The Finished Man

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Following the success of his wildly popular debut novel, Sean Murphy returns with a hip, imaginative, and slyly comedic tale set amidst a West Coast world of wildfires and wannabes, hipsters and heavy smog-offering a wry, rollicking look at love, the literati, and Southern California. Frank, a penniless and hapless writer, has nothing to show for himself but an unfinished novel and an unclear future. So when he bumps into Max-an arrogant former classmate who is a terrible, but successful, author-Frank agrees to take up residence in his garage apartment. After all, a glimpse at the inner workings of Max's glittering life will provide great material for his book. Soon, Frank is swept up in a world of glossy cocktail parties, nouveau-wealth, and near-celebrity-as well as a passionate love affair with Max's beautiful wife. And although his nemesis possesses everything Frank desires, he remains secure in his sense of artistic superiority-until Max's latest work heralds him as one of the great new voices in American literature. Seething with envy, Frank sets out to uncover the true source of his newfound talent and gets a lot more than he bargained for. Told in Murphy's distinctive, tongue-in-cheek style, this is a lively and engaging book that will appeal to Murphy's established fans and win him new ones.

Reviews

"Murphy sends up writers, writing, ambition and desire in this quirky, gleeful farce."
--Publishers Weekly

Author Bio

A Zen practitioner for the past fifteen years, Sean Murphy is also the author of The Hope Valley Hubcap King and One Bird, One Stone- 108 American Zen Stories (Renaissance Press). The winner of the 1999 Hemingway Award for a First Novel, he has produced and directed documentary films, founded a theatre company, and performed as a songwriter and guitarist. He teaches writing seminars in the US and abroad, and is an instructor in writing, literature and film at the University of New Mexico. He lives with his wife, Tania, in northern New Mexico.