Customer Reviews

Temping

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

 

 

Somehow I stumbled upon this novel. It is an entertaining read, so absurdly hilarious at times that I had tears streaming down my face from laughing so hard. There is also quite a bit of philosophical thought in this book which together with the humor is a fresh combination. The main character is an anxious loner plagued with nervousness and strange theories of life and beauty that he has developed in his solitude (seemingly as a defense mechanism), but he is also endearingly naive. Sometimes you want to shake him, other times hold him and let him cry on your shoulder. It's a relief that he finds some normalcy in the end with the family he somehow winds up being a part of. This book has some uneven and frustrating parts, not a 'masterpiece' in the traditional literary sense of the heavy, canonical novel that takes itself seriously. It's a different genre altogether, belonging in some strange underground category. If you are a fan of absurd humor and enjoy your intellect being tickled, this book will make you laugh and perhaps even your head will spin. It is straightforward and doesn't play tricks on the reader, which I so appreciate.

I had read some of Olson's other works: poetry and his book on humor. This one is unique. It takes you to another world - the inner and outer world of an interesting writer to be sure. You couldn't imagine such a life no matter how hard you tried. It's funny, philosophical, and well-written. I recommend it if you're looking for something really different. - Elizabeth Wagele

The author created his own genre all right. The characters move in and out of plausibility and fantasy which creates a uniquely whimsical structure. It passes the Number One test of any book: "Do I want to turn the next page." The answer is always yes. I thought the ending could use a little work, but I liked this novel.