Tepper Isn't Going Out

I walk dogs while I listen and I was laughing so loudly that my dogs kept stopping and turning around to see what had gotten into me. I tried to explain it to them but I don't think they ever understood. What a hoot this book is.

Very funny. As a former New Yorker I enjoyed every minute of it.

Simply one of the most entertaining books I have read or listened to this year. Mr. Trillum delivery is dry but laced with humor and grace as he explores the ordinary life of Tepper as it turns very extraordinary by the most unusual of circumstances. His acerbic wit casts its gaze on all aspects of our modern life - work, family, politics and much more. Tis a book to curl up with in any convenient parking spot and enjoy.

After reading all the reviews touting how humorous this book was, I must admit, I'm quite disappointed. I didn't "laugh out loud" or even giggle. I equate this book to reading a human interest story in the newspaper; you read it, for a moment think,"hmm okay interesting" then you move on. The ending left me wondering "that's it?" Though the descriptions of the city area are quite good and whisked me away to NYC, they do not make up for the weak storyline. Perhaps this is a book you should read only when you are circling the West Side looking for a parking spot.

what are the midwestern male virtues ?
stoicism / dependability / humility
being useful in the face of adversity

and the virtues of new york jewish males ?
shrewd / shrill / clever / read the fine print
unruffled in the face of adversity

who could possibly have a foot in both worlds ?
well his name is calvin " call me bud " trillin
he has written a small humble shrewd book to prove it

the main character lives life on this own terms
the world wants to press him into its' mold
he resists in a stubborn thoughtful way

the book is a parable for grown men
it is a primer on how to live an authentic life
trillin tells you the hard truth with a sly wink

This ambling tale moves leisurely but sharply through the landscape of New York cranks, politicians, idiosyncratic regulations, and the inanity of fame. Tepper is an affable eccentric with one obsession: parking. The response of NYC to his outre behaviour moves the story along.
I enjoyed every moment of this whimsical reading, and wish Trillin's dry delivery were available for all his books, starting with "American Fried!"

This is the funniest laugh out loud book I have read since Confederacy of Dunces. You can see every character in the book as if they were in your living room.

I thought I'd enjoy listening to the author reading his book - I've listened to him on Public Radio and enjoyed him immensely - read some of his other works and enjoyed those.

His voice is enjoyable for about 20 minutes and then I just could not listen to him anymore. His voice just can't keep me interested for longer than about 15 minutes.

I tried - I really tried, but I'm getting the book to read and keep my listening to Mr Trillin on the radio.

... Or I guess I should say "I've heard better." I am a big fan of Mr. Trillin's writing, and have read most of his non-fiction over the years. He's a funny man, and a good writer.

That being said, there are a couple of flaws that make me not so fond of the audiobook. The first is that his reading is rather bland, and does not do his prose justice. Most authors should leave reading to the professionals, and Mr. Trillin is unfortunately one of them. The second is that the prose itself suffers from that characteristic flaw of first-time novelists who have been writing for many years: Many of the jokes and themes have appeared many times in his earlier work. (If you've heard the phrase 'sabbath gasbag' before, you'll be in my boat.) This detracts somewhat from the enjoyment. Though it evokes the same nostalgia one feels for the city that the rest of the book does, it's not so pleasant in the ideas of the book as opposed to the milieu.

I was very excited after reading other people's reviews and thought I was in for something great. That never happened - in fact I struggled through the first couple of hours and finally cut my losses and stopped listening. This book is boring and not funny.