Something for Nothing

by David Anthony

Martin Anderson has a racehorse, a deep-sea fishing boat, a vacation home in Tahoe, and a Caddy in the garage. But his life is in freefall. It's the 1970s, and with the arrival of the oil crisis and gas rationing, his small aircraft business is tanking, as is his extravagant suburban lifestyle. Martin keeps many secrets from his wife, such as his mounting debt and his penchant for sneaking into neighborhood homes and making off with small keepsakes. So when he's given the opportunity to clear his debt by using one of his planes to make a few drug runs between California and Mexico, Martin doesn't think twice . . . or at all, for that matter.
Things quickly spiral out of control when Martin's simple plan lands him in the midst of gun-toting Mexican thugs. After a narcotics agent arrives on his doorstep, he becomes increasingly paranoid, both about the police and about his associates in the drug world-a feeling that seems justified when he stumbles upon the scene of a brutal double murder. Martin wants out, but he wants his money, too.
Deeply funny and suspenseful, David Anthony's novel is a perfect snapshot of the excesses of American culture.

Genres: Fiction

354 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

David Anthony grew up in the Bay Area. He is an associate professor of early American literature in the Department of English at SIU-Carbondale. SOMETHING FOR NOTHING is his first novel.

Reviews

[Wayland Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took me a while to figure out how to describe the main character (certainly not a hero) in this book. Take a bit of Willy Loman, the lead from Death of A Salesman, with his delusions of grandeur when he can barely manage adequacy, add in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty's daydreaming protagonist, mix in the saying about "lives of quiet desperation," and add in greed and you're about there. I found this man, Martin Anderson, very hard to like.

It's the 1970's, in the midst of the oil crisis and fuel rationing. Anderson has been living beyond his means with his small aircraft business, but now no one's buying. How's he supposed to maintain his nice suburban house, fishing boat, cabin at Lake Tahoe, and racehorse? Well, he lives in Southern California, and he gets hooked up with some unsavory types who point out there's a lot of money to be made flying those small planes of his to Mexico, picking up drugs, and coming back. So, naturally, he does it. Because he's a greedy idiot.

Also bubbling along are his current horse, which actually might have a chance to be a winner; a major crush on his neighbor (despite the fact that he's married); both of his kids having problems; and a sometimes strained relationship with his long-suffering wife.

Things build until he's in an increasingly desperate situation. His marriage is in real danger of falling apart, his business is sliding deeper into the red, his trips to Mexico are taking a toll, and then the consequences of his illegal activities start getting driven home in nasty, bloody ways.

The story was well done, but the main character was just an annoying collection of bad habits and personality flaws. I had a real hard time caring about him, let alone rooting for him. If the book had ended differently and worse for him, I'd have been perfectly fine with it.

All and all, just kind of meh, really.

[George Boulukos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got totally absorbed in this book and really enjoyed it. The protagonist, Martin Anderson, is (objectively) kind of a jerk/ definitely a screw up, but you get sucked into rooting for him despite his hypocrisy and cringe-worthy misdeeds. To me, that is excellent character development. His kids are intriguing--we only see them through his eyes. He loves them alot but sees their flaws (as he does not see his own). I think Anthony really pulls it off in that I was in suspense hoping Martin would get away with his crazy lies about being pals with Sal Bando, would succeed in bribing his way into a full tank of gas even though it wasn't the day for his plates (opec crisis is part of the backdrop)... and many things that are much worse. It's hard not to sympathize with him being sarcastic towards his daughter's drug-education class (in front of her) even though you know he shouldn't. One of the blurbs on the back says that the book is like a thriller written by John Cheever, and that's about right. Martin is sympathetic not because the author cuts him any slack, but because you get such a full sense of how he sees the world, such an objective view into his head, that he is charming even when he's very, very wrong.

[Sandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

All Martin Anderson wants is what he doesn't have. Yes, he has a beautiful wife, but the neighbor's wive is more enticing. Yes, he has a business where he sells planes and an ocean cruiser and a racehorse but he desperately needs money. He's sure he is going broke, that everyone is always talking about him, that there is something out there, just out of reach, that will finally satisfy him.

When his horse trainer approaches him with a get rich quick plan, Martin is ready to listen. The business isn't doing that well in the oil crisis of the 1970's, and Martin just needs a cash infusion to ride it out until things get better. His partner, Val, has just the thing. The DEA is cracking down on heroin brought in from Mexico. The border checkpoints are getting harder and harder to get product through. But Martin could fly down, load up the heroin and bring it back. He doesn't need to do anything else and he can make five thousand for every trip. Martin isn't sure but then agrees. What can go wrong?

Apparently, lots can go wrong. Martin is consumed with guilt about his role, sure that the police will show up any day. When a DEA agent does show up, to ask about a plane he sold a few months before, Martin is thrown into a panic. His marriage is having issues and his son isn't sure Martin is the hero he has always thought he was. Can he pull it out before everything is lost?

David Anthony has written an engaging debut novel. Martin is a character who the reader knows is doing wrong but can't help emphasizing with and liking. The drama goes slowly from event to event until it is snowballing down the cliff, taking the reader along. Although the situations are dire, humor is found throughout and Martin, the ultimate Everyman, gets the reader's sympathy. This book is recommended for thriller readers.

[Janet Nuss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read and definitely not the end I was expecting!

[Monique · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well was all set to give this fast read a solid three star as it was dark, snarky and entertaining in certain aspects and I had some fun with it however the ending kinda plummeted the book and its rating for me, it just seemed rushed and undone and so a star had to leave --however if read alone as a case study on a middle aged somewhat loveable and utterly hopeless father, husband and man it is spot on..So this light read about a man in the late seventies struggling to keep his business afloat as gas prices rise, his gambling stays reckless and he strains his funds along to buy a horse, a boat and things to give the appearance of wealth and self confidence he struggles to possess honestly....You feel for Martin as he struggles to be the guy he hired, a self assured intelligent and well off man of society however he is a compulsive liar, utterly selfish and tactless which makes for a mildly amusing story as he bumbles through fatherhood, marriage (why and how does his wife put up with him?!), and running a business in a financial nosedive drawing more money than its making that poses life's question of what is a guy to do to support his family and impress people who truly don't even care about him anyways when the economy is bad and you spend money constantly LOL yea so he makes some bad decisions and bumbles up some more then the book is over, boo.. I do wish there was more to this, and that this author does more with his obvious strength of character development as you can really see and feel for Martin and find yourself screaming at his stupidity and still cheering for him despite it, eh it was okay...

[Sandy (WI girl at heart) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just completed reading David Anthony's book "Something for Nothing". I have to say this book started out slow but finally gain momentum in the last 1/3 of the book.

The book is about a guy who owns a airplane business, he sells them. He also has a racehorse and a problem with gambling. He has gotten himself so far in debit with the horse and business that he takes up an offer to fly shipments of Heroin up from Mexico for his horse's trainer (Val).

There is his downfall and his trying to get himself out of the "red" leads him on a couple of flights from Mexico where everything doesn't go as planned. The guy is a real flake breaking into the house down the street because he has a crush on the wife of the guy who lives there. He takes an item that his OWN wife finds and tries to lie his way out of the theft.

When he finds Val and Val's wife murdered he thinks he knows who is behind them. But he has it all wrong and it almost costs him his life.

Didn't see this ending coming but was glad it turned out the way it did.

Would I recommend this book: Maybe. Would I read this book again: No.

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character was flat, and his family was nothing more than empty character shells. Reading some Franzen would provide instruction on how to flesh out these characters through their external interactions and better internal dialogue (main character's internal dialogue was unhelpful, and none of the other characters had any, despite third-person narrative). Truthfully, this book deserved more like a 2-2.5, but I rounded up for three reasons: 1) It is set in the 1970s in the Bay Area, where I live, so gave me a little insight into this area before I was around; 2) It's a first novel, and the pacing and action were very good, which makes me think that the author could put out some good books with some work on character development; and 3) I read it directly after finishing "A Visit from the Goon Squad," which I loved, so it's kinda like taking the stage after James Brown. I feel people who usually read books centered around plot developments and action more than characters (crime/detective novel readers, for instance) would like this a lot more than I did.

[BetsyD · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. In fact, last night we lost power and I was so enthralled that I read it by flashlight. The writing is sharp and the characterizations even more so: this is a tale of threatened masculinity in the Bay Area suburbs of the 1970s (a time that is very politically and socially resonant for us now), of achieving status and saving face and yet still trying desperately to connect and be whole. The main character, Martin, does a lot of crazy things, and yet he never stops seeming like a real human being. The narrative is filtered through his consciousness, yet the other characters also seem very real. I won't give away the ending, but it was unexpected in the best possible way. And the book is very funny and sly. The narrative gains momentum as it goes along, until you're unwilling to put the book down. A great popular read, but also a book I'd love to write about as a literary critic, if I specialized in contemporary American literature. I can pay no higher compliment to a work of fiction!

[Natasha Zaretsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book riveting and absorbing from page one. Set in the Bay Area in the early 1970s, the novel charts the descent of Martin Anderson, a married father of two who turns to drug smuggling in an attempt to save his failing aircraft business. Desperate to dodge downward mobility, Martin does a series of incredibly stupid and even reprehensible things. But your heart is breaking for the guy the whole way through, because what he wants most of all are things that money can't buy: simple approval and genuine connections to other people, including his wife and kids. The story is suspenseful (especially the last 100 pages), the characters are vividly rendered, and the dialogue and descriptions are often hilarious. The book is very funny, but it's also a poignant snapshot of American culture at the moment when the postwar economic boom came to an abrupt end--a theme that obviously speaks to our own time. Very highly recommended.

[Dulse Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, I had the exact opposite reaction to Jeremy. I also just finished "Visit to the Goon Squad," which was really good and had fun pyrotechnics, but "Something for Nothing" was a relief afterwards precisely because of its great character development. Egan's book ricocheted around from character to character, but I felt like I got to know and eventually root for Martin Andersen, even though he was pretty foolish and a little weird. I am also relieved that the author *doesn't* take Franzen's lead, because Franzen has contempt for his main characters (in "Freedom," at least, which I found unbearable). "Something for Nothing" is also very, very funny, which is why I gave it 5 stars. This is the funniest book I have read in a long time.

[Will Janowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book in two days. Its only drawback is that it’s only 300-odd pages. I don’t read very often and usually don’t enjoy mystery or crime novels. When I do pick a book up, I keep to Tom Clancy and similar stuff, but Something for Nothing really drew me in. It’s not cheesy, obvious or frivolous. It manages to be suspenseful and serious while being funny. Martin’s perspective makes a lot of passages that could be plain depressing comical, especially in the last half of the book. His inner musings and little insecurities bring the book to life. The best part is that it’s light enough to read during a lunch break or just before bed, and, because it’s so thrilling, doesn’t require much effort from the reader.

[Dan Downing · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Anthony's debut effort presents us with a cross genre look at an almost idealized 70s hustler. Martin Anderson has it made: house in the suburbs, beautiful wife, two children, big boat, race horse, an Airplane Company and a huge load of debt. By the alchemy of good writing and selective plotting, Anthony slowly draws us to Martin's side; we might not want him as a friend, but we recognize ourselves and those we know in him, if slightly distorted.
This story goes John Cheever one better by offering Martin a 70s path to quick money: a little side business smuggling drugs. As the tension mounts so does the humor, and pieces of hints of Hiaasen creep in toward the satisfying conclusion.
Recommended.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great book. Honestly, I laughed out loud a bunch of times while reading it--it was very darkly ironic. And when I wasn't laughing I was worrying about the main character. He does some creepy things and he makes horrible mistakes (like smuggling drugs!), but he's someone I could relate to, mainly because he just wants to connect and be a part of things, but isn't able to. Things get more and more exciting as the book goes along, and the ending is very exciting.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a random grab off the library shelves. I did like it.. a little unsatisfying ending.. it did hold my interest though because you really do want to know how it all turns out for Martin.. a little depressing too..

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a fun book! My full review may be read on my book review blog Rundpinne.

[Celine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I could give this 3 1/2 stars because I feel that it rates better than three stars but not quite four. The beginning was a little slow but then I got into it. I could totally see this becoming a movie. I loved the ending. Don't want to give any spoilers but it was just perfect.

[Jon · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main character in this book didn't seem consistent too me. Choices that he makes especially towards the end of the book don't seem to fit his personality, it just seemed odd to me. I also felt parts of the story line went unresolved.

[Tess · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit uneven, but very enjoyable debut.

[Charity · Rating 1 out of 5]

Promising narrative that could have been dark and clever felt like what I imagine swimming in molasses would feel like.

[Michael Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this fun debut thriller. Terrific period details, main character Martin is blithely stumbling through the 70s, and who doesn't love a drug smuggling /simple plan story?

[Maggi · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far I am giving this a 5-star rating. Holy shite this is funny. More to come.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this comic-thriller;looking forward to more from its author in the future.

[Gary Garth McCann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A protagonist who's lost his moral compass becomes involved in crime when he's desperate to save his used airplane sales business. In fact, he perhaps never had a moral compass, as his personal life shows him also to be not beyond intolerable behavior. Yet I was always curious as to what would happen to him. I also felt that he's typical of a current generation of me-first Americans who have bought into greed is good. His endearing characteristic is his low estimate of his own odds of ever having as much as he wants (although he owns, on credit presumably, planes and a yacht, and a decent, albeit suburban Bay Area home). He thinks he's too average, too plain looking, to unintelligent, to be the kind of large fish in a small pond he aspires to be.

The author favored Late Last Night Books online magazine with a guest column at https://latelastnightbooks.com/2018/0...