Tokyo Woes

by Bruce Jay Friedman

One morning, jolted by a breakdown of his routine, Mike Halsey, a contemporary combination of Candide and Don Quixote, leaves his lovely lady Pam and his large dog Mort and sets out for the diversions of Japan

Genres: Fiction, Literature

187 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

American comic author whose dark, mocking humour and social criticism was directed at the concerns and behaviour of American Jews.

After graduating from the University of Missouri in 1951 with a B.A. in journalism and serving in the U.S. Air Force for two years, Friedman worked in publishing for several years before achieving success with his first novel, Stern (1962). The title character is a luckless descendent of the biblical Job, unable to assimilate into mainstream American life. Virtually all of Friedman's works are a variation on this theme; most of his characters are Jewish by birth, but they feel alienated from both Jewish and American culture. His works are also noted for focusing on absurd characters and situations.
-Encyclopædia Britannica

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bruce Jay Friedman is best known as a chronicler of the insecure male: guys who are constantly on the make, dreading middle-age, and its incipient decrepitude. His characters are usually nebbishy, dissatisfied, and angsty. His books are filled with a tart, dry wit that leaves you chuckling, and scratching your head as to why Friedman isn't more well known.

And, then there's this book . . .

What the hell happened, Bruce?

Our protagonist, Mike, goes out for a paper one day, and impulsively decides to fly to Japan instead. His wife, though a little disappointed that he didn't get the papers, is perfectly okay with Mike's little jaunt, so we know immediately that this is a fantasy. Aboard the plane, Mike meets a friendly Asian fellow named Bill, and is invited to stay with Bill's family. Mike makes himself at home, and attempts to learn about Bill's culture. There are stereotypes galore, one of which, I admit, did make me smile - the polite graffiti scrawled on a lavatory wall of the factory where Bill works - Our section leader has several flaws.

Otherwise - unfunny, and forgettable. For Friedman completists only . . . if there are any out there besides me.

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun little book. Satire, I guess. It’s one of those books that’s just so silly you have to suspend disbelief from the very beginning. Also, I’m not sure anyone should believe anything about Japan based solely on this book.

[Harold Walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Humor from a favorite author from years ago.

[Jill Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great imagery, and sufficiently bizarre to keep the pages turning. Not a bad read, but not a classic.