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Wichita [Paperback]

Thad Ziolkowski
3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

List Price: $16.00
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Book Description

April 24, 2012
Lewis Chopik has just graduated from Columbia University. Having been dumped by his girlfriend and in flight from the pressures exerted by his ambitious professor father, Lewis returns to Wichita in search of respite at the home of his New-Ager mother, Abby. But when Abby picks Lewis up from the airport, she reveals that she’s starting a storm-chasing business and indulging a polyamorous lifestyle. Another unexpected arrival is Seth, Lewis’s bi-polar younger brother, who shows off a new tattoo on his chest: In Loving Memory of Seth Chopik.

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Thad Ziolkowski is the author of Our Son the Arson, a collection of poems, and a memoir, On a Wave, which was a finalist for the PEN/Martha Albrand Award in 2003. In 2008, he was awarded a fellowship from the John S. Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. His essays and reviews have appeared in The New York Times, Slate, Bookforum, Artforum, Travel & Leisure and Index. He directs the Writing Program at Pratt Institute. Wichita is his first novel.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Europa Editions (April 24, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1609450701
  • ISBN-13: 978-1609450700
  • Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.8 x 8.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #919,614 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

3.4 out of 5 stars
(7)
3.4 out of 5 stars
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars Shallow and pointless August 23, 2012
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Just finished Wichita, well not really, I skimmed the last seventy-five pages and read the ending. I was drawn to the book by the New York Times review, often a good source of interesting fiction. However I suspect sometimes personal politics can elevate a book and garner a review not justified. I also note Sam Lipsyte (The Ask)who is quoted on the cover claiming the book is "...rich, subtle, and funny..." is, like the author, a beneficiary of the Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. It pays to be connected, right. The book features two brothers. Lewis just abandoned by his girlfriend and lacking the drive to enter academia has returned to visit his mother in Wichita where he is surprised by his younger bipolar brother. They interact. There are other "odd ball" characters, but nothing of interest occurs and the book quickly becomes repetitious. Frankly nothing allowed me to suspend my disbelief enough to accept any of the relationships or situations which seemed designed to simply fill up the pages. There are also a lot of typo's including the misspelling of Shirley Maclaine's name on page 142. Not sure what that means, but it was distracting and further damaged the suspension of disbelief.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Packs A Tornadic Punch June 26, 2012
Format:Paperback
This is a very well-written book with interesting characters, an absorbing plot arc, and enough angst and drama to keep you turning the pages. It is especially impressive as a debut novel. I won't belabor the story line, as it is summarized nicely in Amazon's product description as well as one of the other reviews here. Suffice to say that the main character, Lewis Chopik, is easy to relate to, even in the face of some peculiar and occasionally wrenching family dynamics. I thought the author did a great job of capturing the distinct personalities that surround Lewis, so much so that I found myself being critical of their behaviors and attitudes. That's when I know that a writer has truly breathed life into his or her characters.

I have two mild criticisms, neither of which should discourage buying and reading this book. First, the storm metaphor, while employed effectively in this story, is still overused almost to the point of cliche. Second, I found quite a few typos and proofreading errors. They were distracting at times, as they interrupted the flow of my reading. Still, I've read far worse books that were edited and proofed perfectly, so don't let that deter you.
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2.0 out of 5 stars Colorful characters, weak story November 17, 2012
By Jake
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I enjoyed some of the characters, they were lively and outrageous. Others were a little too precious and not believable. The story, son returns home, is not exactly riveting.
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