Tomcat in Love

I tend to take the 'reviews' on dust-jackets with a pinch of salt, largely because they are usually the antithesis of what the book is really like. The Guardian said of this text, that it was 'extraordinary... sustained... spectacular', whilst The Washington Post described it as 'Laugh-out-loud-funny'. Excuse me, but stop and rewind there. Tim O'Brien... THE Tim O'Brien? It is he of the Vietnam obsession we are talking about here? Laughs?... surely there must be a mistake.Having read 'Cacciato', 'If I die' and 'The Things', all of which are arguably amongst the best post-war fiction ever penned, I considered myself a staunch O'Brien fan, that was until I read 'Northern Lights', which is just SO bad - REALLY bad (this is not the place to explain why), and then the emperor was laid bare. I was therefore somewhat wary of shelling out for more of the same and had pretty much accepted the fact that the three prior mentioned works were his best and anything else would just be one publishing deal too far. By chance, however, I picked up a cheap copy of 'Tomcat' and thought I'd give it a go - I am SO glad I did. In 'Tomcat' we find a new O'Brien who has grown up and moved on from Vietnam: reborn, realigned, refocused, sharp, witty and just plain entertaining.This novel works for so many reasons and is effectively a sample of how a perfect novel should be: great central character - well-drawn and empathetic, sustained and original story, original concept, humorous, creative and well-written. In fact it is almost too good (is that possible?) it is almost too polished, too perfect, too brilliant. One gets the impression that O'Brien may have originated it as part of his creative-writing course on how to construct a great novel. Who knows? One thing is certain and that this witty story should engage all readers, one will either love and sympathise with the central character or (if you are female), hate him and wish him ill. Either way O'Brien will get your emotions going and get you to select a side on which to bat - there is no middle-ground here.Built around the themes of love, obsession, passion, memory, naïvety, childhood, fate, karma and revenge this story is a roller-coaster; never dull, never predictable, never bland, always thoroughly entertaining and thought provoking. Add to that the fact Vietnam is barely mentioned! Highly recommended, especially to men or empathic people with a slightly dark sense of humour.

Tim O'Brien has been a favorite of mine for nearly 25 years. His books are always deep and insightful, but they reached new levels of somberness with "The Lake of the Woods". "Tomcat In Love" is a delightfully unexpected left turn and reveals a surprisingly sharp comic talent.I usually find it difficult to enjoy a novel with a protagonist I can't admire. But Thomas Chippering is so delighfully self delusional that you can't help but giggle as he digs himself in deeper with every scheme he contrives. And yet amazingly you find yourself rooting for this buffoon as reaches new depths of social ineptitude. Other reviewers mention that Chippering is an unreliable narrator, but it is important to realize that he actually believes all the lies he is telling. Half the fun of reading this comic novel is reading between the lines to distinguish where what is really happening diverges from what Chippering is telling you.This is a funny, funny book. Even so, it confronts the reader with many serious issues, particularly the objectification of women. There's plenty to think about while you are laughing at the characters. That's one reason this book stays with you much longer than most comic novels.I gave a copy of this novel to my father, and after he finished it he sent it along to my brother. Tim O'Brien is exactly a generation between me and my father, and while there's plenty we can't see eye to eye on, we both found this novel extremely entertaining.Tim O'Brien is a treasure. Read this book!

Book Book Book for a book club read

浮気性で嘘つきで虚栄心のカタマリで…というどうしよーもないダメ男が、自分を捨てた妻（と、その弟と新しいダンナ）に復讐を企てる物語。大筋においてブラックコメディ。けれど最後に思わぬどんでん返し。やられた。しかも、ちょっとホロリとさせられてしまった。人間が自分を見る目なんて、（まぁこの主人公は極端にせよ）多かれ少なかれこんなものなんだろうなぁと思う。自分に都合よく周りを解釈して、都合が悪いものには目をつぶる。笑いながらもふと「ハテサテ自分は…」と、自らを省みて少し居心地が悪くなる、という感じ。あんまり期待してなかったんだけど、予想外に面白く、イッキ読みしてしまいました。

The writing was good and interesting use of words - some new ones for me. which I enjoyed. Strange plot, weird characters, but it somehow kept me engaged to the end (a little weird on my end?). I only found lol comedy in one chapter for 2 or 3 pages. A different experience.