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Summary: a smartish labyrinth, packaged in a snazzy white suit.
Review: When all the gassy, belching literary types lean into the new millenium, lugging gloriously the weight of the previous century's best, near the top will be "A Man in Full," Wolfe's homage to the moral-seeking fabric of American life in the last decade of the last century in which America can lay claim to collective ownership of even a divided soul. These geezers won't spout it the way they will "An Invisible Man" or "Ulysses," but they don't have to -- there's enough serious literature there to drown even Harold Bloom; no, Wolfe's weighty mass will be handed out at the end, with a snicker, as something to whet the whistle on, for someone with a literary sweet tooth to gnarl on, or for someone who would like to know how the heart of how the whole thing became unravelled, and how America came to eat itself.A smartish labyrinth of colorful characters, "A Man in Full" is like the reporter's snazzy white suit; even in the middle of a prison, or in Oakland, or in a snake den, or a crack house, or in the helpful heapings of Charlie Croker's passionate ignorance, with all of its vile description, the reader never seems to get too dirty. What is the best we can say of a book? That it feeds us? I am not nourished here; I know the boat is sinking. That it points to the centerish moral landing? Honey, the center ain't holding. The best I can say of a book I say here now of this one: amidst the cauldron of defining us, it also, painstakingly, through some 740 pages, in the quietest voice, says "it's not too late. Go to the mirror, all. Learn." Wolfe teaches us, and look! Clean fingernails!
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Summary: hello?
Review: the person who thinks las vegas is in new mexico also thinks they were reviewing tom wolfe's "a man in full" ... wrong on both counts.
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Summary: "His trapezius tightened and his forearms bulged"
Review: I have to agree with another reviewer -- it's a Bonfire down south. Right down to the physical tics and aforementioned bulging forearms of practically every male character. If they don't have bulging forearms, they either (Conrad) work hauling things around in a freezer until they get them or (Wes) have a driver who does. There are scenes of searingly accurate social commentary, and it's an entertaining read, but you might almost think he waited 12 years since "Bonfire" so he could reuse some situations and dialogue with some southern accents thrown in and maybe people would have forgotten.
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Summary: A definitive novel of the 90's.
Review: In size and scope "A Man in Full" is more like three novels. A story of conspicuous consumption gone to the extreme. This time the "Master of the Universe" is an Atlanta developer. The second novel is a story of human determination and perseverance against insurmountable odds. The saga of Conrad, a young man who pulls through one of the worst jobs in the world, and prison. Politics and racial tensions fill up the rest. Quite a bit of this has already been done, but Tom Wolfe weaves all the various plots together beautifully. It is an enjoyable book. One that, despite the length, moves quickly. the ending falls a little flat and is somewhat anticlimactic. In reading this book, you feel as though the journey is more fun than the destination. At the end of the day, the one thing you may be wondering is, just what is, "That thing with the cup." (p.228)
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Summary: A Writer Finally Gets Atlanta Right
Review: As the son of a former Piedmont Driving Club debutant, I can see why Atlanta (or should i say Buckhead society) is up in arms. My Grandmother is rolling over in her grave (using her white gloved hands of course!). Mr Wolfe has peged the modern "southen way" perfectly. This book way a pleasure to read. I stayed up late into the night, with the book bouncing on my belly, I was laughing so hard. He is the first writer to get Atlanta right since Margaret Mitchell, warts and all. Hooray!
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Summary: Fantastic
Review: A real social panorama of America, both high and low. This is a much better novel than BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES in my opinion. The characters in A MAN IN FULL have more dimension. This is like a great social novel of the 1800's, a la Charles Dickens and William Makepeace Thackery. I hate super-long novels, too, but, except for a couple of brief slow patches, I found this one to be riveting from the first page to the last.
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Summary: Wolfe had me hooked right to the end then it faded.
Review: From page one Mr.Wolfe works his magic,and is off and running as usual..The jail house lingo goes on and on and on...No doubt accurate but does not need 80 pages to convince the reader how many times the F word is used in the slammer. The story is terrific, right to the end. Some how Charlie deserves a better fate than Mr.Wolfe comes up with. Does not quite hit the home run as Bonfire of the Vanities did, but is a solid three bagger.
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Summary: A wonderful book and an enthralling read
Review: I'm actually two-thirds through this book; can't put it down except for going to work! Tom Wolfe has really outdone himself, and his ear is still razor-sharp. What are "gay rats"? You'll find out in this book. Great descriptions of Atlanta and the East Bay Area (Oakland, etc.) A huge cast of characters -- Black, White, Hawaiian, Chinese. Just great.
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Summary: Good, but not a masterpiece
Review: I've spent the last three days reading this, and I'm well into it. I prefer a more rythmic and musical tone to writing, and Wolfe's writing seems a little dull to me. There are some good flashes of humor here and there. I'm a Southerner, and I think he's captured much of the authentic feel of living down South. All and all, the book seems like a recycled "Bonfire of the Vanities" where arrogant characters get their comeuppance. Although no one can capture the times we live in like Tom Wolfe, I don't consider him a great writer, but he is a good one.
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Summary: This is just a general one line summary
Review: I think this book was the work one in a long line of dissapointments. I mean what was he thinking when he wrote this? Was he quite possibley drunk?
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