The Up and Up

by Lee Irby

Miami in the 1920's . . . a teeming cauldron of giddy opportunity, swaggering gangsters, shady real estate sharks, crooked cops, and glamorous movie stars. In other words . . . the perfect spot for... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385515006
• ISBN13: 9780385515009
• Release Date: June 2006
• Publisher: Doubleday Books
• Length: 305 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.5" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Great noir with a twist!

A satisfyingly convoluted tale that transports the reader back to 1920s Miami Beach to follow the adventures of novice real estate salesman Frank Hearn, a street-smart New Jersey guy who ain't exactly a saint, but nevertheless pursues his version of the American Dream in a way that is equal parts Horatio Alger and Benny Binion. Frank's on the level, though, mostly. It's just that every time he skirts the law a little, he becomes a trouble magnet. And that's when the fun begins. With its cast of noirish characters, its compelling historical backdrop, and Hearn's improbable escapes from the brink of disaster, "The Up and Up' would make a great movie. Think "Chinatown" in Florida. (Nicholson, in his day would have made a good Frank.) It would probably be too expensive, though, to re-create the setting with as much detail and realism as Irby provides here. Add in a crisp prose style and swift pace, and you've got a "beach book" that is in a different league than what you would traditionally expect from the genre.

I couldn't put this book down

The Up and Up was a great read. I couldn't put it down - it is fast moving, entertaining, historically informative and clever. A great summer book. I like the way Lee Irby puts the reader right back into the 1920s with his use of the lingo of that time and his descriptions of the Miami of the 20s. As he did in his predecessor novel 7,000 Clams, Irby has woven historic people and facts and his fictional characters and story into a novel that is both sophisticated and exciting. In the Up and Up, Frank Hearn, the principal character from 7,000 Clams, moves to Miami in hopes of improving his fortunes so that he may win the approval of his sweetheart's parents, but this star-crossed lover always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. His adventures keep the reader totally engrossed.

a thrilling escape!

I wasn't sure if I would love a book set in the 1920's, but The Up and Up immediately transported me to a time of glamourous movie stars, swanky speak-easys, and questionable land deals. Set in Miami, the Up and Up takes the likable hero from Irby's last book (7,000 clams) and follows his journey to try and win back the woman he loves while trying to avoid jail. I enjoyed the fast paced plot, the witty dialog, and the attention to detail. I'll also add that there are several spots where I laughed out loud. There is a back story about Joseph Kennedy and Gloria Swanson that is extremely interesting. I knew very little about either, but now I want to read more! This is the perfect book for your summer get-away or for just an escape without leaving town.