Apathy and Other Small Victories

by Paul Neilan

Book Overview

A scathingly funny debut novel about disillusionment, indifference, and one man's desperate fight to assign absolutely no meaning to modern life.

The only thing Shane cares about is leaving. Usually on a Greyhound bus, right before his life falls apart again. Just like he planned. But this time it's complicated: there's a sadistic corporate climber who thinks she's his girlfriend, a rent-subsidized affair with his landlord's wife,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312352190
• ISBN13: 9780312352196
• Release Date: June 2007
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.6" x 7.1"

Customer Reviews

Amazing.

Great book if you like dark unfiltered comedy.

What a ride

This book instantly made it in my top 5, incredibly funny and outrageous in the best way possible. I hit a reading plateau where I couldn’t find anything to spark my interest but once I opened the first page I couldn’t put it down. From page one to the end it’s full of hilarious scenarios and remarks from the narrator, it’s absolutely crazy and surprising. A MUST READ!! Especially if you’re into a little dark humor!

Incredibly funny

I bought this book years ago after I heard some good things about it. I was not an avid reader at the time, but the concept of the book seemed appealing to me on a sadly personal level, so I gave it a shot. At the time it was hands down my favorite book that I had ever read. It is not particularly deep, I would not compare it to a classic novel in terms of quality, but as a comedic story it left nothing to be desired. If you can appreciate, as the title suggests, an apathetic and perhaps self deprecating form of comedy then I would certainly recommend reading this book.

What The Stranger should have been

Of the many books I've read in the past several years, this has got to be one of the best. The back of the novel says all you need to know - not much. Just follow along and laugh out loud at the random hilarity of it all. If someone asks you why you just laughed while reading this book, not even rereading the one sentence could help them understand what the hell is going on. There is so much comedy in every paragraph...well, it just doesn't seem possible. While you may rarely find a complete sentence, Neilan's metaphors and syntax only contribute to Shane's character, which never, never, varies. Like the protagonist in The Stranger (worst book ever), Shane doesn't care about much of anything; however, his outlook on life does nothing but add to the witticism and overall awesomeness that is this book. To conclude, if you want an uplifting book, read it; if you want a depressing book, read it. If you want a book that has both with wit, grit, and much much more...Read it. Read it now.

Love it when it's not critically acclaimed

I love it when something amazing is not critically acclaimed and essentially ignored. Doesn't it seep credibility? I've read others' reviews of this and I am wondering why no one has hit on the obvious: this is our generation's foul-mouthed Holden Caulfield. Oh my goodness the story is not perfect- duh - it's not supposed to be. We don't get completely developed characters -duh - we are not supposed to. We don't know why Shane has hit this point in his life- get real...we aren't supposed to. What happened to symbolism and thought and stretching our minds? We are supposed to absorb the prose and imagine and work through and enjoy this. Wow- when was the last time we read something, not for the story, but just for the words? Not to skim for the action but to sip on each sentence like a fine wine? No, not Salinger but maybe Salinger mixed with a bit of ourselves. Critics go back to your bestsellers---I prefer something that makes me think AND laugh.

Great Debut

I thought this book was ridiculously funny. Originally, I only bought this because Max Barry said to (I'm a sucker for a great marketing scheme), but I have been euphoric to find that this was a smart and funny story that had me crying from laughing so hard. Quite possibly one of the funniest books I have read today.

more fun than getting drunk before work and sleeping on the toilet

I can't express how funny this book is. It satirizes that 95% of the world that makes your life more miserable with each passing minute. The breakup scene beginning on page 172 makes me so happy that I want to hang it on my wall. His ex-girlfriend tries to hurt him with shallow pop psychology insults and he mocks her so slyly and satisfyingly that I cheered. Every page contains multiple out loud laughs. It's a difficult book to describe but an easy one to read and enjoy.

I am not funny. But this book makes me feel funny...

... in the best way possible. I compulsively read sections of it out loud to anyone who will listen. I also highly encouraged a crowded room of librarians to buy it and read it out loud to their patrons.