Wakefield
A Novel
by Andrei Codrescu
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Pub Date Sep 08 2015 | Archive Date Dec 08 2015
Open Road Integrated Media | Open Road Media
Description
A modern-day Faust embarks on a wild romp through the peculiar and preposterous American landscape
When the Devil shows up in Wakefield's living room to announce that his time is up, the bookish “de-motivational” speaker tries to strike a deal. The Devil agrees to prolong Wakefield's life—for now—on the condition that within the next year he finds a more authentic existence. For Wakefield, who is estranged from his family, nearly friendless, and excellent at his job of lowering expectations in a positivity-crazed world, living “authentically” is a tall order. But he will try: an extra 12 months might be worth it.
Wakefield's bargain sets in motion a cross-country quest to find his life's purpose. Along the way, he encounters an array of all-American weirdness from plastic surgeons and sadomasochistic strippers to phony New Age yoga gurus and billion-dollar tech start-ups. Codrescu's astute observations and quick wit illuminate the comedy found in our national culture of narcissism and self-improvement.
When the Devil shows up in Wakefield's living room to announce that his time is up, the bookish “de-motivational” speaker tries to strike a deal. The Devil agrees to prolong Wakefield's life—for now—on the condition that within the next year he finds a more authentic existence. For Wakefield, who is estranged from his family, nearly friendless, and excellent at his job of lowering expectations in a positivity-crazed world, living “authentically” is a tall order. But he will try: an extra 12 months might be worth it.
Wakefield's bargain sets in motion a cross-country quest to find his life's purpose. Along the way, he encounters an array of all-American weirdness from plastic surgeons and sadomasochistic strippers to phony New Age yoga gurus and billion-dollar tech start-ups. Codrescu's astute observations and quick wit illuminate the comedy found in our national culture of narcissism and self-improvement.
Advance Praise
“One of our most prodigiously talented and magical writers, [Codrescu]
manages to be brilliant and insightful, tough and seductive about
American culture.” —The New York Times Book Review
“Perverse, romantic, profound, hilarious, cynical, moving, always surprising, and gorgeously written, Wakefield is hell-bent comic poetry, and the best kind of fun: the sort that forever changes the way you look at the world, from picayune details to the meaning of life.” —Elizabeth McCracken
“Wakefield zig-zags on wheels of comic brilliance, totally flattening a lot of useless architecture—physical and psychological—along the way.” —Tom Robbins
“A brilliantly inventive cathedral of a book. No one—and I mean no one—is more deeply in touch with the zeitgeist of this obsessive, lunatic age than Andrei Codrescu. In our culture, in our literature, he is essential.” —Robert Olen Butler
“Perverse, romantic, profound, hilarious, cynical, moving, always surprising, and gorgeously written, Wakefield is hell-bent comic poetry, and the best kind of fun: the sort that forever changes the way you look at the world, from picayune details to the meaning of life.” —Elizabeth McCracken
“Wakefield zig-zags on wheels of comic brilliance, totally flattening a lot of useless architecture—physical and psychological—along the way.” —Tom Robbins
“A brilliantly inventive cathedral of a book. No one—and I mean no one—is more deeply in touch with the zeitgeist of this obsessive, lunatic age than Andrei Codrescu. In our culture, in our literature, he is essential.” —Robert Olen Butler
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9781504019880 |
| PRICE | $14.99 (USD) |
Links
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