Fiction. BEST BEHAVIOR, the new novel by Noah Cicero, is his boldest work yet. As the subject matter becomes increasingly autobiographical, the landscape more bleak, its impact is blunt, brutal, but somehow still hilarious. This is the literature of pain: of living in a world where nothing is right—a temple to capitalism with no room for any kind of human spirit—and, despite everything, trying to find some way to deal with it; then eventually failing. BEST BEHAVIOR might be the truest story ever told. BEST BEHAVIOR is slice-of-life, and that's as it should be. Where the classics have beginnings, middles, and ends that are relevant to the mainstream consciousness of the times, BEST BEHAVIOR is a couple of days in the life, making it a more honest and useful cultural artifact—Rebecca Haze.
Best Behavior
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Noah Cicero is the author of The Human War (Fugue State Press, 2003), The Condemned (Six Gallery Press, 2006), Burning Babies (Parlor Press, 2006), Treatise (A-Head Publishing, 2008), and The Insurgent (Blatt, 2010). Since its release, The Human War has become a favorite of the literary underground and is being adapted to film. BEST BEHAVIOR is his sixth novel.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
BIO: Noah Cicero is 32-years-old and has lived in Seongnam, Korea for the past year teaching English. He has several books coming out over the course of the next two years from Lazy Fascist Press, The Collected Works Volume 1 and 2 and a new novel called "Go to work and do your job. Care for your children. Pay your bills. Obey The Law. Buy products." He has many short stories and poems published at 3AM Magazine, Metazen, Amphibi.us and many other places.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
this is a very good book that is sad and funny and terrifying in the way that one can be terrified by the overwhelming absurdity of life. the youngstown scenes are bleak and heart-wrenching as only the decaying rust belt can be. when the main character travels to new york, cicero makes the two places seem like they're populated by two different species and he is there serving as an emissary. or maybe new york is some weird dream sequence, and youngstown is reality. as always, the best parts are the quick-paced quirky dialogue exchanges between the characters.
this is one of my favorite noah cicero books. my other favorite is burning babies. noah cicero writes awesome books with aliterated B titles. if noah cicero ever writes a book called "brazen brash brawny bisons bickering badly" it would be so awesome, the planet would crack in half.
this is one of my favorite noah cicero books. my other favorite is burning babies. noah cicero writes awesome books with aliterated B titles. if noah cicero ever writes a book called "brazen brash brawny bisons bickering badly" it would be so awesome, the planet would crack in half.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Tony O.
Format:Paperback
I read this book very quickly. I couldn't put it down.
In Best Behavior, a young man from a poor city visits NYC to do some things. He goes to parties, drinks, eats fried chicken, has sex, and feels alienated.
I like the way Noah Cicero writes. I recommend reading Best Behavior, as well as his first book, The Human War.
In Best Behavior, a young man from a poor city visits NYC to do some things. He goes to parties, drinks, eats fried chicken, has sex, and feels alienated.
I like the way Noah Cicero writes. I recommend reading Best Behavior, as well as his first book, The Human War.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
i've liked everything i've read by noah cicero, including best behavior. funny/emotional/honest, i recommend this book to anyone who knows what it's like to be alive
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Best Behavior is a funny and intelligent novel about being a young American, struggling.
I loved reading the book and felt moved and alert at the end. I nearly cried a lot of times, which is unusual for me. I found the warmth and tenderness that the main character feels toward nearly all of the other characters very endearing. I found his tolerance and empathy to be exemplary.
All that I really want to say in this review is that the novel is worth your money, and is worth your time. It is better, I think, than most other books that most people will read this year, depending on taste and number of books read.
Noah Cicero seems to understand human beings.
I loved reading the book and felt moved and alert at the end. I nearly cried a lot of times, which is unusual for me. I found the warmth and tenderness that the main character feels toward nearly all of the other characters very endearing. I found his tolerance and empathy to be exemplary.
All that I really want to say in this review is that the novel is worth your money, and is worth your time. It is better, I think, than most other books that most people will read this year, depending on taste and number of books read.
Noah Cicero seems to understand human beings.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By J. Peterson
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was entertaining and had thoughtful sections. It was easy to relate to and I feel it captures very well how people these days are. I really liked the discussion between characters. I read this book in spurts and it was nice to wind down at the end of the day reading this.
It's a good book you should buy it and read it.
It's a good book you should buy it and read it.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Cicero is taking it to a new level with Best Behavior. If you love Cicero, then you'll love this book. This book is ALIVE.
Format:Paperback
Best Behavior is an interesting, intelligent, and frequently hilarious novel written from the perspective of a writer from Ohio. The main character visits New York City, hangs out with other writers, has sex, does things in Ohio, and more. Cicero's commentary on art/the culture that surrounds art seems unique - even brave at times - and speaks to a certain part of me, I think, that exists in the context of social "scenes" or groups of people or thinking about/being aware of those things while alone and perceiving myself in the context of them or something. Maybe alienaton, or being from/living in Ohio. Not sure what I'm trying to say.
I like the characters/dialogue a lot. The way Cicero writes seems funny to me, especially the way he describes people. I've read this book ~3 times and plan on reading it more in the future.
Recommended for fans of William Burroughs, Charles Bukowski, Jack Kerouac, and/or Bret Easton Ellis.
I like the characters/dialogue a lot. The way Cicero writes seems funny to me, especially the way he describes people. I've read this book ~3 times and plan on reading it more in the future.
Recommended for fans of William Burroughs, Charles Bukowski, Jack Kerouac, and/or Bret Easton Ellis.
By Bridget
Format:Paperback
Noah Cicero knows how to write a book. I think he will write 20 more books like this, if not more. Well, not exactly like Best Behavior, but 20 more books that speak to me and people like me.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
one of my favorite books
this book had an extraordinary influence on my writing, both in form and style. can't recommend it enough. read noah's books. he's the real thing
Published 13 months ago by spencer madsen
5.0 out of 5 stars
readable, interesting
i read this book in like three days. it is one of those books. i don't really know why i enjoyed reading it but it was always something i wanted to do. Read more
Published on April 19, 2011 by taylor
4.0 out of 5 stars
A short review of Best Behavior
Best Behavior is a book that depicts the 'modern American condition'. That was pretentious. This book is not pretentious, though I imagine people will find it so. Read more
Published on April 15, 2011 by Marcos
5.0 out of 5 stars
GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL
I like Best Behavior because it is the first novel where Noah opens up his style. While I have always liked Noah's books, it was exciting to see him tackle new ground... Read more
Published on April 12, 2011 by andrew worthington
5.0 out of 5 stars
this was good
I read an earlier version of Best Behavior and liked it. This version seems like something I'd like too. I just wish it was available on Kindle.
Published on April 11, 2011 by Adam
5.0 out of 5 stars
I liked this book.
I enjoyed reading this alot. I remember thinking one little part about all the people in a room looking like they could commit suicide or something was really bad, but i liked... Read more
Published on April 11, 2011 by Jeff
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
|
|
