden.
ALVIN LUTHER REGENCY, the
police chief, is a homocidal maniac who tricks or goads others into doing his dirty work — part of the time, at least. He's the tough guy in this surrealistic yarn.
In another twist, it turns out that Regency's wife, Madeleine, was Madden's girlfriend a decade before. In the end Madden and Madeleine, with the help of Madden's father, get rid of the chief and everybody lives happily ever after.
In fact, Tim's father has terminal cancer, but Mailer's scenario permits the cancer to go into remission after he disposes of the victims' bodies. That bizarre cure is meant to add another surreal layer to the novel.
Mailer's deserved reputation as one of America's most original writers is underscored by "Tough Guys Don't Dance" But more than that, he has fashioned a humorous tragedy, a breakneck psychological thriller and an orgy of moralism.
Waldenbooks' list of best sellers
By United Press International
Ranking based on computerized sales reports last week from more than 800 Waldenbooks stores in 50 states.
1. First Among Equals — Jeffrey Archer
2. The Fourth Protocol - Frederick Forsyth
3. "And Ladies of the Club" — Helen Hoover Sartmire
4. Lincoln: A Novel — Gore Vidal
5. The Mike — Eric van Lustbad
6. The Aquintine Progression — Robert Ludlum
7. Silver Wings, Santiago Blue Janet Dailey
8. Revenge of the Robins Family — Thomas Chastain
- The Walking Drum — Louis L'Amour
* Full Circle — Danielle Steele
L'Amour
10. Full Circle - Danielle Steele
1. Eat To Win — Robert Haas
2. Webster's II New Riverside
University Dictionary
3. 185 Guide Book to U.S. Coins — R.S. Yeoman
4. The Book (Living Bible)
5. Zig Ziglar's Secret of Closing a Sale - Zig Ziglar
Sale - Zig Ziglar
6. Nothing Down — Robert Allen
6. Nothing Down - **R668**
7. Complete Book of pregnancy
8. Kiyuger,
and Childbirth — Sheila Kitzinger 8. In God's Name — David Yallop ...
8. In God's Name — David Yallop
9. The Kennedys — Peter Collier
and
Us. The Better Homes and Gardens
New Baby Book
and David Horowitz
Mass Paperbacks
1. Savannah  Eugenia Price
2. Alyssa  Judith Rossner
3. Wicked Day  Mary Stewart
4. Thurston House  Danielle
5. Fatal Vision — Joe McGimiss
6. Hollywood Wives — Jackie
Collins
7. Bitch - Jackie Collins
7. Bitch - Jackie Collins
8. Utaho Wagons West - Dana
9. Fuller
9. The Seduction of Peter S.
Lawrence Sanders
10. The Lazarus Effect — Frank Herbert
DEALING WITH THAT UNEASY FEELING
Learn to:
initiate conversation make new friends adjust to new social situations
Thursday, August 30 6:30 to 9 p.m.
FREE!
To attend please register at the Student Assistance Center. 121 Strong Hall, 864-4064
More people rent furniture from Aaron Rents than any other company in the country. One word tells you why: Value.
Students have known for years that at Aaron Rents the word value means more furniture, more quality, and more service for less money than anywhere else. Aaron Rentals has the lowest rental rates, next-day delivery a 3-month minimum rental period, and a showroom full of great-looking furniture. That's why more people coast-to-coast rent from Aaron Rentals Furniture than any other furniture rental company in the country.
Aaron Rents Furniture
7801 Frontage Road Overland Park
383-2900
**Showrooms located in:** Atlanta, Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Clearwater College Station, Columbia, C.S. Dallas, Denver Durham E.P. Flatiron, Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, Greenwich, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Miami, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Mililand Ossessa, New Orleans, Norfolk Oklahoma City, Orlando Phoenix, Raleigh St. Louis, San Antonio, San Diego Tampa, Tucson Tunica Washington, Beachwood, OK.
Rent it.Call the Kansan.Call 864-4358