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The Last Temptation of Clarence Odbody
What if George Bailey wasn’t saved by his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody, on that snowy Christmas Eve in Bedford Falls? This reimagining of the beloved Frank Capra classic It’s a Wonderful Life (and the Phillip Van Doren Stern story that inspired it) tells the story of Bedford Falls and its inhabitants after the death of their drama’s central character.
The Last Temptation of Clarence Odbody restores the dark undercurrent of the Van Doren Stern’s short story “The Greatest Gift” to the uplifting plot of Capra’s film, and explores how the familiar characters in it might respond to the dire circumstances created by George Bailey’s disappearance from their lives. The paths of an introspective cab driver, a ruthless henchman, and a wayward daughter collide nearly twenty years later in the town that defined their reputations for better or for worse.
The Last Temptation of Clarence Odbody restores the dark undercurrent of the Van Doren Stern’s short story “The Greatest Gift” to the uplifting plot of Capra’s film, and explores how the familiar characters in it might respond to the dire circumstances created by George Bailey’s disappearance from their lives. The paths of an introspective cab driver, a ruthless henchman, and a wayward daughter collide nearly twenty years later in the town that defined their reputations for better or for worse.
256 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2011
20 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
About the author
John Jughead Pierson
3 books17 followersJohn Jughead Pierson, hails from Chicago where he has spent his whole life creating art in many medias. He has been a part of The Neo-Futurists for over 15 years. (A Chicago staple theater company known for its show Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind www.neofuturists.org) John was the co-founder of the seminal punk band Screeching Weasel. (He recorded records and toured with the band for over 20 years. He is the founder of the acoustic punk band known as Even In Blackouts. He is was a puppeteer for the company Madcap Puppets out of Cincinnati. He has written two novels: Weasels In A Box and The Last Temptation of Clarence Odbody. He is now working on a third novel called The Plight of the Lampoons, a story about a cartoon family that inexplicably appears in the middle of a suburban neighborhood, house and all. He is working on this novel while performing as a Wizard in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Osaka Japan.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 18, 2015
Stunning book.
I realize some may hate this one. It takes a good "what if" look at everyone's favorite Christmas movie, "It's a Wonderful Life". What happened after George was saved by Clarence? Was this really the best thing for the family?
Admittedly, this is a somewhat dark look at what could have happened. But here's the thing: I love books that make you think. Sometimes we just don't know whether the things that happen in our life were for the best or not. We won't know until our lives are concluded and the ripples of our lives stop affecting the people in our lives. There were concepts that reminded me of the Butterfly Effect theory (not the movie). How each of our decisions have rippling effects that we can't imagine.
This will definitely leave you thinking about the movie we all know, your own life, and what makes up the big picture. Deep, profound, heartbreaking, and beautiful -- just like life.
Now someone else read it so we can talk about it already - I initially rated this in 2013 before I was really doing decent reviews, but I still think about it today.
I realize some may hate this one. It takes a good "what if" look at everyone's favorite Christmas movie, "It's a Wonderful Life". What happened after George was saved by Clarence? Was this really the best thing for the family?
Admittedly, this is a somewhat dark look at what could have happened. But here's the thing: I love books that make you think. Sometimes we just don't know whether the things that happen in our life were for the best or not. We won't know until our lives are concluded and the ripples of our lives stop affecting the people in our lives. There were concepts that reminded me of the Butterfly Effect theory (not the movie). How each of our decisions have rippling effects that we can't imagine.
This will definitely leave you thinking about the movie we all know, your own life, and what makes up the big picture. Deep, profound, heartbreaking, and beautiful -- just like life.
Now someone else read it so we can talk about it already - I initially rated this in 2013 before I was really doing decent reviews, but I still think about it today.
December 7, 2012
I was more pleased with this book than I expected to be.
It's a Wonderful Life was a dark film. It touched on some taboo subjects that still are difficult to talk about in present times. However, it ended on such a terrifically high note that the upbeat message made most people forget how disturbing almost 75 percent of that film truly is. I will admit that there were times when I was revolted and horrified that Pierson took such a great movie and moved it to an even darker place than what even Pottersville allowed.
Where Pierson excelled was in his attention to detail in the movie. I found a couple of errors, but chalked it up to the fact that this is an alternate version of how the story comes out, so the details don't necessarily have to stay the same.
I was also disappointed that we didn't find out what ever happened to such a devilish character, or why he was so helpful to one character, yet so destructive to another. The motivation for both was missing.
When this book got really, really (really!!!!!) dark, I almost put it down. It was taking me to a place that I, as a HUGE fan of It's a Wonderful Life, didn't want to allow the story to go. But I followed through, and as much as it hurt, it was worth it. The epilogue is full of quotable moments.
Never think your future is written. It's not. Never let anyone tell you what you can or can't or should or shouldn't do. They need to keep their mouths shut. The world is out there. Now let go of the past and go explore it, even if it is just in your own back yard.
-Greg "IAWLFAN" Van Vorhis
It's a Wonderful Life was a dark film. It touched on some taboo subjects that still are difficult to talk about in present times. However, it ended on such a terrifically high note that the upbeat message made most people forget how disturbing almost 75 percent of that film truly is. I will admit that there were times when I was revolted and horrified that Pierson took such a great movie and moved it to an even darker place than what even Pottersville allowed.
Where Pierson excelled was in his attention to detail in the movie. I found a couple of errors, but chalked it up to the fact that this is an alternate version of how the story comes out, so the details don't necessarily have to stay the same.
I was also disappointed that we didn't find out what ever happened to such a devilish character, or why he was so helpful to one character, yet so destructive to another. The motivation for both was missing.
When this book got really, really (really!!!!!) dark, I almost put it down. It was taking me to a place that I, as a HUGE fan of It's a Wonderful Life, didn't want to allow the story to go. But I followed through, and as much as it hurt, it was worth it. The epilogue is full of quotable moments.
Never think your future is written. It's not. Never let anyone tell you what you can or can't or should or shouldn't do. They need to keep their mouths shut. The world is out there. Now let go of the past and go explore it, even if it is just in your own back yard.
-Greg "IAWLFAN" Van Vorhis
August 5, 2012
It's my book! Of course I think it's great. But no really, read this. It's the best thing I've written.
February 2, 2015
I have always considered the movie entitled It's a Wonderful Life to be about the best movie ever made. I guess, as I grew older, that I could really relate to the protagonist, George Bailey, and his nose-to-the-grindstone existence. Regardless, I was very excited to read this novel, recommended to me by avid reader and scholar Sarah Holub. This novel takes a huge twist and explores the truly dark side of what happens in Bedford Falls one night. Instead of letting George live, his guardian angel, Angel Second Class Clarence Odbody, makes a hard choice and allows George to die in the freezing, dark waters under the bridge. This necessarily changes what happens to his family, and to other members of the community. I was spellbound, but found myself actually depressed that this extremely convuluted plot twist could so draw me in to a truly dark look at movie characters I had always found inspiring and downright awesome. I gave the book only three stars because of the ending. It ends, but offers an epilog that was very confusing an obtuse for me. I even googled solutions to interpreting this ending, and found that the author had actually responded to one of his critics--amazing! Regardless, if you do not mind an emotionally disturbing rollercoaster, this book is well-written and will rather turn your world upside down. It does contain philosophical points of view I enjoyed very much
February 3, 2015
Full disclosure: I know the author.
Often when a work is referred to as being personal, it means the book makes readers feel close to the author. In very special instances, the reader gets snuck up on and surprised to find themselves waiting in the pages. I was floored by how much of myself was in there. Also, the characters were rich and the whole thing was imaginative.
The book also examines a long unanswered question: What if George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart's character in It's a Wonderful Life) had been successful in offing himself? Indeed, the blind spot of the great and classic film is that the angel, Clarence Odbody, only chooses to show George Bailey how the world would be if he'd never been born...but Bailey's major concern was facing what lies ahead. This book presents this alternate reality, but shows the town and the angel, rather than being George-centric.
Often when a work is referred to as being personal, it means the book makes readers feel close to the author. In very special instances, the reader gets snuck up on and surprised to find themselves waiting in the pages. I was floored by how much of myself was in there. Also, the characters were rich and the whole thing was imaginative.
The book also examines a long unanswered question: What if George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart's character in It's a Wonderful Life) had been successful in offing himself? Indeed, the blind spot of the great and classic film is that the angel, Clarence Odbody, only chooses to show George Bailey how the world would be if he'd never been born...but Bailey's major concern was facing what lies ahead. This book presents this alternate reality, but shows the town and the angel, rather than being George-centric.
December 7, 2012
This story is the reimagining of the Frank Capra classic It's a Wonderful Life.
What if George Bailey wasn't saved by Clarence, his guardian angel, on that snowy Christmas Eve in Bedford Falls?
The story follows the events leading up to, and what happens after George Bailey's disappearance, and continues about 20 years later, when the paths of a cab driver, a ruthless henchman and wayward daughter collide in the town that defined their reputations for better or for worse.
This was an interesting and well rounded story. It does not take anything away from my enjoyment of the original movie, if anything, I will look at the movie with fresh insights the next time I watch it.
The only thing I did not like about this book was the epilogue, it was confusing and it wasn't clear which characters it was talking about. The chapter before the epilogue provides a satisfying enough ending though.
What if George Bailey wasn't saved by Clarence, his guardian angel, on that snowy Christmas Eve in Bedford Falls?
The story follows the events leading up to, and what happens after George Bailey's disappearance, and continues about 20 years later, when the paths of a cab driver, a ruthless henchman and wayward daughter collide in the town that defined their reputations for better or for worse.
This was an interesting and well rounded story. It does not take anything away from my enjoyment of the original movie, if anything, I will look at the movie with fresh insights the next time I watch it.
The only thing I did not like about this book was the epilogue, it was confusing and it wasn't clear which characters it was talking about. The chapter before the epilogue provides a satisfying enough ending though.
July 26, 2016
I found this book both fascinating and unsettling. The author has taken the story of Its a Wonderful Life and turned it on its ear.
The story starts by drastically altering the plot. The remainder of the book explores how this change of plot affects all the other characters, include some of the most minimal and obscure.
The author creates very detailed and elaborate stories for these characters, changing them from the props they were in the movie to vibrant, three dimensional characters for whom you can't help but feel something. That's the fascinating part. The unsettling part is how those characters can be so vastly different from what you would think based on their portrayal in the movie.
The story starts by drastically altering the plot. The remainder of the book explores how this change of plot affects all the other characters, include some of the most minimal and obscure.
The author creates very detailed and elaborate stories for these characters, changing them from the props they were in the movie to vibrant, three dimensional characters for whom you can't help but feel something. That's the fascinating part. The unsettling part is how those characters can be so vastly different from what you would think based on their portrayal in the movie.
February 4, 2015
You probably know of Mr.Pierson through his legendary work in seminal punk band Screeching Weasel. However, Mr.Pierson is quickly on his way to becoming a legend in the literary world and his reputation as a writer is surely destined to soar; Mr. Pierson is an amazing writer and his unique style, much like his guitar playing, will have you hungry for more. This book is worthy of 4.5 stars but Goodreads doesn't let you do that. Check this book out; I was bummed on the last few pages knowing it was going to end soon, which is a sign of a true classic. Do yourself a favor and get this book. I eagerly look forward to the next work of art Mr. Pierson does.
May 3, 2013
Well thought out book. Pierson really brings these characters to life. I was particularly impressed with the imaginative plot that delves deeply into cause and effect, a true extension of the movie "It's a Wonderful Life". It left me thinking long after I was finished, which to me is the hallmark of a good book.
Well done.
I recommend this for adult teens and above. ZuZu does have an episode of some pretty vehement expletives which are totally within character.
Well done.
I recommend this for adult teens and above. ZuZu does have an episode of some pretty vehement expletives which are totally within character.
December 12, 2014
This was a good twist on the story It's a wonderful life, a tale that included the results if George Bailey had actually died, I enjoy stories that throw a twist into classic tales but hate to admit that I struggled with this one, I have no problem with details and character development, but the amount of time spent explaining details in this book actually took away from the story for me.
December 31, 2021
I enjoy reading and want other people to enjoy books that I think are worth reading.
Great read, I chose it because I loved the movie, It's a Wonderful Life! I never realized there was an alternate ending or that this version existed. It definitely makes you think about just one little thing could change a whole realm of possibilities.
Great read, I chose it because I loved the movie, It's a Wonderful Life! I never realized there was an alternate ending or that this version existed. It definitely makes you think about just one little thing could change a whole realm of possibilities.
November 9, 2019
I have never been a fan of the original movie that being said I couldn't put this book down.
The characters were well thought out and I loved that the author really made them his own! I'd love to see this as a movie or play!! .
The characters were well thought out and I loved that the author really made them his own! I'd love to see this as a movie or play!! .
January 4, 2024
After my annual revisiting of 'It's a Wonderful Life'' I decided on this book as my Christmas reading. I enjoyed the book but it did not fit well with the festivities and did find myself wondering where exactly the plot was heading. As the film is so family orientated I expected the book to concentrate on the family rather than two rather minor characters but I think I can understand the writer's intention. The conclusion was satisfying. No epilogue required
October 10, 2017
Hmmmm
This book was different.... Interesting quick read .... I now need to find out what other readers thought.... :). Try it!
This book was different.... Interesting quick read .... I now need to find out what other readers thought.... :). Try it!
December 13, 2018
I was a bit concerned over reading this book based on the reviews, but the premise looked too good to me to pass up.
Revisiting the Bailey family from Bedford Falls was really enjoyable for me, even if everything didn't turn out quite "wonderfully." The story is well-done, the characters are well-developed. I question the epilogue, like most everyone else, but I think I get it...there are that many different variations a story - and a life - could take.
I recommend you know at least a little about "It's a Wonderful Life" before taking this on, even if it's just seeing the movie. This was a great Christmas read for me, a bit longer than it needed to be, but still a great story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Every time a bell rings...
Revisiting the Bailey family from Bedford Falls was really enjoyable for me, even if everything didn't turn out quite "wonderfully." The story is well-done, the characters are well-developed. I question the epilogue, like most everyone else, but I think I get it...there are that many different variations a story - and a life - could take.
I recommend you know at least a little about "It's a Wonderful Life" before taking this on, even if it's just seeing the movie. This was a great Christmas read for me, a bit longer than it needed to be, but still a great story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Every time a bell rings...
January 16, 2015
I am about a quarter into it and I am doubtful whether I will continue reading. It seems like I would like it but it is dry and nothing really happens. The chapters are very long and I am still not sure I see the point yet. I have gotten more from reading the reviews on here than I have from reading the book and that is sad.
Update: I wish I had not continued. The story picked up some, now more than half way. I will finish it now due to amount of time and effort I have invested in it. I usually abandon books when they fail to keep my interest and for some reason I did not follow my own rule. I would not recommend this book. I fail to see the point of it.
Just finished this book, disliked the entire thing. The ending is very anticlimactic. Just not my thing.
Update: I wish I had not continued. The story picked up some, now more than half way. I will finish it now due to amount of time and effort I have invested in it. I usually abandon books when they fail to keep my interest and for some reason I did not follow my own rule. I would not recommend this book. I fail to see the point of it.
Just finished this book, disliked the entire thing. The ending is very anticlimactic. Just not my thing.
December 28, 2012
The storytelling is ambling and comfortable. ... like hearing a tale of familiar folks from your favorite grandparent. I felt as though I've known the residents of Bedford Falls my whole life and was just getting caught up with them. The ending was surprising and thought provoking. I will take some of Clarence with me and would encourage anyone who thinks they have life planned or anyone who can't fathom having a plan to get acquainted with this version of these classic characters!
July 22, 2014
I despise the movie It's a Wonderful Life; it gets my vote for one of the worst films of all time. But I loved this book. It's a retelling of the story from a 180-degree twist on the original premise. It's a great story and one that I think is way more believable than the ubiquitous and nauseating holiday "classic".
February 8, 2015
Even though I have just finished this book I am unsure about what I just read. The idea of this book is intriguing, it is based on the idea of "what if...?" ,but in the end it is rather morbid and dark. The characters are never fully developed and more questions are raised than are answered. In the end, everyone is either dead or alone.
May 20, 2015
I know "It's a Wonderful Life" has a "dark" side to it, but this book was a bit too dark for me. It took the characters I know and love and made them into people that I barely recognized. However, it was an interesting concept for a story and I read it to the end.
November 1, 2012
I enjoyed it a lot. If it had been longer I would given it 5 stars! I didn't want it to end. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to ponder ..... what if?......
November 25, 2012
Although sometimes intriguing and interesting the ending of this book was confusing and wordy. Not sorry I read it, but it is not one that I will re-read.
January 6, 2013
Got this as a free Kindle book and was pleasantly surprised. It takes "It's a Wonderful Life" in a completely different direction.
July 13, 2018
Great book. A "what if" type book, what if George Bailey died, and the continuing lives of those left behind. I've read it a couple of times.
January 6, 2015
Started this after our annual watch of It's a Wonderful Life. Didn't like the premise and only read through the first part of Part Two. Just lost interest.
Read
June 7, 2015It couldn't hold my attention. I ended it at chapter 5.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews