- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: Virgin Nexus; 1st edition edition (Oct 16 2007)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0753512831
- ISBN-13: 978-0753512838
- Product Dimensions: 22.4 x 15 x 1.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 159 g
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,695,262 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Memoirist Knipfel (Slackjaw and Ruining It for Everyone) here presents Ned Noogie Krapczak, a friendless, 35-year-old schlub who works as an ATM re-stocker and repairman, lives with his mother and is obsessed with old movies. It's clear from the beginning that Knipfel is knowingly drawing on affable loser stereotypes, particularly when he has Noogie steal his first $20 from one of the cash machines entirely by accident. The magnitude of Noogie's theft, however, soon sets him apart: working piecemeal, Noogie steals close to $5 million in $20 bills before being forced on an elaborate road trip with his cat, Dillinger. The book's first half traces Noogie's haphazard flight through unremarkable American towns and has an oddball charm: the possibility that Knipfel's sad creature might have gotten away with such a simple, substantial crime provides real renegade pleasure. In the second half, however, Knipfel shifts focus to the cops and FBI agents trying to track Noogie down: their crews feel thin and underrealized in comparison. Nevertheless, Knipfel's talent for empathizing with the underdog, evident is his earlier work, makes Noogie's adventures poignant and funny. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Book Description
ATM thief hits the road with 350 pounds of $20 bills. Ned 'Noogie' Krapczak grew up in rough circumstances in Jersey City, New Jersey.Movies were his only escape, and he dreamed of becoming a filmmaker.But by the time he hits 30, things haven't worked out the way they were supposed to. Instead of making movies, Noogie has a job restocking ATM machines in delis and drug stores.One day he sees a way out of it all, in the form of a slow-motion heist, siphoning $20 bills a few at a time out of the machines he is supposed to be filling.When his scheme is finally uncovered, he hits the road with his Siamese cat, Dillinger, and 350 pounds of $20 bills totaling $5 million.In that instant, he finds himself not watching movies, but living them. He's pulled off a great caper and is on the lam cross-country, a life worthy of Edward G. Robinson or Steve McQueen. Noogie works his way down the east coast on this great escape, disguising himself by using the names of characters in some of his favorite movies.In telling the stories of Noogie's final days, Knipfel's novel captures the tragic end of a broken man who, however briefly and however unseemly, managed to live the American dream-he became a movie star.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fun ride through a dark comedy, Oct 15 2007
By R. M. Dellifraine - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Noogie's Time To Shine: A Novel (Paperback)
A while ago Stephen King tried to bring back the pulp novel genre. I'm not sure what happened to King's project, but this book takes a big step toward reviving pulp fiction. Noogie is a fascinating character and I really enjoyed getting into his weird little head throughout his ridiculously funny run from the law.The book also serves as an homage to the genre and all those classic film noir movies that we associate with it (Dark Passage, White Heat). Its a smart and funny book, think Dashiell Hammett but with a wicked sense of humor.
Also if you do pick up a copy, remember this as you read it: "Follow the money."
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Don't judge this book by its cover, Mar 18 2008
By E. Feld - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Noogie's Time To Shine: A Novel (Paperback)
I'll be honest, I HATE the cover to this book. The book was a gift and my reaction when I saw it was, eww. So it sat on my shelf for six months. I finally decided to give it a try and am glad I did. Okay, once you start reading this book, the cover makes sense but still, what a creepy cover. I asked several friends around the office what they thought of the cover and the reaction was universal - bleck. And all told me they wouldn't read the book based on the cover. So my suggestion to the publisher is if they should do a re-print, change the cover!Enough about the cover. The story is a lot of fun. I found it easy to get wrapped up in Ned, aka Noogie, and his life of crime. Noogie is your basic loser. In his 30s, still lives at home with a nagging, overbearing mother, basically a miserable guy. He works for an ATM company and is relatively happy with his job. Eventually, by mistake, he comes up with a way to slowly steal the cash from the ATMs. The first half of the book (the better half, IMO), follows Noogie's run once he's discovered. The second half follows the police as they track Noogie. It isn't as interesting, but still, it was quick reading as I was interested in finding out what happened to Noogie.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining, April 9 2010
By Jake T. Olsen - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Noogie's Time To Shine: A Novel (Paperback)
I found this book very entertaining. I was rooting for some kind of redemption for the main character not just an apotheosis of inveterate loser-ness. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this. Anyone who reads this will feel better about themselves because you will be reminded that however extreme your problems in life may be, "Noogie," is far more clueless than you could ever be.
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