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mpetruce's review against another edition
3.0
I'm of two minds on this book. The writing is terrific, very readable, smart, funny and tight. I also liked how it was focused on the newspaper business somewhat, since that's what I do. But I didn't like the characters and the decisions they made. As my wife pointed out, you're not supposed to, but that didn't keep me from being annoyed by them. Again, that's a testament to Walter's good writing, but I didn't really sympathize with them at all. But much of the book is laugh-out-loud funny and you can't help but admire the occasional wicked thing someone does. In the final analysis though, definitely worth a read.
callumdingley's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely hilarious, and fascinating.
I loved the Larry David-esque protagonist who was essentially the novels villain. The best way to describe the character is as if humanity's most selfish-yet-funny desires were manifested into this screwup father with poor comedic timing.
From the first chapter, the protagonist's mannerisms and personality are demonstrated in the descriptive first-person narration. With the first-person perspective, the reader is constantly made aware of his hilarity, but mostly his selfishness and lack of filter. While I enjoyed much of the comedy, I do wish there was an escape from the protagonist's mind, as it got frustrating at times hearing him make ignorant thoughts and choices. I suppose that may be an attest of Jess Walter's brilliant writing.
With the plot, I was absolutely hooked. My constant thoughts were "how is this asshole gonna get out of this situation now?" and without fail, another wrench is thrown into his plans to keep things chaotic. Despite being comedic, the plot didn't feel completely stupid and certainly expressed hints of messages on financial struggles, even if the morals come from what not to do.
Overall, this is one of the most entertaining books I've read, and thanks to its dark absurdity, certainly the funniest.
I loved the Larry David-esque protagonist who was essentially the novels villain. The best way to describe the character is as if humanity's most selfish-yet-funny desires were manifested into this screwup father with poor comedic timing.
From the first chapter, the protagonist's mannerisms and personality are demonstrated in the descriptive first-person narration. With the first-person perspective, the reader is constantly made aware of his hilarity, but mostly his selfishness and lack of filter. While I enjoyed much of the comedy, I do wish there was an escape from the protagonist's mind, as it got frustrating at times hearing him make ignorant thoughts and choices. I suppose that may be an attest of Jess Walter's brilliant writing.
With the plot, I was absolutely hooked. My constant thoughts were "how is this asshole gonna get out of this situation now?" and without fail, another wrench is thrown into his plans to keep things chaotic. Despite being comedic, the plot didn't feel completely stupid and certainly expressed hints of messages on financial struggles, even if the morals come from what not to do.
Overall, this is one of the most entertaining books I've read, and thanks to its dark absurdity, certainly the funniest.
kjboldon's review against another edition
4.0
a smart funny WMFU (white male eff up) novel about terrible financial decision making.
klohrentz's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
_pickle_'s review against another edition
4.0
A funny, easy read. It's funny how books we read often have unintended thematic links. There are clear paralllels between this book and Tremain's The Road Home which I finished the other day. Both involve men doing their best to survive, trying to make a better world for themselves and their families. Both are flawed, both make awful decisions, but both are human.
I didn't think I'd like Walter's modern winking prose, but it grew on me. It was often quite funny, although I admit to skipping the longer poems. It's a book of it's era, of lost financial hopes and dreams, but I think it has qualities that will allow to to remain enjoyable years later.
But the title, oh the title. It stinks.
I didn't think I'd like Walter's modern winking prose, but it grew on me. It was often quite funny, although I admit to skipping the longer poems. It's a book of it's era, of lost financial hopes and dreams, but I think it has qualities that will allow to to remain enjoyable years later.
But the title, oh the title. It stinks.
brittaini's review against another edition
3.0
Writing and characters, etc, were good. Felt very mannish. There are only so many books that can be written about middle aged white men who are trying to be writers and aren't accomplishing their dreams.
lisagray68's review against another edition
3.0
I'm giving this 3 stars only because her other book, Beautiful Ruins, was better and I gave that one 4 stars. This is a worthy read, read it in a day. One of those books with characters making bad choices -- you just want to jump into the book and prevent this train wreck from happening! I like this author and will definitely read whatever she writes next.
loveallthis's review against another edition
4.0
The Financial Lives of the Poets is a classic "one thing goes wrong; everything else follows" tale. However, unlike (for example) the terrible movie Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, in which the people making things go wrong are worthless human beings whom I wanted to fail and die, Poets is about a nice guy, Matthew. He's a fuckup, he's not the best dad nor husband in the world, nor the best employee, nor does he always make the right decisions... but I cared about Matthew because he always seemed to want to do the right thing. Failing is okay. Failing is sometimes really interesting! Not caring is boring. (This book wasn't boring.)
The book takes place over the course of a week - a pivotal one in which Matthew, having lost his job and gambled much of his future on a failed financial advice publication written mainly in blank verse (hence the title), must figure out a way to scrape together enough to keep his house before the bank shows up to repo it. His wife isn't much help, as her shopping addiction and failed eBay resale business have left her side of the family income in the red as well. Oh, and she may be cheating on Matthew - but he may just be paranoid because he hasn't slept in a few days. Because he's been hanging out with marijuana dealers. Who want him to buy their grow operation. Which is a federal offense.
Poets was a totally enjoyable read; four stars. Highly recommended for the beach or airplane.
The book takes place over the course of a week - a pivotal one in which Matthew, having lost his job and gambled much of his future on a failed financial advice publication written mainly in blank verse (hence the title), must figure out a way to scrape together enough to keep his house before the bank shows up to repo it. His wife isn't much help, as her shopping addiction and failed eBay resale business have left her side of the family income in the red as well. Oh, and she may be cheating on Matthew - but he may just be paranoid because he hasn't slept in a few days. Because he's been hanging out with marijuana dealers. Who want him to buy their grow operation. Which is a federal offense.
Poets was a totally enjoyable read; four stars. Highly recommended for the beach or airplane.
bookfairy99's review against another edition
4.0
This was a book club pick. I wasn’t sure what to expect… I haven’t been reading much, and I’ve really been struggling to get into anything. So imagine my surprise when I found myself at first mildly intrigued and then enthralled by this book that’s completely outside my literary comfort zone. At first I found it depressing - and even now, looking back after finishing it, I still do. I chuckled a few times, but I didn’t find it to be a “comedy”, as some interviews with Walter would have you believe. It was, perhaps, too much reality in my fiction, and I wouldn’t seek out another book like this one - or even anything else by this author. But I was intrigued enough to finish it, something I rarely say these days, and for that reason alone, it merits a higher rating than I may have given it months ago. I guess it’s true… we filter so much of what we read through our baggage and our moods and our personalities. I tend to forget just how subjective reading is until I pick up a book like this one, which reminds me.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
2.0
‘Don’t look back, just keep moving forward.’
A few years before the novel opens, Matthew Prior quit his day job as a financial reporter in order to set up a web site offering financial advice in verse. Alas, poetfolio.com was not a success and returning to the newspaper business wasn’t an option either. The economy has tanked, and here’s middle-aged Matt with no job, no real job prospects and about to lose the family home.
Yes, the American dream has turned into a nightmare for Matt, and he doesn’t just have financial problems. He shares his home with his senile father, his wife Lisa who has a failed entrepreneurial venture of her own, and might be having an affair, and their two sons.
This novel is the story of Matt’s quest to save his marriage, his dreams and possibly his sanity. A trip to the local 7-eleven to buy milk gives Matt a brainstorm which rapidly turns into a headache. Fiscal panic can lead to some poor life choices.
On one level, as a satire of middle-class aspirational living, this novel is funny. On another level, it was irritating: I found that I didn’t care for Matt Prior for most of the novel and found it hard to accept that he could compound poor decision-making with even worse decision-making. However, I think that the story works because so many of us can relate to at least part of the world Matt Prior inhabits.
‘The edge is so close to where we live.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
A few years before the novel opens, Matthew Prior quit his day job as a financial reporter in order to set up a web site offering financial advice in verse. Alas, poetfolio.com was not a success and returning to the newspaper business wasn’t an option either. The economy has tanked, and here’s middle-aged Matt with no job, no real job prospects and about to lose the family home.
Yes, the American dream has turned into a nightmare for Matt, and he doesn’t just have financial problems. He shares his home with his senile father, his wife Lisa who has a failed entrepreneurial venture of her own, and might be having an affair, and their two sons.
This novel is the story of Matt’s quest to save his marriage, his dreams and possibly his sanity. A trip to the local 7-eleven to buy milk gives Matt a brainstorm which rapidly turns into a headache. Fiscal panic can lead to some poor life choices.
On one level, as a satire of middle-class aspirational living, this novel is funny. On another level, it was irritating: I found that I didn’t care for Matt Prior for most of the novel and found it hard to accept that he could compound poor decision-making with even worse decision-making. However, I think that the story works because so many of us can relate to at least part of the world Matt Prior inhabits.
‘The edge is so close to where we live.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith