Love Monkey : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Cynical and self-indulgent, and not in a good way
Review: I had high expectations for this book after hearing all of the comparisons to "High Fidelty" (although, I only saw the movie, admittedly). Boy, was I let down. Tom, the central character, is supposed to represent every NY male, but having lived in and around there for the better part of my life, I can honestly say that the only people I ever met like him I never spoke to more than once. If you're supposed to sympathise with him, I didn't. If you're supposed to laugh with/at him, I didn't. If you're supposed to like him even a little, I didn't. How can you be so unsympathetic towards 9/11?! I couldn't stand this character's lack of everything (except income) and I was insulted by the fact that, according to every review, he was supposed to represent ME. Nick Hornsby did it better. Stick with the original. Or at least rent it.

I gave it 3 stars, because it did evoke emotion from me- which I suppose is the point of good writing. I didn't mind the story or the writing, I just didn't like any of the characters.

Rating:
Summary: A look at the twisted male intellect
Review: Kyle Smith's first books works a number of different levels. I believe that those who did not like the book were probably not in the right place to enjoy the humor presented by Smith. Smith is clearly a fan of Hornby but he manages to present a sytle the his own but clearly derivative. This book has heart, which makes the humor stand out even more. It is a quick read that is worth your time.

Rating:
Summary: Dead On Arrival
Review: I was rooting for Smith's somewhat lost-boy hero Tom Farrell, from page one. Tom (or maybe Smith) is so brutally, hilariously honest about his own flaws (there's a fantastic scene where he haplessly tries to seduce a pretty girl by making dinner for her in his woebegone bachelor pad) that you are totally there with him when he's making poor decisions, and you hope that he finds something like love in the end. This is one of those comic novels that is actually funny, and yet there are no stupid laughs of the someone-gets-kicked-in-the-crotch variety. It's all just smart wordplay, crackling good dialogue and realistic settings inside the fast-paced world of New York City journalism. I have told many friends about this book: you'll laugh a lot, and more important, you'll care.

Rating:
Summary: wickedly funny
Review: Read the first couple of pages of this hilarious tale about a Manhattan tabloid hack trying to hack his way through the relationship jungle, and you'll be well and truly hooked. Smith's furiously funny writing style takes no prisoners as he cuts a swath through New York City's competitive parenting, its elusive (but oh-so-desirable) women, its madcap celeb-party scene (including a memorable encouter with the Big He himself, Bill Clinton), its street reporters trawling for stories and of course the foibles and follies of young single guys trying to make sense of it all before they turn into not-so-young single guys. I recommend it hugely but warning: this is not for everyone. It's got considerably more bite than lightweight paperback chicklit with pink covers or other books sold in drugstores.