Matchstick Men: A Novel About Grifters with Issues

by Eric Garcia

Book Overview

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE - A novel about grifters with issues, by the acclaimed cult author of Anonymous Rex and Casual Rex Roy and Frankie are matchstick men--con artists. Partners in elegant... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0812968212
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
• Length: 228 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.5" x 5.2"

Customer Reviews

Spectacular

Definatly the best book I have read thus far in my life. This book will leave you crying in the end, not because it is depressing, but because the book is over and there is no more story to read.

Taken by surprise

OK in my make believe world everything has the perfect ending so I had already put an ending to this book but then reality hit me hard in the face. What a surprise! This book is one of the best books I've read this year so far. It reminded me of the last Grisham book I read - again expecting a different ending and just taken by surprise. At times I could not contain my laughter at Roy's "weirdness" especially his deal with the carpet. Sadly I can relate to the fact that we sometimes get so caught up in the absurd. I love a book that won't let me sleep because it's so darn good. Now I'm hesitant in viewing the movie - will I be disappointed? I wonder. . . .

I read the book

And now I want to see the movie! I hope they keep everything the same, especially Roy. I didn't really picture Nicholas Cage as Roy, but as soon as I saw the trailer I see how he could do a really great job. I read the book in about two days which is really fast for me. I would want to know what people thought who saw the movie first and read the book after or vice versa.Alex

A petty crime gem

Roy and Frankie are partners in con, ripping off everyone who crosses their paths from college kids to home making women to greedy men. But Roy is also suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Frankie hooks him up with psychiatrist Dr. Klein so he can get the pills he needs. Dr. Klein in turn hooks Roy up with a daughter he never knew he had. Angela, fourteen, is eager to have a dad and wants to learn all about his job. Pretty soon she's helping. Pretty soon Roy wants to give up all his tricks in order to gain custody of her, but Frankie convinces him they should play the con game one more time ... just one more time.MATCHSTICK MEN is one of the best books I have read this spring. It is fast, full of twists and cons, cleanly and cleverly plotted, and peopled with characters who, while not brilliant, are sturdy enough to hold up their ends of the book. Angela especially will keep you reading. For me, the ending was a complete surprise and it left me thinking the whole book through again from a different angle. I found it a resounding and fitting wrapup for a book of cons, hinted at but unexpected.If you like fast, absorbing, perfectly plotted little books of petty crime with a twist, MATCHSTICK MEN is a treasure I couldn't recommend more highly.

I gotta admit...

I bought the book 'cause I love Nic Cage, but once I started reading it I was hooked. Maybe I'm not as clever as some of the other reviewers, but I was caught up in the whole thing all the way through and my husband (I let him read it after me) thought the same thing. It was funny and a little sad and I can't wait to see Nic do Roy.