The Book of George

"That's my car," Jenny said, remembering what she was doing here. She explained the situation.

"I'm in a pickle," she added.

George's expression conveyed sympathy, but he did not offer to help. Not George. It wouldn't even occur to him.

This novel follows George from his childhood into his thirties. George is affable and bright. He's also lazy and undecided and prefers to have other people take care of him. We've all known a guy like this, who somehow never lives up to his promise, who isn't great at keeping promises or of showing up when he's said he would. This is a hard book to describe, since it's just the life of a guy, and while George isn't the kind of guy who is usually the subject of novels, it all makes for a great reading show more experience, strangely enough.

George is a frustrating character to follow, from the inertia, to the way he is given endless second chances from everyone around him, but especially his cynicism and self-pity. He receives an expensive private education, his college is paid for, his relatives are willing to give him the kinds of jobs only available to the well-connected, and yet he feels hard done by. His mom endlessly lets him move back in, his girlfriend, a kind and intelligent woman, gets back together with him far more often than is understandable, and all of that makes for surprisingly good reading. Greathead does a fantastic job rejuvenating the WMFuN*, something I didn't think was possible.

* White Male F***-up Novel show less

Who is George? Well, while we are treated to almost four decades of his existence, I'm not sure I felt any more confident in answering that question at the end than I did at the beginning. George is, it seems, fairly unremarkable, and I think (THINK) that's the point? This does lead to some humor, and the frustrating inconsistency of George's attitudes is also a plus. I think we are supposed to see him as flawed -- and he is-- but who isn't? He's self-centered and winds up in precarious situations of his own making (I couldn't help but think of another George...Costanza!), yet also seems to be able to interact socially and land a spot in a Super Bowl commercial. So, he's complex, in that ordinary human kind of way. His on-and-off again show more relationship with Jenny, who is also flawed, provided the most interest, but there were several spots where this threatened to be a do-not-finish for me. I'm glad I persisted, however, because I actually liked the (non-)ending because it was perfect for the book (something I appreciate even when I don't love the book that much). Ultimately I think it probably did not resonate as much with my Gen-Xness as it might with younger folk. show less

Strong character novel with a very compelling protagonist who should not really be likeable, but he is.

*Well-written, easy to read
*Strong character development
*Highly recommend

George is a confused young man who really has trouble making his way thru the world. The book was only okay. I didn’t really like George and wondered why Jenny stayed with him for so many years in an unfulfilling relationship. I suppose we ought to think that George grew up slightly by doing Jenny a kindness at the end.