I read this book in Italy.

It is truly a rather awful piece of literature. The main character is extremely despicable, lacking any redeeming qualities.

I recall that I had made an attempt to read it several years ago, but fortunately, I had the good sense to give up.

I have a great affection for the other two books written by Tim O'Brien that I have read.

Those works were engaging, thought-provoking, and filled with rich characters and vivid storytelling.

In contrast, this particular book fails to capture my interest or hold my attention.

It seems to lack the depth and substance that I have come to expect from Tim O'Brien's writing.

Perhaps it is just a matter of personal taste, but I cannot recommend this book to others.

However, I would highly encourage readers to explore the other works of Tim O'Brien, as they are truly worth the read.

Another oblivious, delusional crotch-led loser stumble-raving through an otherwise interesting story.

It's truly a sight to behold. This individual seems completely unaware of the chaos they are causing with their nonsensical rantings.

Their delusions are so profound that they believe their every word is of great importance, when in reality, it's just a sad display of self-importance.

Despite the interesting backdrop of the story, this loser manages to detract from it with their pathetic behavior.

It's almost comical to watch them stumble and rave, as if they are in their own little world.

However, beneath the humor lies a sense of pity for this lost soul.

Maybe they are crying out for attention, or perhaps they are just too far gone to realize the error of their ways.

Either way, it's a reminder that we should always strive to be self-aware and respectful of others, rather than becoming another oblivious, delusional crotch-led loser.

This novel presents a rather offensive character, a man who is not only obsessed with his ex-wife and spends all his time devising revenge plans against her but also fixates on seemingly every woman he comes across. He even logs each encounter, no matter how insignificant, in a "ledger."

Interestingly, he is a professor of linguistics, which injects humor into the writing style. He constantly examines his own and others' use of language in an amusing manner. Moreover, his blatant belief that he is smarter than everyone around him further adds to the comical aspect. It's a funny book that deliberately employs the "unreliable narrator" device to great effect. This guy is truly delusional, and it's entertaining to explore his warped perspective.

I have read numerous books of this kind, especially recently. The tactic of using a crazy or unreliable narrator is one of my favorites. I enjoy the "love to hate" relationship with book characters, especially when it's done cleverly. In this case, I felt the book was good but not outstanding. I found it somewhat amusing but not uproariously funny. After a while, some of the linguistic wordplay became tiresome for me. However, I can understand that many other readers might have a much greater appreciation for it.

On page 172, it becomes crystal clear that Thomas H. Chippering, the protagonist of Tim O’Brien’s darkly outrageous new novel, Tomcat in Love, is presidential not only in his appearance but in his actions, as well. More on that in a moment.

First, it helps to remember something philosopher-writer William Gass once wrote about the words that are his stock and trade: “When a character looks out through a window, or occasionally peeks in through one, it is the word ‘window’ he is really looking through.” Put another way, there is no reality in fiction outside of ink on the page. The words resonate inside of us even as much as the actions they describe.

Words in and of themselves constitute a kind of reality for Chippering, too. A professor of linguistics, he is undergoing what he calls—with breathtaking understatement -- “a certain subtle frenzy” in his life. Deserted by his wife and childhood sweetheart Lorna Sue, he is stalked by memories of their life together. In turn, he stalks Lorna Sue, along with her new husband and her brother Herbie, all the while ruminating on the history that has brought him first to the edge of, and then completely over, the cliff of breakdown.

“The world shrieks and sinks talons into our hearts. This we call memory,” O’Brien’s narrator tells us. And for him, memory is contained entirely within a short list of words, like “Tampa” (where Lorna Sue cuckolded him), or “Pontiac” (upon which they first consummated their love), or “turtle.” All the mystery of words seems to be wrapped up inside of “turtle.” “I cannot encounter that word without a gate creaking open inside me,” Chippering admits. “Turtle for the world—turtle for you—will never be turtle for me.”

Altogether reasonable. And sympathetic. But it quickly becomes apparent that Chippering is another of O’Brien’s notoriously unreliable narrators. On the one hand, he tells us that he resembles “a clean-shaven version of our sixteenth President”; on the other, he insists on being irresistible to women. By page 172, it is apparent that the professor is not simply vainglorious (though often hilariously so) but dangerous. That’s when we learn about the ledger, where, since adolescence, Chippering has recorded his history with women: “Hand-holdings: 421. Nuzzlings: 233. Valentines: 98. Marriages: 1. Meaningful gazes: 1,788. Home runs: 4. Near misses: 128.” Chippering defends the book as “a professional’s daily log,” and so absurdly reveals himself to be the worst kind of sexual predator: one who seems to be entirely unaware of himself and who continually uses language to finesse and justify his actions.

In this novel, O'Brien masterfully crafts a complex and disturbing character in Thomas H. Chippering. The way he uses words to both describe and distort reality is both fascinating and alarming. As we delve deeper into the story, we see how Chippering's actions, which he justifies through his linguistic gymnastics, have far-reaching consequences. The ledger he keeps is a chilling reminder of his objectification of women and his lack of self-awareness. O'Brien forces us to question our own perceptions of reality and the role that language plays in shaping it. Through Chippering's unreliable narration, we are left to wonder what is truly happening and who we can trust. The novel is a thought-provoking exploration of love, loss, and the dark side of human nature.

It makes us reflect on our own relationships and the ways in which we use words to communicate and deceive. Tomcat in Love is a powerful and engaging read that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.

This is an extremely deeply weird book.

From the very beginning, I found myself unexpectedly rooting for the protagonist. However, I couldn't quite figure out the exact reason why until a certain moment when I suddenly realized that he was never actually the villain.

He was rather misguided and had some strange behaviors, yet he couldn't be simply classified as a bad guy.

The characters in this book were really well crafted. They were multi-dimensional, with various aspects to their personalities.

Moreover, they all had their own flaws, which made them seem more real and relatable.

Although there was a rough slog in the middle part of the book, which made the reading process a bit challenging, I persisted and in the end, it was all worth it.

The overall experience of reading this book was truly unique and left a deep impression on me.

This dark comedy was truly a fresh and distinct addition to my reading list.

And the fact that I got it for just 50 cents at the library book sale made it an even greater bargain!

In many excellent ways, this novel brought to mind Election by Tom Perrotta or Straight Man by Richard Russo.

Essentially, it's about a middle-aged man who is losing his hold on reality and is hell-bent on seeking revenge against those who have wronged him.

O'Brien's story-telling is incredibly funny. The plot unfolds in a way that is both predictable in its ever-increasing craziness, yet also unpredictable in terms of how it will all ultimately end.

I've really enjoyed his more serious work, but those often involve mental illness and delusions related to war.

In that sense, this novel is similar to his others, but with a plot centered around divorce, career ruin, and such.

Overall, I would highly recommend Tomcat in Love. It's a unique and entertaining read that will keep you hooked from start to finish.

Like all of Mr. O'Brien's works, this book delves into the Viet Nam war, yet in a distinct manner.

It is a full-on comedy centered around a loser in search of love. I couldn't help but laugh uproariously at both the predicaments Thomas Chipperling found himself in and the remarkable way O'Brien weaves words together. He is truly an amazing writer.

It's light-hearted, yet also profoundly serious. Whenever someone requests a funny book recommendation from me, this one invariably tops my list. It's extremely absurd, yet simultaneously, too damn real. And that's a challenging way to write, which he accomplishes beautifully!

To borrow a term from Tomcat in Love, anyone can be "squid-like" and spray ink on a page, but not everyone can write as skillfully as Tim O'Brien. This is a book that I cannot recommend to all of my female friends due to the protagonist being such a blatant womanizer. However, for those with truly stout hearts who prioritize great prose over social etiquette, I can wholeheartedly point to this book and label it as genius.

We accompany Thomas Chipperling through a rather arduous year of his life following the breakdown of his marriage. It is simultaneously a bleak portrayal of a man's obsession with women and a fantastical tale of revenge gone awry.

O'Brien is an outstanding wordsmith, and at times, I was truly moved by the humanity of Thomas. In the end, all actions become more than understandable, and I would encourage anyone who felt mired in the storyteller's quicksand to persevere with the book. It pays off in the end. I believe that comedy can be more challenging to create than drama, and thus, this comic novel truly merits high praise. Indeed, if you desire to laugh and admire linguistic acrobatics, then this is a captivating read.

It has been several years since I read it, but I keep reflecting on it... and it's simply great. Highly recommended. And if you wish to explore O'Brien's works, I would suggest this or The Things They Carried.

I balk at giving this novel the full four stars, but I don't feel that it deserved only three.

To be honest, much of the humor in the book was muddled and mired. It seemed to play more to an audience of one, namely the writer himself, rather than anyone else.

Most of the time when it was supposed to be comedic, it just seemed terribly pathetic. I'm not referring to the writing here, but rather the actual happenings in the story.

This book is ridiculously self-indulgent and lacks the poignancy of his other works such as "If I Die in a Combat Zone Box Me Up and Ship Me Home" and "The Things They Carried".

However, it is light years beyond his first novel, "Northern Lights". I can understand that this is supposed to be more of a black comedy, but it comes off as an old man trying to make sense of his midlife crisis in a mocking and terribly self-absorbed way.

The only thing that really saved it for me and earned the four stars was that the writing, although choppy in its narrative, was perfect. And once every hundred pages or so, he would floor me with some sentence or other about life or love or women or feminism or what have you.

I have a deep affection for Tim O'Brien. His writing is truly remarkable, presenting conflicted views of the world, human interaction, and most prominently, war.

He typically focuses on writing about men in war, so I was rather surprised when I started reading what turned out to be essentially a romance novel. However, this is a romance novel that is distinctively Tim O'Brien's. It contains all the elements of his characteristic writing style, yet with a touch of romance.

The main character is rather unlikable. He is a pompous, self-involved, and boorish professor of linguistics who simply can't get over his ex-wife, despite the fact that the split was entirely his fault. He is like a tomcat, constantly fixating on his interactions with other women, which is where the title comes from. He also has the annoying habit of constantly correcting other people's grammar.

The characters are flawed but fairly realistic, which I really appreciate. In fact, there are very few likable characters in the whole book. The plot takes some time to gain momentum, but once it does, near the end, it becomes truly gripping.

I highly recommend this book, especially for those readers who are grammar snobs (I won't deny it myself...). It offers a unique blend of Tim O'Brien's signature style and a romantic storyline that will keep you engaged from start to finish.

I did not like the character from the very beginning.

His actions and behaviors seemed unappealing and uninteresting to me. However, I had to keep reading the story, hoping that at some point, he would redeem himself.

I was eager to see if there would be a transformation, if his true nature would reveal something more likable or redeemable. But as I continued to turn the pages, it became clear that there was no such redemption in sight.

The character remained the same, and my initial dislike for him only grew stronger. It was disappointing, as I had held out hope for a different outcome.

Nevertheless, I persisted in reading, perhaps out of curiosity or a sense of obligation to finish the story. But deep down, I knew that my opinion of the character was unlikely to change.

I'll admit it.

I truly loved the first half of this book. However, as I progressed, I gradually lost interest in the narrator's voice. After finally finishing May We Be Forgiven, I came to realize that there are dozens of similarities between these two works. And Homes' novel managed to get me to the point where I wanted to be much faster.

I'm quite certain that there's a thesis or at least a really excellent book review lurking in the comparison of these two titles. But I'll leave that task to someone else. I really appreciate that O'Brien took such a bold risk in writing in a tone that is so different from what we typically expect from him. Nevertheless, I love him for his remarkable work on Vietnam, and The Things They Carried still remains my favorite of his and one of my all-time favorite war stories.

It's interesting to see how different authors approach similar themes and yet create such distinct literary experiences.

Thomas H. Chippering is truly a man of an abundance of words. He is completely obsessive when it comes to the English language. His relationship with his ex-wife Lorna Sue is rather complex, and he has a tendency to ogle at young women, yet never touch them.

The book in question is one that I ordinarily wouldn't have selected. However, once I began reading it, I found myself completely unable to put it down. O'Brien masterfully weaves a strange and sometimes meandering story about Tom and his unique brand of quarkiness.

The narrative takes unexpected turns, keeping the reader engaged and curious about what will happen next. Tom's character is both endearing and frustrating, and his actions and thoughts add an element of mystery to the story.

Overall, this book is a captivating read that offers a unique perspective on human nature and relationships. It is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good story that challenges their expectations.