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Straight Man: A Novel
 

Straight Man: A Novel (Vintage Contemporaries)

by Richard Russo

First Jane Smiley came out of the comedy closet with Moo, a campus satire par excellence, and now Richard Russo has gotten in on the groves-of-academe game. Straight Man is hilarious sport, with a serious side. William Henry Devereaux Jr., is almost 50 and stuck forever as chair of English at West Central Pennsylvania University. It is April and fear of layoffs--even among the tenured--has... (read more)

Top tags: fiction,  humor,  academia,  contemporary fiction,  academic life (all tags)

Readers

Groups

  • Academic Antics Discussion Group
  • Local Book Clubs Discussion Group
  • Hahahaaa! Ho ho ho hahahahooooohaha! Humor Group Discussion Group
  • North & South Keen(e)s Discussion Group

Other Reviews

Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

Grant S
  • Rated 4 stars

“So ya, all of Richard Russo's books are basically the same story - decent guy gets stepped on, kind of loses it, and gets it back (along with the girl, and maybe some well-deserved justice, too). But it's a highly readable story, whatever the characters' names.”

Grant S’s full review »
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Didn’t Like It

Robert R
  • Rated 2 stars

“Crazy fun look at college faculty relationships.”

Robert R’s full review »
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Community:
  • Rated 4.022727 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 4.5 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • Sharon S

    sharon s said:

    “I laughed out loud!”

    posted Thursday, December 27 2007
  • SalDragski

    saldragski said:

    “I just finished it also for our book club (it was our Humor selection). I didn't care for it, even though I could see others liking it, and I'm not academia. Sal”

    posted Tuesday, May 22 2007
  • Artemis_98

    artemis_98 said:

    “Would a non-academic find this book funny?

    I've just finished this book and it was hilarious and very painfully true.
    I wonder, though, if I only find it so funny b/c I am in academia. Any ideas? ”

    posted Tuesday, May 22 2007
  • AthenasDaughter

    athenasdaughter said:

    “I'd love to join! Why not call it something like The Ivory Tower or Behind the Ivy? Count me in regardless... L)”

    posted Thursday, May 10 2007
  • TippyToes

    tippytoes said:

    “It's a good idea, since academia is a world of its own. I like your suggested name.

    I'm not a good prospective group member, since my recreational computer time is sporadic. But I wouldn't rule it out.

    My candidates for academic books include Moo, Straight Man, The Human Stain, and Expecting Adam. Wonder Boys was a great movie based on a novel, although I never read the book. I'm sure there are many more, and I'd like to hear about them. - Anne ”

    posted Monday, May 7 2007
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