Today it's a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner.
Taffy Brodesser-Akner is a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine. She has also written for GQ, ESPN the Magazine, and many other publications. Fleischmann is in Trouble is her first novel.
Follow @taffyakner on Twitter, on Amazon, on Goodreads, Visit taffyakner.com, Buy Fleishman is in Trouble
About the book
Finally free from his nightmare of a marriage, Toby Fleishman is ready for a life of Tinder dating and weekend-only parental duties. But as he optimistically looks to a future of few responsibilities, his life turns upside-down as his ex-wife Rachel suddenly disappears.
While Toby tries to find out what happened - juggling work, kids and his new, app-assisted sexual popularity - his tidy narrative of a spurned husband is his sole consolation. But if he ever wants to really understand where Rachel went and what really happened to his marriage, he is going to have to consider that he might not have seen it all that clearly in the first place . . .
Finally free from his nightmare of a marriage, Toby Fleishman is ready for a life of Tinder dating and weekend-only parental duties. But as he optimistically looks to a future of few responsibilities, his life turns upside-down as his ex-wife Rachel suddenly disappears.
While Toby tries to find out what happened - juggling work, kids and his new, app-assisted sexual popularity - his tidy narrative of a spurned husband is his sole consolation. But if he ever wants to really understand where Rachel went and what really happened to his marriage, he is going to have to consider that he might not have seen it all that clearly in the first place . . .
It's fair to say this gives readers a rather dim view on society, perhaps more so on women and I wonder if the underdog called feminism is actually given a kicking, instead of showing the systemic oppression of women, by presenting a gaudy caricature of them. It really depends whether people can or will read between the lines.
Toby has suddenly become a petit four for every woman with an itch. Why? Because he is now considered an unattached male since his marriage fell apart. This is the story of his coming to terms with the new him. The single man with critical kids and a demanding nearly ex-wife.
Right at the beginning there is this short bit about Hannah, which gives you an idea of what kind of voice to expect. It made me smirk, this accurate depiction of the conundrum known to humankind as 'teenage girl' - those who have experienced wrangling one of them will know of the very specific interim species and how they come with selective memories. Those of who haven't experienced handling one of them thank your deities and do a course on quantum physics instead - it's by far a pleasanter experience and easier to comprehend.
I think the most interesting thing about this premise is what would probably happen if you change one element. Take away the money and the gist of the story becomes an everyday tale. Tell the same story with money and it becomes a fascinating introspective deconstruction of a marriage.
The book might be a bit of a marmite read. Some readers will be unable to see past the air of pretension that often comes with a read that has set out to be literary fiction, as opposed to accidentally being coined as one. The others will enjoy the snarky brutally honest approach to a very common problem - the dysfunction in families and the pandora's box of divorce.
Toby has suddenly become a petit four for every woman with an itch. Why? Because he is now considered an unattached male since his marriage fell apart. This is the story of his coming to terms with the new him. The single man with critical kids and a demanding nearly ex-wife.
Right at the beginning there is this short bit about Hannah, which gives you an idea of what kind of voice to expect. It made me smirk, this accurate depiction of the conundrum known to humankind as 'teenage girl' - those who have experienced wrangling one of them will know of the very specific interim species and how they come with selective memories. Those of who haven't experienced handling one of them thank your deities and do a course on quantum physics instead - it's by far a pleasanter experience and easier to comprehend.
I think the most interesting thing about this premise is what would probably happen if you change one element. Take away the money and the gist of the story becomes an everyday tale. Tell the same story with money and it becomes a fascinating introspective deconstruction of a marriage.
The book might be a bit of a marmite read. Some readers will be unable to see past the air of pretension that often comes with a read that has set out to be literary fiction, as opposed to accidentally being coined as one. The others will enjoy the snarky brutally honest approach to a very common problem - the dysfunction in families and the pandora's box of divorce.
Buy Fleishman is in Trouble at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Published by Wildfire 21st April 2020 in Paperback, £8.99. Also in ebook and audiobook. Buy at Amazon com.
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