Up in the Air

After reading Kirn's Lost in the Meritocracy, I was excited to pick up Up in the Air. Forget the hype about the movie and clooney's acting; the book stands on its own, as does its protagonist Ryan Bingham. What makes this novel so inexplicably intriguing is its realistic portrayal of a life without a home, content in chain hotels, chain steak houses, chain airport restaurants and so on. As Bingham says, the aspects of travel we cringe at make him feel at home. Kirn's philosophical voice is spoken through the mind of his protagonist; and Bingham, as a premise, is one interesting man. In his quest to reach one million frequent flier miles, and fulfill his job of motivational speaking and career transition counseling, he builds relationships with everyone in Air World he sees. That disconnect between what Bingham says and what Bingham thinks provides conflict and humor that other narration styles lose out on. If you're looking for an action-backed book, look elsewhere. This novel is for those who find people more interesting than anything. Ominous conflicts, hilarious social interactions, a real portrayal of a fictitious character, all add up to a page-turning read of Up in the Air (Movie Tie-in Edition)

As a fan of Walter Kirn's extensive contributive work to every fantastic periodical you can think of and of his books including his intriguing memoir "Lost in the Meritocracy", I was thrilled to learn I had somehow missed this work released at the unfortunate same time as the sept.11th attacks. What a fortunate turn for Jason Reitman to endure in his facination with Kirn's character of Ryan Bingham by selecting it to be developed to film. It was by my learning of the film's imminent release that I ordered and read it then. The central character is a self banished society outsider who imagines himself to float above the common man's labrynth of society systems and inter-personal ties by removing himself from the very ground that they walk on. By relinquishing all responsibilities as soon as they come upon him, he is a shiny snake with freshly shed skin ready to dazzle at every moment. Even when he lands to do business or attend to the tasks of getting laid or take care of family matters, the reader is aware he is not really there, with his mind and almost his body in the forward moving ether of "whats next and when do we leave for it?" After I became acclimated to the ghost state of this unattainable man, chasing his unattainable goal (a million frequent flyer miles) I then turned my attention to anything that would allow me to redeem him. And that's what hooked me. Being there to love and attend to his sister through her own struggles with commitment and her own self banishment by anorexia and Ryan's tender understanding of her were poignant. His thoughtfulness, appropriate consideration and even caring in the midst of matter of fact pursuit of women was almost attractive, but his insecurities and revealed self-awarenesses are what makes this "big ego, low self esteem" character endearing. I have also seen the movie in early release and it is fantastic to see Kirn's valuable and entertaining tale masterfully shown through a fresh director's eyes with actors, cinematography, music and an adapted screenplay with altered focuses but so much of the generative novel's greatness. However Kirn does this with only words black and white on paper, and that's why I love this author and this book.

Like many business travelor reviewers, I connected with Kirn's "Airworld." I too have moved anonymously through its corridors, a smeared reflection in a universe of frequent flier clubs, play-acting flight attendants and half-watched waiting area televisions. Travelling, I read what comes first to hand -- usually the latest pulp from a journeyman pulpist. Recently I redeemd myself by consuming "Up In The Air" on a single cross-country jag. It is an even, sad book that puts up a cracked facade of humor. It takes a less ambitious walk down the same path as Donleavy's "Ginger Man." Do you have an enduring suspicion that something is fundamentally wrong? Generally speaking, I mean? And that you are more human for your ability to intuit this suspicion? Enjoy.

The plot is clever -- Ryan Bingham is a burned-out corporate consultant and frequent flyer with the loathesome job of helping fire employees for companies. He hates his job but before he resigns and loses his perks, he needs to complete his most important mission -- accumulating enough frequent flyer miles to have one million in his account. After that, Ryan feels he can start his life anew. In a way, it seems Ryan could only believe that worn-out, New Age adage -- "it's the journey, not the destination" -- if there are miles to bank. To log his millionth mile, Ryan will embark on a complicated six-day, eight-city trip where he will juggle business, family matters, love affairs. He will deal with delayed flights, bad weather, surly airline agents, talkative seatmates, and more than a few karmic questions. This is a very cunning book, as funny as it is thought-provoking, on what it means to travel -- out in the world as well on the interior road. The author frames philosophical questions within a very entertaining story and uses witty and satiric prose. Even his false steps -- a few red herrings in the plot, a drawn-out sexual tryst in Las Vegas, and a "soft landing" of an ending -- are forgiven.

Based on reviews I'd read, I had mixed feelings when I finally decided to buy Kirn's novel. Now that I've happily read it, I can say that it's written with flair, style, and insight. Most of the book does not take place on an airplane (as I had expected), and it deals with matters beyond airplane associated ones: family, friendship, career, communication among people. Moreover, it's really funny. Of course, I know that I'm defining my own tastes more than I'm commenting about a book, but I'd guess that most everyone who reviews a book does that. So anyone who doesn't like this book isn't nearly as cute or as smart as I am.