The Frog King: A Love Story

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Summary: The Frog King Speaks
Review: Davies first novel is an excellent novel. Jennifer Belle has called it "totally orignal" which is not exactly true, but does have some original moments and characters. You can't help but fall in love with Evie and her extraordinary patience. Harry is hard to love, but somehow you cheer for him. At times he reminded of Rob from High Fidelity (all arrested development and commitment phobic). Nevertheless, our American boy does ok. There are things that Harry goes through that many of us who are single and 28 (or there abouts) and live in the big city go through. He captures, with wonderful and painful truth, the awful feelings of losing someone you love. And the moral of this non-fairy tale fairy tale: To love someone, you must love yourself is not new--but told with humor and heart. The ending was a bit surpising, but not at all disappointing. I read most the book in one day. I enjoyed it. Davies writes very well and he clearly loves language. Was Judith based on Judith Reagan I wonder? I still have some questions, but overall I'd recommend this fine debut. Harry is something of hairball, but to some he may become a hero.

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Summary: A big kiss for a little book
Review: I collect frogs. So when I saw signed copies of this book left by the author in a bookstore, I had to buy one. It sat on the shelf for a loooong time. Now I'm sorry I didn't read it sooner. I'd have had a much bigger vocabulary much earlier!

Harry Driscoll is a bad boyfriend. He has no money. He smells. He has funky rashes. He drinks too much. He has lost his sense of compassion. And, although he loves his girlfriend, Evie, he refuses to say the words. Eventually, he loses her, and, frankly, you'll be glad. After all, how can you respect Evie if she stays?

Harry makes some changes in his life in order to win back the girl of his dreams. Does it work? I won't tell, but you'll be surprised and even pleased with the outcome.

For me, this book was a delightful education. See, Harry Driscoll reads the dictionary, and, because he does, the novel is full of delicious words you'd never dreamed existed--words for things you'd never dreamed existed!

I can't wait for Adam Davies' next book. Meanwhile, I'll be practicing omphaloskepsis.

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Summary: ribbit
Review: I'm a young reader, reading obviously a novel meant for adults. Through the ruckus and disgusting parts, I became fond of the novel.

It was a little slow in parts, I must admit, but cleverly entertaining.

Harry Driscoll leaves a stale life. He regrets some things he does and we all can see why. Harry went to an IVY League school, decided not to pursue a career in law, and became an editor living in a cubicle throughout the day.

He hates his job life, makes meager portions, and struggles to survive. He lives in a scanty sized apartment and is so low on food, that he forces to eat daily condiments from resteraunts.

The greatest thing in Harry's life is his girl, Evie. Evie means the world to him, even though he can't tell her so. The disgusting parts in the novel are those discussing of Evie's "Health Problems" Any man who stays with a girl through that really has to love her.

Through the cannon balls, the parties, and the cheating on Evie, things get discombobulated. Harry definatly is a typical man. He loses the things he loves most. And, it makes me feel sorry for Harry, but he did learn his lesson in the end.

I suggest this novel to anyone. It's a quick read with catchy chapter titles, and extreme vocabulary. True story? I have to believe some parts. Yay for it any whos!

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Summary: The Ups and Downs of Adam Davies (or Harry Driscoll)
Review: Others have chronicled Davies' story and characters, but I feel I must praise his writing style. I had just finished reading One Hundred Years of Solitude when I picked up The Frog King. Many books would NOT want to come to bat after Marquez' classic, extremely saturated, masterpiece, but Davies' writing made no excuses and delivered a wonderful read. I found his writing to be youthful and energetic but worldly and deep. His seemingly encyclopedic knowledge of New York/the publishing industry/random diseases/tenement housing and bad roommates/(the list goes on and on) surprised me constantly. Perhaps my favorite thing about his style is way of description though- colorful and twisted, with out-of-the-blue comparisons drawn to the most unconnected things you could think of. He frequently scored full-on out-loud laughs from me- the kind when you're alone in the house and the cat just looks at you and wonders what the hell's up- not for blatant or intended comedy necessarily but often just because of his sheer cleverness with ideas. Good work, Adam. To you, the potential reader: Pick up this book, please! Why? It is full of life and love and is a fantastic debut (hard to believe it's his first...) from an author who is destined to make an imprint on the literary world.

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Summary: I Couldn't Put this Book Down
Review: The Frog King is a perfect example of having exactly what you're looking for right under your nose, but not seeing it. Harry has the perfect girlfriend in Evie (who he loves but can't seem to tell her), yet he continues to womanize. Of course when they break up, he does whatever he can to get her back (yet can't quite stop lying to her).

On top of his woman problems, Harry hates his job at a publishing company and seems to sabotage everything he does there.

Harry frustrated me so much! I wanted to give him a little smack to wake him up. Frustrations aside it was hard to not like him, as he is quite charming. I couldn't put the book down, I just had to keep reading and hoping that things to work out for him in the end.

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Summary: I'd kiss this frog!
Review: This is partially in response to the person who posted a warning about buzz marketers leaving reviews and partially a genuine review.

For starters, allow me to say that I myself am a buzz marketer in my free time and was actually introduced to this book because it was one of the campaigns I was buzzing. Allow me to also say that the buzz campaign that took place for this book ended over two years ago.

These things having been said, I have to take this opportunity to shoosh the nay-sayers and let you know that The Frog King has become one of my favorite reads. In fact, I've gone through 4 copies of the book between wearing it out or lending it out, either one. Granted, it's not the type of story or writing style that appeals to everyone, but the author's ability to make his character so real, so approachable and believable, so... well, even lovable despite his many shortcomings, is absolutely uncanny. I was saddened for Harry Driscoll. I was excited for Harry Driscoll. I scolded him, shook my head at him, felt sorry for him, and eventually cheered for him. Aside from the general enjoyment of the story itself, Adam Davies' writing style is exactly what draws me in. The author is an obvious "word geek" as they say - postively in love with the English language - and I must say that really appeals to me. It shines in his writing and makes me want to read it several times over. In my opinion, this book is somewhat reminiscent of Dave Eggers' "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" although not quite the same level of genius. Perhaps the same level of all-around silliness, quirkiness, verbosity, etcetera. Overall an excellently fun read and FUNNY. I highly recommend it - all buzz marketing aside.

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Summary: WARNING: buzz marketers writing reviews for this novel
Review: Warning: people signed up to do buzz marketing on behalf of Penguin books may have written some of the reviews on here as mentioned in the piece "The Hidden (in Plain Sight) Persuaders" in the 12/5/2004 New York Times Magazine. Leave it to marketers to ruin a good thing.

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Summary: Life is never as beautiful as it should be
Review: While perusing through the aisles of ..., I caught [at the corner of my eye] a vision of neon green and eat-me orange. Playing on instinct, I wandered towards that thick paperback that seemed to almost call me from between the spines of "The Virgin Suicides" and "Sloppy Firsts." A misplaced novel, perhaps? Feeling as a good samaritin 'should' feel, I plucked the book from the shelf, intent on dropping it off at the help desk for refiling.

It was then that the bright blue frog with zaney eyes seemed to wink at me -- a constant wink that spelled out [in morse code], "Read me." And so, compelled by the beautiful cover-art of this novel (because, unlike most people, I 'do' judge a book by it's cover), I hustled to the children's section, stole myself a seat, and began to read.

I can describe this book in many ways. But the most cliche' and most propitious of notions would be to conclude (in five simple words), "I couldn't put it down!"

My eyes poured over the pages, my nose burried between the nook of words and empty space. My booklight burnt out perhaps three times in the course of this novel (and wether this occured due to cheap batteries or because the light itself hoped to make my reading experience enjoyable, I do not know). Every page contained a new disaster or a new surprise for me to uncover. It was like discovering little chocolate treats laid out for me beneath pillows or behind curtains within my home. It was, to say the least, predictably perfect.

The characters, although portrayed as unrealistically witty mischeif-magnets, were presented and developed in such a way that even I (queen of non-comformity) could relate entirely to their moods and actions. Likewise, the dialogue (although clearly thought-out and pre-determined by the author) helped to provoke the reader's laughter in such a way that it seemed even the narrarator himself could feel it bubbling up within his throat. Fictional books aren't meant to be realistic -- That's why they're fictional. If you want something real, then read a biography. Romance novels are meant to be sweet and tear-provoking -- There's no use in criticizing well-made humor or a beautiful story.

I won't give much away about the novel, however, simply because as a well-developed reader, I like to keep future audiences guessing.

Ultimately, the book left me with an overall sense of accomplishment, encouragement, and hope. Definite, positive, stubborn and obstinate hope. Hope that there would be a better future -- no matter what catastrophe might've befallen me. The ending left many questions unanswered -- but that is, perhaps, the goal of a great book: To leave its conclusion up to the reader's interpretation, to leave your mind wandering, and (as an author's one true wish is) to leave you 'begging' and 'pleading' for MORE, MORE, MORE!!