Customer Reviews

Man Who Was Late

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In prose beautiful for its sheer economy as well as its clarity, here is the story of the genteel life adopted by a survivor of the least genteel event of the century. There are hidden costs associated with the comforts of Ben's chosen path, not least of which is his self-image, as a man who is perpetually late to realize the existential significance of major choices, and late to act thereupon; a man who misses chances; a man out of sync with his own life.

This is simply an extraordinary story, told with a courtliness and understatement evocative of William Maxwell and Ford Madox Ford, from the author of About Schmidt, Schmidt Delivered, Shipwreck, Mistler's Exit, Wartime Lies, and As Max Saw It.

Although this book is about Ben, his story is told by his college friend, Jack. Why? I have no idea. Jack's life is orderly and traditional. Ben, a ..survivor, finds love and rejects it. Jack knows all through reading Ben's journal and because Ben tells him all at their occasional lunches.

I just didn't get this book. I've read three others by Begley. All were excellent, told believable stories, had interesting characters and satisfying conclusions. I finished this one only because I started it.

Also, there is way too much male fantasy [stuff]. How many scenes of anonymous or paid for intercourse must a reader witness to get the point? And I am certainly tired of "beautiful" but problematic women and the repetitive descriptions of ..[them]. Enough already!

Many sharp details do not a novel make. If you want to sample Begley, read "About Schmidt."