Object of My Affection

by Stephen McCauley

Book Overview

The inspiration for the film of the same name starring Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd, this "very funny, exceptionally vivid first novel" (The New York Times Book Review) from Stephen McCauley is a "joyously comic" (People) story about a pregnant New York City social worker who begins to develop romantic feelings for her gay best friend, much to the dismay of her overbearing boyfriend.

George and Nina seem like the perfect...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671743503
• ISBN13: 9780671743505
• Release Date: March 1991
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.69 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

One of my all-time favorites

I can't say much more than the other 5-star reviews already have. All of McCauley's novels are so funny, touching and insightful. He definitely captures what it means to be human - with humor, sarcasm and incredible warmth. It sounds so cliche, but I laughed, and I cried. If you're not a gay man with a straight female friend or vice-versa, don't think you wouldn't enjoy this book. Gender and sexual orientation are secondary to love, friendship and the complexities of the human heart. I came to love George, Nina and even the peripheral "bit players." I was sad when the book ended, and I have always carried a little piece of it with me. The book was far better than the movie. In the film, Nina was portrayed as almost pathetic, pining away for George. That's not the way it happened in the book at all. I wish the screenwriter and film makers had left this great story alone. The script seemed like an excuse to write parts for Alan Alda, Nigel Hawthorne, and Allison Janney. Oh, and the Paul in the book is FAR more interesting than the bland little actor twit in the film. READ THE BOOK!

GREAT dialogue!

I loved this book because of the story and characters but the clincher was the dialogue. So many authors simply cannot master believable dialogue but McCauley does; in fact he does it so well, I even wondered if he sat around listening to people and taking notes!

Forget Will & Grace. Get to know George and Nina!

A two-word review for this novel would be, "wonderfully bittersweet." If Jerry Seinfeld's TV alter-ego considers helping a friend move "going all the way" in a friendship, he hasn't read this novel. This is the final friendship frontier. This book poses the question, "Can we be there for each other always and still have other significant others?" far better than that ubiquitous sitcom has in the past six seasons, and the humor is more subtle. Stephen McCauley skillfull enraptures the reader with situations in which we don't know what we would do in the characters' shoes. He more than adequately captures that feeling of being with someone and wondering, "What the heck am I doing here?" Remember this book was written in the 1980s when a gay main character in a mainstream novel was revolutionary. We like George. We wish that like George, we have a friend like Nina. We're pulling for them all the way to the end of the book, though we're not sure what we want for them any more than they are. When I finished the book, I felt like I was saying goodbye to some old friends whom I like even though they annoy me lots of times. Notes to those who've seen the movie: This book is told from George's perspective, not Nina's. Nina exudes more self-confidence in the book than in the movie. George, slightly less. I think the book works best from George's P.O.V., but I had no problem with the change in the film. When I was reading the book, I was picturing Rebecca DeMornay more than Jennifer Aniston, who was still good--and whose comic timing made up for the fact that George was less humorous than in the book. Also, the cousin wonderfully played by Allison Janney in the film is not a character in the book. But George is more humorous than in the movie, so that makes up for it. The character George hooks up with is totally different as well. In general, the humor in the book is more subtle, and that's all I'm going to say for fear of talling too much. I actually thought the changes made for the film didn't harm it, but I still recommend the book first.

THE BEST NOVEL ON THE PLANET

I've only read this book 5 or 6 times so I'm not sure I'm really qualified to review it BUT it's hilarious. If you like intelligent humor you will love all of Stephen McCauley's novels. He's a genius. His word choice is so precisely perfect, his similes are so appropriately amusing, his characters are so refreshingly REAL -- as in weak and defective -- you just adore them. This is a great book to read alone --you'll be howling with laughter and your eyes will water but it's so much fun you'll just be dying to share it . I recommend that you read it aloud to a friend or lover. Male or female, gay or straight, everyone will get a kick out of this insightful so delightful book which is almost NOTHING like the MOVIE. The movie didn't capture the spirit of the story or get much of the plot or characters right either. Skip the movie, read the book. But I dare you to read it just once. IMPOSSIBLE! F.Y.I McCauley fans should check out his new and improved website for more McCauley news including event information, "recent rants" and an interactive message center called the spin cycle forum. www.stephenmccauley.com.

Very touching - makes you want to cry at times.

Outstandingly funny & dramatic story of two roommates that become very best friends. Nina and George both go through tough times with their soul mate and their future life. Both help each other out by being there, listening, understanding, and trying to forget their problems by doing things that they enjoy - e.g. ballroom dancing. Nina can't help it and starts to fall in love with George, even though he's gay. I felt so into this novel that made me cry more then the movie itself. It is so touching and reflects a story that might happen to anyone which is very realistic. This is a book for those who love stories of friendship and romance.