The Man of the House

by Stephen McCauley

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Stephen McCauley's much-loved novels The Object of My Affection and The Easy Way Out prompted The New York Times Book Review to dub him "the secret love child of Edith Wharton and Woody Allen." Now McCauley stakes further claim to that title -- and more -- with a rich and deftly funny novel that charts the unpredictable terrain of family, friends, and fathers. Thirty-five-year-old Clyde Carmichael spends too much time at things that make him miserable: teaching at a posh but flaky adult show more learning center; devouring forgettable celebrity biographies; and obsessing about his ex-lover, Gordon. Clyde's other chief pursuit is dodging his family -- his maddeningly insecure sister and his irascible father, who may or may not be at death's door. Clyde's in danger of becoming as aimless as Marcus, his handsome (and unswervingly straight) roommate, who's spent ten years on one dissertation and far too many fizzled relationships. Enter Louise Morris. Clyde's old friend and Marcus's onetime lover is a restless writer and single mother, who shows up with Ben, her son and a neurotic dog in tow. The looming question of Ben's paternity nudges Clyde back into the orbit of his own father -- and propels our endearing hero into the kind of bittersweet emotional terrain that McCauley captures so well. show less

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1 review
McCauley writes a wonderful, funny, breezy novel and this one is no different. Clyde Carmichael is a man with issues who is surrounded by a wild cast of characters who also have issues. This is the simple story of how they all interact and face life. It's just a nice, easy, fun read.

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8+ Works 2,579 Members
Stephen McCauley is the author of "The Man of the House", "The Object of My Affection", & "The Easy Way Out". He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (Bowker Author Biography) Stephen McCauley's novels, which feature gay characters, involve the difficulties of relationships and the humor of everyday life. His works include "The Object of My show more Affection" (adapted into a motion picture starring Jennifer Aniston), "The Easy Way Out" and "The Man of the House." (Bowker Author Biography) show less

Common Knowledge

Canonical title*
Et qui va promener le chien ?
Original title
The man of the house
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.

Classifications

Genres
Fiction and Literature, LGBTQ+, General Fiction
DDC/MDS
813.54Literature & rhetoricAmerican literature in EnglishAmerican fiction in English1900-19991945-1999
LCC
PS3563 .C33757 .M36Language and LiteratureAmerican literatureAmerican literatureIndividual authors1961-
BISAC

Statistics

Members
361
Popularity
86,852
Reviews
1
Rating
(3.09)
Languages
English, French
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
13
ASINs
5