I now have in my anxious hands my signed copy of Bob Thurber’s debut novel, Paperboy: A Dysfunctional Novel (Casperian Books, 2011), for early review as I am officially a part of the promotional campaign leading up to and after its May 2011 release. So this will not be the last posting about this special book.
What I have read so far is classic Thurber: a story about damaged people finding their way, told through his most intimate first-person voice yet, and prose so keen you’ll cut your eyes reading it. Thurber doesn’t pad his word count like many literary writers do, his prose is very economic. But don’t let this fool you into thinking the writing is bare, it’s quite the contrary. Each sentence feels robust because he makes every word count; he doesn’t overwrite. He simply tells you everything you need to know in the most direct and efficient way. In other words, he’s more storyteller than writer; he gets out of the way to allow the character and story be the star rather than himself. I have always raved about Thurber’s often convincing, true confessional styled storytelling. Well, this time it’s more confessional than ever with its outsourcing of a certain amount of autobiographical events. I will share more non-spoilery details about this exciting new book in my continuous review over the coming weeks.
Paperboy has been called “a brave book, a necessary book”. A “coming of age Noir.” And “disturbing”.
Read an excerpt from Casperian Books.
Read Part 1 of my exclusive interview with Bob Thurber @ Liquid Imagination online.
Pre-order a signed copy of Paperboy: A Dysfunctional Novel by the author, directly from the author.
Barnes & Noble customers can order here.
Bob Thurber is the recipient of 40 awards and citations for his short fiction, including The Barry Hannah Fiction Prize. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife Colleen.
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