Putting on the Ritz [Paperback]

Joe Keenan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1992

Another adventure for the boys from "Blue Heaven". Song-writer Philip Cavanaugh is mourning the speedy demise of his first-off Broadway show when his pal Gilbert Selwyn approaches him with what seems an ideal remedy for his shattered ego and bank account.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although the constantly arch tone palls a bit, Keenan's generally clever repartee and on-target sendups of the media, nouveau-riche society, show biz, magazine publishing and gossip-mongers make for a fast and entertaining read.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

A segment of "sophisticated" New York society, with its ostentation and incessant craving for pleasure and publicity, provides Keenan ( Blue Heaven , Penguin, 1988) with abundant opportunity for the exercise of his caustic wit and power of observation. The story revolves around the efforts of songwriters Philip and Claire to compose lyrics and music for the talentless wife of an arrogant real estate magnate while spying on the couple for their friend Gilbert, who is working on an expose of the husband's questionable business dealings. Most chapters provide compact essays on stereotyped people and are animated by just the right amount of malice. The fact that many of the characters seem molded more from familiarity than fancy only serves to heighten their plausibility. The book moves briskly and should keep most readers amused.
- A.J. Anderson, GSLIS, Simmons Coll., Boston
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (November 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140149899
• ISBN-13: 978-0140149890
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,212,194 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you like Frasier's farcical episodes, May 30, 2001

By 

Mahesh Grossman "AuthorsTeam.com" (Santa Cruz, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Putting on the Ritz (Paperback)

Joe Keenan was head writer and executive producer for Frasier. His trademark episodes always had some kind of mistaken identity, like the one where Frasier brings the new station manager home to meet Daphne, but the station manager is gay and thinks he is on a date with Frasier.

This book is very funny. You won't be able to put it down, and Joe gets the characters into difficult situations that they have to get out of, and you will laugh all the way through. By the way, this book, and the first one with these characters, were the books that got Keenan his job on Frasier, so you can be sure his talent shines through.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Anyone want to start a petition to make him write a third?, July 21, 2000

By 

tmp "snippy reviewer" (Solar System, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Putting on the Ritz (Paperback)

A hilarious follow up to "Blue Heaven". Joe Keenan is perhaps one of the funniest and most talented writers alive. If this one doesn't get a laugh out of you you are dead. (you probably died laughing while reading "Blue Heaven"...) He has come up with characters that are as inventive and funny as his first novel, as well as being truly wicked parodies of certain New Yorker who shall remain nameless. I read this book when it came out years ago, and I still re-read it and Keenan's first at least once a year. As a matter of fact- I am going to log off and read them again right now.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Please write more Joe!, August 13, 2002

By 

"gwynng" (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Putting on the Ritz (Paperback)

Joe Keenan's "Putting on the Ritz" is a novel that is like watching Rosalind Russell in "Auntie Mame", quick, witty, full of laughs and the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon. It is a sequel to his first novel "Blue Heaven" and surpasses it with engaging characters and a dizzying plot that keeps you turning page after page. I have read the novel several times and enjoyed it more with each reading.

Now that Mr. Keenan has proved himself successful on television as a writer and producer for Frasier on NBC, perhaps he will take pity on his fiction fans, take a season off and catch us up on Philip Cavanaugh's latest adventures.

Please Joe, we want another book!