In the Rooms

by Tom Shone

London literary agent Patrick Miller comes to New York dreaming of joining the big league, only to find himself selling celebrity dog books. But when he spots legendary novelist Douglas Kelsey on the street and follows him into an AA meeting, a world of opportunity beckons. Who knew that sobriety offered such networking possibilities? Or that the women would be so attractive? Soon he’s a regular attendee at AA meetings, but there’s only one problem—he’s not an alcoholic.

Genres: Fiction, New York

352 pages, Hardcover

First published June 23, 2009

About the author

Tom Shone was born in Horsham, England, in 1967. From 1994 to 1999 he was the film critic of the London Sunday Times and has since written for a number of publications, including The New Yorker, The New York Times, the London Daily Telegraph, and Vogue. He lives in Brooklyn, New York."

Reviews

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Rooms is about a London literary agent (Patrick)who travels to NY with the intentions of being scooped up by the big league, only to find himself selling celebrity dog books. Shone is a razor sharp writer who writes with such flair and pace.

This book really takes off when Patrick spots a legendary novelist on the street and follows him into an AA meeting in effort to represent his long awaited new book. Who knew that sobriety offered such networking possibilities? Or that the women would be so attractive? Soon he’s a regular attendee at AA meetings, but there’s only one problem—he’s not an alcoholic.

I also read a review on amazon that said In the Rooms is not only a well written satire on literary life in New York City, but also a profound investigation of the AA paradox. The paradox is the AA insistence that you must surrender some part of your reasoning power although reason is what makes you want to stop drinking. How can brilliant creative people reconcile themselves to this? (D. Birkett).

Wonderful first book from NYT’s critic Tom Shone; I look forward to reading more of his work!

[Margee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading along with growing horror as literary agent Patrick Miller stalks his hero, a reclusive author entering an AA meeting, I realized this story couldn't possibly go well for Patrick. For me, however, it was delightful from beginning to end. There were many laugh-aloud moments and continual restrained guffaws from just about every page, as I welcomed characters from the sublime (Lola, an attractive recovering drinker) to the ridiculous (Felix, a several layer-clad AA attendee with street wisdom to burn) like old friends. This is one of the funniest and most moving crash-and-burn stories to come along. A hilarious description of Woodstock-bound Patrick leaving Manhattan by car one night should not be missed.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and unusual book! I don’t normally read novels like this one...slice of life books, I call them. But being an alcoholic in the rooms myself, I thought I’d give it a shot.
At first, I couldn’t tell where this story was going. Was it a madcap jape about the literary world, using AA merely as a backdrop? Why did the initial depictions of AA seem so derogatory?
I enjoyed the gradual unfolding of the themes and understood that we were going to understand a few characters only, rather than an overview of NY AA life.
I appreciated that Patrick’s initial impression of AA was exactly like my own: goofy, corny and endlessly contradictory! I, too, have maintained a deep irreverence throughout my 13 yrs sober. It’s only by connecting with someone on a personal level that the triteness and eye-roll-worthy platitudes of the general meetings end up making sense and becoming meaningful. And I think the author captured this beautifully.
I just finished this 15 minutes ago, but as I think about this book, the more I let it settle in my mind, the more I respect it. From a “recovery” point of view, this gives me insight into a variety of alcoholic very different from me. The struggle through the denial that Patrick underwent is a journey I often hear about but never experienced.
The ending which revealed that this book was Patrick’s 4th Step was brilliant.
One of the jacket blurbs mentioned Nick Hornby and I completely agree. Although better and deeper than Hornby but no less odd!

[sierra ♡ .ᐟ · Rating 3 out of 5]

solid 3 stars. love the imagery, fun characters, and the satire. i disliked patrick from the beginning but i think that's kinda the point. negative points for casual sexism. very obvious this book was written by a man. i also think the whole romance plot was unnecessary (and lola is written like a manic panic pixie dream girl!) however i think it was an interesting premise that certainly delivered. it could have been better, but also much worse.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

British literary agent Patrick Miller is having his doubts about moving to New York. After all, he moved for Caitlyn, and she’s already dumped him. And his job? Well, that’s not so secure right now. If only. . .

Patrick has the opportunity of a lifetime when he spots his literary hero, Douglas Kelsey, on the streets of the city. Kelsey, like many formerly successful writers, has become reclusive. Nobody’s heard from him in years. Now Patrick has found him, and he’s not letting him out of his sight.

Patrick cannot help but to wonder if Kelsey has another novel to publish. Additionally, he cannot resist the opportunity to meet his favorite author. So, he follows Kelsey into a building and discovers a secret about Kelsey: he is an alcoholic. And, yes, Patrick has followed him into an AA meeting.

Patrick continues to attend meetings, hoping to strike up a book deal with Kelsey. In the process, he meets a cast of alcoholic characters and learns a secret about himself.

This is a great novel about New York, the culture of AA, and the book biz. There is a lot of honesty and humor in this clever and engaging story.

Loved it!

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up a while ago and just couldn't get into it so back on the shelves it went. This time, I really enjoyed it! Must be the difference in my life is all I can say. In the Rooms is about a British literary agent, Patrick Miller, who follows a girl he meets in London over to New York. In New York, he's happily going about his life as a literary agent when he spots a famous and famously missing author walking into a building in the city. The author, Douglas Kelsey, has been hunted for years without success. Seizing the moment, Patrick follows him into the building only to find himself in an AA meeting with Kelsey. It may not sound funny but what ensues is, indeed, chuckle-provoking, if not outright laughter-provoking. In between the tale of Patrick pretending to be a recovering alcoholic are lovely descriptions of New York City. Patrick meets a girl who is a recovering alcoholic and slowly but surely comes to some surprising realizations of his own. This book would make a very cute movie and makes a charming read. Good for book clubs.

[Amanda Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

After my initial trepidation about this (seriously, who could live up to comparisons to Jay McInerney-meets-Nicky Hornby with blurbs by Gary Shteyngart and Helen Fielding?), I found this to be an interesting book about self-deception, acceptance, and booze. As some reviewers have noted, there is a big shift in tone and momentum over the course of the book. What started out as witty, incisive commentary on the world of fiction and British culture vs. American culture became a much more somber and looser narrative as it progressed. Still, it was overall a good read and I understand the recommendation to Hornby fans, even if it doesn't quite reach the Hornby level.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first novel (or film) I've read (seen) that accurately captures the world of 12-step recovery groups.

That it's a satirical work helps. The 12-step world suffers from an abundance of earnestness, if not zealotry, and deserves to be taken down a peg once in a while.

The gist of the story is this: expatriate Brit literary agent spies a famous, reclusive author going into an AA meeting. Brit follows, hoping to make commercial contact, and not realizing what he's getting into.

Then he starts pretending to be interested in the program, not the author.

Confusion results.

The ending's a little cheesy and the author is a little confused about Catskill geography, but that's okay.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite cute but I don't necessarily know if people who have no experience with 12 step programs would like it as much as I did. The story follows a literary agent, Patrick, who spies his favorite author on the street and follows him into an AA meeting. The people in the meeting "mistake" Patrick for a newcomer and somehow Patrick thinks it's a great idea to continue going to meetings so he can talk to his idol. Quite tragic hilarity ensues. The book is a bit of a time capsule as there are several pop culture references, including one to James Frey clearly before he was revealed as a fraud. But still very good.

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book to be unbearably sexist. I can usually tolerate it as I'm of the mentality that once I start a book I have to finish it, but I found myself really pushing to pick this one up to complete it.

I don't have the exact quote, as it was a library book, but he describes Lola, his cute little love interest "as outgoing as a girl half as attractive as her."

Honestly, the whole plot of "unhappy male protagonist has career and mental health issues falls in love with girl half his age" is tired. The lolita-chasing aspect is overused, and to be frank, Shone's writing is not redeeming enough to be forgiven (e.g. with Shteyngart's Super Sad True Love Story).

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A first novel by my friend Tom, former film critic of the Sunday Times (of London), about a Brit in New York, a literary agent who spots his hero, a reclusive author, on the streets, and follows him into what turns out to be an AA meeting. Our hero is not an alcoholic, but he does return to "the rooms" of AA several times, to try to sign the author. He also gets a massive crush on a sober alcoholic while there. Complications, as you can imagine, ensue. I thought this great: funny and smart, sharply observed,the romance gave me goosebumps, the whole thing tremendously entertaining.

[Magda]

I'm confused. In this Slate article from February 10, 2011, it says the book is "forthcoming," and the Amazon page says it will be out on April 12, 2011. Yet the goodreads page says it was published "June 23rd 2009," and someone even put it in the "2009" category.

[Deborah Bobo]

Patrick has come to America from England to be with girlfriend Caitlin and to get away from the publishing job that he was on the brink of loosing. He spots a famous, favorite author heading into an AA meeting and decides to attend in order to meet him and sign his next book. Patrick is not an alcholic, or is he?

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into this book. At first I didn't like the writing or the main character enough to think I wanted to keep reading, but I kept reading. Finally, about midway I sort of got into it. There were some amusing parts and the bits about twelve step programs were interesting and seemed accurate, but this just wasn't my type of book.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent book. Laugh out loud on the train kind of book. The protagonist is an extremely likeable idiot who does the wrong thing for the wrong reason but isn't mean just plain doesn't understand.

There is some discussion around the 12step approach to sobriety, there is Englishman lost in New York, there are potshots at the literary industry. All very amusing.

[Wilde Sky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A British literary agent, living in New York, sees a famous writer, who has become a reclusive, follows him and ends up in a series of madcap adventures.

I really enjoyed this book. There were many laugh-out-loud moments, as a series of crazy characters (many of whom were oddly believable) go through a succession of awkward / crazy scenes.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. The main character, a literary agent, "stalks" one of his favorite authors at AA meetings and finds himself facing his own demons. It has some laugh-out-loud funny moments. I might read this book again.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay story about a guy who tries to get sober because his life is a mess. Written in the style of a British character trying to act American, which is annoying. Thought it would be better, or at least realistically humorous.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story very much. It was a little slow in the beginning, but really drew me in the second half. Very likeable and sympathetic characters!

[Lynn Kearney · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. This was sold to me as a riotously funny book. There were amusing parts to be sure, but the alcoholic centre I found quite chilling.

[Darin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining and well written.

[Gretchen Achilles · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

[Mary sipp rigby · Rating 3 out of 5]

good funny

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at life from the POV inside the rooms of AA. Part thriller, part spiritual tome. Fast paced and never dull.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshingly different from the books I normally read.Enjoyed the highly flawed but still likable narrator and his friends,old and new.

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

bought it after reading a good review in the economist. it was ok, about some alcoholics

[Frannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Accurate perception of recovery. Fun story. Decently developed characters. And, insight into recovery. Maybe.

[Camille · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, not great but it has its heart in the right place. Gave me good insight into what goes on in those rooms and made me laugh out loud in many places.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writer thinks he's the genius writer he created in his book, AND the idiot protagonist. How utterly annoying.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

cleverly written story about alcoholism and recovery