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The Imperfectionists A Novel Tom Rachman 9780385343664 Books

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The Imperfectionists A Novel Tom Rachman 9780385343664 Books

by Sherwood Anderson? This wonderful debut book by Tom Rachman straddles the line between a novel and group of stories, much like Anderson's classic. The tales each focus on an individual involved, sometimes remotely, with an English-language paper published in Rome, kind of a poor man's International Herald Tribune. The stories interconnect, are placed sequentially in time, and coalesce into a unified narrative by the end. Rachman also dovetails a non-fiction-like history of the paper between the stories, although the secret to the paper's mysterious founding is only revealed in the very final story. Some of the individuals are likable, many are not, all are interesting.

The Dial paperback edition I read also had a very worthwhile conversation between Rachman and Malcolm Gladwell (of "Tipping Point" fame) which gives you some idea of how Rachman conceives of the work.

Rachman is an accomplished writer and this is first-class imaginative storytelling. I wonder whether he has another book like this in him. I hope so, fear that he doesn't ("The Imprefectionists" is somewhat autobiographical - is it a one off effort?), but will look forward to its publication. I'll also point out that the book is exceptionally diverting - it's entertaining, not just artful. A great book; I think it will appeal to many readers.


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The Imperfectionists A Novel Tom Rachman 9780385343664 Books Reviews

I quite liked this book. It's different. The writing style, the way the story is told—it's different from most novels and I suspect that may be why some readers are giving it weak reviews. Each chapter is focused on a different character and the characters are never directly revisited after that, so it can be a bit hard to follow, but you'll find that everyone is intertwined through their role at the newspaper. I thought the strategy was brilliant and again, quite different from the norm. The book is a little funny, a little dark, and a lot interesting. The author does an exceptional job of writing from multiple viewpoints and really getting to the core of what makes a character tick in a relatively short amount of time. I found the writing to be engrossing and transportive. I look forward to reading more of Rachman's work.
This is an amazing book of imperfect characters; grand and uniquely told episodes. An unusual and brilliantly narrated collection of sensitivities and experiences on the individual level. Full marks to the author for originality that works What works better with the reader than a story (or stories) of human experiences with their sensibilities and imperfections laid bare. That the author has managed to relate this in an original, simple, yet enthralling manner is what makes this such a successful project.
Only a fool criticizes something for not being what he wants it to be, but foolishness is kind of my gig, so here goes the problem with this novel is that it's not a novel but rather a collection of stories in mostly the same setting with mostly the same characters. It's like cubist art, revisiting themes, topics, characters multiple times from multiple angles, and bit by bit the larger reality is illuminated. There's nothing wrong with this technique. When done right, it builds to something, and the book as a whole means something collectively greater than its constituent chapters. The problem is that this book isn't done right. It's a collection of chapters that are not literally independent, but which are independent in the ways that matter, and I don't mean that as a compliment.

The other issue is that there's no kindness to be found in the thing. We take a close-third zoom through the lives of a group of people who are either contemptible, pathetic, or both. They're put in difficult situations, given tough choices, given opportunities to blossom or transcend, but they don't. They are petty, and confronted with their pettiness they remain petty. No one is redeemed, and there is no warmth here, or at least, nothing that isn't fleeting. If you wanted to curl up with a book that would make you feel like shooting yourself in the head, but in a kind of clever and witty way, well, you've found your man.

What's remarkable about this last criticism is that the writing in this collection is so jaw-droppingly wise, so honest and earnest and slick, that I don't know what to do with the overall ethos. That a writer of such staggering talent chooses this trajectory through these set pieces is, well, I dunno what it is. Some people, myself included, believe that literature should give you a way forward, even if the sense of the way forward evaporates before the kettle starts boiling. This collections contains none of that, and I probably shouldn't blame the author for it. But there's a lot of things I shouldn't do and yet keep doing anyway. Rachman's characters and I have that in common, anyway.

Aside from these critiques, this book has its moments, and they are as moving and powerful as anything I've read anywhere. The first chapter, in particular, will sit you down and cause you to pour yourself a bourbon, even if you have no bourbon to hand, even if you don't even like bourbon, because after Rachman's existential fugue on death and meaning you will need a drink, and by God you will find one whatever your circumstances. It takes a person of wisdom and profound moral seriousness to conceive a work as substantial as The Imperfectionists, and a rare literary gift to deliver it in the way he's delivered it. Practically anyone would die happy to have written a book half as good as this one, but the fact that Rachman is capable of writing it moves me to knock off a star if a man can hang the moon, I want to see him do it, damn it. His second novel will probably cause the planet to explode.
Each chapter reads like a short story as the characters are brought forward

The Imperfectionists (2010) is Rachman’s debut novel that follows the private lives of the reporters, editors, and executives of an international English-language newspaper in Rome as they struggle to keep it and themselves going. Each chapter reads like a short story as the characters are brought forward. Fifty years and many changes later, the paper founded by a millionaire from Atlanta resides in a dingy office with stains on the carpet. Nothing about the editor, the lazy obituary writer, the financial officer, a freelance writer that makes up news in order to get noticed, disappoint for they are but a few of the compelling, interesting, funny, pathetic, brilliant people I wouldn’t have missed for the world. I can’t say enough positive things about this story, this writer, this experience of entering Rachman’s world of journalism fictionalized by an author with credentials that make this a delightful, authentic read.
by Sherwood Anderson? This wonderful debut book by Tom Rachman straddles the line between a novel and group of stories, much like Anderson's classic. The tales each focus on an individual involved, sometimes remotely, with an English-language paper published in Rome, kind of a poor man's International Herald Tribune. The stories interconnect, are placed sequentially in time, and coalesce into a unified narrative by the end. Rachman also dovetails a non-fiction-like history of the paper between the stories, although the secret to the paper's mysterious founding is only revealed in the very final story. Some of the individuals are likable, many are not, all are interesting.

The Dial paperback edition I read also had a very worthwhile conversation between Rachman and Malcolm Gladwell (of "Tipping Point" fame) which gives you some idea of how Rachman conceives of the work.

Rachman is an accomplished writer and this is first-class imaginative storytelling. I wonder whether he has another book like this in him. I hope so, fear that he doesn't ("The Imprefectionists" is somewhat autobiographical - is it a one off effort?), but will look forward to its publication. I'll also point out that the book is exceptionally diverting - it's entertaining, not just artful. A great book; I think it will appeal to many readers.