by Matthew Klam
Reviewed by Linda:
This academic satire was just named one of the New York Times Book Review’s best 100 books of 2017. The novel is a funny and disturbing look at the life of a once-sort-of famous cartoonist (named Rich) during a week-long arts conference in a charming New England beach town. Rich wrestles with middle-age angst, including issues of art, sex, money, family, monogamy, career success, and friendship while hobnobbing with his fellow faculty members. The exhilarating fun of the story is countered by the seriousness of the topics Klam raises.