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Better Together
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Krusoe's whimsical, ironic debut novel (following his story collection, Blood Lake) conjures up Kafka on antidepressants, as Krusoe tracks the decidedly strange adventures of a typewriter repairman named Paul after one of his organs begins to disintegrate. Paul turns to an odd medical outfit known as "the Institute" for treatment and finds himself in a passionate interlude with the beautiful caretaker, Emily, in the swimming pool where the organs are kept. Emily disappears from Paul's life, only to be replaced by a carpet cleaner named Leo, who befriends Paul and then invites him on a trip to Iceland. Leo accidentally falls into a volcano, and Paul takes up with their tour guide, Greta; eventually, they marry and have two children, Inga and Ingo, but Paul's new family is killed in an avalanche. That tragedy sends him back to America, where he begins to hunt for Emily in piano bars, a search that leads to yet another affair, this time with a drug-addicted pianist named Calypso Sally. The financial crunch caused by her addiction transforms the duo into a cut-rate Bonnie and Clyde as they turn to robbery to make ends meet, though Paul still believes he will be reunited with Emily. Krusoe makes the wild plot twists work; his deadpan irony gives Paul a bizarre charm, and his ability to spin over-the-top yarns is superb, especially in the early going. The humor loses some bite down the stretch, but Krusoe's twisted, childlike observations on love, livelihood and the non sequiturs that dominate daily life are consistently entertaining and thought provoking.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
When Paul, a typewriter repairman afflicted with "orgagenic disintegration," needs an organ replacement, he visits an institute to pick one out. He has a whirlwind poolside affair with the nubile Emily, who swims among the organs to keep them happy and healthy. Paul then flies to Iceland, nearly dies in a volcano, has another instant love connection, marries, has two children, becomes the typewriter king of Iceland, loses his family in an avalanche, returns to California, has another affair with a bar owner, and is incarcerated. Whew! The only constant is his obsession with Emily, whom he meets again two decades later. This hilarious, highly literary romp employs unusual transitions and a wry, surrealistic tone. Krusoe, a writing teacher who has obviously mastered the craft, is also the author of a short story collection, Blood Lake. A modern mini-Odyssey, Iceland is an absolute delight. Highly recommended for all academic and public libraries. Jim Dwyer, California State Univ., Chico
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
See all Editorial Reviews
Krusoe's whimsical, ironic debut novel (following his story collection, Blood Lake) conjures up Kafka on antidepressants, as Krusoe tracks the decidedly strange adventures of a typewriter repairman named Paul after one of his organs begins to disintegrate. Paul turns to an odd medical outfit known as "the Institute" for treatment and finds himself in a passionate interlude with the beautiful caretaker, Emily, in the swimming pool where the organs are kept. Emily disappears from Paul's life, only to be replaced by a carpet cleaner named Leo, who befriends Paul and then invites him on a trip to Iceland. Leo accidentally falls into a volcano, and Paul takes up with their tour guide, Greta; eventually, they marry and have two children, Inga and Ingo, but Paul's new family is killed in an avalanche. That tragedy sends him back to America, where he begins to hunt for Emily in piano bars, a search that leads to yet another affair, this time with a drug-addicted pianist named Calypso Sally. The financial crunch caused by her addiction transforms the duo into a cut-rate Bonnie and Clyde as they turn to robbery to make ends meet, though Paul still believes he will be reunited with Emily. Krusoe makes the wild plot twists work; his deadpan irony gives Paul a bizarre charm, and his ability to spin over-the-top yarns is superb, especially in the early going. The humor loses some bite down the stretch, but Krusoe's twisted, childlike observations on love, livelihood and the non sequiturs that dominate daily life are consistently entertaining and thought provoking.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
When Paul, a typewriter repairman afflicted with "orgagenic disintegration," needs an organ replacement, he visits an institute to pick one out. He has a whirlwind poolside affair with the nubile Emily, who swims among the organs to keep them happy and healthy. Paul then flies to Iceland, nearly dies in a volcano, has another instant love connection, marries, has two children, becomes the typewriter king of Iceland, loses his family in an avalanche, returns to California, has another affair with a bar owner, and is incarcerated. Whew! The only constant is his obsession with Emily, whom he meets again two decades later. This hilarious, highly literary romp employs unusual transitions and a wry, surrealistic tone. Krusoe, a writing teacher who has obviously mastered the craft, is also the author of a short story collection, Blood Lake. A modern mini-Odyssey, Iceland is an absolute delight. Highly recommended for all academic and public libraries. Jim Dwyer, California State Univ., Chico
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
See all Editorial Reviews
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