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Please
In short, sharp episodes, Please chronicles the life of a young man who drifts through a hallucinatory urban world filled with celebrity wannabes, addictive relationships and jobs that demand he become someone else. The only thing he cares about is finding his ex-wife, who seems to exist only in his memories now. This terse, savage debut fuses the quiet desperation of Raymond Carver with the absurdity and media-savvy irony of Quentin Tarantino. At the same time, Please has a compassionate heart: It’s a moving portrait of one man’s attempt to embrace something real in his life. Here’s an X-ray of our times from a writer of extraordinary restraint, skill and wit.
- "Hilarious social satire of daily life among the young and nihilistic … a winner of a debut” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
- “Darbyshire plumbs the murky regions of the soul in a novel of dark brilliance.” — Booklist
- “a consummate critique of all the creeping human weaknesses, counterfeit values and trend-driven desires that steadily erode our hopes for meaning and purpose” — The Globe and Mail
- Winner of Canada's ReLit Award for best alternative novel
- "Hilarious social satire of daily life among the young and nihilistic … a winner of a debut” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
- “Darbyshire plumbs the murky regions of the soul in a novel of dark brilliance.” — Booklist
- “a consummate critique of all the creeping human weaknesses, counterfeit values and trend-driven desires that steadily erode our hopes for meaning and purpose” — The Globe and Mail
- Winner of Canada's ReLit Award for best alternative novel
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 21, 2003
1 person is currently reading
101 people want to read
About the author
Peter Darbyshire
34 books42 followersThe author of the Book of Cross supernatural thriller series (The Mona Lisa Sacrifice, The Dead Hamlets, The Apocalypse Ark) as well as the books Has the World Ended Yet?, The Warhol Gang and Please.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 1, 2009
4 stars
Recommended
My first thought after reading this book was that -- much as I had enjoyed the read -- this is not a novel, even though it follows a single character through a series of events. So before writing a review, I decided to investigate further.
I came across an interview by Michael Bryson, publisher/editor of The Danforth Review, where Bryson posed the following:
Peter said he wanted people to look at the way the book is divided into episodes and think,?
By coincidence, immediately after reading Please I read Barnacle Love by Anthony De Sa. Barnacle Love is labeled a collection of intimately linked stories, but I would call it a novel. There is a very significant difference between these two books: each of Peter’s “chapters” read to me like stand-alone stories (and Raymond Carver often came to mind), so it is possible to read them out of sequence. Whereas this is not possible with De Sa’s “linked stories”; they must be read chronologically. Of course, it is best to read Please chronologically; I’m simply saying it could be read both ways.
In Please, the young, unnamed narrator desperately seeks his ex-wife. At the same time, he drifts through life falling into and out of bizarre situations/relationships/jobs. These weird experiences are difficult to differentiate at times: petty crime (as victim, and to supplement his income); voyeurism (with a blind man); faith healing; a fetishist “encounter”; working as a film extra; and performing as a real-life mannequin in display case store with pretend-wife Iris – all these and more, in no specific order.
In the end, of course, whether or not Please can be called a novel is irrelevant. Peter’s minimalist style of writing is very effective, and his use of satire and wit makes for a laugh-out-loud yet moving narrative.
Please is a remarkable debut, and deserves to be on bookshelves. "Please" consider adding it to yours.
Recommended
My first thought after reading this book was that -- much as I had enjoyed the read -- this is not a novel, even though it follows a single character through a series of events. So before writing a review, I decided to investigate further.
I came across an interview by Michael Bryson, publisher/editor of The Danforth Review, where Bryson posed the following:
PLEASE is being sold as a novel, but I felt it was clearly a linked short story collection…. How does “novel” fit into your understanding of the book?
Peter said he wanted people to look at the way the book is divided into episodes and think,?
“Hmm, this is a different kind of novel.” Please is a social satire of sorts, and its structure is a part of this. Given that so much of our lives is dedicated to television, I decided to approach the book through a sort of sitcom logic…And I would argue that there is a resolution at the end of the book…. The narrator feels he has achieved some kind of transformation and comes to terms with some aspects of his life.?
By coincidence, immediately after reading Please I read Barnacle Love by Anthony De Sa. Barnacle Love is labeled a collection of intimately linked stories, but I would call it a novel. There is a very significant difference between these two books: each of Peter’s “chapters” read to me like stand-alone stories (and Raymond Carver often came to mind), so it is possible to read them out of sequence. Whereas this is not possible with De Sa’s “linked stories”; they must be read chronologically. Of course, it is best to read Please chronologically; I’m simply saying it could be read both ways.
In Please, the young, unnamed narrator desperately seeks his ex-wife. At the same time, he drifts through life falling into and out of bizarre situations/relationships/jobs. These weird experiences are difficult to differentiate at times: petty crime (as victim, and to supplement his income); voyeurism (with a blind man); faith healing; a fetishist “encounter”; working as a film extra; and performing as a real-life mannequin in display case store with pretend-wife Iris – all these and more, in no specific order.
In the end, of course, whether or not Please can be called a novel is irrelevant. Peter’s minimalist style of writing is very effective, and his use of satire and wit makes for a laugh-out-loud yet moving narrative.
Please is a remarkable debut, and deserves to be on bookshelves. "Please" consider adding it to yours.
October 15, 2018
Although described as a novel, Please is more of a collection of short stories that revolve around one main character and certain events in his life. There is no "real" ending to the book, which some people might really hate if they don’t like stories with an ambiguous ending. Personally, what I took away from the ending was that his life is going to continue the way it’s been throughout the book - with him going through all these strange scenarios, whether it has to do with the various and temporary odd jobs he has or the dysfunctional relationships he’s in.
This book also made me a bit nostalgic for a lot of the books I read during high school that had similar themes - featuring a main character in their 20/30s, living an unstable life, getting up to weird situations, and not really knowing what’s next.
This book also made me a bit nostalgic for a lot of the books I read during high school that had similar themes - featuring a main character in their 20/30s, living an unstable life, getting up to weird situations, and not really knowing what’s next.
January 7, 2016
Please is, as others have said, a collection of short, somewhat related stories more than a novel. I could have liked it, and there were parts that I really did like for their humour and absurdity. Ultimately, though, these parts were few and didn't exactly add to the overall story.
Actually that's what was lacking-- an overall story. Whether you view it as a novel or a collection of stories, there should be some sort of driving force. I couldn't find it. The protagonist is lonely and depressed and has a lot of problems. So does everyone else in the world he occupies. But there's no growth. He is static. He drifts through the book, which can absolutely be done really well in novels, but his drifting is more like stagnating. The end hints at some internal change but it was abrupt and unsatisfying, seeming unrelated to the rest of the book.
It's a quick read and the situations are really funny at times. It's not bad by any means, just.. underwhelming.
Actually that's what was lacking-- an overall story. Whether you view it as a novel or a collection of stories, there should be some sort of driving force. I couldn't find it. The protagonist is lonely and depressed and has a lot of problems. So does everyone else in the world he occupies. But there's no growth. He is static. He drifts through the book, which can absolutely be done really well in novels, but his drifting is more like stagnating. The end hints at some internal change but it was abrupt and unsatisfying, seeming unrelated to the rest of the book.
It's a quick read and the situations are really funny at times. It's not bad by any means, just.. underwhelming.
August 20, 2015
This one's a tough one. This book is great, it really is. It hits you hard. It's quite the critique on modern society, on the ridiculousness of our lives. I liked it. This book flows like a series of short episodes that compliment each other, creating one united whole.
I guess I wasn't completely in the right mindset for this book, which hurt my enjoyment of it.
I guess I wasn't completely in the right mindset for this book, which hurt my enjoyment of it.
February 17, 2009
This is one of the most refreshing, highly readable, laugh out loud novels I have read in a long time. The only fault I can find is it's too short. I found myself reading slowly in order to make it last. Each chapter in itself can stand alone as a short story and they brilliantly come together as a whole.
The main character is this down on his luck chronically unemployed twenty-something guy who pines over his wife who has divorced him. Through flashbacks to the past we learn about his wacky relationship with his ex-wife while in the present he spends time drinking in S&M bars frequented by models, peeping through apartment windows with a blind man, getting robbed by Mormons and going on car chases in pursuit of John Cusack but that's not even the half of it!
If you read this in a public place, you'll find yourself trying to suppress your laughter at some of the deadpan tongue-in-cheek humor. Dabryshire has a sharp wit and is an incredible talent. I can't wait to read more of him.
The main character is this down on his luck chronically unemployed twenty-something guy who pines over his wife who has divorced him. Through flashbacks to the past we learn about his wacky relationship with his ex-wife while in the present he spends time drinking in S&M bars frequented by models, peeping through apartment windows with a blind man, getting robbed by Mormons and going on car chases in pursuit of John Cusack but that's not even the half of it!
If you read this in a public place, you'll find yourself trying to suppress your laughter at some of the deadpan tongue-in-cheek humor. Dabryshire has a sharp wit and is an incredible talent. I can't wait to read more of him.
July 3, 2016
My absolute favorite book. I have been in love with it since I discovered it many years ago. I have re-read this more times than any other book I can think of. Its a series of crazy stories told by the main character that makes you feel as though you are just having a conversation with a friend over drinks. Absolutely recommend to everyone.
March 3, 2018
Didn't like this one at all, and gave up on it about half way through, which I very rarely do. Much too random, reminded me of the stream of consciousness in Ulysses (which I never managed to finish either).
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February 11, 2018Want to find out more ? Just visit the New-Brunwick Public Library catalogue ! (Canada)
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https://nbpl.ent.sirsidynix.net/clien...
November 18, 2011
UHHH this a bit too rated i think i should stop reading ahahha
August 2, 2012
Very odd... But very good.
May 1, 2024
Începută acum câteva luni, terminată azi pe când așteptam la tuns. O lectură cinstită. “You’re okay,” he said. “There’s nothing wrong with you.”
“That’s right,” Iris said. “There’s nothing wrong with you.”
I couldn’t stop shaking but I nodded.
“Say it,” Iris said.
I couldn’t look away from that picture.
“Say it,” Iris said again.
“There’s nothing wrong with me,” I managed.
“That’s right,” Iris said. “There’s nothing wrong with you.”
I couldn’t stop shaking but I nodded.
“Say it,” Iris said.
I couldn’t look away from that picture.
“Say it,” Iris said again.
“There’s nothing wrong with me,” I managed.
April 20, 2021
This is the 3rd time I've read this book. When my boyfriend picked it off the shelf for me to read, I had absolutely no recollection of it, aside from liking the texture of the cover, reading it fast and drugs. I've owned this book for at least 10 years lol
And, just like the previous times reading, I become so interested that I fly through the book. I don't consider myself to be a fast reader but I am by no means slow. With 2 toddlers on my hands, it's impossible for me to read quickly. With this being the exception.
There is something about the main character that is so completely and awkwardly human, so desperate, that resonates with me so much. Wanting to be praised for helping others and it backfiring, wanting to just be someone else. Getting yourself in crazy situations because you either don't know how to walk away, can't walk away or are too stupid or gullible to walk away....I feel that.
I will never get rid of this book. Even though I'll probably pick it up in 5 years and have no idea what it's about, and that's ok with me.
And, just like the previous times reading, I become so interested that I fly through the book. I don't consider myself to be a fast reader but I am by no means slow. With 2 toddlers on my hands, it's impossible for me to read quickly. With this being the exception.
There is something about the main character that is so completely and awkwardly human, so desperate, that resonates with me so much. Wanting to be praised for helping others and it backfiring, wanting to just be someone else. Getting yourself in crazy situations because you either don't know how to walk away, can't walk away or are too stupid or gullible to walk away....I feel that.
I will never get rid of this book. Even though I'll probably pick it up in 5 years and have no idea what it's about, and that's ok with me.
December 7, 2007
A- San Fran fetishist--bizarre yet good
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews