Forget “Mad Men.” John Kenney’s debut novel is set against the contemporary advertising world and it’s as informative and entertaining as any novel I’ve read this year. I absolutely adored it.
The protagonist, Fin Dolan, is a droll, sardonic copywriter at a big agency in New York and he’s having a crisis. Not only does he question whether he’s good at his job and whether his job has any meaning whatsoever (we meet him during a shoot for a diapers commercial starring Gwyneth Paltrow), but he’s detached from his siblings even as their father, from whom they’re all estranged, is dying alone in a hospital. And if those aren’t complications enough, he’s just broken off his engagement to Amy, the woman he was supposed to marry in a matter of days, and feels awful about it.
I loved Fin. I loved how he has hilarious imaginary conversations with Oprah and Barbara Walters and Terry Gross from NPR’s “Fresh Air,” all of whom interview him about his life and, in spite of his resistance, coax the truth out of him.
I loved his growing realization of his feelings for Phoebe, his “best friend” at the agency.
I loved how he slowly – painfully slowly – comes to understand why his family was so shattered by his father (and mother, as it turns out).
And I loved how he gives us such razor sharp descriptions of all his co-workers.
In the book’s acknowledgments, Kenney writes that “Truth in Advertising” is his second first novel (I guess the first try is still in the computer, in the trash bin). All I can say is that this second effort is so accomplished that I hope he doesn’t stop here. I look forward to seeing what he does next. He’s an exciting voice in contemporary fiction. I don’t often feel empty after finishing a book, and the fact that his left me bereft says something about his talent for creating memorable characters.
Tags: John Kenney, Truth in Advertising
I love when you want more and you’ve just completed the book.
I also enjoy your recommendations because I just finished a book that left me thinking, “I think this would be a good movie, lousy book!” So I will certainly try this one.
Gone Girl was such a great idea with a good twist. But my God it was written in such a way that I was getting so bored. It became burdensome to finish. It was crawling and I just didn’t find the way it went back and forth in time enjoyable. At times I just didn’t give a shit if they found her. So I skipped a bunch of it and went towards the end to rap this sucker up. Now it was getting good. I do see this as a good movie though just not the great book everyone else loved.
You were bored with Gone Girl, Peg? Wow. First time I’ve heard that. I found the use of the two points of view very involving, because we got to see what was happening with each character and it made the novel even more twisty and fun for me.
I just read a review of the book on amazon and was thrilled to see I wasn’t the only one.
Although I think we may be the only two. :-)
You’re never the only one, Peg. Everybody reacts differently to books, movies, any kind of “art.” That’s what makes it fun to discuss!
Yea Margaret…I felt exactly the same way as you regarding gone girl. Didn’t give a shit if they found the dumb girl or not, I did finish it but thought it was way too confusing. And still no conclusion for me as to why the dumb bitch left to begin with! The first half of the book was great and held my interest but boy I lost it fast! I still can not figure out why this book was on so many respected authors top list of 2012.
I also just downloads the sample of truth in advertising…which I was in for 20 years, so hoping this one is better!