All of the reviews quoted on the cover of Tomcat in Love describe it as a "comic novel," or "wildly funny," or "laugh-out-loud funny." I closed the book and looked at those reviews multiple times during my reading.

The main character is a rather hapless fellow. He is a professor of linguistics in Minnesota, a Vietnam veteran, and a man who believes he is irresistible to women (don't believe it? Just ask him, and he'll tell you). However, things always seem to go wrong for him. He married his childhood sweetheart, Lorna Sue, but she has since left him and married a tycoon with a silly name. The problem is that Thomas simply can't let go, no matter how much his pursuit of her disrupts his life.

Sounds hilarious, doesn't it?

Well, it is, to a certain extent. It reminded me of an Elmore Leonard novel being blended with Catch-22 and about a third of Tristram Shandy, and then someone adding a dash of A Confederacy of Dunces. (Full disclosure: I really disliked A Confederacy of Dunces, but I can't help but notice some similarities between Ignatius T. Reilly and Thomas H. Chippering). O'Brien has a talent for mixing the heartbreaking, the true, and the ridiculous within each paragraph, and he does this frequently in this book. I felt that the book might have been a little too long, but I'm not sure what could be cut. I just know that my reading speed slowed down in the latter part.

Recommended for: fans of breaking the fourth wall, word lovers, and people who don't mind the absurdity intertwined with their pathos (or vice versa).

Quote: "The shortest distance between two points may well be a straight line, but one must remember that efficiency is not the only narrative virtue."

This book is very entertaining at times, filled with lots of verbal pyrotechnics. The narrator is semi-lovable and semi-reliable. It's not "Swann in Love" by Marcel Proust, but it has its own charm. However, be aware that it's definitely a rant, and a long one at that. So, the one-track tone can get a little tedious at times.

Despite this, O'Brien makes up for it with a snazzy construction and a bluffer of an ending. The story is well-crafted, with interesting twists and turns that keep the reader engaged. The ending is unexpected and adds an element of surprise to the whole narrative.

Overall, this book is a fun read, especially for those who enjoy a good rant. It may not be a classic like "Swann in Love", but it has its own unique qualities that make it worth checking out.

Either it’s brilliant or trash. But if an author can get under your skin, he/she did a good job. That is, if that was the intention. To justify finishing the book, I decided to read this as a parody of so-called manhood. Otherwise, it was too annoying. I can’t believe what a pitiful person the main character is. I am surprised I even finished the book. But that is explained below.

It's about a flagrant womanizer. A story of self-destruction. Of delusional self-aggrandizing. It's also a story of an obsessive love. Of out-of-proportion revenge when it's over. Born out of a need for affection. Disturbing really. Neurotic. He does realize this: “this love drive went haywire at a very early stage.” But reading about it is exhausting. Although the writer tries to mask it by so-called funniness. I got this book from a friend; otherwise, I would not have read it, let alone finish. However, I admit that I was curious how it would end.

As he plots his revenge, we keep on getting flashbacks of how he came to this point. Reminisces of boyhood. Of adulthood. Early memories. Lots of details. Humor. As told by Thomas Chippering, our lovelorn “hero”. And the inevitable childhood friend, Herbie, who would haunt him all his life. It's a very male perspective story.

Each chapter reads like a short story by itself. All held together by his compulsive love for his childhood friend's sister, Lorna Sue. Whom he married and divorced but is desperate to win back. By all means it seems. He is in fact, as Lorna Sue said after she announced to leave him: “Don’t be an eighteen-year-old.” And he went on behaving just like that. Really pitiful. I felt no sympathy for him. Was annoyed. Should I even finish the book?

What follows is a chapter-by-chapter recounting of his coming of age and lifelong crush for Lorna Sue. Then he meets his new (substitute) love, Mrs. Robert Kooshof. A “romance” and now we follow Chippering on his revenge quest on and off with his new found love. With disastrous consequences. Mainly for himself.

Soon I became really annoyed by the juvenile sexual descriptions of his relationships. His encounters with women. It was just too much. A pity because each little chapter had enough going on for itself. The main character became all the more pathetic for me. Too self-absorbed with his presumed sex appeal. Or maybe that was the whole purpose?

So, I did finish the book. Sort of satisfying ending. But that took a long time. Not recommended. Really. What did O’Brien think writing this book? After all those serious Vietnam books?! (Veteran from 1969 - 1970). I do have his most famous book about Vietnam: “The Things They Carried.” (1990). A collection of linked semi-autobiographical stories inspired by O'Brien's wartime experiences.

Written: 1998. Tim O’Brien: 1946 -

Tomcat, a delusional linguistics professor, has a rather inflated view of himself as a ladies' man. He was once happily married to his childhood sweetheart, but unfortunately, she has left him, leaving him in a pathetic state.

Moreover, he represses all the aspects of a lifetime of bad behavior, and on top of that, he also suffers from PTSD from combat. I could perhaps have tolerated this in the form of a short story. However, at a whopping 368 pages, it was simply way too schlocky and filled with unappealing yuk-yuk moments for my taste.

The excessive length seemed to drag out the rather uninteresting and somewhat far-fetched plot, making it a tiresome read. It felt as if the author was trying too hard to create a certain kind of comical or absurd effect, but it just didn't work for me.

Overall, while the initial concept might have had some potential, the execution in this long-form format was a disappointment.

O'Brien has an uncanny ability to delve deep into the recesses of the psyche that remain untouched by most writers. In this work, the truly detestable titular character ponders over the distinct qualities that words assume when intertwined with experience. It has an unsettling effect that I find difficult to put into words. Just as certain aspects of The Lake of the Woods left me chilled to the core in a way that I still struggle to understand, years after reading it.

Nonetheless, this is an exquisitely written book. Despite how loathsome Chippering is, I believe O'Brien holds up a mirror and reflects it back onto the reader. The satire is effective as well. However, I'm perplexed as to how some reviewers classified this as a straightforward, laugh-out-loud comedy. I suppose it's a comedy in the classic Greek sense...

In the end, it's yet another Vietnam tragedy.

A girl-crazed adolescent evolves into a professor.

A brilliant professor starts decomposing his own life.

The all-consuming horrors of war are slowly nibbling away at his sanity.

Just like in all comedies, the dark side can easily prevail.

I found myself a little lost in the middle of his craziness, which was actually quite hilarious.

But I hung in there and finally ended up loving the book and the author's wonderful use of the English language.

The story seems to unfold like a complex tapestry, with the threads of war, adolescence, and personal disintegration all交织在一起.

It makes one wonder about the true nature of human beings in the face of such extreme circumstances.

Overall, it's a captivating read that leaves a lasting impression.

Laugh out loud funny!

This expression truly captures the essence of something that is hilariously entertaining. When we encounter something that is laugh out loud funny, it has the power to bring joy and lighten our mood instantly.

It could be a witty joke, a comical situation, or a hilarious performance. The kind of humor that makes us double over with laughter and forget about our troubles for a while.

Laugh out loud funny moments are often shared with friends and family, creating memories that we cherish. They can also help to strengthen relationships and build a sense of community.

In a world that can sometimes be serious and overwhelming, having a good laugh is essential. So, seek out those laugh out loud funny moments and enjoy the ride!

I initially only had an interest in the first half of the thing. However, despite not really feeling like it, I still managed to push myself and finish it.

But to be honest, it was quite a boring experience. The second half just didn't hold my attention at all. I found myself constantly looking at the time, hoping it would end soon.

There was nothing really exciting or engaging about it. It felt like a chore to get through those last few parts. Maybe if it had been more interesting or had some unexpected twists and turns, I would have enjoyed it more. But as it was, it was just a rather dull and uneventful thing that I'm glad I'm finally done with.

This entire book is penned from the vantage point of a man.

It is essentially his self-reflection or perhaps even a letter, so to speak, where he attempts to justify and rationalize his actions. What a despicable individual he is.

He is sexist, racist, and a predator, yet he believes himself to be charming, delightful, and desired by every single woman, especially young girls.

The entire book is highly ironic. In fact, my favorite aspect is that he is a professor teaching a class titled Methodologies of Misogyny.

I am awarding this book three stars. Although I found the main character to be insufferable and irritating, I adored the way the author zeroed in on words and meanings.

The writing style of the book was truly captivating. It had a wonderful flow.

If you don't have an issue with delving into the mind of a despicable man who has an attraction to young girls and you wish to relish a well-written book, then this is the one for you.

This book is truly insanely well written.

However, it presents a significant challenge to get through. The reason being that I'm not certain I've ever come across a more frustrating and infuriating protagonist.

I frequently needed breaks from him as his actions and behavior were so exasperating.

But one cannot deny that Tim O'Brien is an incredible writer.

The book is definitely worth reading, if only to witness and experience his remarkable talent at creating such a thoroughly believable and yet detestable character.

His ability to bring this character to life in such a vivid and detailed manner is truly a testament to his writing skills.

Despite the challenges posed by the protagonist, the overall quality of the writing makes this book a must-read for any literature enthusiast.

It offers a unique and thought-provoking experience that is not to be missed.

Eh...

First off... I think I've read this book before. If not this one, then one very similar to it. As I was reading it, and steadily loathing the main character more and more, I felt like I had experienced some of this before. Something was triggering a memory for me. You know, that whole 'Great American Novel' thing.

Then, let's talk about unloveable main characters. I did not love Thomas H. Chippering. I did not feel any sympathy or empathy for him. I felt nothing but sheer annoyance. Here we have this middle-aged man, freshly divorced from a relationship that probably should have never happened. Neither Tom nor Lorna Sue was happy with each other, and yet Tom persists in seeking revenge on her for leaving and drives himself literally insane by trying to win her back. During all of this, he can't help but be a narcissistic prick. He keeps a ledger book of every supposed encounter with women he has had, which are normally imagined. Apparently, if a woman has a buxom chest and a friendly smile, she's giving him an invitation to sex. And while he withholds from actually partaking in the act of sex, the obsession alone is enough to have his wife feel that he's cheating on her. And I totally agree. Even when he meets a woman who is quite literally the most tolerant woman on Earth, he still persists in these stupid flirtations. In fact, he gets manipulated by a four-year-old girl because he's frankly too stupid with women to know how to handle it. He spanks her and she tells him to lay on her towel with him or else she'll tell her Mommy. He writes this in his ledger as well... effing creep.

Like I said, the story line was one I felt I had read before. The narrator's voice grated my nerves, especially how he continually used a condescending, snooty tone when teaching people about language. I found there was a lot of fluff in the language, a little bit too much off topic, that made me want to skim the pages. The footnotes did the same. They added nothing to the story for me. And the narrator himself... easy to hate. I didn't wish him a redemptive ending. In fact, I wished that his newly acquired lover moved on and found someone worthy of her. She was pretty well the only good character in the book, and it turned out that she was weak-willed with love for a crazy man.

For a book that delves into the themes of betrayal, revenge, and madness, Tomcat in Love is unexpectedly lively. As I have come to anticipate from Tim O'Brien, the characters are delectable and vivid, and the prose shines, perhaps more brightly than ever before. Certain passages, such as his narrator's rhapsody on the word "commitment," resonate so gloriously that they could be performed in a church. O'Brien has a remarkable ability to craft a powerful sentence.

However, for all its linguistic beauty, Tomcat is, in content, an unappealing book, in the same lyrical and horrifying vein as Lolita. Its protagonist, Professor Tom Chippering, is a creation not unlike Nabokov's Humbert Humbert - delusional, extremely self-centered, obsessed with language, and hopelessly "in love" with unattainable young members of "the malleable sex," whom he believes are deliberately and maliciously seducing him at all times. Not long into the book, it becomes evident that Tom's interpretation of his women's actions is inaccurate. The only character in the novel who would concur with Tom's self-identification as a "tomcat" is, well, himself.

I will echo what other reviewers have written about the book's conclusion, which I also found to be a disappointing end to an otherwise delicious story. The revelation of the "you" to whom the narrator addresses his memoir is clever and certainly deepens the reader's perception of Tom's unending capacity for self-delusion, but the concluding events themselves...? (Cornrows?!) The novel's greatest selling point is its absurdity - public spankings, church bombings, (imaginary?) Vietnam buddies who stalk the narrator hoping to settle an old score, and more, but the last chapter is its most bewildering moment - impossible to predict - and I find myself simply unable to make the cognitive leap.

I would write more, but you know the rule about spoilers. I would hate to dissuade you from what is truly a fun and engaging, albeit somewhat unsatisfying, read. Read it on the bus.