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Wonder Boys

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About this listen

Chabon's extraordinary story of one turbulent weekend in the life of a struggling writer, a satire of the permanent adolescence of the creative class.

A wildly successful first novel made Grady Tripp a young star, and seven years later he still hasn't grown up. He's now a writing professor in Pittsburgh, plummeting through middle age, stuck with an unfinishable manuscript, an estranged wife, a pregnant girlfriend, and a talented but deeply disturbed student named James Leer. During one lost weekend at a writing festival with Leer and debauched editor Terry Crabtree, Tripp must finally confront the wreckage made of his past decisions. Mordant but humane, Wonder Boys features characters as loveably flawed as any in American fiction.

©1995 Michael Chabon (P)1995 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved. Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Satire Comedy Witty
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I came to this novel after seeing the wonderful film of the same name. It differs from the film in various details and it is fascinating to observe where the two diverge. I personally loved the film (with Michael Douglas, Toby McGuire, Robert Downey Jr, Frances McDormand and the late Rip Torn as 'Q') It's casting could not have been bettered imo. I have returned to it many times finding its themes and characters timeless. It's ending differs from the book (though not in a negative sense) but I have to confess I found the book's ending more poignant and sad. Perhaps this feeling is made all the more emphatic after a myriad of comical twists and turns. It is an entertaining read and although Chabon's prose is somewhat florid at times it doesn't detract from its intrinsic wit.
I am now curious to read Chabon's other novels although I've heard that this likely his magnum opus. Strongly recommended.

Funny yet poignant

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Engaging story focused on three interconnected characters - the author, the editor, and the student... All takes place around a university-based WriteFest with a range of twists and turns around writing, substance abuse, lies and truth-telling.

Chabon has a wonderful turn of phrase and this comedic novel has much to recommend it. Certainly was a great holiday read when you want to get distracted from those day to day concerns...

Writers and writing - an entertaining romp!

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Michael Chabon is such an incredibly beautiful writer. If you love rich language and beautiful human observations I highly recommend this book. The cast of flawed characters embark on a strange weekend that changes the course of their lives.

Chabon is masterful

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