Approximately Heaven: A Novel

By James Whorton

Book Overview

From prizewinning short story writer James Whorton, Jr., Approximately Heaven is a marvelously rambunctious debut novel about one hapless man's pursuit of happiness -- or at least another six-pack.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 074324446X
• ISBN13: 9780743244466
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 230 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.7" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Can't believe I'm admitting it, but I SNORTED with laughter

The first half of this book is a little slow, and a little sad. But hang in there... it's truly a laugh a minute after it gets rolling (literally rolling, in some chapters). As a native Southerner, this book hit home on many snort-with-laughter levels. No matter your level of education, you WILL know someone, or perhaps even have a (distant, if you're lucky) relative who simply IS the main character in this book. Buy this novel, you'll love it. Mr. Whorton's capacity for wry, self-deprecating humor in his characters is quite praise-worthy. I'm looking forward to his next effort.

Approximately Heaven - A Good, Simple Read

Approximately Heaven takes the reader to a small, rural town in Tennessee where the dreary life of "Wendell", an unemployed electrician unfolds. Wendell is the kind of guy that we've all known at some point in our lives - nice guy, but no job, married, but separated from his wife, he just can't seem to get things to go his way. It is easy to picture the story as it unfolds, I could actually picture the truck rolling down the highway as he and Dove set out for Mississippi. You'll find yourself rooting for him all through the story as well as laughing at his misadventures. I can't wait for the next one!

Whorton's wise debut

My feeling after reading this book is that J. Whorton will be writing and publishing books for a long time and that we probably ought to feel grateful. Approximately Heaven has a weirdo quirky voice that seems wise despite being slightly out of touch (which perhaps is an interesting comment overall on wisdom). The story is good and has lots of surprises. Find them for yourself.

Excellent

This relatively short novel is deceptively simple. A blurb on the back lumps it in with "minimalism," which is probably misleading: this book has a real feel to it that a lot of sterile "minimalist" novels sorely lack. The voice of the narrator is not flashy but is nonetheless unique and quirkily intelligent. In short, I'd say that the novel's hundreds of nuances---some of them funny, many of them observant and even wise---are what make this book so strong. Highly recommended.

Divorce, renovation, and beater truck roadtrips

Approximately Heaven is a witty, whirlwind read. The reluctant electrician hero of this novel embarks on a bizarre roadtrip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast after his marriage grinds to a halt as a result of his chronic underachievment and nonstop This Old Housing. Whorton's dead-on Southern dialogue makes this novel live and breathe.