A Calling for Charlie Barnes
Ratings8
Average rating3.6
15
Ratings8
Average rating3.6
From a National Book Award Finalist comes a novel about a modern American family and a man on a secret mission to uncover the world's hidden truths--until his two lives come crashing together. Someone is telling the story of the life of Charlie Barnes, and it doesn't appear to be going well. Too often divorced, discontent with life's compromises and in a house he hates, this lifelong schemer and eternal romantic would like out of his present circumstances and into the American dream. But when the twin calamities of the Great Recession and a cancer scare come along to compound his troubles, his dreams dwindle further, and an infinite past full of forking paths quickly tapers to a black dot. Then, against all odds, something goes right for a change: Charlie is granted a second act. With help from his storyteller son, he surveys the facts of his life and finds his true calling where he least expects it--in a sacrifice that redounds with selflessness and love--at last becoming the man his son always knew he could be. A Calling for Charlie Barnes is a profound and tender portrait of a man whose desperate need to be loved is his downfall, and a brutally funny account of how that love is ultimately earned.
Reviews with the most likes.
This book follows the life of endless dreamer Charlie Barnes, with the meat of the narrative taking place in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and a pancreatic cancer diagnosis.
This one took a bit to pick up, but once it did, I could have chugged my way all the way through to the end in a sitting if I had the opportunity. It's funny from the get-go, with a kooky cast of characters that only build in endearment (or, more often, it's opposite). If you were to summarize the plot, it would sound depressing as heck, but the narrator puts such a charming spin on events, all relayed through the lens of love and admiration.
But what's most captivating to me about this book is the meta-fiction aspect; the way it explores the art of crafting a narrative is fascinating to me. Particularly good ending. Worth a read!
it's a testament to ferris' writing that such an unremarkable premise (the front to back life story of some guy) could still be so captivating. my biggest qualm is that the last quarter or so of this book is TOO good. so much so that it kind of overshadows the rest of the book and i worry i won't remember much that happened outside of it.
joshua ferris's best yet. i loved this book and can't stop thinking about it in the days since.
