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shethewriter's review
With 100 pages left, I gave up. Not worth the time. I appreciate what the novel tries to do, but it is not effective. Try reading Terry Pratchett or Douglass Adams instead.
michaelavk's review
4.0
Well, either you like Sam, the protagonist, or you don't. Seems like much of the mixed review-ness (here and elsewhere) comes from this. Maybe it's not even a matter of "like" but can you "deal with" him? I found his "bumbling" through various decisions fun and fascinating, even if I wanted to twap him upside the head sometimes. I personally like his ramblings and asides--they add to the story and Sam's character instead of taking away from them. I appreciate his humor.
Having read some of Brock's short stories (including the one this novel was born out of) and having met him, it just all, well, makes sense. Not that Mr. Clarke is a bumbler. He's a pretty nice accomplished guy. :-)
Having read some of Brock's short stories (including the one this novel was born out of) and having met him, it just all, well, makes sense. Not that Mr. Clarke is a bumbler. He's a pretty nice accomplished guy. :-)
samhouston's review
4.0
An Arsonist’s Guide to Writers’ Homes in New England proved to be one of those book titles I could not resist forever. As an avowed book lover and one who has enjoyed visiting author homes for a long time, I shuddered at the very thought of what might be inside the covers of this one – and what I found was even stranger than I expected it would be. An Arsonist’s Guide is not for everyone, but if you enjoy books about books and writing, humorous novels combining farce and satire, or characters so unrealistic that they start to seem real to you, you will probably enjoy it.
Sam Pulsifer, whose father is an editor and whose mother is an English professor, accidentally burned down Emily Dickinson’s historic home. His parents probably could not visualize a crime more devastating and embarrassing than that one, but it gets worse: the fire also claimed the lives of the two people still inside the old house. Now, after serving ten years in prison, Sam is returning to Amherst, the scene of his crime, because he has no place else to go. He just wants to hide while he figures out what to do with the rest of his life.
The past decade has not been kind to Sam’s parents. His crime and ensuing imprisonment have taken such a toll on his mother and his father, both physically and mentally, that Sam barely recognizes them or their new lifestyle. But even then, it is only when the historic homes of other famous authors begin to go up in smoke all around New England that Sam understands that his chances of maintaining a low profile while he regroups are gone. Due to the timing and proximity of the fires, Sam is, of course, the most logical suspect. He gets it – and he knows that if he doesn’t prove his innocence, he is likely headed back to prison for a long, long time.
The problem is that Sam Pulsifer is a chronic “bungler,” something that was first pointed out rather gleefully to him by a group of white collar criminals he met in prison. As he moves from one crime scene to the next, interviewing people and observing the physical evidence, managing to implicate himself in one fire after the other, Sam proves their assessment to be an astute one. He is indeed a “bungler.”
Brock Clarke’s utterly absurd characters and far-fetched plot are a perfect match for the satirical look at life (and the literary lifestyle) that he presents in An Arsonist’s Guide to Writers’ Homes in New England. Ironically, the book is filled with literary allusions and observations that will be most appreciated by the very folks whose lifestyle is being lampooned. Clarke has something to say about the complexities of life, love, and marriage, and he says it well. This may very well be one of those love-it-or-hate-it books with little opinion between the two extremes, but book lovers should give it the shot it deserves.
Sam Pulsifer, whose father is an editor and whose mother is an English professor, accidentally burned down Emily Dickinson’s historic home. His parents probably could not visualize a crime more devastating and embarrassing than that one, but it gets worse: the fire also claimed the lives of the two people still inside the old house. Now, after serving ten years in prison, Sam is returning to Amherst, the scene of his crime, because he has no place else to go. He just wants to hide while he figures out what to do with the rest of his life.
The past decade has not been kind to Sam’s parents. His crime and ensuing imprisonment have taken such a toll on his mother and his father, both physically and mentally, that Sam barely recognizes them or their new lifestyle. But even then, it is only when the historic homes of other famous authors begin to go up in smoke all around New England that Sam understands that his chances of maintaining a low profile while he regroups are gone. Due to the timing and proximity of the fires, Sam is, of course, the most logical suspect. He gets it – and he knows that if he doesn’t prove his innocence, he is likely headed back to prison for a long, long time.
The problem is that Sam Pulsifer is a chronic “bungler,” something that was first pointed out rather gleefully to him by a group of white collar criminals he met in prison. As he moves from one crime scene to the next, interviewing people and observing the physical evidence, managing to implicate himself in one fire after the other, Sam proves their assessment to be an astute one. He is indeed a “bungler.”
Brock Clarke’s utterly absurd characters and far-fetched plot are a perfect match for the satirical look at life (and the literary lifestyle) that he presents in An Arsonist’s Guide to Writers’ Homes in New England. Ironically, the book is filled with literary allusions and observations that will be most appreciated by the very folks whose lifestyle is being lampooned. Clarke has something to say about the complexities of life, love, and marriage, and he says it well. This may very well be one of those love-it-or-hate-it books with little opinion between the two extremes, but book lovers should give it the shot it deserves.
innatejames's review
2.0
I didn't care for Arsonist for the same reason I don't like Christopher Moore or Jasper Fforde: its just too clever for its own good. When snarky narrators are aware they are narrating stories, they come off as smug and loathesome. If the author intends the narrator to be smug and loathesome on top of being aware of the character's narratorship, its just overkill.
That said there were some great one-liners in this book. I will pick up Brock Clarke's next book because I think he can tell a story. He just needs to pick a better device. And for me, create a likable loathesome character.
That said there were some great one-liners in this book. I will pick up Brock Clarke's next book because I think he can tell a story. He just needs to pick a better device. And for me, create a likable loathesome character.
the_original_shelf_monkey's review
5.0
"What makes Guide such a marvelous comedy, aside from Clarke's clear prose and sparking wit, is his treatment of his lead character. In the best tradition of classic comedic heroes, Sam is not so much an actor as a reactor, always one step behind and guided by forces beyond his control."
Read the full review here.
Read the full review here.
supposedlyfun's review against another edition
2.0
“An Arsonist’s Guide to Writer’s Homes in New England” is the odyssey of Sam Pulsifer, a perpetual but completely accidental ne’er do well. His life story is rather convoluted, so suffice it to say that he snuck into the Emily Dickinson home one fateful night, eager to check out the veracity of several spooky stories his mother told him growing up, and unwittingly started a mighty conflagration that reduced the historic landmark to rubble and killed the amorous couple he did not know was inside. Fifteen years later, Pulsifer has gotten out of prison and started his life anew in a new town. Everything seems to be going well, until Thomas Coleman, the son of the couple he accidentally killed, shows up on his doorstep eager for revenge. And someone starts torching the homes of famous writers in New England, causing the police to investigate Pulsifer. And the life he has worked so hard to build starts coming apart at the seams.
Brock Clarke is a capable enough writer, and he certainly has a great deal of wit. The problem is that he has too much of it, and he just can’t seem to stop showing it off. He suffers from a serious case of ‘too-muchness’. Each chapter is drowning in absurd plot twists and cock-eyed reasoning that digs Pulsifer deeper and deeper into his own private hell. And it gets very painful by the halfway point of “Arsonist”. Just look at the title of this novel; it’s kind of cute and amusing, if a wee bit pretentious. Now imagine getting beaten over the head with that kind of humor for 303 pages and you have an idea of what it is to slog through this book.
It’s relentless!! The plot gets so ridiculously contrived by page fifty that you’ll have a headache from slapping your head and asking “he did WHAT?” after Pulsifer’s latest egregious misstep. Honestly, bumbling doesn't begin to describe him -- even Inspector Clouseau would think Sam Pulsifer is insane, and that says a lot. Making what by all rights could have been a light-hearted romp irritating and painful.
It’s a shame.
Brock Clarke is a capable enough writer, and he certainly has a great deal of wit. The problem is that he has too much of it, and he just can’t seem to stop showing it off. He suffers from a serious case of ‘too-muchness’. Each chapter is drowning in absurd plot twists and cock-eyed reasoning that digs Pulsifer deeper and deeper into his own private hell. And it gets very painful by the halfway point of “Arsonist”. Just look at the title of this novel; it’s kind of cute and amusing, if a wee bit pretentious. Now imagine getting beaten over the head with that kind of humor for 303 pages and you have an idea of what it is to slog through this book.
It’s relentless!! The plot gets so ridiculously contrived by page fifty that you’ll have a headache from slapping your head and asking “he did WHAT?” after Pulsifer’s latest egregious misstep. Honestly, bumbling doesn't begin to describe him -- even Inspector Clouseau would think Sam Pulsifer is insane, and that says a lot. Making what by all rights could have been a light-hearted romp irritating and painful.
It’s a shame.
fitzwilliam's review
2.0
http://makemesmarternow.blogspot.dk/2017/06/review-arsonists-guide-to-writers-homes.html
anndouglas's review
3.0
I think I was expecting too much of this book. I had read a number of glowing reviews and was expecting it to be really innovative and quirky (the type of book I love). I think this would have worked better as a short story or novella.