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Lit Life: A Novel
Which is worth more—celebrity or credibility? Set in Manhattan and the Hamptons, Lit Life identifies and deconstructs this dilemma as it takes the reader on a hilarious tour through the world of two eccentric writers. Kyle Clayton, a “once hot, now not” young author and provocateur with a serious case of writer’s block, navigates New York nightlife in an inebriated haze until he meets his literary hero, the dyspeptic and obscure novelist Richard Whitehurst, who is smitten with the notion of Kyle’s former fame. Richard is suffering his own form of breakdown because of the looming collapse of his marriage, not to mention years of public ambivalence toward his work. As the two writers’ lives collide, they find in each other the crutch they’ve each been seeking—and, perhaps, the salvation that has eluded them both.
Kurt Wenzel’s taut, coruscating prose and intimate, precisely rendered take on the literary scene make this the most brilliantly realized novel about the publishing world since Martin Amis’s The Information.
Kurt Wenzel’s taut, coruscating prose and intimate, precisely rendered take on the literary scene make this the most brilliantly realized novel about the publishing world since Martin Amis’s The Information.
- GenresFiction
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 20, 2020
Wenzel is definitely is trying too hard to be literary here. I guess the title should have alerted me to that fact, but I still found it a bit off-putting. But, if you are fascinated by the life of authors, as I am, you can still find this book entertaining.
July 15, 2010
I'm getting behind again, so I'll make this quick. I liked this for the most part. It was pretty fluffy and there were parts where Wenzel seemed to be trying too hard to be clever. But I love most books about writers, artists, or dancers, and this one was no exception. I admit to being a bit of a literary snob like the protags of the book, but I can laugh about it and make fun of myself for sure. The idea of advertising in the middle of a novel nearly gave me a heart attack. I really hope it never comes to that. I understand all the financial hardships the publishing industry has been having, especially recently after this book was published, but I would rather no one read my writing than have advertisements coming at them during the "intermission." UNLESS of course it was part of the experience of the narrative...because that does sound like something I would do.
There was this one chapter I hated, the one with the celebrity baseball. It felt so out of place and just seemed like an excuse to name-drop with abandon. I was glad when that was over. Also it was pretty obvious (at least to me) that Kyle wasn't the one having an affair with Richard's wife because Wenzel was trying so hard to make it seem that way. I was disappointed when Richard ended up dying in the end, but happy that Kyle let Arthur have it. Kerry was also quite an interesting addition to the colorful cast of characters throughout.
Grade: B+
There was this one chapter I hated, the one with the celebrity baseball. It felt so out of place and just seemed like an excuse to name-drop with abandon. I was glad when that was over. Also it was pretty obvious (at least to me) that Kyle wasn't the one having an affair with Richard's wife because Wenzel was trying so hard to make it seem that way. I was disappointed when Richard ended up dying in the end, but happy that Kyle let Arthur have it. Kerry was also quite an interesting addition to the colorful cast of characters throughout.
Grade: B+
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2013
This was a weird book for me. I'm not a fan of literature that tries so hard to be literature, or books that look like they came out of an MFA workshop, so I was prepared to toss this aside after a couple of chapters. Then, despite the characters running the gamut from annoying to downright offensive, I found myself curious to see what would happen next. I knew, this having the overtones of a tragedy, that someone would die, someone would have an ill-advised affair, and things wouldn't end up much better than where they started, but despite the obvious, the author managed to keep it interesting. Can't say as I'd seek out any more by this author, but I don't feel my time was wasted reading this debut effort.
March 30, 2009
Anyone that knows enough about life to recognize their own eternal struggle between sticking to their own beliefs and selling out, no matter what you do for a living, will enjoy this book. It is a classic dilema, and Wenzel's treatment of it in this particular setting (the life of a writer, specifically fiction novels) is very good. His biting wit really makes the book.
I do not think this book would have been nearly as meaningful if I had read it as a teenager or in my early 20's. I think 25+ years in the working world has given me a lot of life experience that allowed me to connect to the book.
I do not think this book would have been nearly as meaningful if I had read it as a teenager or in my early 20's. I think 25+ years in the working world has given me a lot of life experience that allowed me to connect to the book.
July 25, 2008
I loved this send-up of (among many other things) encroaching advertisement in literature. I have been noticing this very disturbing trend of product placement in many novels and this author is the first I've read that addresses it. The books heroes are sort of mavericks and I think Wenzel may fit in that category as well.
March 10, 2011
It's set in New York and it's about fiction writers. I really like this book. It's sad that Richard has to be forever dramatic and keep his true feelings for his daughter and his wife, all for the sake of his art.
One thing I didn't get, though, that baseball game. What the hell was that supposed to be?
One thing I didn't get, though, that baseball game. What the hell was that supposed to be?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2008
Wasn't particularly good. Writing style gets irritating. Eventually I hit the point where I continued reading just to see the end.
November 2, 2008
Well written and enjoyable but there was nothing about the story that's likely to stick with me.
July 2, 2010
kept me reading to see where it was going...it was interesting.
January 24, 2013
I have a jones for novels about writers, so you, navel-gazing. I had fun with it though.
June 11, 2015
Elegant prose, but a lot of sitcomical contrivance. Feel like this book probably plays well in New York, but to outsiders of the literati scene this reads as a bit of an inside joke.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews