A Serious Person

Rating:
Summary: For the elusive
Review: In his latest novel, Outland brings us Adam Bede, (...), bipolar lyricist who wishes he had the tenacity to become "a serious person" ... someone who commands respect, whom people listen to, envy and try to emulate. He feels he has a particular handcap in that endeavor, since his forte' is in creative arts, where once need to be a bit "wild" and unpredictable, but his illness forces him to stay on medication to keep his "wildness" from getting out of control. His debut album, put together when he was off his meds, turned out to be tremendous disappointment to him.

Then his luck changed. With his partner, composer Calliope, Adam gets in on the ground floor of developing a Britany Spears-ish teenage vocal diva, Christie Squires, who turns out to be financially rewarding to all. And while accompanying Christie to a Today show appearance, Adam meets Lyle, a foreign affairs commentator for CNN, who is a big fan of Adam's work, including his solo album. They set up housekeeping as Adam rides the "Christie" train for a few years, until his meal ticket decides to sue him and his partners for a higher share of song profits. Dejected, Adam decides to "reinvent" himself, on his way to being "a serious person," and auditions for a reality show for singer-songwriters that is a cross between "American Idol" and "Big Brother." Among the other participants is Sam, a young singer who he suspects of trying to steal Lyle from him, and Christie, his former protege.

The book is alternately witty and philosophical in tone, with some dark moments when Adam explores his "head" when off his medication. I've read all of Orland's novels, and this is probably my least favorite, likely because I cannot really relate to any of the characters, though I appreciate the obvious satire of the reality TV genre. Rate it 4 of 5 stars.