Rating: 
Summary: What a disappointment - but let's cast the movie!
Review: My overall feeling about A MAN IN FULL is that it was a disappointment. The characters were overblown stereotypes, the women woefully underdeveloped and pathetic, and the moralism preachy and hollow. Not to mention the tacked-on, flimsy ending which has been bashed to bits in these reader reviews!That said, however, I did enjoy many of the scenes and descriptions, most notably the "Saddlebags" workout session between Charlie and PlannersBanc. Great stuff, if highly unrealistic! Although the book ultimately frustrated and disappointed me, I still had a ball casting the movie. I'd love to hear other thoughts on this. My vote is for either Gene Hackman or Robert Duvall as Cap'm Charlie, Danny Devito as Peepgass, Denzel Washington as Roger Too-White, Forrest Whitaker as the Mayor, and Matthew McConaghey (the young lawyer in "A Time To Kill") as Conrad. The "workout master," Harry Zale (or Zell) could be a fantastic scene-stealing cameo for Alec Baldwin or even Robert DeNiro, and Coach McNutter could be Nick Nolte. Tellingly, I am unable to cast even a single female role because they were all vacant and insubstantial characters. Serena, Jill and Martha? Please.
Rating:
Summary: A great work with a lousy ending
Review: It is hard for me to remember another work that has captivated me such as A Man in Full has. It was a wonderful read full of excellent detail. However, the detail seemed to end before the story did. The end of the book is a severe and quick. I wonder to myself how such a great book could have ended in such a abrupt way. This could have been one of the great works of our time, but alas the ending destroys the entire work.
Rating: 
Summary: If Plato could reach for this tome from his tomb...
Review: He would happily include "satisfaction" in his lexicon. Wolfe understands human action on every social level, but selfishness does not satiate each act in "A Man in Full" as it does in "Bonfire of the Vanities." For that he's criticized??? What's the difference between Bork's "Slouching Towards Gomorrah" and Wolfe's "A Man in Full"? "A Man in Full" has answers. The fun is discovering them.
Rating: 
Summary: Give Me A Break! ! ZEUS ???
Review: There were many great moments in this book. I was practically cringing, squirming & sweating during poor Charlie's workout session at PlannersBanc. The Suicidal Freezer Unit chapter was marvelous. The introduction to the one truly noble & heroic character in the book --- Conrad Hensley --- was a pleasure. And then there was the transformation of his buddy Kenny from (I thought) a rather unlovely, shallow, crude fellow into a kind-hearted, caring human being when he learned about Conrad's misfortunes. That was a particularly moving scene. As for Charlie Croker, he was a unique character --- likable and unlikable all at once --- but always a very real individual. Peepgass was nicely drawn. But all the good things in this book were brought down by one thing --- Zeus! Why in the world didn't Wolfe use one of the great religious writers from the Judeo-Christian tradition to inspire Conrad & Charlie with the concept that the soul is far more important than mere material possessions? This would have been far more realistic and believable. The idea that a late 20th century real estate developer would become an evangelistic preacher of Zeus is just absurd, ridiculous and incomprehensible. Wolfe really lost his marbles when he came up with that screwy idea.
Rating:
Summary: That Darn Deus Ex Machina!
Review: I thought Conrad's story was powerful in the very beginning, and Wolfe did a good job of building it up to a climax. Then, just as he's on the verge of a major showdown, an act of Zeus magically rescues Conrad from certain doom! From then on, it was one unbelievable thing after another. I wouldn't have been surprised if the Tooth Fairy had shown up with a billion-dollar gift for Charlie. Plus, some of the dialogue is incredibly stilted, as though Robert Heinlein were describing parliamentary procedure. And the fetish for architectural detail can get tiresome after a bit. And then there's... the ever-present mannerisms! They sound like... a Marvel comic book! "The plane... crashing into the ground! The kryptonite... must get away! Blood! Blood! Red! Blood!" And yes, a lot of modern music sucks, but he writes about it like someone who hates indiscriminately (I suppose this is to sledgehammer in the point that THESE WORKING CLASS MEN HAVE NOTHING TO LIVE FOR AND ARE SLOWLY KILLING THEMSELVES). There were parts I liked but now I can't remember what they were, though I finished the book only an hour ago. Sorry.
Rating: 
Summary: Absolute junk, not worth the time or the money
Review: The hype that preceded this book was obviously a publisher's attempt to regain what must have been a hefty advance. This book is total fluff - 742 pages worth. No redeeming qualities here at all - not a single chapter, character, phrase, sentence or word justifies the time and money invested. I am HUGELY disappointed and will never purchase a book by Mr. Wolfe again.The author and publisher should be ashamed to have their names attached to such nonsense.
Rating:
Summary: this book was so good, i am lost now that i have finished it
Review: I know everyone of these people, every single one, and so do you. How can an author write a chapter like "saddlebags" and not have lived it? How? You tell me. As an entreprenuer i've been there and that chapter rekindled long buried flashbacks that took their time resettling. Wolfe's dialog and vivid descriptions of such diverse and singularly unique lifestyles rings crystal true in every instance. What a book! If you have been in the arena, are alive and living life, this book is for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Rich characters...but disappointing close
Review: The first 600 pages were great. Found the character's beleivable...until the end.
Rating:
Summary: The best satire on late 20th century American life.
Review: Brilliant! Those who complain about an abrupt ending to this "human comedy" by America's Balzac should remember that classical comedy starts in disorder and ends with order. This is Wolfe's best work and hopefully not the last.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting and provocative. Subtle humor
Review: While I liked this book, do you realize that the prison system in Texas will not allow their inmates to read it? In their words, "This writing would be interpreted by any reasonable person as being written for the sole purpose of communicating the intentionof starting riots and racially divided fights". This should keep it at the top of the list of Best Sellers forever!!
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