The Financial Lives of the Poets

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The Financial Lives of the Poets by Jess Walter (Harper, 2009, $25.99)

I read great reviews of this book and remembered because the title is just so odd! Then in reading the first page, I knew I was in for a great ride. It's another one of those men-falling-apart books... a la Mark Sarvas' Harry Revised and Joseph O'Neill's Netherland. If you liked those, you'll love this. Also, it's extremely cogent as our hero Matthew Prior is a terminated journalist, a failed dot.com starter, and is facing a balloon payment his wife has no idea of. She's busy upstairs online reconnecting with an old lover, and the kids are basically fending for themselves. VERY funny, good writing and really a pleasure to get engrossed in. Read it before the economy recovers further!!!