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Misadventure (2010)

by Millard Kaufman(Favorite Author)

3.4 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

1934781541 (ISBN13: 9781934781548)

languge

English

genre

Fiction

publisher

McSweeney's

review 1: Kaufman, as in Bowl of Cherries, is hilarious. This noir is entertaining enough and, considering the man was on his deathbed as this went through the editing stages, is pretty good however it does not live up to the promise of Bowl of Cherries. The characters are appropriately outrageous and the protagonist manages to garner some sympathy from the reader but at the end all I could think was "that's it?" which, in my experience, isn't always the best reaction to a novel. Then again, noir was never really my bag.
review 2: kaufman's backstory is interesting enough (first published in his 90s, co-creator of mr. magoo, oscar-nominated screenwriter), and 'misadventure' (his last novel) was even moreso. picked this up off blind recommendation and was very impressed.... more at times this reminded me of denis johnson's 'nobody move,' maybe just because it's the last neo-noir-ish thing i've read. this is better than johnson's book -- the plot is more alive and breathes with characters that are comic and believable without coming off as simple archetypes. funny, too -- kaufman's language and pacing is wry, smart stuff. the publisher blurb that mentions the coen bros. isn't too far off. finally, there's a sensitivity to human nature and longing here that could only come from someone in their 90s. the ending hits harder and deeper than a whodunnit should, and it's all the better for it. i'll definitely be checking out his first novel, 'bowl of cherries.' less

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