Hoosier Life & Casualty

By Ian Woollen

Objects in mirror are closer than they appear Just ask Elvis Scurvine. A brief joyride in a borrowed truck turns into a month-long rollercoaster with the woman he never wanted to meet. Her unorthodox... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1934081213
• ISBN13: 9781934081211
• Release Date: January 2009
• Publisher: Casperian Books
• Length: 244 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.0" x 0.6" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Fast times in Indy

This is a terrific book - funny, fast-paced, thought provoking, and well written. Set in Indianapolis, it tells of a collision of low life (not quite underworld) in the guise of Elvis Scurvine, the erstwhile king of the freaks, with high society, championed by the Purlbaugh family, particularly Beecher Purlbaugh IV and his only daughter, Marian. The Purlbaughs founded the Hoosier Life & Casualty insurance company several generations ago and are rich, influential, and (to put it generously) not entirely honest. There's a plot that can be followed with some effort (well worth it), eccentric yet familiar characters, unlikely yet plausible situations, a touch of magical realism, and an unending stream of revealing tidbits about the characters, the city, and its major industries. The characters are well-rounded, surprising us now and again with an unexpected touch of compassion or tenderness. One of my favorite passages introduces the pathologically conservative Geoffrey Purlbaugh, Marian's brother, this way: "His mother regales party guests with the story about her son's admission interview to the exclusive Regency Academy kindergarten. The four-year-old was shown a stick figure with a missing limb and then was asked, 'What's wrong with this man?' Little Geoffrey immediately answered, 'He is not wearing a tie.'" Anyone who has lived in Indianapolis will enjoy the in-jokes and landmarks. Anyone in recovery (from anything, but especially a rough start in life and bad decisions) or who has been wounded by love (don't bother to raise your hand) will root for Elvis. Anyone who has ever been at cross-purposes with a domineering parent will empathize with Marian. Anyone who has been tangled with the health insurance industry will have plenty to cheer and to hiss. Disclosure: The author is my neighbor and friend.