The Friends of Freeland

I note with despair that most of the reviews for this book thus far are wholly neglectful of the most charming qualities of "Friends of Freeland." The book chugs along on a number of levels: political satire, character portrait, humour. I first came across this book at a reading at Toronto's Harbourfront Reading Series, where Leithauser read the first two chapters. I had never heard of Leithauser before, but by halfway through the first chapter, I decided I was going to buy the book. Got it signed, too. I was absolutely delighted with the rest of the book when I got it home, and I recently read it a second time. It was just as wonderful. How many books can you say that about? While it is true that parts of the novel dwell on the less appealing aspects of the narrator's life and character, Leithauser's brilliant use of the first person (and occasional flights into the ironic third) carry it off magnificently. If you can't care about these characters, you're simply not hearing what they have to say. Ranks among my three all-time favourite books.