Overheated Prose Award: Wolffe on Obama in the NYT

Every once in a while, you come across some prose so overheated, you can’t resist calling attention to it.  This particular fare comes from a New York Times review of Michael Wolffe’s new book on Barack Obama.  Don’t eat it yet–it’s too hot:

“Mr. Wolffe’s portrait is familiar in its essentials, depicting a candidate who is idealistic but pragmatic, highly disciplined as a thinker and steady as his resting heart rate of 60 beats a minute — a Renegade (like his Secret Service code name) but a cautious, practical one.”

And for that, the review’s author, Michiko Kakutani, wins (unbeknownst to her) the First Annual Overheated Prose Award.  Congratulations.  Casserole dish is en route.

Of course, in order to bestow such an honor, one has to be dually qualified.  I have written some doozies in my day; a line referencing (I am not making this up) “the dual-headed hydra of modern criticism and personal disapprobation” comes to mind.  Others would also suffice.  In mercy, I will spare myself further shame.

Readers of this blog are encouraged to submit their own OPA nominations.  Until next time…