The Fuck Up

Rating:
Summary: Incredibly entertaining and thought-provoking.
Review: This book is a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary urban literature. But buy the original edition on Akashic Books, available here at Amazon.com. The Akashic edition is the independent edition, and besides, it has great drawings for chapter headings which the MTV Books edition doesn't have (!)

Rating:
Summary: Compelling: I read it twice
Review: Brilliant, fun, disturbing, humorous, philosophical. I was captured after the first two sentences: "Perhaps the price of comfort is that life passes more rapidly. But for anyone who has lived in uneasiness, even for a short, memorable duration, it's a trade-off that will gladly be made."

Rating:
Summary: A great book to take to school and piss your teachers off.
Review: I have to admit that it was the title that first attracted me to this book. And after reading other MTV fiction novels, I figured it would be a good book. It was funny to laugh at how stupid the main character is and how much bad luck he is burdoned with. I laughed out loud several times. It only gets four stars because of the horribly dissappointing ending. But it's still a good read.

Rating:
Summary: Very well written, witty and surreal
Review: The title caught my eye and I just started translating it (I do that for a living..) Anyway, it is very amusing and he has a very keen eye on details of human nature. Although you can't quite relate if you're not an American or have lived in Manhattan, he makes it easy to keep up and dive into the metropolis. The character is so innocent and guilty at the same time, the way he distances himself from his surroundings and yet, the way he implicates himself in everything. He can do better though and I'm really looking forward to his next work. A book from an American I could read was a nice change nevertheless...

Rating:
Summary: What an appropriate title
Review: It's suprising that I read this entire book. The writing is poor and the nameless character that narates this book is unbelievably stupid. I have been as down and out as this guy and couldn't relate one bit. There is something lacking in this book and I'm not sure what it is. Maybe common sense...

Rating:
Summary: totally absorbing
Review: First of all, this book was originaly published about eight years ago. Long before MTV picked it up. This story exemplifies life in downtown manhattan in the early eighties. Anyone who lived in downtown NYC during this time will appreciate this story.

Rating:
Summary: Should be titled "The Dummy"
Review: Arthur Nersesian is a wonderfully talented writer, but his greatest work is ahead of him. It is hard to find sympathy (or empathy) for the nameless protagonist who, although quite bright, engages in serial acts of the most breathtaking stupidity. Indeed, it is just this stupidity which frustrates and eventually alienates the reader. Charles Bukowski was the master of this genre, and remains so.

Rating:
Summary: disturbing book
Review: First of all, I had never heard of the author but the title got my attention. After reading the book i was blown away by the strength of the story and the way you feel kinda sorry and the same time jealousy for the main character. All time cult classic, despite the fact that MTV had an influence in putting this book on the market.

Rating:
Summary: mordant, hilarious, original
Review: Nersesian has an unmistakably idiosyncratic voice (who does he sound like? no one but himself), and he does so much with it -- keeps you guessing, laughing and furrowing your brow through a shaggy dog of a novel that's smart and surprisingly affecting and pensively funny -- cynical in the best sense of the word -- I'll read anything this guy writes, HE'S THAT GOOD. Read it and see for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: Engaging story of a loser surrounded by twisted characters.
Review: Makes you feel much more positive about your own life. You read about this guy who starts off pretty high, hits an extreme low, and rises up again. Of course, the majority of the book is about his low period. If you don't actually know people like him, this book is quite amusing. Otherwise, if you do know someone like him, I'm real sorry.