Customer Reviews

Christopher: A Tale of Seduction

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Allison Burnett bows onto the First Novelist Stage with a novel that is hilarious, witty, intelligent, acerbic, and warm, tender, and loving all at once. Burnett very obviously possesses a keen wit and is well read: one of the perks of reading CHRISTOPHER: A TALE OF SEDUCTION is frequent literary references and puns that stimulate the brain as well as entertain the mind.

The tale of seduction storybook is narrated by BK Troop, an endlessly provocative, caustic, overweight and unattractive bipolar gay man in his forties who has just fled his Manhattan apartment under threat of decapitation by his schizophrenic landlady and takes up residence in an apartment that just happens to be next door to 25 year old straight Christopher Ireland, a handsome but unlucky in love and marriage wannabe novelist on the skids. Convinced he can seduce this 'victim' BK begins a story that takes place during the entire year of 1984. Christopher has needs that date back to his comically/tragically crazy childhood, his problems with relating to women are colored by his relationship to a madcap banshee of a psychiatrist mother. During this significant year of 1984 BK Troop observes, connives, cajoles, fantasizes and otherwise attempts to lure the sad sack Christopher into his lair only to discover that something he never has found - love - topples his house of cards philosophy of life and sexuality. In the span of a year BK and Christopher grow to find a kinship that serves them both well and the multiplicity of events narrated by the brilliant BK become gradually less preposterous and more human. This change in BK's role as the seducer of record is explained: "In my madness, I felt that I was as ugly a human being as had ever lived. A monster really, whose life was a giant sham, a fey intellectual burlesque, designed to distract others and myself from the truth, which was that, although I dreaded loneliness more than anything else, I had come to earth to die of it." And his opinion of Christopher as the object of his game of seduction alters: "For is it not a fact of our modern age that the family we cherish most is the not one who shares our noses and tempers, but the one with whom we share the minutia of our daily lives."

And from January through December 1984 we a taken on a commedia dell'arte ride, learning much about wild cap Manhattan, the vagaries of human relationships, all manner of bizarre adjustments and lack of adjustments to living in the world today, all with more insight into the differences between the gay vs. straight psyche than most novels deliver. Burnett Allison is a refreshingly fine writer and he leaves an indelible stamp on our minds. This book deserves a much wider audience!

I read a lot of books, and this by far is the best I've read this year. Allison Burnett (a man I assume) writes like Kurt Vonnegut combined with John Kennedy Toole. The main character's (...) eye on the straight guy gives a whole new perspective to the year (and book) 1984 overlooked until now. Who cares about Big Brother, when there is a hunk next door? It is scary what lengths some people will go to in the name of seduction. Will the hunter nab is prey?

Give this book a read and you won't be disappointed. I'm looking forward to more books from Mr. Burnett.

I picked this book up for a good beach read just because I liked the cover. It was a great beach read and so much more. Light and funny on the one hand and literary and moving on the other. I can't understand why this wasn't a huge hit or did I miss something. It's brilliant. I love B.K. Troop. I bought this book for tons of friends and family and you should too. You won't be disappointed.

I think I must have read different novel to some of the other reviewers. Certainly my reaction when I finished it was different. I was almost doing cartwheels after reading this and that feeling was still there the second time I read it. This book is a joy !

Today's fiction offers such a lean diet; there's nothing naughty, indulgent or rich. It's not toothsome. Not here, this novel is a banquet, full of flavour, which is what I liked so much. I am done with angsty, whiny, eviscerated characters, who limp from page to page of just about every other novel that drops of the presses these days. BK could almost be an endangered species: eccentric, wilful, disingenuous, corrupting, and so mischievious. He is the Queen Mother of the Eastside; plotting harder than a poor man's Macchiaveli, eyes twinkling like Captain Hook, heady with the vapours of a Schoolgirl's crush and a heart pumping with the gusto of a barrel organ.

The two main characters, BK and the eponymous Christopher are "outcasts from life's feast", which is what I felt made them so memorable. They don't know that much about life: BK wafts a smug charm or so he thinks that never, ever, entrances anyone, whilst Christopher is as equally deluded in his idealism. Neither stays that way, though. Each changes as the year changes with them. I thought the move from ignorance to enlightenment was quite skilfully done. As the year progresses,a few more scales drop off and a little more self realsiation shines in on them. Especially so in the case of Christopher where he is observed through BK's rose coloured and cracked specatcles. There are some great comic ironies in there

Christopher is a wonderful, beautifully written, comedy of manners; and just like all great ones provides a little extra in top notch characters, cracking dialogue and enviable imagery. BK Troop is a stand-out character.

I was so delighted to discover Allison Burnett's "Christopher". I had just been complaining about the dearth of sharp, light reads when I found this book, which is both of those things, and a lot more. It is literate, smart, funny, observant, and knowing. The world it creates -- of the West Village in 1984-- is vivid and unforgettable. I love the seen-it-all narrator, B.K. Troop, and his obsession with a naive, idealistic neighbor. The entire story doesn't strike a false note. It was one of those books that I portioned out over a few nights, because I easily could have devoured it in one sitting, and been back to my old complaints about the dearth of good summer reads.

I passed this book by several times in book stores before buying it because of its dull beige cover -- a really bad choice, if you ask me. Also, I was surprised that there wasn't more critical praise printed in its first pages, until I discovered that this was never published as a hardback, so the critical praise will be reserved for the next printing. I hope it doesn't take that long for this book to catch on, since it has all the potential that books like Jennifer Weiner's "Good in Bed" do, although this is MUCH better written. If you are looking for a light, fun summer read, this is it!

I loved getting lost in this book. The writing was great and the story surprised me with its twists and turns. I laughed my way through the whole book but then burst out crying at the end. I've already passed my copy along and would recommend it to anyone.

Allison Burnett is channeling Lautremont... he's written a brilliant, sad, deeply truthful, angry, beautiful, extremely funny and literary book about love, ambition, art, friendship and ultimately lonliness... it had the story sense you'd expect from a screenwriter (thank god - story seems lost on many fiction writers these days) with the soul of a real literary gem... BK is a great hero... a sad hero...a very clever device... and Allison isn't afraid to create sad and ugly characters... it's worth a read and a consideration... frankly all these negative reviews are surprising and makes me wonder about all the bitter and jealous wanna-bes who hate anyone who actually write and not starve...

This book is so fast, furious and funny that I couldn't put it down - read it in one sitting. This writer is a great discovery - brilliant, witty, erudite, bitchy, sarcastic and unbelievably funny; I laughed out loud at B.K. Troop's adventures and misadventures on the road to seduction; but was touched by B.K.'s discovery of the power of love. A must-read; hope Allison Burnett treats us to another book soon - perhaps a reappearance of B.K.?

I've found myself extremely surprised and impressed with Mr. Allison Burnett's first novel, Christopher. I bought the book on a whim (I liked the image of the stubbed out cigarette on the cover) and now I'm extremely happy I did. The character of BK Troop was a fascinating study in cynicism that had me laughing out loud. Having lived in New York during the period the book takes place in, Mr. Burnett totally captures the nuances of an era. I found the story to be exceptionally entertaining and fresh. I would recommend this delightful work of fiction for anyone.

I love this book.It made me laugh till I cried in January (the first chapter) and left me smiling for more by December (the last chapter).I can't wait for the next one.