Joined At The Heart Failure: Armand Hammer protegé Al Gore and his wife, rock-and-roll lyrics-censor Tipper Gore, have co-authored a book entitled
Joined at the Heart: The Transformation of the American Family.
And apparently no one gives a shit.
Ranked a dismal 1693 in sales yesterday by Amazon.com,
Joined at the Heart is flatlining with bookbuyers -- and with good reason. Not a word of it is sincere. Rather,
Joined at the Heart is a weird and cynical presidential campaign publicity stunt. It's merely a literary version of the Gores' disturbing-yet-hilarious open-mouth kiss in front of the 2000 Democratic National Convention.
The ploy is obvious. Al and Tipper chose a warm-and-fuzzy sounding topic, wrote a half-ass book about it (though I seriously doubt they actually wrote it), and then used the publication of the book as an excuse to get their mugs on talkshows. Their hope was that this book would generate enough buzz keep them in the public eye until the 2004 presidential campaign kicks into high gear.
Judging from the sales figures and
these readers' reviews at Amazon.com, the ploy failed:
Just like his Campaign, the book is a disppointment!, November 19, 2002
Reviewer: A reader from New York, NY
I question the timing and intent of this book. It's campaign propaganda. I preferred his other book on the creation of the Internet.
A Collection of Bathroom Mirror Thoughts, November 21, 2002
Reviewer: A reader from Lautenberg, New Jersey
Ah yes, once again, Mr. Gore attempts to re-invent himself. As what, we do not know, but this book sounds like the opening to yet another presidential campaign. And why not (Mr. Gore pontificates into his bathroom mirror, the current site of many of his best speeches)? After all, he was the winner of the 2000 presidential election (oh, no I forgot, he was not); after all, the Democrats won big in the 2002 congressional elections (oh no I forgot, they did not). Many of his reflections on family are just fine. Yet in his own reflections, he misses the point: individual character and personal responsibility and motivation, not the recycling of failed ideas and policies, will continue to lead America into the 21st century.
Joined at the Heart, November 25, 2002
Reviewer: pennyhughes from Pennsylvania
Poor Al, another blockbuster fizzled. Hope this guy can find employment somewhere.
Absolute nonsense!, November 25, 2002
Reviewer: sheed3 . . . from Ma USA
I tried very hard to finish this book but it was impossible! It would surely be a violation of the Geneva convention to require anyone to read it. Thank God for the country that Al is not president!
