In the middle of "Straight Man' by Richard Russo.

[Bullwinkle925]

It is our current book club selection. Thought it was tedious in the beginning but really enjoying it now.
Have any of you read it?

[Grillydad]

1. Read it

I think that Russo is one of the best writers in the U.S. today. My wife is a Professor so some of the characters and humor hit close to home. I think his characters are particularly believeable and charming, warts and all.

Incidentally my favority FWIW is Risk Pool. That novel gets funnier as it gets more tragic.

[Bullwinkle925]

2. Thank You - I will check that one out as well.

[northzax]

3. Straight Man mush be before he got tenure

since it's the only book that doesn't mock Colby in one way or another-

[tomg]

4. Straight Man is one of the most hilarious

books about academia I have ever read, and I have read quite a number of them ( I wonder if, say accountants, read novels about accountants). I went to a college and later taught as a teaching assistant at an institution exactly like the one he describes: setting, students, budgetary problems, goofy inter-departmental politics. He has it cold. Incidentally, if you find you like comic academic novels, try Kingsley Amis' Lucky Jim or Michael Chabon's Wonder Boys.

[CantGetFooledAgain]

5. My wife and I both LOVED Straight Man

It is actually much better in my opinion than Empire Falls. It is hilarious and very difficult to put down.