This is a wildy fun and funny novelty book. It's a really fun idea, in which the two authors the Vandermeers contemplate various types of mythical beasts and whether or not such a beast would be kosher to eat according to Jewish practice. The format is 2 pages per mythical beast, one of which describes the animal and identifies its origin on folklore. The facing page includes a transcript of the authors' discussions about the kosher edibility of the creature, many of which are laugh out loud funny. The book is derived from a series of blog postings, and if you are familiar with the "Evil Monkey" blog you probably have already seen much of the material.

The choice of beasts is rather random and often obscure but I would like to have seen either many more included in this small format, or a more interesting and substantive discussion of the application of Jewish practice to each creature.

Very fun. Very funny. Very different. Super great! ( )

Food fascinates Jews. Nearly every holiday and celebration centers around food (or in the case of Yom Kippur, the absence thereof). The stereotypical Jewish mother constantly tries to get her children to eat. Even in the afterlife, Jews are promised a succulent banquet of Leviathan, Behemoth, and Ziz, all three created for just this feast. This fixation exists even though (or perhaps because) Jewish Law dictates fairly stringent dietary restrictions: Pork, shellfish, anything that eats other animals, some birds, and most insects are forbidden. As with many biblical dictates, the exact interpretations and applications have changed over time and depending on whom you ask. Which animals are considered Kosher has long generated debate among layman and scholar alike. In this spirit, Ann and Jeff VanderMeer approach this heady subject in their lighthearted book The Kosher Guide to Imaginary Animals: The Evil Monkey Dialogues. As Ann VanderMeer explains:

Two years ago, my husband and I were taking a hike in the woods. I don’t know how it came up, but at some point we started talking about the “kosherness” of certain animals. With Passover fast approaching, what you can and cannot eat was on my mind. The subject led to the silliness of trying to figure out what imaginary animals might be kosher. As we bantered back and forth we decided that we were having too much fun, which meant it might be fun for our readers, too. So we did a blog post in honor of Passover.

This short (92 pages) compendium of mythical creatures - ranging from the abumi-guchi to the Ziz - features illustrations by designer John Coulthart and short descriptions followed by a humorous discourse between Ann VanderMeer and her husband’s blogging alter ego, Evil Monkey. Written in a conversational style, the occasionally self-referential entries often site “experts,” such as [a:Jorge Luis Borges|500|Jorge Luis Borges|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1260167972p2/500.jpg] and [a:Gustave Flaubert|1461|Gustave Flaubert|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1198541369p2/1461.jpg], as well as texts including the Old Testament and the Etz Hayim. Each account concludes with symbol denoting the creature’s potential kosherness. For example:

BANSHEE

Originating in Irish mythology, the banshee is a frightening female spirit, often considered a bad omen. But how much of a bad omen? Specter-ologists are unsure. Messenger of death or the cause of death? Perhaps the two roles are interchangeable, for many people with bad tickers have had heart attacks upon encountering a banshee. The provenance of the banshee has also been the cause of some debate. Some consider the banshee a prophetess who can see the future. Others (among them heretics, drunks, and rebels) consider the banshee to be a fallen angel. A mournful wail is the calling card of the banshee, who when seen will be wearing a gray hooded cloak, not unlike a rain poncho. Dr. Jorge Luis Borges’ theory that the banshee is a form of elf should be ignored as ridiculous.

EVIL MONKEY: “Would it be wise to try to eat a messenger of death? Wouldn’t that be like eating death? Is eating death kosher?”

ANN: “Depends on what you mean by death. If death is a guy in a black robe, no. If death is a strawberry, then, yes.”

EVIL MONKEY: “So she’s not kosher?”

ANN: “No. Any ‘creature’ you can call ‘he’ or ‘she’ is probably not kosher. But why are the evil ones always women?”

EVIL MONKEY: “Nothing I can say here will save me.

The volume concludes with an entertaining conversation between Ann VanderMeer and [a:Duff Goldman|2933290|Duff Goldman|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg], star of the Food Network’s Ace of Cakes. The pair initially discuss the proper preparation of and best wine selection to serve with the kosher creatures before things devolve into even more amusing topics regarding testicles, [a:Clive Barker|10366|Clive Barker|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1200469782p2/10366.jpg], and Goldman’s dictum that anything served in a Chinese restaurant is kosher.

With two page entries for each beast and a compact size, the delightful The Kosher Guide to Imaginary Animals makes for some delicious bathroom (or busstop) reading for Jews and gentiles alike. And for the uninformed out there, cholent is a traditional hearty Jewish stew that simmers for 12 hours or more. You’ll thank me later.

This review originally appeared in the San Antonio Current, March 31, 2010. ( )

An odd book, this seems to have grown out of a jokey discussion between Ann and Jeff Vandermeer about the potential Kosherness of fictional beasts. The problem is, it doesn't seem to have grown very much; each entry is a page or a little more and there isn't enough in the description of the animal to server as a bestiary nor enough in the few lines of discussion that follow the either flesh out the ideas, give much in the way of Jewish dietary philosophy or even provide much humour.

A little bit pointless, to be honest. ( )

A light, puffy souffle of a book that describes various imaginary animals, like Leviathan, or the chupacabra, or Ouroboros, and considers the question of whether or not they would be considered kosher. The dialogue between Ann VanderMeer and Evil Monkey is hilarious, and can be savored slowly, one imaginary animal at a time or gulped down in one fell swoop. ( )

Okay, this slender little book charmed my socks right off! That’s a fact. And I write reviews of every book I read. Another fact. But for some reason I’m having a difficult time articulating exactly why I enjoyed this light-hearted gift so much. I think it’s actually because there’s quite a bit packed into this small package. What I can tell you is this: It brought a smile to my face when I was well and truly blue.

After a couple of very brief prefaces, the bulk of the book is made up of an alphabetical listing of fantastic creatures. There are 34 total, each with a two-page spread. Squeezed neatly into those two pages is a charming black and white illustration of a critter; a colorful description of its history, origin, habitat, etc.; and the “Evil Monkey Dialogues.” Despite the bizarre name, this is simply a little light kibbitzing between husband and wife authors Jeff and Ann VanderMeer on the presumed kosherness of said creature. She’s a member of the tribe, he’s the Evil Monkey.

Of the 34 creatures covered, I was familiar with about a dozen of them. Some were as basic as a Dragon or Mermaid or Sea Monkey, but other creatures were exotic beasts from far away lands and cultures like the Jotai, the Encantado, and the Abumi-Guchi. I’m fairly positive at least one, the Borges, was made up entirely in the authors’ imagination. As it happened, that was my favorite listing in the book.

After the creature listings, the final section of the book was discussion with chef/baker Duff Goldman about how one might prepare these creatures, kosher and treyf alike. Now I’ve never seen his TV show, Ace of Cakes, but he must be an entertaining guy because he’s got a delightful sense of humor and a whimsical streak a mile wide. Not only does he discuss the creatures featured previously in the book, but he improvises with other imaginary animals. In fact, he may be a closet sci-fi fan, because he proposes recipes for a Chewbacca and a Tribble, which, let’s face it, is pretty much a hairy Rocky Mountain oyster.

My copy of this book had a delightful bonus. Tucked inside were three postcards that the publisher had used for promotional purposes. They were recipe cards for the preparation of Mongolian Death Worm and other culinary delicacies.

I’ll tell you what, this little tchotchke is the perfect gift for the person in your life who could use a little more whimsy, a little more magic, and a little more laughter—even if that person is you. I can only hope there’s a second volume on the way! ( )