A Singular Man

by J.P. Donleavy

Book Overview

What will happen to George Smith? Mysteriously rich and desperately lonely, George appears to be under attack from all quarters: his former wife and four horrible children are suing to get his money;... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0871132656
• ISBN13: 9780871132659
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press
• Length: 408 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Brilliant

Halfway through this book, I knew I had to get my hands on anything by JPD out there. It is that good. Laugh out loud funny. IMO the gents will enjoy this more than their female counterparts. This book went down like a super fine singlemalt scotch on a warm fall evening. One of the finest works these eyeballs have viewed. And they have seen much. Not to be missed.

Insanely Perfect

I wish I had written this book, but I didn't, so I'm glad he did. On the rare occasion I bring the title up I am not surprised to find that no one's ever even heard of it's author. I still haven't met in person anyone else who has read this book. It's a perfect story, but not the kind I would read to my nieces or buy for my grandmother. I still recommend it to anyone who has ever thought that something's not quite right and they can't decide if the people they meet are really as convoluted and arrogant as they think, or if maybe it's just them. Anyone wants to read the greatest book of their life, well this might be it, so don't think too hard and try it.

humor that cuts like a knife.

Donleavy's humor insists there is something to laugh about in this world, but then you realise that what you are laughing out-loud at is, at best, something disgusting, or rude, or utterly insane... chicken soup for the soul.

An Adventure where nothing happens

When I read "A Singular Man" all I wanted to be was like it's hero, George Smith. I think he has it all, money, a non-descript life and everyone wants him. Donleavy's style of mostly 2 or 3 three word, often verbless sentences captures the way we think perfectly, me anyway.

Great story, marvelous writing.

Donleavy has always been one of the great writers of humor. I think this is the best of his output. He certainly (in a witty way) gives us the feeling of the world closing in on us and our hope of some escape (but to a moseleum?).