Finished “A Wolf...” tonight, a fantastic read. Funny, anguished, inventive and real. The format could’ve been jarring or meandering but it worked really well. And the angel therapy scene was hysterical, like prime Douglas Adams. Immense. Honestly the best thing I've read in ages - keir@ghostpapamargate
I just finished your book!!!! & it’s brilliant. I really, really, really enjoyed it. It’s very funny, and because it’s so funny, it makes it even sadder. My heart was hurting at the end. - Beth Richards
I took a bit of a gamble on this book. Not financially of course, but as much as the blurb intrigued me, I did wonder if it would be too experimental for my tastes. The book plays with chronology and narrative structure. In fact, it might be inaccurate to even call this a novel. It could equally be viewed as a collection of loosely bound short stories. The distinction between fiction and non-fiction is blurred. The ostensible protagonist has the same name as the author.
The author calls it “literary speculative autofiction with a dark, comedic, satirical edge.” The publisher calls it “an amalgamation of puzzle pieces. ”I’m quoting these comments to alert you that it’s best to read the book with an open mind, not expecting it to conform to rules. Many reviews (of other books) basically recount the entire plot. I couldn’t do that here even if I wanted to.
The book is primarily centred around a drug-addicted teacher who wants to repair his breaking marriage, but there are also angels, a Syrian doctor and a doomsday sect.
At the start of the book, I thought that I would answer a fundamental question. Is there a plan that ensures it reaches a rewarding and pleasurable conclusion, or is it merely a jumble of disparate ideas, styles and stream of consciousness stuck together because the author has no clue about character, plot or structure?
Having read the book, I have my own answer, but maybe I was asking the wrong question. I raced through it. It is funny, moving and rich in language. I enjoyed each part of the book and stopped worrying about how or if it all fitted together. I’m not aware of any books or writers that this is like. I could come up with comparisons and labels, but if you want your reading to be based around comforting Netflix-like algorithms, this probably isn’t for you. My conclusion; different and enjoyable to read. - Andrew
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