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LAKSHMI and the RIVER OF TRUTH | The Book of Bob | The Carl Letters | Paul's YouTube Videos | My Page Archives

LAKSHMI and the RIVER OF TRUTH

LAKSHMI and the
RIVER OF TRUTHA Fairy Tale for Adults, by Paul Chasman

"Find the River of Truth," said Virtuous Liar. Heeding his admonition, Lakshmi packed a few provisions, bid farewell to her friends from The Book of Bob, climbed into her little boat, and :much like a more illustrious literary character in a more greatly acclaimed sequel, Lakshmi Jackson lit out."

Join Lakshmi on her epic quest as she checks into the Hospital for the Ironically Challenged; sleeps in Metaphor Hotel; encounters upside-down people in an up- side-down world; and is befriended by a very special talking dog.

INTRODUCTION

FELLOW TRAVELERS, let us embark upon a journey into obscure caverns, steep ravines, unconscious mysteries, and cryptic conundrums that constitute the dream world of Lakshmi Jackson. Before we set sail into her deep domain, it will be useful to survey the seaworthiness of our vessel, plug the leaks, check the tarps, test for rope frays, and, as they say, batten down the hatches. If we are to achieve a thorough illumination of Ms. Jackson’s inner landscape, we must take inventory of the various constructs we may encounter along the way.

Read the full introduction here...

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The Book of Bob:
as revealed to Paul Chasman

“In the beginning, Bob didn’t plan to start a religion; it just happened.”

Book of BobSo begins a wild and fantastic ride through the fictional Free Nation, satirizing religious fanaticism, politics, and human fumbling. The plot is driven by a host of quirky characters: Bob, a blank slate living in the Northwest Region who talks first to his dog, then to God; nineteen-year-old Sophia Wise, whose life’s goal is to cover her entire body with tattoos; Roland Brand, a chameleon whose ascension to power becomes progressively more outrageous; Lakshmi Jackson, Sophia’s best friend who feels like a “kite without a string;” Ivan Bunt, a wheelchair-bound veteran, given to colorful declarations in a language all his own; Delbert Thorne, the Chosen Leader of the Free Nation, who is on a continually fruitless search for a Secretary of Religion, and bears a striking resemblance to another world leader we once knew.

The story opens in the Northwest Region, where God orders Bob to take dictation for His new Book. The plot sends the characters careening through Sunny Sunnyland, a “Paved National Monument;” Rolandworld, a religious theme park in the Southwest; and Capital City, where Chosen Leader Thorne plots “Operation Triple Nuke.” The Book of Bob dashes drunkenly through the house of mirrors of Western culture, dissecting with pinpoint precision the absurdity, tragedy, and hilarity of the human race.

“The Book of Bob (is) going to help all of us laugh and think and change and laugh some more . . . so much wit and wisdom . . . I couldn’t wait to sit down with the book, reread pieces and after laughing myself silly I felt really healthy.”
Marlena Smith--KBOO-FM, Portland, Oregon

"The Book of Bob is one of those rare books that made me laugh out loud in public.  This book is so funny, I forgot it had an agenda!”
-Jeff Allen, Executive Director, Oregon Environmental Council

Amazon Review

“I laughed out loud.”
Nancy Hoffman, The Daily Astorian & Chinook Observer/Coast Weekend

"Your book is laughing magic."
J.H., Clearwater, Nebraska

The Carl Letters:

Paul ChasmanDuring the Watergate crisis in the early 1970s, Don Novello (famous as Father Guido Sarducci on Saturday Night Live) assumed the alias of Lazlo Toth and wrote letters to President Nixon and the Watergate players, along with many celebrities and corporate figures. 

Lazlo Toth wrote to Nixon saying:  “Don’t let Watergate become your Waterloo!  Fight!  Fight!  Fight!  When the going gets tough, the toughs get going!”

Lazlo Toth wrote to the makers of Mr. Bubble complaining:  “The box says, ‘Keep Dry.’  How am I supposed to keep dry if I’m taking a bubble bath?”

Lazlo Toth wrote to Ray Krok of McDonald’s pleading with him not to put jelly on the Egg McMuffin. 

So, in the spring of 2003, when george w. bush began his illegal war in Iraq, guitarist Paul Chasman found himself asking, “What would Lazlo Toth do?”  That was when Lazlo Toth’s long lost cousin, Carl Estrada inhabited Paul’s body. 

Carl Estrada wrote a letter to george w. bush confessing he had bought a Dixie Chics CD.  He reported to His President that they were pretty good and He should check them out.

The next day, Carl Estrada wrote to george w. bush giving him the heads-up that his American flag lapel pin was crooked.  He suggested that He tell Laura (His wife) that when she’s sending Him out the door in the morning, and she’s straightening His tie and checking to make sure He doesn’t have anything between His teeth, that she straighten out His American flag lapel pin.

Then he couldn’t stop!  For the next five years, Carl Estrada wrote almost daily “Letters of Advice and Constructive Criticism to the Famous, the Infamous, and the Current Administration.”  Click on www.thecarlletters.com to read the real history of the bush presidency as told by Carl Estrada!

Paul's YouTube Videos:

Paul ChasmanSee the Chosen Leader of the Free Nation Delbert Thorne step right out of the pages of “The Book of Bob” and onto your computer screen!

See Carl Estrada come alive as he extols the virtues of His President. 

Coming soon: Paul Chasman plays guitar on YouTube.

My Page Archives, Musings, Opinions, and Unsolicited Advice  1998-2003

Paul Chasman holds forth on topics ranging from scales to stage fright.  He discontinued the column shortly after Carl Estrada inhabited his body, at which time he poured his writing efforts into The Carl Letters and The Book of Bob.  Now Paul is back to playing guitar again so it may be only a matter of time before he returns with more musings, opinions, and unsolicited advice.

Click here to read the My Page archives!

Old School, by Paul Chasman and the "Great Gatleys"

OLD SCHOOL, BY PAUL CHASMAN AND THE "GREAT GATLEYS"

Accompanied by Dan and Laurie Gatley on bass and vocals, Paul Chasman returns with 11 new original tunes that will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you think. With his trademark sparkling guitar at the forefront, Paul’s poetic lyrics contrast life and mortality; grief and celebration; and light that penetrates the dark.