Blue Heaven (Contemporary American Fiction) [Mass Market Paperback]

Joe Keenan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1995 | Series: Contemporary American Fiction

Set in contemporary New York, this book revolves around four characters, all either unemployed or barely employed. The calamities begin when Gilbert, who is gay, and Moira, an arch bitch, devise a seemingly brilliant plan to swindle their respective monied families - by getting married.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In his debut novel, Keenan, a lyricist, illustrates what happens when Philip Cavanaugh, a homosexual and struggling songwriter, becomes embroiled in a scheme by his former lover, Gilbert Selwyn, who plans to marry a wealthy duchess's daughter to reap the wedding gifts. The plot grows more complicated with, among other things, the involvement of the Mafia, the unmasking of the duchess and a rekindled love affair between "Philly" and "Gilley." Yet, despite these elaborate plot machinations, the characters remain one-dimensional (flighty Gilbert, Philip's yuppie sister and brother-in-law in the suburbs, amoral Moira Finch, the bride), failing to engage the reader's interest in them or in their predicaments. Keenan has Philip narrating in a contrived, lighthearted tone replete with one-liners ("Holly's laugh sounds like a getaway car rounding a corner on two wheels") and pursuing stereotypes of pretentiously artsy New Yorkers and high-strung, irrational gays. A skillful ending cannot compensate for all that precedes it.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Joe Keenan was born in New York and lives in Los Angeles. Head Writer of Frasier for the past decade, he is the author of two novels, Blue Heaven and Putting on the Ritz (forthcoming from Arrow). --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (January 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140107649
• ISBN-13: 978-0140107647
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #986,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Far and away the funniest book I have ever read., February 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Blue Heaven (Contemporary American Fiction) (Mass Market Paperback)

A good friend introduced me to the madcap world of Gilbert Selwyn and Phillip Cavanaugh seven years ago. Since then, I have given away more copies of "My Blue Heaven" and "Putting on The Ritz" than I can count. The first time I read "My Blue Heaven" I actually woke up my next door neighbors (in an apartment building) with my laughing.

The plot is wonderfully convoluted, and just when you think you might have things figured out, Keenan throws another hilarious curveball your way.

Mr. Keenan's characters are incredibly vivid -- they manage to be loathsome yet endearing at the same time. Every line is well crafted, and the one-liners fly by with such frequency you will find yourself having to stop and catch your breath.

I re-read "My Blue Heaven" at least once a year. I have to admit it, I am powerless over this book.

A word of advice: Buy several copies. Your friends and family will undoubtedly ask why you are laughing so hard, and it is easier to give them a copy than to stop reading long enough to explain.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully ludicrous!, August 26, 2000

By 

James Hiller (Beaverton, OR) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blue Heaven (Contemporary American Fiction) (Mass Market Paperback)

In Joe Keenan's first book, "Blue Heaven", he introduces us to characters void of scruples, totally motivated by their own greed, and wholly, unabashedly hilarious.

No, it's not a group of politicians, but gay Gilbert and irascible Moira, two societal climbing spendthrifts who decided to hitch up for the great gifts in a sham marriage. What ensues, through several unexpected plot twists and deceiving and conniving, is a fictional farce that works so well, you actually laugh out loud.

The writing is witty and brilliant, fast-paced and timeless. Most admirable is how Keenan takes these rotten people and truly makes them horrible, back-stabbing folk, yet in a way, you do actually like them.

If you are looking for a light-hearted romp, read "Blue Heaven", as I have been telling all of my friends since diving into this treasure.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Of The Funniest Books You'll Ever Read!, January 15, 2000

By 

Chad Biederman - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blue Heaven (Contemporary American Fiction) (Mass Market Paperback)

Joe Keenan has an incredible talent, not just for keen comic timing and rapier-sharp dialogue, but also for constructing a hysterically labyrinthine story in such a way so that the reader can actually keep track of it! Lies, manipulation, extortion, greed--this book's got it all!

All the characters manage to be lovable somehow, even though they have few (if any) redeeming qualities. I couldn't stop turning pages because I was dying to see how these people would deal with each seemingly-insurmountable obstacle that gets thrown their way. It reads like an episode of "Frasier" on acid--which makes sense when you realize Keenan went on to become supervising producer of that television show.

I would LOVE to see a movie based on "Blue Heaven", but I'd much rather have Keenan crank out another crackpot adventure with Gilbert and Phillip! "Blue Heaven" and "Putting On The Ritz" are great--but I want more, damnit! :)