Christopher: A Tale of Seduction

I picked this book up for a good beach read just because I liked the cover. It was a great beach read and so much more. Light and funny on the one hand and literary and moving on the other. I can't understand why this wasn't a huge hit or did I miss something. It's brilliant. I love B.K. Troop. I bought this book for tons of friends and family and you should too. You won't be disappointed.

I read a lot of books, and this by far is the best I've read this year. Allison Burnett (a man I assume) writes like Kurt Vonnegut combined with John Kennedy Toole. The main character's (...) eye on the straight guy gives a whole new perspective to the year (and book) 1984 overlooked until now. Who cares about Big Brother, when there is a hunk next door? It is scary what lengths some people will go to in the name of seduction. Will the hunter nab is prey?Give this book a read and you won't be disappointed. I'm looking forward to more books from Mr. Burnett.

I loved getting lost in this book. The writing was great and the story surprised me with its twists and turns. I laughed my way through the whole book but then burst out crying at the end. I've already passed my copy along and would recommend it to anyone.

I think I must have read different novel to some of the other reviewers. Certainly my reaction when I finished it was different. I was almost doing cartwheels after reading this and that feeling was still there the second time I read it. This book is a joy !Today's fiction offers such a lean diet; there's nothing naughty, indulgent or rich. It's not toothsome. Not here, this novel is a banquet, full of flavour, which is what I liked so much. I am done with angsty, whiny, eviscerated characters, who limp from page to page of just about every other novel that drops of the presses these days. BK could almost be an endangered species: eccentric, wilful, disingenuous, corrupting, and so mischievious. He is the Queen Mother of the Eastside; plotting harder than a poor man's Macchiaveli, eyes twinkling like Captain Hook, heady with the vapours of a Schoolgirl's crush and a heart pumping with the gusto of a barrel organ. The two main characters, BK and the eponymous Christopher are "outcasts from life's feast", which is what I felt made them so memorable. They don't know that much about life: BK wafts a smug charm or so he thinks that never, ever, entrances anyone, whilst Christopher is as equally deluded in his idealism. Neither stays that way, though. Each changes as the year changes with them. I thought the move from ignorance to enlightenment was quite skilfully done. As the year progresses,a few more scales drop off and a little more self realsiation shines in on them. Especially so in the case of Christopher where he is observed through BK's rose coloured and cracked specatcles. There are some great comic ironies in thereChristopher is a wonderful, beautifully written, comedy of manners; and just like all great ones provides a little extra in top notch characters, cracking dialogue and enviable imagery. BK Troop is a stand-out character.

I was so delighted to discover Allison Burnett's "Christopher". I had just been complaining about the dearth of sharp, light reads when I found this book, which is both of those things, and a lot more. It is literate, smart, funny, observant, and knowing. The world it creates -- of the West Village in 1984-- is vivid and unforgettable. I love the seen-it-all narrator, B.K. Troop, and his obsession with a naive, idealistic neighbor. The entire story doesn't strike a false note. It was one of those books that I portioned out over a few nights, because I easily could have devoured it in one sitting, and been back to my old complaints about the dearth of good summer reads.I passed this book by several times in book stores before buying it because of its dull beige cover -- a really bad choice, if you ask me. Also, I was surprised that there wasn't more critical praise printed in its first pages, until I discovered that this was never published as a hardback, so the critical praise will be reserved for the next printing. I hope it doesn't take that long for this book to catch on, since it has all the potential that books like Jennifer Weiner's "Good in Bed" do, although this is MUCH better written. If you are looking for a light, fun summer read, this is it!