This Book Will Save Your Life at Amazon
I first picked this book up in a library. I turned it over and read Stephen King compare it to The Catcher In The Rye and Catch-22. When a writer like Stephen King talks about a book with - lets face it - doughnuts on the front, and calls it a ‘generational touchstone’, it makes you (or me, at least) wonder what the hell this book does that is so special. I was intrigued.
I took the book out on a seven-day loan, for it seemed suddenly everyone wanted to find out what this book had to offer, and the library weren’t offering renewals. With almost 400 pages, I wasn’t convinced I’d get the book finished within a week, but it became clear pretty soon after I opened it up that that wouldn’t be a problem, because this is a book I couldn’t put down the first time I read it, and haven’t been able to put down any of the times I’ve read it since. I now own my own copy and have bought one for many friends.
This Book Will Save Your Life tells the story of Richard Novak, a man living in LA with a little more money than he seems to know what to do with and undergoing an ‘emotional thaw’. In the opening pages Richard is experiencing an excruciating pain, although he cannot describe what it is or where it hurts. From here on in he embarks on an extensive and brilliant journey to discover the source of this pain, that is entirely lovable from beginning to end.
‘The Doughnut Book’, as I have become more fondly accustomed to calling it, is impossible to do justice to in a few hundred words simply because there is so much to it. The Guardian’s review sums it up pretty well in my mind: “like those doughnuts, it’s packed with unexpected pleasures”. If I were to choose one word to describe this book with it would be ‘unexpected’. There is no end to the surprises you’ll face once you start turning the pages here. This Book Will Save Your Life made me laugh (a lot), cry, and want to buy a copy for everyone I know.
I didn’t think it was possible, but This Book Will Save Your Life really is in a league with the likes of The Catcher In The Rye. Personally - though don’t tell anyone I said - I think it’s better. The blurb concludes: “A sharp and wildly entertaining novel about new beginnings, transformation and the weirdness of LA, This Book Will Save Your Life reveals what can happen if you are willing to open up to the world around you.” It couldn’t be more fitting.
8 responses so far ↓
1 Jeremiah // Jun 16, 2008 at 8:45 pm
You have certainly made me very interested in checking this book out, might have to go pick it up.
2 marstonx12 // Jun 21, 2008 at 10:35 pm
and I also, i have heard a few others talk highly of this book, time to check it out methinks…
3 Aaron // Jul 8, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I started reading this last week, its very interesting to say the least.
4 Joss // Jul 12, 2008 at 8:05 am
Its a bizarre book, I love the bit where he helps to lift a horse from a pot hole, with the help of the actor that’s never named.
5 Aaron // Jul 12, 2008 at 12:35 pm
I’m at the point where Richard is seeing the crying women he met in the supermarket in his wifes hotel room.
6 lilyfurneaux // Aug 21, 2008 at 6:02 pm
I got this out from the library today..quite looking forward to it. I’ve read Homes’ work before - The End Of Alice.. very very dark with a grotesque wit, like American Psycho meets Lolita!
7 elena // Oct 20, 2008 at 10:21 pm
This Book Will Save Your Life made me laugh (a lot), cry, and want to buy a copy for everyone I know.
If I were to recommend a book, only one, to a friend, that would be “This Book Will Save Your Life”.
8 Aaron // Oct 21, 2008 at 12:10 am
Im going to read this again.
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