Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon
This was my very first Chabon, but this has absolutely inspired me to take on The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay next! I've had a few people recommend it to me... all people whose opinion I highly respect. So you'll likely be hearing more about be on the subject of Monsieur Chabon in the future. Fair warning!
In Wonder Boys, I love how deliciously and frustratingly flawed Chabon's characters are. They make horrible life choices... which, let's be honest, is the mark of a truly fascinating read. And while I know a lot of readers can't stand books where the characters make stupid decisions, isn't that true to life? I make horrible mistakes on the daily... and I like to believe that's what makes me so fascinating. ;) This book was so character-driven and he writes those characters as if they're beloved family members... so I can't wait to see what other hot messes Michael Chabon has in store for me!
Synopsis:
A modern classic, now in a welcome new edition, Wonder Boys firmly established Michael Chabon as a force to be reckoned with in American fiction. At once a deft parody of the American fame factory and a piercing portrait of young and old desire, this novel introduces two unforgettable characters: Grady Tripp, a former publishing prodigy now lost in a fog of pot and passion and stalled in the midst of his endless second book, and Grady’s student, James Leer, a budding writer obsessed with Hollywood self-destruction and struggling with his own searching heart. All those who love Michael Chabon’s The Yiddish Policemen’s Union and his Pulitzer Prize-winning The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay will find the same elegant imagination, bold humor, and undeniable warmth at work in Wonder Boys.