Daddies Shouldn’t Breakdance

By Jimmy Mak

Reviewed by
Rick Brown

I’ve been watching Jimmy Mak’s writing for years. As Head Writer for Columbus’ own Shadowbox Live theater troupe, I’ve laughed at his comedy sketches, videos and jokes. I’ve also been moved by his more serious pieces like Underland … the tragic story of a Vietnam Vet searching for his missing daughter … as well as the poignant warmth of the starkly honest romance in Waffle House Glow. And if I might brag a little … I’m proud to have published two of Mr. Mak’s wonderful nonfiction stories (included in his book as well), “No Trouble in Little China: My Adventure in Hong Kong” and “Sharing Sherri”, here in the virtual pages of Naked Sunfish.

So I knew it was just a matter of time before Jimmy published his first book of nonfiction. And Daddies Shouldn’t Breakdance does not disappoint.
    
Drawing from his childhood growing up in Steubenville, Ohio … Mak’s working class … down to earth observational humor is at once wise … yet pensive. Childlike … yet philosophical. When he writes about being a father of two daughters ... and counting his wife … being outnumbered 3 to 1 family gender wise … he does so with an honest charm that resonates. Mak is a responsible “all growed up” daddy. Yet in many respects he remains the determined boy wandering the streets of his hometown “protecting” the locals dressed as a superhero. Mak sees magic in life’s mayhem.
    
I grew up much the same as Jimmy Mak … blue collar working class poor … in a good family. Consequently, my favorite tales in the book are about his neighbor in “The Bubba Jim Chronicles”. Bubba Jim personifies my own father’s fear of being perceived …. for lack of a better word … as “hillbillies”. “Get out there and mow the goddamned grass before people start thinking we’re a bunch of hillbillies!” he’d yell. Mak and his family lived right next door to my father’s nightmare. And sure … the events make hilarious stories … NOW. I laughed so hard I had to put the book down. But you can always see Jimmy was cautious in his dealings with Bubba and his clan … paternally protective … Mak’s sense of humor … never retreating from honest self-deprecation … always metaphorically the superhero’s cape.
    
Daddies Shouldn’t Breakdance is well organized without feeling organized at all. And the photographs of Buzz Crisafulli are fabulous … a nice … albeit unnecessary … touch. (Buzz’s work … recently displayed here in Naked Sunfish … would make a glorious book of his own). Mak’s writing certainly can stand alone. Still … the book as a whole is wonderfully “all over the place”.
    
Whether Jimmy Mak is goofing on a love poem to his wife, earnestly missing his sister Sherri, cracking wise on a life “truism”, or simply telling a tale … his writing … and his first book … will charm the pants off you. His humorous appreciation for life’s everyday comings and goings … the mundane … is done with a wonderfully wise … and fantastically funny … wink and a nod.