Fever 42 - Trade Edition [Paperback]

Christopher Fahy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2006

"I thought that Chris Fahy's novel Fever 42 was both wildly funny and surprisingly sad. The combination made me think of the early J.D. Salinger period. ... I think it will attract a lot of attention. Chris is a wonderful writer." - Stephen King. Ted Wharton, 42, a teacher at Whitman High in Somerside, New Jersey, lives a routine suburban life with his wife and kids. Disenchanted after fifteen years of teaching, going thru the motions at work -and home-he feels the clock is ticking. Then it happens: on the same day that one of Ted's colleagues drops dead of a heart attack, Joy, 17, a bright and stunningly beautiful senior in one of his classes, makes a play for him. And he puts up no resistance. Fully alive for the first time in years, he revels in his wild trysts with Joy -many at Whitman High. Living on the edge, obsessed with Joy, but realizing the ultimate disaster this will become, tries to end his relationship with her. Only to see his world spiral out of control.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...Scandalous, decadent and gut-wrenching... Tales off like a drag racer howling down a quarter-mile track." -- Portland Maine Sunday Telegram, March 2, 2003

"..Fever 42 was both wildly funny and surprisingly sad..it will attract a lot of attention. Chris is a wonderful writer" -- Stephen King

"All the thrills and spills of a runaway mid-life crisis--from the safety of your armchair...delightfully scandalous. -- Michael Kimball--Author of

"Chris Fahy has done some extraordinary things here...a ride that fundamentally makes you worry for your own strange trajectory.." -- Jack Ketchum

"There is something wonderful about Christopher Fahy's writing. It's scandalous, decadent and gut-wrenching." -- John Robinson, Portland Press Herald, March 2, 2003 --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From the Publisher

"Fever 42" is one of Christopher Fahy's finest written novels. As soon as I finished it, I knew that I had to publish it. Discovering the emotions and turmoil that Ted Wharton gets himself into shows that anyone can reach a "fever" in the mid-forties. Discover how Ted handles it.. and how he attempts to pull himself out of this sweat drenched moment in time. Which he may ... or may not, regret. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 244 pages
• Publisher: Overlook Connection Press (January 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892950332
• ISBN-13: 978-1892950338
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,871,018 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Christopher Fahy is the author of collections of short stories and poetry, and
eight novels. He won the 1987 Maine Arts Commission Fiction
Competition, judged by Mary McCarthy, with his chapbook of stories, One
Day in the Short Life of Anna Banana. In 1999 he won a Grand Prize in the
International Poetry Competition sponsored by Atlanta Review. Also in
1999 he published Limerock: Maine Stories. Fever 42, a novel, was
published in 2002, and the novel Breaking Point in 2004. Fahy lives with his
wife, children's book author Davene Fahy, on the coast of Maine.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Mess Around with Your Students, September 10, 2004

By 

Samuel L. Smith II "Mentally Tough" (Evansville, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fever 42 (Hardcover)

I read this book last year and was amazed. It was the first book I've ever read by Chris Fahy and it will not be the last. I read approximately 65-70 books per year and it was one of the best books that I read 2003.

The subject dealt with Ted Wharton, a middle aged school teacher who seemed to be living the American Dream. He enjoyed his career, had a nice wife, and two well behaved kids. However, at 42 he felt like he was missing out something. He recognized his mortality. About this same time, one of his senior students, Joy, sexy, smart, beautiful, and absolutely hot, began flirting with him (and not so innocently). In spite of risking his career, his marriage, his reputation, his future relationship with his children, he cast all caution to the wind, and began a torrid affair with her. Joy, wanted their sexual encounters to be risque; outdoors, in the AV room, classroom, in a car in the shopping mall parking lot, at his home, etc. Eventually, the consequences of his sexual escapades catch up with him. Besides Joy won't leave him alone.

What I like about this book is that even though Ted Wharton is dispicable and violated the trust of his community by sleeping with a student, betrayed his family, and threw his career away, all for a piece of "booty," I found myself rooting for the guy, hoping that he could work his way out of the quagmire that he created for himself. I hoped that he would be able to save his career and his marriage.

I actually liked the guy, although I'm not sure that I would want my daughter in his class.

Fahy is a wonderful author and I'm looking forward to reading more by him.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended. Good mainstream novel, full of sex and humor., May 30, 2006

By 

David "Laymon Fan" (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fever 42 - Trade Edition (Paperback)

I'm a long-time fan of Christopher Fahy's horror and suspense novels. This book is a good mainstream novel about a 42-year-old teacher during his mid-life crisis. The teacher, Ted Wharton, has an affair with a beautiful 17-year-old high school student from his Honors Psychology class -- with disastrous consequences.

The beginning and end of the book are very funny, and the book is solid and involving throughout.

I recommend this book, as well as Fahy's horror novels "Nightflyer," "Dream House," and "The Lyssa Syndrome."

I also recommend his story collections, particularly "Limerock."

Fever 42: 4 1/2 stars.

(Note: I read only the hardcover version.)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Recommended. Good mainstream novel, full of sex and wit., September 1, 2004

By 

David "Laymon Fan" (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fever 42 (Hardcover)

I'm a long-time fan of Chris Fahy's horror and suspense novels. This book is a good mainstream novel about a 42-year old teacher during his mid-life crisis. The teacher, Ted Wharton, has an affair with a beautiful 17-year old high school student from his Honors Psychology class -- with disastrous consequences.

I highly recommend Fahy's horror novels "Nightflyer", "Dream House", and "The Lyssa Syndrome".

I also recommend his story collections, particularly "Limerock".