Customer Reviews

The Scoundrel

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This book had an interesting premise, which is that of a man who attempts to forget his lost love by engaging in a series of affairs. However, the story is quite boring and none of the characters are particularly likable. It reads more like a collection of bad short stories rather than a coherent, unified novel. Pass on this one.

I find this book to be extremely funny. I enjoyed his book "Going Postal" a great book, but liked this book a bit better. I find his view of the world so refreshing, I am sitting on pins and needles waiting for his next book.

I had high hopes when I purchased this book. Going Postal was wonderful, and I thought that this book would be good as well. This book was so boring, trite, and badly written. I wouldn't recommend it to my enemies.

i'm pretty sure that steve is capable of much more than this. for the most part it is trite, repetetive, and annoying. sorry to be so harsh. i have to admit that i was not really disappointed when i realized that i'd left it on the plane after having only read the first few chapters

The Scoundrel rocks! I thought the description of dating was all too painfully true and the descriptions of food made me hungry. The book made me laugh, it moved me, it made me think. What more can you ask for in a book! Keep up the great work, Stephan. I eagerly await the next.

This regretably reinforces my belief that some writers have just one fine book in them. His "Going Postal " was wonderfully funny, his "Chocolate Jesus" was intermitantly humerous when it wasn't being annoying, but "The Scoundrel" is just plain drek!

I've been a long-time fan of Stephen Jaramillo -- the kind where you hunt the author down and force him into having dinner with you somewhere so that you can decide once and for all which one of you is more demented. As such, I've been reading since his first novel, and was anxiously awaiting the release of _The Scoundrel_ with baited breath and something approaching psychotic devotion to the mailman who would be delivering it.

I was not disappointed.

This book, a far cry from the fast-paced, nearly slapstick feel of his last, shows a diversity and depth that the first two can't touch. There were moments that I laughed until my sides hurt, and others that I had to put the book down physically to regain composure before continuing. It's well worth the money spent, and won't disappoint readers of his previous work, while extending the emotional spectrum to draw in some that may not have been hooked by the previous two.

Now, move that mouse under your hand to the "buy this book" button and give yourself something to read this summer while you're lounging by the pool. I'll be hunting down the author.

Honestly, you should not waste your hard earned money on this book. It seems as though Jaramillo has a knack for witty, crisp dialogue but his plot formation leaves much to be desired. The plot is a meandering mess from the outset and never truly resolves itself. In fact, all of Steve's books have suffered from this problem. Unfortunately, many young writers in this tired age of Tarantino wanna-be's think that a few zingers now again can hold together a novel. Sadly, this is not the case. THE SCOUNDREL reads like a high school nerd's rebellious fantasy. Perhaps the most pathetic aspect to this novel is that the author doesn't even write well about sex and seems much more comfortable describing food. The passages describing the kitchen and Carl's life as a chef are by far the most compelling. Authors should always stick to what they know--in this case food. Save your money or turn to the more intelligent and well-honed craftsman--Nick Hornby or Tom Perrotta.

Stephan Jaramillo's third book tops his earlier two which I enjoyed immensely. Carl's girlfriend dumps him, and he is determined to enjoy his single life with as many chicks as he can find. All does not go well for Carl; he meets some quirky women and finds that meeting the right one is difficult, at best. I found myself hoping he would be successful in his pursuit of the opposite sex. Reading a book by Stephan Jaramillo is indeed enjoyable. Few authors can make me laugh as hard as he does. His descriptions of setting and characters are superb. I could smell the fragrance of the kitchen in the restaurant and feel the gloomy damp atmosphere of an El Nino storm. Keep writing them, Stephan, you have a devoted following.

Stephan Jaramillo is one of the most gifted writers I have seen in a long time. He has the ability to write books for the 20 something generation without all the gratuitous pop culture referances that bog down so many other writers. Do not listen to any other review on this board. BUY THIS BOOK!