Entitlement

By Jonathan Bennett

Book Overview

Entitlement is the tragic, wrenching story of Andy Kronk. After a lifetime intertwined with the Aspinalls, one of Canada's wealthiest families, Andy has finally forged a clean break. Mere months pass, however, before his past returns, and he finds himself, obediently, digging ...

At its heart, Entitlement is a story about identity -- about who we think we are and where we really stand. Set in rural Ontario and with excursions to Toronto and New York City, the novel takes a provocative and honest look at class, power, male relationships, death, and the familial bonds that tie, protect and harm us most.

Andy's story is revealed to Trudy Clarke. Writing an Aspinall "tell-all" biography, she wants Kronk's take for her book. Reluctantly, Andy agrees to talk. He begins by explaining that when he quit practising law, all he wanted was a clean start and the privacy to live life on his own terms. But, as he explains over the course of a weekend interview, his boyhood boarding school entanglement with one of Canada's elite families became complicated -- and remains strong. As the weekend progresses, Andy grows comfortable. When he realizes that he's gone too far, said too much, it's too late...

Written in forceful prose, with a poet's ear, Jonathan Bennett's Entitlement does for the world of power and privilege what David Adams Richards has done for the hardscrabble blue collar men and women of his award-winning novels -- tearing down myths to reveal something essentially, and always, heartbreakingly human.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1550228560
• ISBN13: 9781550228564
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: Misfit Book
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Glam Gone Glum

Andy Kronk had been twisted up in the Aspinall financial and political dynasty for decades before he got away. When he finally did manage to successfully leave, it turned out, a few months later, that the attempt was much less successful than he at first thought, as the drama of his former life finds its way back into his lap. Eventually he finds himself talking to a writer who is set on creating a profile work on the Aspinall family, and that allowed the door for the real mistakes to open. Written in a style that sweeps you along and leaves you extremely satisfied, /Entitlement/ is quite the accomplishment by Bennett. Fast-paced and packed with poignant plot, it is the type of read that keeps you on the edge of your seat, as if you were watching a thriller film. Reviewed by Jordan Dacayanan

Compelling & Well-Written

Book received through minibookexpo.com Andy Kronk is from a lower-class family with little chance of ever leading a privileged lifestyle until he is discovered by an elite private school for his hockey abilities. There he is quickly befriended by Colin Aspinall, who is a member of one of the wealthiest families in Canada. Andy is thrown into the lavish yet complicated life of the Aspinalls when he is taken under their wing and spends his summers living with them. Years later, biographer Trudy Clarke is doing an expose book about the lives of the Aspinall family and is trying to her to uncover the secrets that lurk within their personal and professional lives. Andy thought he had severed his ties with the Aspinalls until Trudy comes knocking on his door and they embark upon an in-depth interview forcing him to confront the demons of his past. That is all I choose to say about this book's plot because I feel that revealing any more would ruin the reading experience. There are a number of twists and turns that arise and I found myself really surprised by the turn of events in this book. After a few minutes into my reading, I completely forgot that this book was a fictional and became engrossed into the lives of the Aspinalls and the mesmerizing hold they had over Andy. I really liked that I got a glimpse into each one of the characters lives and that alternative perspectives were included because it helped give a well-rounded account of what was going on. Jonathan Bennett's writing is so compelling and he paints such detailed pictures of his characters that I actually had to look them up just to be sure that they were merely a figment of his wonderful imagination! This book has so many interesting facets to it and brings up meaningful issues such as greed, power, identity and sexuality in an insightful and almost poetic way. I read this book in one sitting because I literally could not put the book down. This is one of the best books I've read all year and I cannot recommend it enough!! http://bookopolis.blogspot.com