Chris K. reviewed on 4/20/2007 + 14 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

Grady Tripp is a middle aged philander with a penchant for pot and failed marriages, who is unable to complete the long awaited follow up to his award winning novel. His brilliant student James Leer is a troubled you writer obsessed with Hollywood suicides and prone to fabrication and petty thievery. In their odyssey through the streets of Pittsburgh, Grady and James are joined by Grady's pregnant mistress, his hilariously bizarre editor an achingly beautiful student lodger. The result is a wildly comic, poignantly moving and ultimately profound search for past promise, future fame and a purpose to Grady's life.
If you saw the movie, the major difference is that you get to spend more time with just about every character, so the motivations and feeling become clear. Also Grady is no Micheal Douglas, he is a heavy tall guy, like grizzly. In some ways this book reminds me of Jonathan Irving Hotel New Hampshire or the World According to Garp.

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details