I'm not sure how to categorise this book. In many ways you could say it's 'women's fiction' - but told from a man's point of view. Wikipedia tells me that women's fiction has been defined: "a commercial novel about a woman on the brink of life change and personal growth. Her journey details emotional reflection and action that transforms her and her relationships with others, and includes a hopeful/upbeat ending with regard to her romantic relationship." Well, replace "about a woman" with "about a man" in that definition and you've got Jim Kokoris's novel in a nutshell. I fell for the story - the part that's pitched at the 'father' demographic. This father is, however, ever worse a father than I am. Actually, I think this is a deliberate hyperbolic mechanism used by Kokoris. The father readers laugh at or are shocked by Charlie Baker's incompetence as a parent, but Kokoris makes Charlie believable enough that the readers ask "wait, could I really be a bit like that?" Unfortunately, when I asked myself this question, the answer was a decided "yes, I'm a lot like that". Where this book failed me is its romantic conclusion. I don't read romance, for the reason that the world is not really like that. The real story of Charlie Baker has to end with a lot more doubt and ambiguity than Kokoris suggests. ( )

11/30/09 - You are one of our Goodreads.com 'First Reads' lucky winners! You will soon receive a free copy of The "Pursuit of Other Interests: A Novel." Received 12/10/09



As I read this book I realized that except for the grace of God, there go I. I could easily be the protagonist and since like the protagonist I'm overly self-serious, many of the passages meant to be funny just struck too close to home for me to laugh at them.

Good plotline, good pacing, excellent character development and an overall enjoyable read. ( )

I love the way Jim Kokoris writes. He's incredibly clever, and you cannot help but fall in love with his characters, even when they're totally impossible.
I read, and enjoyed this book, but I have to say I knew exactly where it was going from the moment the protagonist, Charlie, is fired. You will, too, but it's still completely worth reading. ( )

After what seemed to me to be a clumsy start, this story of redemption of a flawed but likeable Charlie Baker found its footing. The dialogue is refreshingly funny and the characters well drawn. A few scenes are stilted and forced, but in all a good read. ( )

On some level a humorous book but greed does not lead to happiness. Being in debt when you are making tons of money seems strange to me. However, it is a commentary on the life and times of many people now even if this is fiction.