book talk

Sit back and let it flow with Tom Morrison's newest novel

Salibury’s Tom Morrison is back with another novel,”Who Put the Bots in the Tort$”

Described by the author as a legal farce, the new book picks up the ongoing saga of ambitious and creative lawyers Pap and Pup Peters, who specialize in class-action lawsuits.

The clients are larger-than-life — and twice as crazy.

And the lawsuits?

Well, this time around we’ve got artificial intelligence encroaching on the world of adult entertainers and political action committees. (Apparently AI makes connections mere mortals cannot grasp.)

We’ve got high-dollar fences handling jewelry stolen from the great and the good.

And we’ve got people fighting with zoning boards about lawn mowing ordinances. (Never mind hot air balloon-landing regulations.)

As usual, Morrison has fun with names. One of his more memorable characters, the redoubtable Mona Lott, is doing battle with the Planning and Zoning Commission over when lawn mowing is allowed.

There’s an investment firm that might sound vaguely familiar: Goldman Slacks

There’s a mention of an important legal case: “Ruth v. Gehrig, decided by Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis of the Southern District of New York.”

And there’s an artist. A famous, important artist. This artist is also a pig, named “Pigcasso,” who is “the first animal to host a solo art exhibit.”

The flow of jokes and gags — some one-offs, some extended — can get overwhelming if the reader spends too much time considering the merits of each one.

The best way to enjoy Morrison’s cockamamie world is to just sit back and let it flow.

You can always go back later and figure out which joke most strongly resembles which recent headline.

book talk

Latest News

Old Saybrook wins 54-36 over Housy in state tournament

Old Saybrook wins 54-36 over Housy in state tournament
Housatonic's Daniela Brennan matched up against Old Saybrook's Breleigh Cooke in round two of the Class S state tournament March 5.
Photo by Riley Klein

FALLS VILLAGE — Housatonic Valley Regional High School got knocked out of the state playoff by Old Saybrook High School March 5.

HVRHS, the eighth seed, hosted Old Saybrook, seeded ninth, for round two of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Class S tournament. As the eighth and ninth seeds in the tournament, both teams earned byes for the first round of the state postseason.

Keep ReadingShow less
hvrhs basketball

In Appreciation: Maureen Brady

In Appreciation: Maureen Brady

Maureen Brady, the first woman to be elected first selectman of Kent, died on Feb. 23 at her home after a long illness.
Brady, who served from 1985 to 1992, devoted much of her life to serving the community she loved.

Moving here with her young family from Queens, New York, when her husband, Thomas, became resident state trooper in Sherman, she quickly got involved in municipal activities by becoming secretary to then First Selectman Eugene O’Meara in 1973, and later to Robert Ward. Ward stepped down after two terms, and with his deep encouragement, she ran and won the town’s top spot.

Keep ReadingShow less
obituaries

Shirley Mae MacCallum

Shirley Mae MacCallum

EAST CANAAN — With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Shirley Mae MacCallum, a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend, who passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, at her home in East Canaan. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Toby MacCallum, with whom she shared many years of love and companionship.

Shirley was born on Aug. 27, 1930, in Irving, Massachusetts, to the late Edgar and Henrietta (Jodway) Daigneault. A proud graduate of Agawam High School in 1947, she went on to lead a life filled with hard work, love, and a spirit that touched everyone who knew her. Over the years, Shirley worked at Kaman Aircraft Corporation, where she built a solid foundation for her family, and later pursued her passion for antiques as the proud owner of Toby’s Antiques in East Canaan. She was known for her eye for unique treasures and her warm, welcoming nature that made all who entered feel like family.

Keep ReadingShow less
obituaries

Arthur Frigault

Arthur Frigault

SHARON — Arthur Joseph Frigault, 79, passed away Feb. 26, 2025, at Baystate Medical Center after a brave attempt to live with multiple myeloma cancer. He was surrounded by his devoted wife, loving family and friends.

Arthur was born July 7, 1945, in Waltham, Massachusetts, the son of the late Arthur and Delina Frigault. His parents migrated from New Brunswick, Canada to Waltham in 1945. Arthur attended french-speaking St. Joseph Church’s elementary school in Waltham, Waltham High School and Northeastern University in Boston for engineering. He served in the US Army.

Keep ReadingShow less
obituaries