Less / Andrew Sean Greer - 3***

[Book Concierge]

Less – Andrew Sean Greer
3***

Novelist Arthur Less is almost fifty and can’t seem to get his writing mojo back. He is lost on life’s journey, feeling sad, lonely, and dejected. His latest work is not being accepted for publication, and now his recent ex-boyfriend is getting married! So, Arthur does the logical thing. He runs away from his troubles by accepting every invitation to speak at a variety of odd events. Doing so, he’ll be able to spend some time going around the world and avoiding Freddy’s wedding, and his birthday.

This won the Pulitzer for fiction and I’m not sure why. I never warmed to Arthur. I couldn’t relate to his depression and fear about turning fifty. And I thought the ending was just too pat. There were episodes in Arthur’s journey that tickled me: his attempt at teaching a seminar in Germany with his very poor rudimentary German, the camel ride in Morocco, and the dinners in Japan. Greer’s depictions of these settings and events were quite entertaining.

Such episodes kept me reading, but it’s not a prize-winner in my opinion.


LINK to my review

[Joy D]

Book Concierge wrote: "

Less
– Andrew Sean Greer
3***

Novelist Arthur Less is almost fifty and can’t seem to get his writing mojo back. He is lost on life’s journey, feeling sad, lonely, a..."

I liked this a bit more than you did, but I agree it is not really the type of book that usually wins a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. I will say that the sequel, Less Is Lost, is even better IMO - full of humor and a trip across country in a run-down RV in the company of a small dog (not his dog). Even those who didn't love the original book may enjoy the sequel more, at least I did.

[Theresa]

My copy if this just floated to the top of a TBR Tower - one of the physical print ones. Might try to squeeze it into March reading given it fits tag and there is a discussion happening here.