Over-sexed, pot-bellied, pot-smoking, ageing novelist Grady Tripp struggles to finish the novel he’s been working on for several years. With an eager editor tucking at his coattails, and his long-time lover demanding a decision on their relationship, Tripp is faced with a series of challenges that could make or break his marriage, his love-life and his teaching career. Following an unfortunate incident with a blind dog, a stolen iconic jacket and an urgent need to sort his life out, the hapless lecturer begins a weekend that will change his life.
The movie version of Wonder Boys (starring Michael Douglas, Frances McDormand and Robert Downey Jnr) is one of my all-time favourites and I was thrilled to find the novel is very similar. Michael Chabon’s writing is a sheer delight from start to finish, packed with witticisms, gorgeous detail and a host of klutzy, extraordinary, but totally believable characters. As the hero stumbles from one bad situation into another, I found myself chuckling away all the way through. This is a book I’ll read again and again.
A beautifully written novel from a highly talented and original author.
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This sounds like a great book, Colin.
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It’s an absolute delight to read, Robbie.
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