A Likely Story

By Donald E. Westlake

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0892960981
• ISBN13: 9780892960989
• Release Date: January 1984
• Publisher: Penzler Books
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 1.3" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Not Technically a Comic Caper but a Pleasant Read None the Less!

There really isn't much information out there on some of Donald E Westlake's earlier novels (although this one isn't really that early, it was first published in 1984), so it is understandable that A Likely Story may have been bought by some with the misconception that it is another humorous comic caper. Westlake writes over a variety of genres (comedy crime, serious thriller crime, science fiction, he even wrote a Western). The disappointment factor will no doubt be magnified by the fact that along with his comic capers and his other earlier work tracking down and getting a copy of this novel is actually quite expensive. In fact the one I tracked down had long ago lost its dust jacket, therefore no picture on the cover. If you have managed to track down or come across a copy of a Likely story it is still worth grabbing it, as it is still a great entertaining read with a similar likeable type main character to that Westlake uses in the comic capers. It just lacks the amount of comedy (there are still some laughs) that a lot of readers will be looking for that comes with those comic capers. A Likely Story revolves around six months or so of writer Tom Diskant who has left his wife and daughter to move in with his current girlfriend who has kids of her own. His wife however has not moved on and constantly calls upon him to come visit, using his daughter as an excuse where she tells him in graphic detail about all the men who are making advances towards her and that this wouldn't happen if he was back. Meanwhile Tom has a brilliant idea and has finally got a publishing company to give him a contract to compile and edit his new book called The Christmas Book. The Christmas Book is basically a coffee table book that will have Christmas themed artwork from leading artists, short stories from leading fiction authors, Christmas reflections by celebrities and other Christmas themed contributions. Of course celebrities are not the brightest or easiest bunch to deal with and there are some fun moments here. Westlake actually uses real celebrity names in here (complete with a notice to the reader and his attorney before the novel begins) which makes A Likely Story more fun. Of course its not just the celebrities that cause problems for The Christmas Story. Time after time the book is made an orphan by the publishing company (you'll have to read this book to know what this means). Nothing seems to be running smoothly with the publishing company and throw in the fact that his girlfriends ex husband has moved back in to his girlfriend's house, his wife is demanding to come on vacation with himself and his girlfriend and we've got a pretty fun read. If you haven't already done so check out Westlake's comic capers. I guess this technically could be a comic caper I just don't think it was intended to be one. The best four comic capers at an absolute masterpiece level are, Smoke, The Spy in the Ointment and a New York Dance (also publis

Westlake's funniest book?

___________________________________________This is Westlake's "how not to publish a bestseller" guide. It's *wonderful*, Westlake at his comedic best. The writer-protag's um, unusual love-life makes for wonderfully silly bedroom-farce, and his troubles in the book biz sound like Westlake rounded up every bad thing that ever happened to him, or that he'd ever heard of. All this plus an unexpectedly sweet ending. If you like Westlake, books, or bedroom farce, this one's for you. "A", maybe "A+". Happy reading!Pete Tillman