The Mexican Pet: More "New" Urban Legends and Some Old Favorites

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Overview

"A uniquely entertaining book: edifying scholarship, diverting social history."—Elaine Kendall, Los Angeles Times

"[The book] captures the spirit of convivial storytelling and even encourages the activity. . . . Many readers . . . will be gratified to know that Brunvand intends to continue this series of relaxed, unofficial excursions into popular legends. Admirers of curiosa and the psychology of crowds cannot afford to miss them." —Kirkus Reviews

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780393305425
Publisher:	Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date:	04/17/1988
Edition description:	REPRINT
Pages:	222
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Jan Harold Brunvand lives in Salt Lake City, where he is professor emeritus at the University of Utah. He is the author of numerous books, including The Vanishing Hitchhiker; The Choking Doberman; The Baby Train; Too Good to Be True; and Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid.

Editorial Reviews

It is the charm of Mr. Brunvand's scholarship and presentation that he delivers the sad news of falsehood of these stories without being professorially reproachful toward those who have relayed him.

New York Times Book Review

Together, these new wives' tales merge as an American picaresque, a compilation of myths that keep the telephone wires humming and cocktail parties doubly fueled.

Time

The Barnes & Noble Review
It is the charm of Mr. Brunvand's scholarship and presentation that he delivers the sad news of the falsehood of these stories without being professorially reproachful toward those of us who have relayed them.

Folkloric legends defined as ``oral accounts of strange occurences'' by annotator-interpreter Brunvand often have the same theme with variations of detail, style and locale depending on the narrator. The author's diverting new collection, following The Vanishing Hitchhiker and The Choking Doberman, ranges from the bizarre, including``humorous accidents,'' to the criminal. Many tales are about animalssnakes and spiders are favoritesand several recount campus-inspired pranks. Brunvand debunks vicious rumors such as those concerning the use of aborted fetuses in beauty products, and that Asian refugees eat barbecued dogs. Some of his stories are little more than canards or gosssip-column chitchat about celebrities like Michael Jackson, legends that may not endure. Illustrations not seen by PW. (June 30pDON COYOTE Dayton O. Hyde. Arbor House, $16.95

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Brunvand's previous collections of urban legends (slightly fantastic stories that circulate in contemporary society), The Vanishing Hitchhiker and The Choking Doberman , have been extremely popular. This collection complements the earlier books and in fact contains, in part, new versions of stories presented in them. These stories, which are often accepted as true, reflect the concerns of modern life. Brunvand demonstrates their broad dissemination in both oral communication and popular culture. Most academic folklorists will not be satisfied with the lack of analysis here, but they, like other readers, will be highly entertained. David S. Azzolina, Univ . of Pennsylvania Libs., Philadelphia

Library Journal