But nothing lasts: the death of an old lover and a sudden financial crisis has Less running away from his problems yet again as he accepts a series of literary gigs that send him on a zigzagging adventure across the US. Less Is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer Book Summaryįor Arthur Less, life is going surprisingly well: he is a moderately accomplished novelist in a steady relationship with his partner, Freddy Pelu.

Less Is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer Epub Review.

Less Is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer Book Summary.

Will love conquer all? As Freddy notes, 'Well, reader, I will simply let you guess. And despite the novel's self-conscious moments, Greer bears down on his character's quest with a command of craft second to none. The author's gifts are manifold, though, and Less Is Lost finds its path, holding tight to a Kerouac-like exuberance even as Less falls short of the enlightenment he seeks. Although an agile stylist, he's captivated by the cadences of his own voice, the web of Less' relationships, and an unpersuasive reckoning. Greer is not only winking at the reader, he's winking at himself. Greer's wordplay is glorious: He drop-shots puns and ripostes, firing up his prose. Greer's a master of the picaresque, deftly moving his protagonist from a seedy, David Lynch-esque desert bar through the flatlands of Texas to a Southern theater troupe. From his New England perch, Freddy narrates hilarious, cinematic scenes that include affectionate if campy portraits of Arthur. Like its predecessor, the new novel is a feat of wit and brio, tougher than it looks. technically accomplished, wildly entertaining. Greer is a great chronicler of our times, and his vision of America celebrates the best of it while also showing its dark side, and that makes this novel required reading.

perfectly balanced sad and joyful, honest and hilarious, wonderfully strange and very real. Greer is a very talented storyteller, and there are shining lines in Less is Lost that dip their toes in poetry. While the story is told by Less’ partner Freddy - a literary tactic that works surprisingly well and serves to pull readers into the story time and time again as Freddy addresses the reader directly - Arthur Less is the heart and soul of this novel. Poignant, smart and funny, the mix of elements Greer brings to the table here makes this an outstanding book that’s part road trip, part love story and part keen observation of contemporary America.

a touching, hilarious narrative that works both as a follow-up to Greer’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Less and as an introduction to an unforgettable character for those who haven’t read about Arthur Less before.

Less is lost greer