L'Art de la Fugue

by Stephen McCauley, Marie-Caroline Aubert

"Un regard caustique sur les antihéros désabusés, quelques étincelles de tendresse et un humour corrosif qui leur maintient constamment la tête hors de l'eau : le second roman de Stephen McCauley est un cocktail décapant et divertissant à consommer sans modération." (Alexis Lorca, Lire)
"Je parie que vous ne lâcherez pas L'Art de la fugue avant de l'avoir fini. Humour à tous les étages, regard léger léger sur la vie, les jours, l'amour. Et en bonus, le réjouissant spectacle de la névrose des autres." (C.L., A suivre)

Genres: Fiction, Humor, LGBT, Gay, Gay Fiction, Contemporary, Queer

477 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[ReadAlongWithSue ★⋆. ࿐࿔catching up · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled.
I thought the book was written well enough and I managed to get through it. I didn’t find it interesting enough to stay with it.
I kept picking up another book I’m reading in preference to this.

It might be for you, but it wasn’t for me I’m afraid. I just couldn’t connect.

[Robert Dunbar · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The only time love works,” maintains one of the characters in The Easy Way Out, “is when two people are deceiving themselves in exactly the same way.” Stephen McCauley’s novel is spiked with cynical confidences like that, mostly supplied by Patrick O’Neill, the narrator, who early on confesses that he’ll reveal his “most intimate secrets to any innocent bystander who’ll listen.” Patrick focuses this unnerving frankness on mapping the contours of several doomed relationships, particularly his own. It’s not that he doesn’t love his partner. “For all I know,” he’s the first to admit, “I do.” It’s just that diminished expectations appear to be the rule in Patrick’s world, and his friends don’t help, like the one who reflects that he’ll “fall in love with anyone who’ll stay in the room after I’ve taken my clothes off.”

Disastrous relationships are a favorite McCauley theme. Here, as in The Man of the House and Alternatives to Sex, beneath the epiphanies of humor and myriad plot complications lurks a familiar snag. Patrick’s family just won’t leave him alone. (“During adolescence,” he complains, “the only way I was able to read in peace was to lock myself in the bathroom and pretend to be masturbating.”) Twined in a bitterly resentful dependency, Patrick’s parents have imprinted all three of their sons with a horror of intimacy: the oldest haunts his parents’ house like a pitiful ghost, the youngest teeters nervously on the brink of marrying a girl to whom he clearly can’t commit. And Patrick? Obsessed with the notion of rescuing his brothers, he feels himself sliding into an intractable commitment with his lover. They’re buying a house together, and as the settlement date approaches, his dread mounts. Only by turning his world upside down and giving it a good shake – a process as harrowing as it is hilarious – does he reach any conclusions about what he truly desires. By the time The Easy Way Out reaches inevitable, yet often surprising, conclusions, all the characters have grown – some toward a kind of happiness, others away from it. But a feeling of hope hangs in the air.

“A storm was definitely moving in, a bank of dark clouds bringing with them violence and electricity and the promise of relief.”

[Ruddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just read this book and it took me back to the days of Armistead Maupin. The way Stephen writes is very personal and you almost immediately feel that you are very vividly experiencing something with substance. The Easy Way Out deals with the very personal issue of control, who has it, how do we use it, who is trying to control us, how can we control other people, but in the end its really about being true to yourself. This book made me see a lot of things about my own life, like what it could have become if I had been doing what people told me to do without questioning. Its a breath of fresh air to get affirmation from a book that is telling me that I should be doing exactly what I'm doing.

[Leo · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an okay read but I didn't enjoy it very much. Not really a book for me.

[Jonny Andrew · Rating 1 out of 5]

"The Easy Way Out" by Stephen McCauley is a tedious exploration of modern relationships marred by a protagonist who epitomizes self-centeredness. The central character is not just flawed but utterly self-absorbed, navigating life with a blatant disregard for the feelings and needs of those around him. McCauley's portrayal of this character lacks nuance, portraying him as little more than a caricature of narcissism.

Throughout the novel, the protagonist's interactions with others are driven solely by his own desires and whims, leaving a trail of emotional wreckage in his wake. He manipulates situations to suit his own agenda, showing little empathy or concern for the well-being of others. Even in supposed moments of introspection, his self-centered nature remains painfully evident, as he views the world through the narrow lens of his own self-interest.

McCauley's decision to center the narrative around such a morally bankrupt character only serves to underscore the novel's shortcomings. Instead of providing insight into the complexities of human relationships, "The Easy Way Out" becomes a tiresome exercise in watching a self-absorbed individual navigate through life with little regard for anyone else.

Readers looking for a meaningful exploration of relationships and personal growth would be wise to steer clear of this shallow and unfulfilling novel.

[Beth Finke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed author Stephen McCauley’s recent interview on NPR’s Fresh Air about his latest book so much that I downloaded a couple of his previous books right after I switched the radio off. He is particularly good with dialogue (especially fun to listen to Easy Way Out on audio) and I appreciated the author’s poignant (and oftentimes witty) look at the dilemma of doing what one wants rather than what one ought to. An Object of My Affection is the next McCauley book on my list, stay tuned.

[Grant Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows 3 romantic relationships which are lackluster. All 3 of them live loveless. They’re all at different points in their respective relationships, and can’t help but give advice they won’t take themselves. I expected this to be a shallow page turner, but it really struck a cord with me. It’s an almost universal theme of only staying in a relationship because it’s easy and comfortable. The writing here moves at a great pace, was filled with fantastic vocab words, and had a hearty, gut-wrenching moral.

4.5*
Would absolutely recommend this to someone as a not-so-subtle hint that they’re in a relationship for the wrong reasons.

[Kevin O'Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amusing read. Not a crazy story but the writing was enough to keep me wanting more

[Nick Milinazzo · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

[Barb · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I could get the time back I spent with this book, ugh...

[Roula Yasin · Rating 3 out of 5]

les faux semblants, les compromis, les choix. Le courage, la peur, les contradictions. Roman moderne avec des anti héros modernes. les tribulations de trois frères en prise avec eux mêmes et leurs contradictions. Tout l'intérêt de ce roman, outre qu'il est drôle en raison de la peinture de situations cocasses, réside en effet dans l'analyse de la difficulté qu'ont les êtres à prendre des décisions qui leur seraient pourtant salutaires, à repousser indéfiniment les bons choix et à subir leur vie alors qu'ils ont le bonheur à portée de main. Car nous connaissons tous autour de nous des personnes à l'image de ces trois frères qui, par peur du regard d'autrui, par peur de blesser ou tout simplement par paresse ou "facilité" si tant est que les choses soient faciles dans un sens ou dans l'autre, n'osent pas prendre leur vie en main et se laissent ainsi porter par les événements et vampiriser par leur travail, leur famille, leur compagnon ou leur compagne...

Et derrière le rire sans doute ce roman renvoie-t-il aussi à nos propres choix de vie : sommes nous vraiment heureux ? Avons nous fait les bons choix et sinon est-il encore temps de les faire ?Trois frères, trois dilemmes. L'aîné, séparé de sa femme, ne peut accepter l'idée de divorcer. Le benjamin, sur le point de se marier, hésite encore, tiraillé entre sa fiancée et sa maîtresse. Quant à Patrick, veut-il s'engager pour de bon en achetant une maison avec son partenaire attentionné mais un peu trop rangé ?
Sur les trois fils plane le spectre des parents, dont la vie quotidienne ressemble plus à une joute de gladiateurs qu'à un modèle de vie exemplaire.
À l'agence de voyages où travaille Patrick, sa collègue et meilleure amie Sharon, un tourbillon flamboyant d'inventivité, pimente sa vie avec ses conseils, sa mauvaise foi et ses barquettes de cuisine chinoise.
Roman tour à tour féroce et tendre, L'Art de la fugue explore avec humour, charme et lucidité les promesses et déceptions de l'amour, les complexités du couple, et la difficulté de prendre des décisions qui peuvent changer une vie.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I became addicted to this very funny story. Couldn't wait to read it when I got home from work each day. I really liked Stephen McCauley's characters. I will be reading his first book, "The Object of My Affection".

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis: Patrick O’Neal is a travel agent living in Cambridge, meandering his way through life, a passenger on a journey controlled by others. His partner Arthur wants to buy a house, while Patrick wants to put off that kind of commitment for as long as possible. His parents, unhappily married, own a mediocre business that Patrick wants nothing to do with. His older brother, Ryan, is miserable that his separated wife finally wants a divorce. His best friend and coworker, Sharon, goes through life with an aggressive “don’t care” attitude, scamming airlines any chance she gets rejecting all possible suitors for silly reasons. When Patrick’s younger brother Tony calls him for the first time in years to express doubts about his wedding, Patrick becomes invested in Tony’s life and begins to consider more thoroughly the choices that arise at each crossroad. Each O’Neal brother will eventually be forced to confront some of the things they have been denying- unless they take the easy way out.

Pros:
•the characters are unique, idiosyncratic,memorable, and funny, and the dynamics between the characters are equally as compelling. I particularly loves the dynamic between Ryan and Sharon and that between Arthur and Patrick’s different family members.
•The story feels honest: there isn’t a big dramatic 11 o’clock scene or a crazy ending
•Overall, it was a fun read

Cons:
•The flipside of the honesty of the novel is that it’s missing a satisfying “OHHH” moment where everything falls together. Not objectively bad, but something to note.
•I found the characters and themes of this story to be VERY similar to Object of My Affection. Like if you changed the names, I feel like this could have been its sequel. This made the story feel a little less original; I may have liked it better if I hadn’t read Object

Recommend: I recommend if you like books with idiosyncratic characters and slightly off-beat (but not wild) narration. This book does at times feel a little outdated but it’s easy to look past that thanks to the great writing and fun characters. I also recommend if you like books that are more honest and nuanced with character-driven plots. Avoid if you want uncomplicated-ly likable characters or easy, simple plots. Also probably avoid if you don’t like McCauley’s other stuff.

[Neet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading Stephen McCauley 's novels. They are filled with such dysfunctional, funny, and unusual characters, and this book is no different.The MC is named Patrick O'Neill, who is one of 3 brothers that are all going through some sort of emotional turmoil in their lives. The oldest is Ryan, who is separated from the love of his life and his young daughter and living in his parents basement. Ryan is working at his parents failing business, and lamenting about his weight, his failed marriage, and the failed business, he keeps wanting to do something but just complains and gains weight. The youngest son is Tony. Tony lives in Chicago and works as some sort of henchman that looks to get rid of dead weight personnel at various companies. Tony is engaged to be married and has fallen madly in love with an older woman. Tony tells this to Patrick in a late night phone call. Patrick is 31 and gay, he lives not too happily with Jeffery. Jeffrey is older and works as an immigration lawyer to the downtrodden. Jeffrey is a kind hearted guy who loves Patrick, but also a creature of habit. Jeffrey is ready to become more settled and ready to move into a house. Patrick who is cheating with an old friend from college days (who lives in NY the story takes place in Boston) is trying to find a way out the relationship. Patrick has a BFF is a woman named Sharon (who works at a travel agency with Patrick) who might be smart, but is also lonely. We meet Patrick's parents, and we see why the sons are such an emotional mess. Patrick is infuriating, cruel, and funny, just this book. I highly recommend it!

[Pamfrommd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a novel about a family, a close-knit and slightly oddball family. I thought it was both comic and sad, but ultimately very true about families. The main character was someone I could relate to thoroughly. He loves his family but is also at times irritated at their habits and their decisions. He's also not terribly comfortable in his own skin and has many self-doubts. The novel covers a fairly short period of time when each of the five family members is wrestling with life decisions and choices. The novel has no big broad themes, no sweeping observations about life, no high drama. But it still manages to give the reader a view into how one Boston family deals with normal life changes while staying close-knit. There were a couple of recurring themes that suited me perfectly: for example, the main character gets odd enjoyment out of reading about global warming and the coming disaster for mankind on this planet. I confess! That's me. It's sick, I know, but the author had me in mind when he wrote about this. I can laugh at myself through this character. Another example: the protagonist is a travel agent who doesn't like to travel himself and believes, hilariously I thought, that people who do like to travel are all just running away from their depressing lives. I too am a non-traveler and feel tremendous guilt about that fact of my life. I have many friends who love to travel, and I sincerely believe that traveling is possibly one of the most mentally enriching activities modern man can engage in. Hence my profound guilt. Every time I see -- often on the dreaded and evil Facebook -- that a friend has taken a trip to some exotic place I feel a stab in my heart. I'm happy for the friend, but feel attacked in a small way. So to read a character say, essentially, "those who travel are just unhappy people" is soothing to my neurotic soul. The author has a keen eye for dialog and has very funny observations on human behavior, especially his own. I'm sure his books aren't for everyone, but they suit me perfectly so I'll read more by him.

[Christa Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patrick one of three brothers, he is the gay one but the only one in a long term relationship. But he is wondering if he should continue the relationship. Arthur is a good guy but a bit boring. He wants them to buy a house together which might be too much commitment for Patrick. Brother Tony is engaged but also in the middle of a torrid love affair with a woman he clearly prefers over his fiance. Ryan has been separated from his wife for three years and living in his parent's basement. The parents, Rita and Jim are the perfect picture of dysfunctional marriage. They only know how to fight and don't seem to have ever liked each other much. They are not very helpful to their sons as far as figuring out relationships even though they are clearly devoted to them. This summary seems kind of bleak but the book itself is very funny. McCauley has a great perspective on family matters, nothing is taken too seriously. Also, love that Patrick is a travel agent...does that job even exist anymore? Great fun.

[Carolyn Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really did not think I was going to like this book when I first started reading it. It is a story about a family and their struggles with love and relationships and each other. I disliked the main character at first. His parents reminded me of Mr & Mrs Costanza on the Seinfeld series. None of the family members are satisfied with their lives. All of the characters (family & friends) became sympathetic and some quite interesting and likable. I found myself drawn in, hoping they would all make smart decisions about their futures. I got to the point where I didn't want to put it down. I really enjoyed it.

[Mira · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Cynical and somewhat outdated (understandably, since it was written in the 90s!), but nonetheless the biting humour and self-absorbed but still somewhat loveable characters keep the soap-opera plot chugging along nicely. I can't say I was exactly drawn to the protagonist, but all characters and their predicaments were sufficiently amusing to keep me entertained and invested until the end, and there were even moments of poignancy and catharsis.

There are few things quite as banal, but also quite as devastating, as a boring, unfulfilled relationship(s)-the ending is therefore both a frustration and a relief.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant and hilarious McCauley novel. As usual, there is much fun to be had with this crew of zany and often conflicted characters.

McCauley's descriptions are a blast. "He had a long, craggy face and one of those unkempt, stained beards so popular among fifty-year-old Harvard professors with marital problems."

"He had the fixed frozen expression of a man in a state of shock. He could just as easily have been a passenger on a transatlantic flight who realizes, halfway to Paris, that he's left the oven on, or the backdoor unlocked, forgotten to feed the goldfish or pick up the baby at the daycare center."

Such fun to read, again and again.

[Jill Diamond · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had read My Ex-Life by this author and thought it was pretty good so I chose to read another. This book was okay but I liked it less than the other. The family was portrayed well, very believable. The best friend Sharon was also a good character. I like a book where the everyday details are described and McCauley does that well. I think I just didn't love it because the main character was not likeable. He works as a travel agent and it gave me some anxiety when he was too lazy/apathetic to book the travel for the Harvard professor and kept putting it off. It's a bit of a deeper issue than that, but I still kept yelling at him to get off his lazy ass and do his job.

[Matthew P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I selected this book because I really liked My Ex-Life by the same author. In My Ex-Life. I was charmed by all of the main characters. I was not impressed by this book because I thought all the characters were absolutely atrocious people. The only one I thought had any redeeming value was Arthur who was constantly being vilified in this book. I thought Arthur was the only good guy in this cast of losers. Must be me. I love to go back and reread. At some point I will reread My Ex-Life but this book I am done with.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanted to like this more than I did, because the writing was technically superb. However, the main character was so hugely detestable and the plot plodded along without making any real gains. It's a remarkable feeling to have reached the conclusion - and the closure (real or a semblance of) it provides for the cast of characters - and feel like I'm still halfway through the book, waiting desperately for a reason to be hooked.

[Julie Way · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read by McCauley and both times I've just felt very connected to his characters. The story is interesting enough (although I wasn't totally satisfied at the ending) but it's really the characters that keep me coming back. It makes me wonder if I get the characters or the author just gets me!

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming story about three brothers all drawn to stay in bad relationships rather than risk trying for something more. Stephen McCaulley’s characters are quirky and funny, with deep understanding of the of family dynamics. Funny and entertaining read.

[Rebekah Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely a character study, rather than a plot or action based novel. I love this kind of stuff but if you're more of an action type, you may find this dull. I personally found it hilarious, though it certainly has its sadder moments too. Already ordered another book by this author.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

His work is so much fun. When house ownership is upcoming for Patrick and his partner, he seems determined to destroy that as many things are falling apart: Patrick's brother's engagement. A fun read despite heavy topics.

[Megan Nigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really charming novel about romantic and familial relationships. Narrator is likeable even when he's disagreeable and selfish.

[Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Acerbic, witty. Not uplifting but amusing nonetheless.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun time warp.

[Susan Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good, really funny novel.