Honk If You Love Aphrodite [Paperback]

Daniel Evan Weiss (Author)

Book Description

Series: High Risk Books | Publication Date: May 15, 1999

This epic story - written in the style of Homer's "Odyssey" - recounts one man's quest to return across modern New York City to the woman he adores. Along the way he meets the trials of life in the subway and the underworld below it, but the greatest obstacle is his own divided heart.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The ancient Greek gods live! Weary of Athenian smog, however, they have decamped Olympus for the Catskills. Aphrodite's youngest son wants to prove his mettle by helping a mortal. He is sent to aid Stanley on an epic journey home from a reunion with two pals at Khoni (i.e., Coney Island) to his wife, Eileen, on the upper West Side. First, the god has to assume mortal shape at Stanley's side. Striking globular friend Myron with a thirst that chains him to the beer stand (and sending the other guy after a woman), the god becomes Myron (literally a stretch) and sees Stanley through a night of adventures in the depths of Brooklyn that even includes, as a good epic should, a journey to the underworld--via subway, of course. When the god gets Stanley home, there are complications, even though Eileen is most beauteous and amorous. Mixing verse with prose, Weiss' hilarious mock epic apparently assumes that, if this kind of parody worked for modernist Joyce, it will work for postmoderns. Ray Olson

From Kirkus Reviews

Madman novelist Weiss (The Swines Wedding, 1996, etc.) goes for the Classics in his latest effort, a reimagining of the Odyssey set mostly in Brooklyn. Anyone whos read Homer knows that the ancient gods were wont to assume some pretty outlandish disguises and drop in at the most unexpected moments, butConey Island? In fact, this is exactly what Aphrodite, the goddess of love, has in mind in Weisss version of things. Concerned about the marital troubles plaguing a very ordinary mortal named Stanley, she asks her sonwith some trepidationto assume the mission of leading Stanley home to his wife Eileen and setting things aright. Uncle Hermes takes the boy over to meet Cousin Poseidon, who manages to wash him ashore not too far from the Boardwalk. Stanley has a tradition of going to Coney Island once a year with his buddies Myron and Lennie, and he keeps the date this year despite the fact that he should be at home with Eileen helping her to conceive a badly wanted child on this particular day of the month. Myron and Lennie, though, are more interested in copping some brews and checking out the babes, and Stanley is too afraid to look like a wuss in front of his pals. So Aphrodites son assumes the (rather unpleasant) form of Myron and begins his task. After getting sick on the Cyclone and tasting beer and hot dogs for the first time, Myron faces hurdle number onethe subway, of course, where he and Stanley put up with breakdowns, accidents, and predatory females before they wise up and grab a cab. But when the demented cabbie puts them out at the wrong address, they have to hoof it to the Upper West Sideonly to find Eileen waiting but Stanley totally beat. So Myron steps in again. After all, if youve assumed one human form youve assumed them all. A happy endingif not exactly the one Aphrodite had in mind. Jolly, rollicking fun, told with gusto and a surprising sensitivity. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Serpent's Tail; First Edition edition (May 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1852424532
• ISBN-13: 978-1852424534
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,368,051 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A divine read, if you'll pardon the pun, June 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Honk If You Love Aphrodite (Paperback)

I recently read this book aloud during a long car trip and had all occupants, including myself, in stitches. Here is an author whose affection and understanding for the foibles of New York City's underside is only matched by his penchant for the eccentric and willingness to take his word usage out on a limb. The meter and feel of the Homeric-style epic ballad rings absolutely true, as can only really be ascertained from reading it aloud, as we did, and Weiss's outlandish characters and acerbic asides only showcase what is, in the end, a rather touching love story that owes nothing to divine intervention. We were particularly fond of the real Myron, left lurching drunkenly around Coney Island bereft of friends and purpose, an incredibly bald look at Manhattan's S&M club scene (if you've ever been to Hellfire, you'll understand) and the subway Amazons Tess and Shameeka. Weiss's comments concerning the late JFK are not to be missed, either; in true Homeric style, he doesn't waste any time making a political point poetically. This is a smart, funny read that will make you think and probably help you with your next crossword puzzle. Take it for what it is. (Just to set the record straight -- "Roaches" is still my favorite of the Weiss lexicon).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fine reading, January 19, 2000

By 

leah (U.S.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Honk If You Love Aphrodite (Paperback)

Honk if you love aphrodite was a masterpiece. The way the author used homeric style in the body was intense. It takes skill and panache to create good literature, and even more skill and panache to create memorable literature. If you can handle this gripping book, you can fully understand the brilliance of the writer. I love you dan, and katy and delilah

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars incredible novel, March 22, 2006

By 

Ellen Golding "booklover" (boston) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Honk If You Love Aphrodite (Paperback)

Daniel Evan Weiss creates an unusually entertaining and thought-provoking novel. Beautifully written, the language itself enchants. The story is gripping, as the characters traverse the perils and daily pleasures and horrors of New York, and love-- always with Weiss' wise and humorous perspective. This is one of Weiss' best; but after reading this novel, be sure to read his others!