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Some Books Aren't for Reading
Mitchell Fourchette is on a mission to retrieve his priceless, first-edition copy of The Old Man and the Sea, inscribed on the flyleaf by Papa Hemingway himself. He unearthed it at the bottom of a bin of castoffs at a thrift store in Anaheim, and then Helmet-Head, Mitchell's moped-driving book-scout competitor and nemesis, filched it. How, after an auspicious start at Hotchkiss and Yale, then a great job in advertising and a loving young family did Mitchell manage to lose it all and fall so far from grace? That is something that he can't help but contemplate while crusading through the dark recesses of Los Angeles as he struggles to retrieve his treasured book from a dishevelled, moped-driving Moriarty. 'Storytelling like T.C. Boyle, characters worthy of Robert Stone. Howard Marc Chesley creates compelling drama from everyday events, turning the life of an internet bookseller into a thriller. I couldn't stop reading.' David Webb Peoples, Writer of Blade Runner and Unforgiven
272 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2019
About the author
Howard Marc Chesley
2 books2 followersHoward Marc Chesley is an author and a graduate of the Johns Hopkins writing seminars. He has worked as a writer of film and television and his first novel, “Some Books Aren’t for Reading,” was nominated for a 2019 Booker prize.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 14, 2019
Is a disappointing ending a deal-breaker?
I have been pondering this point since finishing Howard Marc Chesley’s debut novel, Some Books Aren’t For Reading. The story – about a man’s all too believable fall from grace - is a good one and, in my view, the writing is very good too. But in this particular case, I found that the resolution cast a retrospective pall over the entire book.
As it opens, Mitchell Fourchette is desperately searching through bins of second-hand books in the hope that he will find something of value to make his purchase of the lot worthwhile. Clearly, our narrator has anger management issues and as the story unfolds, it's not long before we discover what has led to his dissatisfaction with life. Once a successful adman with a loving wife and a much-loved young son of six, Mitchell would seem to be living the dream.
Nevertheless, the author handles the intertwining of his two time-frames adroitly. It is only when Mitchell’s life goes even more catastrophically wrong that the whole thing went over the top for me. That combined with the development of a book-dealing competitor’s bewildering change of character were sufficient to turn the tide for me on this one. Rather a shame after a more than promising first half.
Favourite quote: “Q. How do you know when a man has gone to Yale? A. He’ll tell you.”
My thanks to Roundfire Books for the review copy courtesy of NetGalley.
I have been pondering this point since finishing Howard Marc Chesley’s debut novel, Some Books Aren’t For Reading. The story – about a man’s all too believable fall from grace - is a good one and, in my view, the writing is very good too. But in this particular case, I found that the resolution cast a retrospective pall over the entire book.
As it opens, Mitchell Fourchette is desperately searching through bins of second-hand books in the hope that he will find something of value to make his purchase of the lot worthwhile. Clearly, our narrator has anger management issues and as the story unfolds, it's not long before we discover what has led to his dissatisfaction with life. Once a successful adman with a loving wife and a much-loved young son of six, Mitchell would seem to be living the dream.
Nevertheless, the author handles the intertwining of his two time-frames adroitly. It is only when Mitchell’s life goes even more catastrophically wrong that the whole thing went over the top for me. That combined with the development of a book-dealing competitor’s bewildering change of character were sufficient to turn the tide for me on this one. Rather a shame after a more than promising first half.
Favourite quote: “Q. How do you know when a man has gone to Yale? A. He’ll tell you.”
My thanks to Roundfire Books for the review copy courtesy of NetGalley.
January 23, 2019
Some Books Aren't For Reading is a tale of loss and possibly redemption. If you have read The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway, you will see the parallels and references. I personally disliked that book a lot, so it didn't help me to like this one better. It's actually just sad. The guy has it all, and now, he's lost it all. Maybe a little like the don't know what you've got till it's gone adage. The writing is good, but the story line felt messy at times. I thought the main character was not as likeable as he should have been. His foe nemesis etc. is the more likeable character. I was hoping for more redemption because I felt disheartened by the end. I recommend if you like The Old Man and the Sea. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 7, 2019
A mediocre offering. The writing is uneven, at times gratuitous and overreaching, and at others smooth and engaging. The premise and framework are reminiscent of T.C. Boyle or Anna Quindlen, an exploration of contemporary life and relationships in everyday America. There are certain parts that come together with poignant reality and emotional impact, but from the synopsis, I just wanted more.
April 11, 2019
I really liked this book. It IS for reading, and it is both deep and fun to read.
Soon after the story opens, the main character, Mitchell, begins his search for the used copy of "The Old Man and the Sea" that another book seller stole from him. But as Mitchell tells his own story we learn more about him and the possibility that he is looking for more than just his lost book.
We learn that Mitchell is a loving husband and crazy-about-his-son father. He is a Yale graduate and former advertising executive who turned to selling used books for a living when his life unraveled. (It is fun to learn about the used-book business.)
I found myself caring a lot about Mitchell and wanting the best for him. I kept reading to find out how he ended up in his predicament, where in Los Angeles his search would take him next, and whether he would find not only his precious book but also the self respect he seemed to have lost. His search takes him on many side paths, and the book explores many subjects, and that is part of what makes it interesting. I recommend it.
Soon after the story opens, the main character, Mitchell, begins his search for the used copy of "The Old Man and the Sea" that another book seller stole from him. But as Mitchell tells his own story we learn more about him and the possibility that he is looking for more than just his lost book.
We learn that Mitchell is a loving husband and crazy-about-his-son father. He is a Yale graduate and former advertising executive who turned to selling used books for a living when his life unraveled. (It is fun to learn about the used-book business.)
I found myself caring a lot about Mitchell and wanting the best for him. I kept reading to find out how he ended up in his predicament, where in Los Angeles his search would take him next, and whether he would find not only his precious book but also the self respect he seemed to have lost. His search takes him on many side paths, and the book explores many subjects, and that is part of what makes it interesting. I recommend it.
April 5, 2019
Howard Chesley's extraordinary novel plunges us into the precarious underworld of book-hunters in a digital age, an exciting and profound work that offers insight into our troubled times. Mitchell, the central character, is a tough, endearing and compelling anti-hero who takes us with him on his own dangerous journey. The character known as Helmet Head provides a perfect foil and adversary for Mitchell, in a conflict that is as much a duel of souls as it is a duel of wits. Chesley's novel works on many levels, not least of which is as an entertaining page-turner with a story you won't soon forget.
Read
March 26, 2019A story of the redemptive search for a precious novel, it replaces the character's search for redemption in his life. I must say that it wasn't quite the thrilling affair that I'd hoped but turned into a fairly disappointing execution of a promising premise.
March 27, 2019
All hail the return of the Feckless Hero...i confess that this is probably my favourite type of protagonist. Not for me the tall, dark, and suave; nor the billionaire; not even the wild adventurer. Give me Mr. Admittedly Imperfect , well-meaning but frequently failing, striving for stability and good intentions in the midst of a chaotic, random, universe. Also, I have a fondness for booksellers. (Smile) Here we have both, in an endearing, likable, but never perfect protagonist.
January 21, 2019
Some Books Are Not Dor Reafing is the American male’s contemporary literary odyssey. It was great reading something about average contemporary guys enjoying literacy. I couldn’t stop reading this gem of a book and I hope it gets a wider range of readers!
February 25, 2019
‘If he has a story of degradation and entropy, then anyone can have a story of degradation and entropy. Even I could.’
This is the story of Mitchell Fourchette (known as ‘Ralph’ because of his penchant for Ralph Lauren shirts), a former advertising executive who is now separated from his wife and child and earning a living as a book scout, selling used books online. The novel switches between Mitchell’s current life - in a story involving a copy of Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea which has been lost or stolen from his car – and flashbacks to his marriage to True and their son Caleb. It is partly a story of loss and redemption, and the hunt for the lost book becomes a symbol of Mitchell’s search for understanding and meaning. His search for his fellow book scout named Hector ends in an encounter where Mitchell learns about Hector’s previous life as a soldier, and this is clearly an important moment in his self-awareness. There are parts of the book that to give away details would be a massive spoiler, but the structure of the book is quite well done as both ‘conclusions’ – the marriage and the book hunt -come together in the final events which gives a decent emotional punch to the ending.
There are some issues, however, that I have with the book which means it only comes in as an average 3 stars, unfortunately. One of the main stumbling blocks for me was the obsessive detail of Mitchell’s foray into the stock market. Now, for some, this might be interesting, but there are pages and pages of the stuff and I’ll be honest, I ended up skipping most of them. I got the gist: he dabbled in the stock market with his wife’s inheritance and blew it all. Enough said. Kind of hand-in-hand with this is the fact that Mitchell is, well, just not very interesting or appealing as a central character. He has anger issues, and as the past story is revealed it’s fairly obvious that he’s not the greatest husband or father. While this is not, in itself, damning to the book, it didn’t help me connect in any meaningful way with what happens. And when the dramatic conclusion to the book comes about, again Mitchell isn’t at his best!
So… this was an OK read, but not a great one. And again, my gripe with so many books I read nowadays: why this urge to employ the narrative device of tying up all the loose ends in a summarising last couple of pages (‘that was two years ago’ and ‘now I’m this and she’s that’). It feels like the author is trying too hard to end the story with a moral, which indeed is duly delivered on the last page. Hmmm. I would read more by the author to see how he develops, but this is a middle of the road one for me.
(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of the book.)
This is the story of Mitchell Fourchette (known as ‘Ralph’ because of his penchant for Ralph Lauren shirts), a former advertising executive who is now separated from his wife and child and earning a living as a book scout, selling used books online. The novel switches between Mitchell’s current life - in a story involving a copy of Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea which has been lost or stolen from his car – and flashbacks to his marriage to True and their son Caleb. It is partly a story of loss and redemption, and the hunt for the lost book becomes a symbol of Mitchell’s search for understanding and meaning. His search for his fellow book scout named Hector ends in an encounter where Mitchell learns about Hector’s previous life as a soldier, and this is clearly an important moment in his self-awareness. There are parts of the book that to give away details would be a massive spoiler, but the structure of the book is quite well done as both ‘conclusions’ – the marriage and the book hunt -come together in the final events which gives a decent emotional punch to the ending.
There are some issues, however, that I have with the book which means it only comes in as an average 3 stars, unfortunately. One of the main stumbling blocks for me was the obsessive detail of Mitchell’s foray into the stock market. Now, for some, this might be interesting, but there are pages and pages of the stuff and I’ll be honest, I ended up skipping most of them. I got the gist: he dabbled in the stock market with his wife’s inheritance and blew it all. Enough said. Kind of hand-in-hand with this is the fact that Mitchell is, well, just not very interesting or appealing as a central character. He has anger issues, and as the past story is revealed it’s fairly obvious that he’s not the greatest husband or father. While this is not, in itself, damning to the book, it didn’t help me connect in any meaningful way with what happens. And when the dramatic conclusion to the book comes about, again Mitchell isn’t at his best!
So… this was an OK read, but not a great one. And again, my gripe with so many books I read nowadays: why this urge to employ the narrative device of tying up all the loose ends in a summarising last couple of pages (‘that was two years ago’ and ‘now I’m this and she’s that’). It feels like the author is trying too hard to end the story with a moral, which indeed is duly delivered on the last page. Hmmm. I would read more by the author to see how he develops, but this is a middle of the road one for me.
(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of the book.)
November 4, 2023
I read this author's other novel "Free Marcus Katz" strangely written as a series of Yelp reviews.
I like his way of writing using lot of contemporary information that I knew or I was getting aware of.
I noticed his first novel was "Some books aren't for reading". I started with an expectation of more descriptions for reading and ways of reading.
The main character was a seconds book seller on Amazon.
I personally don't like these sellers jumping in a group of 2 to 4 guys picking up ALL the books scanning with an electronic device in many of the local book sales I visited leaving nothing for the local crowd who leisurely join the sale.
I liked the Helmet Head character, though I couldn't make out why he would steal a book.
He starts with a nice Yale education, nice job, nice wife, nice son but end up with nothing except for his job. A peep into someone's life. You may pick up some ideas not to pursue things on greed.
Not much on books except for a few mentions here and there.
I like his way of writing using lot of contemporary information that I knew or I was getting aware of.
I noticed his first novel was "Some books aren't for reading". I started with an expectation of more descriptions for reading and ways of reading.
The main character was a seconds book seller on Amazon.
I personally don't like these sellers jumping in a group of 2 to 4 guys picking up ALL the books scanning with an electronic device in many of the local book sales I visited leaving nothing for the local crowd who leisurely join the sale.
I liked the Helmet Head character, though I couldn't make out why he would steal a book.
He starts with a nice Yale education, nice job, nice wife, nice son but end up with nothing except for his job. A peep into someone's life. You may pick up some ideas not to pursue things on greed.
Not much on books except for a few mentions here and there.
January 11, 2019
The is primarily a book about loss. It's one of those classic he-had-it-all-and-then-he-lost-it stories, due partially to his own character flaws and partially to some bad luck. The tale keeps returning to The Old Man and the Sea, which is also, of course, a tale of loss along the same lines, so I imagine there is some sort of tribute or even adaptation happening in the story. It's a little too clumsy to really pull it off, though, and I felt that the ending was a bit of a reach, awkward and unlinked to the rest of the narrative even as it is heartbreaking. Martin points out that the old man in the Hemmingway story resolves to go out fishing again at the end, and Martin similarly doesn't change much but gets reset. I guess what I'm saying is that I didn't love this story, but then I didn't love the Old Man and the Sea, either, so maybe someone who did would like this one more. One thing this one has that's new is long descriptions of Wall Street dealings, which also aren't my favorite thing. I liked the description of the used book dealing, but I came for the books, and certainly there isn't enough here to justify that. I would think that a much better publisher's blurb would be centered around the fisherman who makes the big catch and can't keep it. There's plenty to talk about here -- changing what we value, keeping what we cherish, what we blame on fate and what is our own fault. It's thought-provoking, but not a great story.
I got a copy to review from Net Galley.
I got a copy to review from Net Galley.
April 1, 2019
Suspect readers who love Hemingway and like their protagonists to be extremely flawed will perhaps get a lot more out of this novel than I did. That's not to say Some Books Aren't for Reading is a bad read - far from it. There were certainly a few moments throughout this riches-to-rags novel where Chesley shows off a certain talent for prose, and I did find a few of the side characters entertaining enough to continue the story.
Overall, though I did find the journey more satisfying than the conclusion.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Overall, though I did find the journey more satisfying than the conclusion.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
June 17, 2019
I thank NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for a fair and honest review.
While I appreciated the time the author put into writings this book, I just did not fine it at all enjoyable.
Twenty some percent into the read the story is still about his characters’deteriorating marriage. It begins with Mitchell, the protagonist, at a used book sale and the resulting childish argument he got into with another man and the resulting physical bashing he received.
Not at all what I expected frrom the title.
Did Not Finish
March 15, 2026DNF@10%
Kindle/NetGalley ARC
What a dreadful book. I could barely make it to the 10% mark. The main character is foul-mouthed, pathetic and totally unlikable. I spent that 10% rolling my eyes and being disgusted. Clearly the title of this book also applies to this book - some books really aren't for reading.
Kindle/NetGalley ARC
What a dreadful book. I could barely make it to the 10% mark. The main character is foul-mouthed, pathetic and totally unlikable. I spent that 10% rolling my eyes and being disgusted. Clearly the title of this book also applies to this book - some books really aren't for reading.
Read
January 17, 2020This was quite good, very well written, but not at all what I thought it would be. Although there is a bookseller looking for a lost Hemingway book, it is actually about a young man dealing with life and loss just after the turn of the 21st century.
October 6, 2019
Not what I expected and certainly not as described. Reader beware.
October 17, 2019
Not my cup of tea. However, I would be willing to recommend and would read future selections by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley, John Hunt Publishing Ltd and Howard Marc Chesley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, John Hunt Publishing Ltd and Howard Marc Chesley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2019
SOME BOOKS AREN'T FOR READING demonstrates how quickly a life can spin out of control. The books anti-hero is not blameless, but his downward spiral is quick and merciless.
I was drawn to the book because of the protagonist's line of work---"picking" and re-selling used books. I was intrigued about the business and the process and hoped that this novel would lead me through the quirks and intricacies of the booksellers and the business. It did--to a degree, but this was really a story of weakness and poor judgment and the unravelling of a marriage due to deception. The protagonist did not emerge as a very sympathetic character, nor did he really demonstrate much growth or redemption as the novel progressed. At best, we can say that he succeeded in sorting out his life, but it seemingly not through enlightenment or personal development.
Chesley introduced a few quirky characters as friends and competitors of the principal character and his nemesis emerged as the most interesting person in the book. For me, the novel would have had more depth and interest if the "sparring partners" engaged earlier in the novel and if their interaction was deeper and more protracted. I loved the dialogue between them--both what was said and what was implied and found it to be the most interesting aspect of the book.
I was also disappointed in the resolution of the story. There was change, but more due to chance than to "work" on the part of our featured character. Perhaps this is the way life is--we muddle along, make mistakes, and find our way through them without any particular virtue on our part. The idealist in me looks for change and redemption.
NETGALLEY provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a candid review.
I was drawn to the book because of the protagonist's line of work---"picking" and re-selling used books. I was intrigued about the business and the process and hoped that this novel would lead me through the quirks and intricacies of the booksellers and the business. It did--to a degree, but this was really a story of weakness and poor judgment and the unravelling of a marriage due to deception. The protagonist did not emerge as a very sympathetic character, nor did he really demonstrate much growth or redemption as the novel progressed. At best, we can say that he succeeded in sorting out his life, but it seemingly not through enlightenment or personal development.
Chesley introduced a few quirky characters as friends and competitors of the principal character and his nemesis emerged as the most interesting person in the book. For me, the novel would have had more depth and interest if the "sparring partners" engaged earlier in the novel and if their interaction was deeper and more protracted. I loved the dialogue between them--both what was said and what was implied and found it to be the most interesting aspect of the book.
I was also disappointed in the resolution of the story. There was change, but more due to chance than to "work" on the part of our featured character. Perhaps this is the way life is--we muddle along, make mistakes, and find our way through them without any particular virtue on our part. The idealist in me looks for change and redemption.
NETGALLEY provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a candid review.
March 11, 2019
Some Books Aren't For Reading was not a great read. Typical someone has it all and then loses it. The writing was alright, but the book was nothing that would make me run out and buy a copy for someone.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews