|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
|
Product Description
From Amazon
Norman Bray is 56, a deluded, self-obsessed actor who no longer acts. Through sheer stupidity, Norman has defaulted on his mortgage payments for the Toronto house left him by his wife who died in a car crash three years earlier. On the same day, he loses his job as the lead voice in Timmy Taxi, a children's TV show. Norman has a 270-pound sister, Margaret, who suffers from "insidious fatigue and mild agoraphobia," and two adult stepchildren, Amy and David. None of them can help Norman out of his quandary because Norman constantly misinterprets what people think of him. He is forever going on about being "an artist" and waiting to ambush people who would question his abilities. Norman Bray is also a bit of a drunk, with a powerful taste for brandy, although anything will do in a pinch.
The bank that holds Norman's mortgage bends over backward trying to help him save his house. They find him a job. They give him time. Nothing works. Except for his new tenant, a Venezuelan immigrant, the entire world is plotting against Norman. The author's cynicism towards his character is palpable and, occasionally, Norman feels a touch overdone--more of a caricature than a character. Nevertheless, Cole keeps it lively throughout, and the book engages the reader with its fine dialogue and wit: "He is famous within his industry largely for having not yet died"; a bald head is "lacquered with sweat." Despite a rather ambiguous conclusion, this is a highly readable novel. --Mark Frutkin --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
“The flat-out funniest novel of the year.… In the tradition of novels like Kingsley Amis’s Lucky Jim, Cole gives us a flawed protagonist facing a crisis, then ratchets up the comedy as the protagonist digs himself in more deeply.…”
–Winnipeg Free Press
“This is a very, very funny book.… Trevor Cole knows how to tell a story of the I-couldn’t-put-it-down variety; Norman’s performance is filled with giddy surprises and wonderful set pieces. The book is smart and deft; it zips along. This is fine writing, with a light and generous touch.… Just delicious!”
–Globe and Mail
“The funniest book on offer.… Endlessly entertaining.… Norman Bray is a triumph for Trevor Cole.”
–Maclean’s
“Norman Bray, like the novel he occupies, is complex, amusing, charming, vexing, and vastly entertaining. He’s a character you cannot forget and you thank god he doesn’t live next door. Trevor Cole has enormous talent.”
–Paul Quarrington
“Trevor Cole, in his debut novel, has created a character as complex, infuriating, unpleasant and funny as any we’ve seen in a long time.… Howlingly funny.… Norman Bray takes on a life that spills beyond the covers of Trevor Cole’s sparkling novel…”
–Montreal Gazette
“Trevor Cole has created a highly original character – one of those rare fictional beings who is impossible to forget.… Darkly funny and perfectly pitched, Cole’s novel introduces an intriguing new voice in fiction.”
–Calgary Herald
“In Norman Bray, Trevor Cole gives a star turn.”
–National Post
“Cole belongs to the Truman Capote school of stylists; his prose is clear as a mountain stream.…”
–David Gilmour, Toronto Star
“Cole’s great accomplishment is to write seductively and sympathetically about someone as narcissistic and bullying as is actor Norman Bray, leaving the reader in a wonderfully uneasy state of delight and horror. Tightly structured, funny, poignant – this wonderful novel delivers the pleasure of seeing that Norman is, under the correct circumstances, capable of leaving himself behind.”
–Jury citation, Governor General’s Award
“Cole deftly manipulates tone, diction, and point of view to create a brilliant study of Norman’s persecuted artist persona and the peculiarly endearing person who hides behind it. The narrative voice is agile and witty.… Extraordinary.”
–Quill & Quire
“Norman Bray is so smart and funny, and it moves along with such speed, you’re almost tricked into thinking it’s a comedy. But this book is more than that – Cole has written a layered, resonant novel, full of surprises.”
–Sarah Fulford, Toronto Life
“There are delicate, subtle shadings of characterizations, hidden pockets of humour and observations of the human condition that make Norman Bray a rewarding read.… Cole has written a punchy, frothy first novel that rings true on many levels.”
–Edmonton Journal
From the Hardcover edition.
–Winnipeg Free Press
“This is a very, very funny book.… Trevor Cole knows how to tell a story of the I-couldn’t-put-it-down variety; Norman’s performance is filled with giddy surprises and wonderful set pieces. The book is smart and deft; it zips along. This is fine writing, with a light and generous touch.… Just delicious!”
–Globe and Mail
“The funniest book on offer.… Endlessly entertaining.… Norman Bray is a triumph for Trevor Cole.”
–Maclean’s
“Norman Bray, like the novel he occupies, is complex, amusing, charming, vexing, and vastly entertaining. He’s a character you cannot forget and you thank god he doesn’t live next door. Trevor Cole has enormous talent.”
–Paul Quarrington
“Trevor Cole, in his debut novel, has created a character as complex, infuriating, unpleasant and funny as any we’ve seen in a long time.… Howlingly funny.… Norman Bray takes on a life that spills beyond the covers of Trevor Cole’s sparkling novel…”
–Montreal Gazette
“Trevor Cole has created a highly original character – one of those rare fictional beings who is impossible to forget.… Darkly funny and perfectly pitched, Cole’s novel introduces an intriguing new voice in fiction.”
–Calgary Herald
“In Norman Bray, Trevor Cole gives a star turn.”
–National Post
“Cole belongs to the Truman Capote school of stylists; his prose is clear as a mountain stream.…”
–David Gilmour, Toronto Star
“Cole’s great accomplishment is to write seductively and sympathetically about someone as narcissistic and bullying as is actor Norman Bray, leaving the reader in a wonderfully uneasy state of delight and horror. Tightly structured, funny, poignant – this wonderful novel delivers the pleasure of seeing that Norman is, under the correct circumstances, capable of leaving himself behind.”
–Jury citation, Governor General’s Award
“Cole deftly manipulates tone, diction, and point of view to create a brilliant study of Norman’s persecuted artist persona and the peculiarly endearing person who hides behind it. The narrative voice is agile and witty.… Extraordinary.”
–Quill & Quire
“Norman Bray is so smart and funny, and it moves along with such speed, you’re almost tricked into thinking it’s a comedy. But this book is more than that – Cole has written a layered, resonant novel, full of surprises.”
–Sarah Fulford, Toronto Life
“There are delicate, subtle shadings of characterizations, hidden pockets of humour and observations of the human condition that make Norman Bray a rewarding read.… Cole has written a punchy, frothy first novel that rings true on many levels.”
–Edmonton Journal
From the Hardcover edition.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Funny and frustrating,
By G.J.Freese (German coast) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Norman Bray, In the Performance of His Life (Paperback)
I almost gave up on this book. I hate to do that, so I perservered, and around page 50 or 60 it clicked for me.Norman Bray has got to be one of the must annoying characters ever created. He's not evil or bad or mean. He's just incredibly self-absorbed. The universe revolves around Norman, or so he believes. This makes him annoying, but also very funny. There's a hilarious scene where Norman is answereing a personality test. The kind where you 'agree completely', to 'totally disagree'. A test normally taking 10 minutes. Norman drives the tester to distraction with his musings - and takes 90 minutes. You kind of agree with Norman that there are nuances that make it difficult to pin down a response, but he does go on and on. There's more to the novel though - there are David and Amy. His deceased partner's adult children. They have their difficulties with Norman too. And a bit of a mystery - did Gillian (Norman's partner) deliberately drive to her death or was she so upset by s omething that Norman said that she was distracted and caused the fatal accident,or was it 'just' an accident. Then there's the lovely lodger that Norman takes in to help pay the mortage , and ..... So much more. The characters are well drawn, and believable. We've met a Norman sometime in our lives. The plot is well paced. Definitely keeps one reading to find out what happens to Norman and the lady lodger, what did happen to Gillian, will Norman be able to keep the house???? A very good read.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
At last, a great Canadian novel,
By A Customer
This review is from: Norman Bray, In the Performance of His Life (Hardcover)
This is a great book. The main character is compelling and brilliantly portrayed. There is not a false not in the actions, words and thoughts of Normand Bray, an impossibly self-centred actor whose inability to see beyond the end of his nose comes back to haunt him. The humour is dark and the story unsentimental, and there is just enough of a mystery to keep you turning the pages. That is, if just waiting to see what Normand Bray does next isn't enough in itself.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Love him or hate him Norman Bray is one interesting character,
By Keep it simple (Vancouver, BC) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Norman Bray, In the Performance of His Life (Hardcover)
At first I thought I would hate this book mostly because the character was so self absorbed. However, as I got further in to the book, Norman started to grow on me and I wanted to know how he was going to get out of the messes he got himself into. The author has done an amazing job of keeping the story flowing when so much of the book was the dialogue in Norman's head. There are some really funny bits as well - especially when he is dealing with the banker and career counsellor. I was a bit disappointed with the vague ending but otherwise a good book and very well written for a first novel.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
Most recent customer reviews |
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
