One of America's most distinctive voices, James Hynes taps his dark humor for this startling novel. In the wake of a terrorist attack, neurotic Kevin Quinn flies to Austin, Texas, for a job interview. But when he lands, he finds himself following the beguiling young woman who sat next to him on the plane. ". this funny, surprising, and sobering novel [is] unlike anything in the recent literature of our response to terrorism-a tour de force of people ennobled in the face of random horror."-Publishers Weekly, starred review
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"I just finished reading this book. I don't know what to say.... The book was disconcerting, tragic, horrifying, hilarious, compelling, stunning, terribly sad, yet very moving. There were times when the main character was annoying (why is every middle-aged man depicted as a lecherous lout) but truly funny. There is an almost post-apocolypic feeling in the background of the story, but it doesn't come to the surface until the end, and what an end! Truly stunning. This book will not be for everyone. Some of the images at the end are painful in the context of the world we live in today and what has happened to us over the last 10 years as a society. Yet, I don't believe you can read this book without being moved. Read it, then tell everyone what you think it means"
— Michael (5 out of 5 stars)
… this funny, surprising, and sobering novel is unlike anything in the recent literature of our response to terrorism—a tour de force of people ennobled in the face of random horror.
— Publishers Weekly, starred review" It took me awhile to get into this book. I didn't like the main character. "
— Heather, 2/18/2014" Strange. Enjoyed the Austin airport and Detroit airport references since I just returned from a air trip that included both. I read this book by skipping around, which did not hurt the read at all. "
— Barbara, 1/19/2014" Most of the time when I call something clever I mean it as a compliment. This time, not so much. As the reviewers note there is a lot of frank humor in this book and it's nice to see a novel get so deeply into a characters head while still reflecting the reality of the outside world. Kevin Quinn might have been elevated from his status as everychump if the book wasn't so pleased with itself for constantly setting and upending expectations around him. "
— Denali, 1/10/2014" Hard to get into at first I found; very, very descriptive, but it came out in the end. Well-developed character and exquisitely written. "
— Pragmatic, 1/3/2014" I could not get into this at all and stopped reading before getting very far. Since the story only takes place over one day and is mostly reflection, there just wasn't enough action to hold my interest. "
— Julie, 12/28/2013" Wow! The imagery was fabulous! I felt like I was with the narrator the whole time, even during his numerous flashbacks. I was blown away by the ending...it will leave you hanging in more ways than one. "
— Melissa, 12/22/2013" I don't know about this one. I don't know at all. Torn between 2 stars and 3 1/2 stars. It's uneven and the transitions between past/present are not well executed. I found the off-beat journey compelling, however it was too erratic and badly paced to be effective. "
— Charity, 9/19/2013" Surprising book. Very well done. "
— Jeff, 6/22/2013" Good stuff. Great words. Unexpected ending. "
— Annie, 1/26/2013" Blazed through this once I got into it. The last 50 pages sort of come out of nowhere. "
— Matthew, 1/9/2013" This book was really dumb. You may want to read it to see just how dumb. How it is one of the notable books of 2010 is beyond me. I was going to give it two stars until I got to that awful sex scene and then I had to give it one. "
— Bethspin, 11/29/2012" Couldn't get past the first 50 pages, which basically chronicle an old guy stalking a younger woman... Next! (book, that is) "
— Allan, 7/6/2012" Did not see that coming. "
— Fletcher, 6/4/2012" Ugh. Got to page 33 and all that had happened was the main character had gone from an airplane into a taxi. A complete snooze-fest. I have not the patience right now. "
— Barbara, 3/9/2012" This book is amazing. Interestingly, in spite of the fact that the reviews on the back reference Joyce's Ulysses, "
— Jane, 1/11/2012" Terrific book. A must read for anyone who's lived in Ann Arbor the past 20-30 years. Somewhat slow-going until about 1/3 of the way through, and then I couldn't put it down. It's really a 4.5. "
— Nancy, 7/4/2011" Clever and engaging. Captures the Austin vibe well and provides a somewhat painful entree into the male psyche, which is mitigated by the author's sense of humor and genuine originality, a rare trait. "
— Jean-Marie, 6/27/2011" This book was really dumb. You may want to read it to see just how dumb. How it is one of the notable books of 2010 is beyond me. I was going to give it two stars until I got to that awful sex scene and then I had to give it one. "
— Bethspin, 5/31/2011" Great ending. Little too male menopausal for my taste. "
— Kim, 5/25/2011" I did not like this book. The ending was too much for me. The journey, too weird. <br/> "
— Joane, 5/4/2011" Overly wordy and meandering book, but the ending was worth reading the entire thing. "
— Melissa, 4/30/2011" An interview in Austin. A one day novel "
— Dan, 4/27/2011" I'll probably come back and write a proper review. This book should have been bigger than it was. It's audaciously written, almost a stream of consciousness that works perfectly. For writers it's a brilliant lesson in breaking the rules and getting away with it. "
— Marion, 4/24/2011" Ugh. Read it for the Rooster. Finished it, which is more than I can say for a lot of books lately. Very depressing on so many levels. "
— Elbrackeen, 3/28/2011L. J. Ganser is a multiple Audie Award–winning narrator with over six hundred titles recorded to date. Prized for versatility, his work ranges from preschool books to crime noir thrillers, from astronomical adventures in both science and science fiction, to Arctic Circle high school basketball stories. He lives in New York City with his family and dog, Mars.