Main Street Books

I was leery of this book initially because it revolves around a family in a commune in the '60s, and I've always been wary of people who make their own yogurt like that's just natural (this is a joke--perhaps one only my parents and I are in on). Anyway, I wasn't sure they'd be that interesting, but Lauren Groff writes beneath the grimy characature of a dirty hippy to the pride, mistrust, anger, love, depression, and fear of these very real people. 

At the center of the story is Bit, who begins his life as we begin the novel. Bit is the most realistically written child protaganist I've ever read. Something about how Groff captures Bit's constant astonishment as he discovers the world is unlike any other author's depiction of a child. I felt weird flutters of recognition in his fears and moments of surprise, oh yeah, I remember feeling that...

 We get to know Bit in his later years, as well, when the tables are turned and he now cares for his parents. His age is realistic; his character, consistent. And I want to meet the guy. The mother's age is also believable, in a way that at several times brought tears to my eyes. Groff has her finger on the pulse, all right. 

Just finished HEADS. A friend of mine who works in publishing handed me an advance copy of this book and said, "I want you to read this. I want you to carry this in your store." So I did and I will.

If there was ever a book worthy of that overused word "rollicking," it would be this one. We follow author Tomsky from his humble beginnings as a valet with a degree in philosophy to housekeeping manager to front desk dude. I now know whom to tip and how much, how to work the system for the best room, and how to eat those tempting little bags of almonds for free. And not only are you let into the world behind-the-scenes at the hotel, you are also made embarrassed to be grouped with the seemingly endless stream of jerks in line at the check-in desk.

Tomsky's writing sounds like he's saying everything with a smile, either a knowing grin or a customer service grimace, depending on the chapter. But he is so damned likable you just can't wait to get to the next tale of weirdness, the description of the next bizarre customer. One may argue, I suppose, that there's not a lot of substance to the narrative. I would hold that that's just wrong. Reading this is totally worth your time. You will laugh, you will thoroughly enjoy yourself, and you will never condescend to a hotel employee again.