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The Fuck-up Paperback – 15 Sep 1997

3.9 out of 5 stars 27 customer reviews

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Paperback, 15 Sep 1997
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Product details

  • Paperback: 274 pages
  • Publisher: Akashic Books,U.S. (15 Sept. 1997)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1888451033
  • ISBN-13: 978-1888451030
  • Product Dimensions: 1.9 x 14 x 21.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 7,266,859 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Product Description

Review

The Village Voice [A] terrific novel....The charm and grit of Nersesian's voice is immediately enveloping, as the down-and-out but oddly up narrator...slinks through Alphabet City and guttural utterances of love.

Paper Nersesian creates a charming everyman whose candor and sure-footed description of his physical surroundings and emotional framework help his tale flow naturally and therefore believably.

Hal Sirowitz author of Mother Said A Trainspotting without drugs, New York style.

Time Out For those who remember that the eighties were as much about destitute grit as they were about the decadent glitz described in the novels of Bret Easton Ellis and Jay McInerney, this book will come as a fast-paced reminder.

Smug Magazine Touted as the bottled essence of early eighties East Village living, The Fuck-Up is, refreshingly, nothing nearly so limited....A cult favorite, I'd say it's ready to become a legitimate religion.

Jennifer Belle author of Going Down Having "grown to tolerate all of New York's degradations," Arthur Nersesian's main character is irresistibly charming, funny, and real. Nersesian's writing, reminding me at times of John Patrick Shanley and Gogol, is beautiful, especially when it is about women and love. The Fuck-Up is a terrific success.

Grid Magazine Not since The Catcher in the Rye, or John Knowles' A Separate Peace, have I read such a beautifully written book.... Nersesian's powerful, sure-footed narrative alone is so believably human in its poignancy... Nersesian mixes "F" trains, lumpy couches, SoHo lofts, dive bars, lonely divorcees, porn theaters, posh brownstones, embezzling employers, ritzy Hard Rock Cafe parties, deceitful, would-be kept starlets, bathroom-stall poetry, free Mercedes-Benzes, and even Mormons. Whew! I couldn't put this book down.

Flipside Fantastically alluring! I cannot recommend this book highly enough! --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Arthur Nersesian was managing editor of the literary magazine THE PORTABLE LOWER EAST SIDE in New York. He also teaches at Eugenio Maria de Hostos Community College in the South Bronx since 1990. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Perhaps the price of comfort is that life passes more rapidly But for anyone who has lived in uneasiness, even for a short, memorable duration, it's a trade-off that will gladly be made. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
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Top Customer Reviews

Format: Paperback
I read this novel after picking up THE LOSERS' CLUB by Richard Perez. Both novels take place in New York City's East Village, although a decade apart: LC in the 90s, FU in the 80s. Why does this novel work for me? Simple: despite being published by MTV, it very non-mainstream, meaning unpredictable and to some extent 'unpolished,' even 'unliterary.' It simply unfolds in a very unconventional way. I read a lot of books and believe me there's not a whole lot of humor and goofiness in 'literary' novels. I just enjoyed being able to lean back and read a book that was fun! So, yes, I recommend it! Originally this was a self-published novel that took on a life of its own, and was later picked up by MTV. I appreciate the offbeat quality it has. It also lacks the pretension of a lot of 'downtown' writing which is frankly quite dull, dreary, humorless and self-important. This book is simply a goofy romp! Heck, try it out! Laugh a little!
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By A Customer on 6 July 1999
Format: Paperback
First of all, I had never heard of the author but the title got my attention. After reading the book i was blown away by the strength of the story and the way you feel kinda sorry and the same time jealousy for the main character. All time cult classic, despite the fact that MTV had an influence in putting this book on the market.
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By A Customer on 28 April 2000
Format: Paperback
Probably like just about everybody who has read this book, it was the title that initially caught my eye. Daft titles aside, I haven't laughed so much reading a book for ages. You can't help but feel sorry for the guy as he stumbles from one disaster to the next, but still tries to maintain some type of moral dignity. Overall, a cracking read, so I'll excuse the deliberately controversial title.
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Format: Paperback
This book is totally absorbing. The plot twists and turns as the protagonist essentially ruins his life. He is charming all the way down, though, and I really enjoyed the simple writing style (perhaps harder in a way than the "poetry" referred to by a previous reader). The surprise ending put me in a good mood for days. Definitely a must if you are in your early twenties and living in NYC.
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Format: Paperback
Nersesian has an unmistakably idiosyncratic voice (who does he sound like? no one but himself), and he does so much with it -- keeps you guessing, laughing and furrowing your brow through a shaggy dog of a novel that's smart and surprisingly affecting and pensively funny -- cynical in the best sense of the word -- I'll read anything this guy writes, HE'S THAT GOOD. Read it and see for yourself.
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Format: Paperback
Nersesian's prose is idiosyncratically deadpan and absolutely hilarious, without a smidgen of romantic leavening. The story kicks into gear on page one and plows relentlessly forward to the improbable but perfect ending, through all manner of well-drawn scenarios, characters, locations and snafus. This book would make a great movie.... I hope he publishes more soon. A writer to keep an eye on.
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By A Customer on 24 Aug. 1999
Format: Paperback
First of all, this book was originaly published about eight years ago. Long before MTV picked it up. This story exemplifies life in downtown manhattan in the early eighties. Anyone who lived in downtown NYC during this time will appreciate this story.
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Format: Paperback
You might get something like this book if you crossed JD Salinger with Irvine Welsh. The book was supposed to be funny according to comments on the outside of the jacket, but I didn't laugh once. What it does tho, is paint a very vivid scene of NY at the time. That much is so on the money, it's scary. It also gives a good reason why an out-of-towner living in NY needs to develop a better sense of street smarts and distrust of humans. Thus, you understand why native NYers are the way they are. I'm one. : )
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