DOLLARTORIUM

Pullins’ satirical, surreal novel tackles American greed.

Ralph lives in a small town in Kansas where he sells corn dogs. His corn dog shop, Corny Doo Dogs, is a small operation, but top-notch. Ralph raises the pigs and the corn himself, ensuring the product will be the finest his customers have ever tasted. His wife, Phyllis, works the register; his daughter, Stella, also helps out. When Ralph is not selling corn dogs (and even sometimes when he is), he is reading Plato. Corny Doo Dogs does not exactly rake in the cash, but as far as Ralph is concerned, he is happy with the way things are. Phyllis is not. Phyllis wants to be wealthy, and spends long hours watching people win big on TV shows like The Price Is Right; if only she could get Ralph to push Corny Doo Dogs into making more of a profit. One day, a man on television, the Money Master, explains how things could be better: Phyllis needs to send Ralph to a financial educational facility called the Dollartorium—then, the big money can start rolling in. Soon, Ralph is learning why “One will never get rich merely working for a living” and about the benefits of a literal money machine. The story pointedly dives into philosophies about life and work: To those with power, Ralph’s “corn dog morality” (which requires practices like conducting an honest day’s labor) is wrong. Ralph must learn tricks, like how to create desire in consumers. Pullins crafts some insightful lines, as when the Money Master explains that making money as an individual while a company fails is no big deal, even if one appears foolish in the process: “looking like a fool, isn’t that the perfect cover for a thief?” The text can feel repetitive; the author hammers home Phyllis’ greed (“Cash populates her dreams”) as she desires many, many things (including a poodle). Still, the story remains engaging as the reader anticipates what Ralph will ultimately do with what he’s learned—and, of course, with his money machine.

A boisterous and thoughtful journey through the absurdities of modern capitalism.