Customer Reviews

The Wrestler's Cruel Study

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"The Wrestler's Cruel Study" was a staff recommendation at a local bookstore here in San Francisco several years ago; and, that brief review, placed on the shelf near copies of the book, was written with such enthusiasm and humor that it charmed me the rest of the day. However, I did not purchase the book as I assumed that the reviewer was the talent and that the review was meant as a kind of comic hyperbole. That was a mistake. After running across the book again at another store, I finally bought it. Now, some years later and after a second reading, I think I can say that it ranks among my very favorites.

As the book jacket suggests, we begin by observing an apartment complex where we witness two gorillas scale the outside wall to gain entry. Once inside, they kidnap a young woman wearing only her nightgown and steal her away. Her fiancé, a professional wrestler, is warned against soliciting the help of the police in her recovery; and he is given no motive for the kidnapping or asked for a ransom of any kind. In an effort to discover her whereabouts and gain her safe return, the wrestler embarks on a search that, he discovers, will do more to unravel the mystery of who he is than it will to find the one he loves.

Here is a book that manages to be, among other things: a study in identity and the perception of the self; a nightmare; a story of redemption; absurdist theater designed to illustrate philosophical argument; and a big-dicked perversion of Nietzschean philosophy, albeit a charming and gravely humorous one.

In the book Mr. Dobyns makes much of "gimmick." Put another way, he makes much of the masks that we wear, focusing on how they serve us, but more importantly, how they do us disservice. In illustrating the many ways that it is possible for one to bandage his or her wounds, and wear layer upon layer of these dressings or masks, he has created fully-realized characters with all manner of human strength and frailty. To have done so without judgment is, to my mind, a huge achievement.

Each of the characters that populate this wild and enormously entertaining novel is developed with the skill of one who really seems to understand what it means to be human. Each of them has much to learn about life, their connections with others and, perhaps most importantly, with themselves.

As lucky readers, this all serves to do the same for us. It asks rather big questions and gives no simple answers. Again, this is quite a feat for a fiction. We are asked, "When we look in a mirror, do we see ourselves or a committee?" I submit that if we look closely enough, this book, like any good looking glass, might just give us a glimpse of who we are.

One needn't be the least bit interested in professional wrestling, cruelty or studying to enjoy and grow from reading this absurdist, moralist, epic novel by Stephen Dobyns. It is truly a study in the human condition disguised as a day in the life of a professional wrestler.

The book simply works at many levels. I suppose a wrestling fan could almost read it literally and enjoy it as a hero/detective novel. Anyone with a taste for the absurd can merely enjoy the wonderful twists of fortune and circumstance the characters find themselves in. With an appreciation for Nietzche, arcane studies of Hebrew and Christian theology, a sense of Jungian analysis and a penchant for many-layered, indeed entwined metaphors on top of the rest, I was delighted.

If you like any of Dobyn's other works, or the twisted yet familiar view of humanity common to writers such as Anne Tyler, John Irving or Tom Robbins, you will likely enjoy this book as much as I did.

I don't have much to add here, but I thought I should let potential readers know that this was the funniest and one of the most memorable books I read this year. So different from Dobyns' other stuff, but SO rewarding as well. It does help to have some interest in the history of theology/heresy and Grimm's fairytales, not to mention Nietzsche.

I was hesistant to start The Wrestler's Cruel Study. Too many books like this have left me disappointed, with an empty feeling when the last page is finally turned. I'm happy to say that this sprawling novel is not one of those. Dobyns manages to fuse literature with entertainment, creating this bizarre amalgam that is part conventional mystery, philosophical pondering, and high humor. Somehow, it actually works. I was even more struck by the dazzling prose, and stark originality in some of the imagery and style Dobyns uses. As one would imagine, this book is now out of print, but I highly reccomend tracking it down.

I've owned this book for about five year and just could never get into it although it seemed like it would be interesting. I finally got into and boy am I glad I did. This is one of the most unique books I have ever read (and I've read A LOT). It's a book about finding out who you are through and in ways you never considered. The characters are highly entertaining, the situations are crazy and highly entertaining and the thought provoking ideas within this book leave you with things to consider long after you've finished reading. It's hard to describe a book like this! I rarely give five star reviews, but this one deserves it. Read this book!

I have to state that "bobm"'s review is pretty dead on. I can't add much more to it. Dobyns creates some memorable characters and hysterical scenerios while sustaining a serious underlying message. The first half is wickedly funny and entertaining but (as bobm says) during the last 50 pages or so, you realize you aren't going to quite get the big payoff you expected. The plot unravels and things are wrapped up too quickly. Many things are left unresolved. It feels rushed which is a shame because up until then, the novel kicks. Unlike bobm though, I enjoyed Dobyns' camera descriptions of the action. Still definitely worth the time although ultimately just a tad disappointing.

I'm unpacking the last boxes in my new apartment and I found this book in a box of hastily packed stuff. And I started to re-read it right here in my messy new room.

This was a hard book to get into; and about half of the people I have loaned it to have returned it unfinished. A SHAME! This is a weird book, but weird in the best possible way!

The idea of the gimmick is very thought provoking, especially when it's broken down so literally in this fanciful, idealized version of professional wrestling.

Reading this book reminds me of the first time that I saw The Matrix when I was a teenager, like a "Whoa, I know kung-fu" kinda way. Only I hope I'm not that poncy this time around.

This is an intresting story of a wrestler's quest to find his own identity. The witinging is both brilliant and funny. Dobyns writes his book depicting the views and philosophies of Fredrick Nietzche through the wacked out characters of 20th century "professional wrestling" This book will make you better examine our society and perhaps the question why now in 1999,professional wrestling is becoming so popular.

Absolutely a stunning book from start to finish. A plot that starts at breakneck speed and never lets up, with some interesting observations about life thrown in here and there. Brilliant

Dobyns is a treasure. This novel is mammoth in its scope, deft in its discription, and lingers long after it is put down. Complex thoughts are overlain with a cinematic quality that allows you to walk away from the book for a few days and still remember who everyone of the characters is. Awesome.