A review by colinlusk
A Horse Walks into a Bar by David Grossman

5.0

I'm glad I didn't notice this guy had written "Be My Knife" too. I read that years and years and years ago and it left me cold. This one was much better though. The whole book is an account of one long, rambling stand-up routine of a comedian who's having some sort of breakdown or crisis. It's narrated by an old acquaintance, who is sitting in the audience. As the routine settles into a single long story, the audience begins to complain and to leave and he has to soothe them with more conventional jokes. Finally we get to the reason for his unhappiness, the single event, years ago, that caused his guilt and self-loathing. It's a simple idea butI found it quite powerful and affecting.
I got off the train yesterday and had 12 pages left so I sat down and read it in the park because I had to finish it and digest it a little before I got home.