How Insensitive

This was a very enjoyable book that delivers what it promises. An inside look at the vacuous lives of the sad 20 somethings caught in a dangerous time in Canada's big city. After reading the reviews posted I am sad to see the Toronto bashing of those from outside the self-proclaimed "Centre of the Universe". You don't have to love Toronto to enjoy this book, but if you have a deep-rooted insecurity towards the city, maybe you should know better than to read it.

Russell Smith along with Micheal Turner (author of that amazing book/script American Whisky Bar) are the best things happening in Canadian literature right now. While not as good as his latest ("Noise"), "How insensitive" is a snapshot of a pretentious 20-something crowd in that hole-of-the-earth, Toronto. He writes with intensity (if you like lyrical, verbal diaherrea (aka fugitive pieces) then look elsewhere, but if your like me, a twenty-something year old struggling with his Canadian identity--read it! (and get "Noise" and "American Whiskey Bar")

I liked this book. No matter where you live you'll like this book. Any book that explores what happens when a naive outsider enters an unknown realm is timeless because it goes beyond the city that it occurs in. Ted Owen could be anyone who comes to the big city to make a name for themselves and must come face-to-face with pretentious people and scenes. I've re-read this book four times without getting tired of it.