The Astounding Misadventures of Rory Collins

by Brian Kiley

Rory Collins accidentally misses his mother’s funeral and then learns she committed suicide and he’s to blame. This is shortly after he impregnated two virgins he felt sorry for. It was a rough sophomore year of college by any standards. “For more than twenty years, Brian Kiley has delighted me with his inventive and prolific wit, so it is no surprise that he has written such a terrific novel. “The Astounding Misadventures of Rory Collins” is boldly comedic, poignant, dark, unpredictable, and just plain fun. Congratulations, Brian, I am bitterly jealous.” -Conan O'Brien "Brian Kiley’s unique genius as a standup comedian rests on his ability to project innocence and sweet-natured guilelessness even as his imagination leads you to some dark and strange places. The same and then some can be said for the title character of Kiley’s terrific first novel, The Astounding Misadventures of Rory Collins. Haunted by the specter of the world’s worst mom, Rory enters manhood as the sort of timid, passive shlump whom predators can spot a mile off. Yet as you follow him from one picaresque episode to another—ill-advised sex, barroom brawls, and abusive bosses—you can’t help but pull for the guy. At heart he’s just a kind, decent person trying to make sense of a bizarro world. Not surprisingly, the book has its share of great lines and laugh-out-loud moments. But there’s more going on. From the deceptively powerful opening scene to the devastating final line, Astounding Misadventures marks the emergence of a new literary voice. The gentle intelligence of Kiley’s prose reminds me of the great comedian-turned-author, Steve Martin, with the possible difference that while Martin’s characters seek peace and quiet above the fray, Kiley’s plunge headfirst into the tragicomic messiness of life." -Charles Slack, author of “Hetty”, “The Noble Obsession” and “Blue Fairways” "If you like dark, dry humor--and I do--you will love this story of a young man from such a dysfunctional family that his only dream is to be normal. Instead, what he learns is that no one is really "normal," and that the most important goal is to love and be loved. Raised by a psychotic mother and a passive father, Rory is also painfully passive, until a moment of rebellion in a supermarket changes the course of his life and sets him on the path to fulfillment and happiness. Laughs abound, and the ending is surprisingly touching." -Judith Arnold "Read this. I loved it. The author's writing is so precise. I fell in love with Rory from the beginning and my heart broke a little in each of his misadventures. But don't worry, the book is hilarious. Each chapter is like a little joke -- and it all leads to a satisfying and heartwarming conclusion." -Karen Bergreen, author of “Pretty Polly”

212 pages, Paperback

Published March 31, 2018

Reviews

[Brett Bayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The funniest novel I’ve ever read is “Blue Heaven” by the Emmy-winning writer Joe Keenan. It’s riotously funny—made me laugh very hard. In second place would be “A Confederacy of Dunces.” I would name “Rory Collins” the third-funniest novel I’ve ever read. (That's a huge compliment, as I’ve read two of Paul Rudnick’s books, as well as “Twilight.”). But “Rory” is so much more than simply hilarious. It was at times moving, profound and meaningful as well. Kiley's writing style reminds me a bit of Salinger, particularly “Catcher in the Rye,” which I read as a teenager—Holden Caulfield is definitely Rory’s spiritual cousin. There are numerous passages about how the life of a historical figure named Philbin compares to Rory’s own experiences, which is a very nice touch. I also enjoyed the mysteries of whom Rory would choose to marry and what secrets lay hidden in his mother’s diaries. I admired the overall construction of the book and its relentless cleverness very much. Kiley's sense of humor and stage personality permeate every paragraph of the novel. I laughed a lot.
What prevents me from awarding this book five full stars is that the book has been shoddily proofread (if at all). It is so loaded with typographical errors and stylistic mistakes that it started to seriously interfere with my enjoyment of the book, which is a genuine pity. Kiley also has a habit of stacking numerous lines of dialogue in one paragraph, which is bound to puzzle readers. If the book ever gets a thorough proofing, I'll be happy to re-rate it five stars.

[Donna Cavanagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story that is filled with such emotion and dark humor. It is truly a page turner. Emmy award winner Brian Kiley might be a master of stand up and TV writing (Conan O'Brien) but he is also a master and weaving a tale.