The Catastrophist

This is a memorable book, incredibly funny with serious underlying themes related to marriage, family, self esteem and struggles with inner demons. Douglas uses language very creatively. I loved the book and would highly recommend it.

This is a hilarious romp through male mid-life crisis told with dry comic wit by its intelligent, neurotic protagonist. While the setting (and the butt of several acerbic jokes) is academia, the theme is universal and the focus is the personal life of Professor Daniel Wellington. It is the unique comic voice of this character that makes this story so entertaining.

Definitely a notch above David Lodge. It's been a while since I could stomach Lodge, but I thoroughly enjoyed The Catastrophist. Lawrence Douglas's writing is funny and colorful while never being too broad or too pat. Lots of fun, even when you're wincing at the catastrophes...

Lawrence Douglas' novel is a wonderful tale about a neurotic, intelligent, self-aware, and seriously likeable professor named Daniel Wellington. Daniel's life begins to crumble when his wife announces her pregnancy; his ensuing emotional paralysis, professional self-sabotage, and flirtation with adultery make for a poignant, hilarious, and ultimately immensely insightful portrayal of human foibles. It is a galloping read and although it is an academic novel in the tradition of David Lodge and Philip Roth -- not shabby company to keep! -- it is a true original.

This novel is a pleasure. Written with sharp wit and fine attention to detail, "The Catastrophist" follows the meteoric rise and tumultuous fall of Daniel Wellington, star professor of art history at fictional Franklin College. As he travels between conferences and consulting jobs in London and Berlin, Professor Wellington confronts, in quick succession, a series of self-destructive lies, a crumbling marriage, and the stress of rapidly approaching fatherhood. Things get very bad before they get good again. The book is squarely in the campus novel tradition of Kingsley Amis' "Lucky Jim" and David Lodge's "Small World," and ably lives up to the standards of both: it is exceedingly funny. Yet my sense is that "The Catastrophist" wants to do more than either of these predecessors - it goes a bit deeper with plot and character development, and can put aside the comedy for a rich narrative moment. All said, very smart and most enjoyable. Very much worth reading.