Book Review: "Suspicious Guys You Should Be Extremely Wary Of"

Suspicious Guys You Should Be Extremely Wary of...
written & illustrated by Tara Caplan
copyright 2003 by Tara Caplan
24 pages, 4.25"x5.5" black & white photocopied booklet
$5.00 (last time I checked)

Nature lovers can easily purchase books on local floral & fauna. But how can single, hetero women scope out local guys in the Russian River dating scene? Luckily for them, Tara Caplan comes to the rescue with her hilarious parody of a field guide to: Suspicious Guys You Should Be Extremely Wary of...

Ms. Caplan identifies 24 common species of heterosexual males found along the banks of the Russian River & provides detailed illustrations, along with sample mating calls (for example, the "Strange little mushroom collecting men you meet in the woods" shown on the cover illustration to the left signals his desire to mate by inquiring, "Care to explore me fungal treasures?")

You'll also find other common types, including "Touchy-feely, 20-something 'massage therapists,'" "Dreadlocked dudes in tight pants who invite you to harem," & "Graying British 'photographers' who invite you to their Studio for some private sessions." I have never met Ms. Caplan, but some of my friends know her & say that she grew up around here & has been admired for her creative talent & sense of humor since childhood.

You don't have to live around here or even be currently on the dating scene to appreciate this fabulous little comic book. I encountered many of these guys back when I was single & living in a city on the East Coast 12 years ago!

For information, please write to:
Tara Caplan, P.O. Box 112, Cazadero, CA 95421
Also currently available at Seconds First in Guerneville, as long as supplies last.