Sam Lipsyte is a very funny
writer, maybe the funniest if he ever turns to writing pure comedy, which I think
he is doing. This is very evident in his novels The Ask, his breakthrough hit,
and this one, Home Land. He has a scathing satirical voice that brutally critiques
modern life, but does so while critiquing the critiquer. It is refreshing in
its themes and ideas, but the execution can be a bit clunky sometimes, due
solely his strong sense of control over the story. By that I mean he never
really lets it take off into places it needs to go to be really, truly great
storytelling instead of just great satire. Too many times in Home Land, he
forgoes more realistic and more interesting route to make a funny joke or have
a character say something really clever. It leaves me begging for something
that might have been, even though, in small doses, it can make a reader laugh
quite uproariously. The premise of this novel is really interesting, and is
what made me read it as a follow-up to The Ask. Lewis Miner, known
unaffectionately as “Teabag” by his high school classmates at Eastern Valley
High School, decides to write to the school’s newsletter, Catamount Notes, and
tell the world his awful history post-high school, from being left by the love
of his life for an incestuous relationship with the love’s brother, his screwed
up friendship with his best friend Gary and his antagonistic relationship with
the principal Mr. Fontana, who publishes Teabag’s musings to spite him. There is
very little plot, but of what there is, it is quite funny and sad all at once,
leading to a climatic speech at Teabag’s high school reunion being the
highlight of the novel. As I said before, there are a too many instances where
a plot direction is ignored for a joke, but if you want a gut busting read,
look no further than this, or any other Lipsyte novel.
Rating: 4/5
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