The Funny Man

Fülszöveg

he funny man is a middling comic in an unnamed city. By day he takes care of his infant son, by night he performs in small clubs, sandwiched between other aspiring comics, while his wife waits tables to support the family. All in all, they're happy. Until the day he comes up with it. His thing. His gimmick. And everything changes. He's a headliner, and the venues get bigger fast. Pretty soon it's Hollywood and a starring role in a blockbuster, all thanks to the gimmick. Which is: He performs with his fist in his mouth to the wrist. Jokes, impressions, commercials—all with his fist in his mouth to the wrist. The people want him—are crazy for him—^but only with his fist in his mouth.
H
V
And the funny man, he is tired of having his fist in his mouth.
And so, as the novel begins, his career's nosedived, his substance abuse has skyrocketed, his family's left him and he's on trial for shooting an unarmed man six times. But for the second time in his life, against all odds, the... Tovább

Fülszöveg

he funny man is a middling comic in an unnamed city. By day he takes care of his infant son, by night he performs in small clubs, sandwiched between other aspiring comics, while his wife waits tables to support the family. All in all, they're happy. Until the day he comes up with it. His thing. His gimmick. And everything changes. He's a headliner, and the venues get bigger fast. Pretty soon it's Hollywood and a starring role in a blockbuster, all thanks to the gimmick. Which is: He performs with his fist in his mouth to the wrist. Jokes, impressions, commercials—all with his fist in his mouth to the wrist. The people want him—are crazy for him—^but only with his fist in his mouth.
H
V
And the funny man, he is tired of having his fist in his mouth.
And so, as the novel begins, his career's nosedived, his substance abuse has skyrocketed, his family's left him and he's on trial for shooting an unarmed man six times. But for the second time in his life, against all odds, the funny man has found love. This time with another celebrity, who may or may not be sending him coded messages, and may or may not be equally in love—or even know he exists.
JOHN WARNER is the author of three previous books and editor at large for McSweeney's Internet Tendency. He is one of the color commentators for The Morning Nem Tournament of Books and has taught literature and writing at the University of Illinois, Virginia Tech and Clemson University. He currently lives in Charleston, SC. The Funny Man is his first novel.
Front cover design: Dave Eggers Illustrations: Ian Huebert Additional design: Ailen Lujo Author photo: Kathleen SenneUo
SOHO
Soho Press, Inc. 853 Broadway NewYork, NY 10003
\
ADVANCE^ PRAISE FOR
:THE FUNNY MAN
/
"John Warner is an uncommonly funny and gifted writer who has managed to make the business of comedy actually funny, as opposed to the awful self-negating mess that it actually is (I may only be speaking from personal experience on this last point). This book will make you laugh and think and laugh some more." -MICHAEL lAH BLACK (VEBY FAMOUS]
"A wise, rueful, surprisingly tender book about what happens when we get what we want, and then what happens when we keep on wanting things a novel that reminds me of Ualker Percy's and Saul Bellows very American novels. I can think of no higher praise for a novel and The Funny Man deserves it." -BROCK CLARKE, AUTHOR Qf EXLEY
"The Funny Man shows us what blooms in the shadows of the paparazzi's flashbulbs—nothing pretty, but true and damn amusing!" -ROSECRANS BALDWIN, AUTHOR OF WU LOST HE THERE '
"The Funny Man is a whip smart satire of celebrity culture. It is hysterical, and sod, ultimately indicts us all. John Warner has invented the perfect Everyman for our -JESSICA FRANCIS KANE, AUTHOR OF THf HEPOUT Vissza