Customer Reviews

Easy Way Out

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Why is it that every book I love lately seems to be written by a wildly locked, mischevous looking late 20s/early 30s individual? David Foster Wallace, Michael Chabon, Jonathan Franzen.... and now Stephen McCauley. For me, The Easy Way Out was one of those books that brought with it a certain amount of sorrow when I had finished it. I could never have the experience of reading it for the first time again! By delving into the lives of Patrick's bitterly married parents, his recently separated brother Ryan, his player brother Tony, his live-in lover Arthur, his non-live-in lover Jeffrey, and his best friend and travel agent extraordinaire, Sharon, McCauley manages to show not only the irony and hipocrisy of our actions but also highlight the love that runs through the bunch regardlessly. This is an author who capital R respects his characters, allowing them to only move by their agendas, never the author's. What also struck me about this book is that in dealing with a tale focused around the best way to deal with the truth, McCauley doesn't take the easy way out (pun intended) and write a coming-out story. One of those books that you'll insist everyone you know must read

Something in McCauley's style makes reading him seem like getting caught up with an old friend. I find myself muttering to myself, "Oh, yes, they were always like that!" and..."Yes, that's true," and "Well, what did you think would happen?" This capacity for engaging story telling and the nuanced detail of everyday life should not be underestimated, speaking as it does to the place where most of us live, where notwithstanding our best efforts (or, worse yet, perhaps because of them), love eludes and lust deceives. Yet we keep trying. And reading.

Stephen McCauley is absolutely hysterical. He has effectively captured and written what people think but don't articulate. The characters are life-like. I missed them by the time I was finished. I've read all of Stephen's books and 'The Easy Way Out' is my favorite- at least until his fourth book is released.

One of the funniest books, I have ever stumbled upon. I keep picking it up again and again to re-read my favorite parts. McCauley's descriptions of situations are delivered with a wry and sardonic wit, that leaves you laughing and sad at the same time. A true gem, I cannot even lend it out, because I am unable to part with it.

While this book may not have the romantic appeal of the accessible "Object Of My Affection," it does show a more astute psychological intuition and more sophisticated humor. McCauley continues with his theme of examining the ways in which our lives are shaped and contorted by our ambivalent desires. He develops his unique use of dialogue to telegraph traits the characters themselves are unaware of and create recognizable personalities. His humor is character- and situation- based, undergirded by the bittersweet, even melancholy mood felt in all his books. It is an unusually nuanced and insightful exploration of family dynamics and the complexities of adult romantic relationships. I believe it is one of the strongest examples of contemporary fiction and perhaps the best example of the growing "gay literature."

I admire the novels of Stephen Macauley, and I had a good time reading this very human book. Macauley is especially good at dialogue -- more accurately repartee. He has a finely tuned ironic ear. Unfortunately, all the characters sound the same -- all versions of the sharp, sophisticated, but increasingly disillusioned narrator. That's okay because I enjoyed the narrator, but I did not by the end of the book have the sense of having truly entered into a fully realized fictional world. The characters were broadly drawn and remained flat. Despite the novel's urbane, world-weary manner, it feels oddly naive, even innocent, Macauley practicing for later books, perhaps a little drained by the recent success of "The Object of My Affection."

Adding to that feeling of innocence is the novel's setting. Because it concerns the travel industry and was published in the early 90s (before 911 and more and more advanced technology revolutionized that business), it is charmingly dated. I found that to be a fascinating aspect of the book. One of the central characters, who manages a travel agency, blithely forges boarding passes. Another character waits at Logan airport for an incoming flight in a lounge right at the gate. "The Easy Way Out" offers a window back to a more innocent time, and reminds us that it wasn't very long ago.

When I began this book, I didn't know if it was for me. As a straight female, I thought....oh..I'm not sure about this one! But let me tell you, I LOVED this book. I'm an avid reader and this is the first book in a long time that made me want to contact the author (I wish authors listed their email adresses....hint.hint.) It was just a delight. I found the charactars very real, vulnerable, flawed and funny. Over and over I laughed out loud. THAT is a compliment. As a smoker, I have to love a book that warmly portrays a smoking fiend. How refreshing! I would recommend this to anyone that is in the mood for a book about love, life and the hilarity of everyday existance.

I read this novel for my own pleasure. I did not look for structure or any literary values, as I am a fairly critical reader. I just laughed. Your recognize a book as a long lost friend or a friend you wished you had and it was like this for me reading the first line from "The Easy Way Out." Patrick became a friend as I followed the stress, the indecisions, the ups and downs of his life. His problems became my own. I had to also decide whether he should stay with Arthur and I had similar vicissitudes when I asked myself if I would have stayed in this relationship. This book was thoroughly enjoyable and it felt like I took a vacation somewhere too and gathered up my life. It's fun to just read and I am looking forward to Stephen's other novels. Have you seen "The Object of My Affection?" Great screenplay!

The front cover of this book has a one word review from The New York Times: "Superb." I would sure like to read the full review to see the context of this description because, while there is clever dialogue and some witty descriptions, not much happens. The characters, without exception, are a bunch of losers with no reason for us to like any of them. And, certainly, based on the descriptions of meals they share together in the story, there's not one of them who you would invite to dinner. Arthur may be successful professionally but has nothing else going for him, especially, apparently, looks. Patrick is an indecisive underachiever, a classic wimp. Sharon may act cool but clearly she is an emotional wreck. There may be hope for Ryan but who can have empathy for someone who lives three years in his parents' basement? Tony takes the easy way out and we think less of him for it. The parents are hopeless. (One of the clever dialogue techniques is for the siblings to always refer to them as "your parents.") This story was written in the early nineties and feels dated in 2006. McCauley can turn a phrase but it seems he took the easy way out in applying his talents to putting any depth into this book.

I was sorry this book ended. There was alot personally identifiable for me. The parents and Sharon were a hoot. Great dialogue for these characters. It reminded me of Anne Tyler accented with the darkness of Richard Ford. Anyone with neurotic family issues should give it a try.