The Cheese Monkeys

A Novel in Two Semesters

By: Chip Kidd

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Chip Kidd's witty and effervescent coming-of-age novel can only be described as a portrait of the designer as a young man. It's 1957, long before computers have replaced the skillful eye and hand, and our narrator at State U is determined to major in Art. After several risible false starts, he ends up by accident in a new class called "Introduction to Graphic Design," taught by the enigmatic professor-guru Winter Sorbeck - equal parts genius, seducer, and sadist. Sorbeck is a bitter yet fascinating man whose assignments hurl his charges through a gauntlet of humiliation and heartache, shame and triumph, ego-bashing and enlightenment. By the end of The Cheese Monkeys, the members of Art 127 will never see the world the same way again. And, thanks to Chip Kidd's insights into the secrets of graphic design, neither will you.©2001 Charles Kidd (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The Cheese Monkeys is a wonderfully witty book that trafficks in both well observed commentary and outrageous shenanigans and antics." (Newsday)
"Sorbeck shines in three dimensions on the page....a fascinating, funny, and wonderfully written novel...." (Booklist)

Good book horrible narration

The voicing of any female character is borderline insulting. I read this book years ago finding it memorable for the Himillsy character in particular but this narration makes her sound ridiculous.

Very Different!

Very unique. Great narration. There were some parts that made me uncomfortable but overall very unique.

This was a fun listen!

The narration was fun. Maybe it was because of my short stint as an art student at an important art school that I could relate to the story and the narration brought it home. Many laughs of recognition.

sentimental depravity

Here's how I describe this to my friends: 'A Christmas Story' meets 'Animal House' meets 'Art School Confidential.'

This is a highly entertaining story about an artist's freshman year in the late 50's. The humor takes on its own personality through the performance of Bronson Pinchot. For some reason, one of the main female characters, the narrator's quasi-love-interest, is characterized with an odd Mr. Howell voice (that's Mr Howell of Gilligan's Island).

I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys depraved, oddball comedy, and who enjoys a story about an artist learning to challenge everything he's ever been taught.

Recommended

Wow! Too good to turn away. Quick read and hilarious! Great! Love it! What's next?