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A Work in Progress
Writer Danny Bayle's life is in shambles. His true love has left him and his grandfather -- the last and most important influence in his life -- has just passed away. Danny has spent the last few months languishing, unable to write a single word, but at the urging of a friend ventures out into the world in an attempt to jumpstart a new life, befriending in the process an interesting assortment of characters including an author, a musician, an artist, and an elderly retired nurse. Garnering the attention of more than one woman, Danny sees his new friends unwittingly begin to shape what could just be the story of his life. But will he ever let go of the girl that got away?
234 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 1, 2012
This was an interesting book set in Canada about a 28 year old writer named Danny who is experiencing major writer's block. His girlfriend has left him, his grandfather has died, his mother has remarried and moved to Arizona. What's interesting about this book is that the story is told almost entirely through dialogue. We follow Danny through his days (he doesn't have a real job) hanging out at friends' apartments, sleeping with a couple of new women, there's pot, beer, drum lessons, group therapy - although he's 28, there's a coming-of-age quality here where Danny works through his demons and in the end emerges into adulthood. I enjoyed the book...kind of a Brett Easton-Ellis feel to it, but not as nasty. I could see where a 20-something demographic would relate to this. The dialogue is very real and believable...and served to move things along quite well.
July 29, 2012
What a joy to read a well written, well edited book!
About the Book:
Danny is in the throes of depression. His girlfriend left him then his grandfather, the man dearest to his heart, dies. He struggles to find his author's voice but can't because he really hasn't faced his depression. Friends have suggestions of what he should write about but nothing works for him. Finally he takes another person's advice to get out and live the world because this is how you find things to write about. Along the way he meets two women that have a profound effect on him; he learns more about himself from one and more about the world from the other. He meets with a musician, an author, and others who make a difference in his life.
MyTake:
Danny Bayle is a compelling story and, because the book is told in the first person, we learn from him about him but we can also see where his world view doesn't quite compute. The supporting characters of his life make sense because they are the people you would expect him to have as friends. The supporting characters of the story, the second tier characters, are strong and vivacious but none so much as Katherine. I can still see her on the rooftop with her brush directing the boys painting like an orchestra conductor. I believe it is an imagine which will stay for years and that is really what we want from a book, isn't it? Actually what we want from life? We want characters and scenes that live with us, for the rest of our lives if possible. This book, for me, provided such a character.
The writing itself was engaging, the movement between words, paragraphs and scenes artistic, and the editing perfect - it never dropped me from the story. In fact I didn't actually read the book so much as I absorbed the book. Mr. Cowherd, a chemistry teacher, once said you can't learn chemistry through osmosis but I did and this book is just like that. Now there is as much book on the inside of me as on the outside with no real effort on my part. In less than 48 hours I lived through the book I had set aside a week to read.
I absolutely loved this book. I most highly recommend A Work in Progress to anyone who likes character driven novels, novels about regular life and the changes we make as we travel that journey. I don't normally read literary fiction, so if you don't either, you might still give this book a try. You just might find a new 'genre' to read.
About the Book:
Danny is in the throes of depression. His girlfriend left him then his grandfather, the man dearest to his heart, dies. He struggles to find his author's voice but can't because he really hasn't faced his depression. Friends have suggestions of what he should write about but nothing works for him. Finally he takes another person's advice to get out and live the world because this is how you find things to write about. Along the way he meets two women that have a profound effect on him; he learns more about himself from one and more about the world from the other. He meets with a musician, an author, and others who make a difference in his life.
MyTake:
Danny Bayle is a compelling story and, because the book is told in the first person, we learn from him about him but we can also see where his world view doesn't quite compute. The supporting characters of his life make sense because they are the people you would expect him to have as friends. The supporting characters of the story, the second tier characters, are strong and vivacious but none so much as Katherine. I can still see her on the rooftop with her brush directing the boys painting like an orchestra conductor. I believe it is an imagine which will stay for years and that is really what we want from a book, isn't it? Actually what we want from life? We want characters and scenes that live with us, for the rest of our lives if possible. This book, for me, provided such a character.
The writing itself was engaging, the movement between words, paragraphs and scenes artistic, and the editing perfect - it never dropped me from the story. In fact I didn't actually read the book so much as I absorbed the book. Mr. Cowherd, a chemistry teacher, once said you can't learn chemistry through osmosis but I did and this book is just like that. Now there is as much book on the inside of me as on the outside with no real effort on my part. In less than 48 hours I lived through the book I had set aside a week to read.
I absolutely loved this book. I most highly recommend A Work in Progress to anyone who likes character driven novels, novels about regular life and the changes we make as we travel that journey. I don't normally read literary fiction, so if you don't either, you might still give this book a try. You just might find a new 'genre' to read.
July 30, 2012
A Work in Progress is the story of Danny Bayle, a 28 year old writer who has not been able to connect his thoughts to paper in a long time. Now, he finds himself having to rebuild his life after his girlfriend, Carah, ended their relationship and his grandfather passed away all in the same week.
He tries to move on in new relationships, meet new people, and learn new things in an attempt to build a different life for himself. Each of these experiences brings a new understanding. He joins a therapy group, learns how to play drums, and tries his hand at a couple other relationships along the way. His new friends include a free-spirited friend of his best friend, another writer, a young artist, and an elderly caretaker.
Will he be able to get over Carah? Will he ever have the inspiration to write again?
A Work in Progress elicits a realm of emotions, from sorrow and pain to love and understanding. The characters are all very unique but much can be learned from each one of them. With various challenges in their own life, the rawness of their portrayal digs deep into the psyche in a way that can’t be explained.
This is a novel that can be read over and over and will show new aspects each time. I definitely recommend it!
He tries to move on in new relationships, meet new people, and learn new things in an attempt to build a different life for himself. Each of these experiences brings a new understanding. He joins a therapy group, learns how to play drums, and tries his hand at a couple other relationships along the way. His new friends include a free-spirited friend of his best friend, another writer, a young artist, and an elderly caretaker.
Will he be able to get over Carah? Will he ever have the inspiration to write again?
A Work in Progress elicits a realm of emotions, from sorrow and pain to love and understanding. The characters are all very unique but much can be learned from each one of them. With various challenges in their own life, the rawness of their portrayal digs deep into the psyche in a way that can’t be explained.
This is a novel that can be read over and over and will show new aspects each time. I definitely recommend it!
July 30, 2012
Originally posted on my blog at hpreviewbooks.blogspot.com
I was asked to read and review Work in Progress. The blurb caught my attention and unlike other books lately I couldn't find anymore about the book. So I took a leap of faith and decided to read it. I did enjoy it, and it was a quick read.
It was interesting to me to read from the point of view of the main character since he was depressed. He joins a group therapy session to begin a new life. These meetings allows him to meet the author, musician, artist, and nurse. I also felt that the meetings had also given him the strength to deal with other issues that came up later in the book.
I did like most of the characters as they were quirky, and had different issues of their own. However I did not like Carrah, the ex-girlfriend, which is due to a personal issue. I didn't like her treatment of Danny since it resemble a past relationship of mine. Otherwise she might have been ok, although I still don't think I would have thought the world of her.
Overall I did enjoy reading the book.
I was asked to read and review Work in Progress. The blurb caught my attention and unlike other books lately I couldn't find anymore about the book. So I took a leap of faith and decided to read it. I did enjoy it, and it was a quick read.
It was interesting to me to read from the point of view of the main character since he was depressed. He joins a group therapy session to begin a new life. These meetings allows him to meet the author, musician, artist, and nurse. I also felt that the meetings had also given him the strength to deal with other issues that came up later in the book.
I did like most of the characters as they were quirky, and had different issues of their own. However I did not like Carrah, the ex-girlfriend, which is due to a personal issue. I didn't like her treatment of Danny since it resemble a past relationship of mine. Otherwise she might have been ok, although I still don't think I would have thought the world of her.
Overall I did enjoy reading the book.
August 30, 2012
My Thoughts:
I will have to say that the author is very creative. I enjoyed reading about a struggling writer. Why? For those of us who write, we could definitely relate to Danny. Danny drinks too much, and tends to sleep around. For this reason I didn’t enjoy Danny the way I probably should have. I want to be honest and up front. I didn’t really enjoy the book as much as I have others. This book is written in first person and makes it and interesting read. Danny tries to re-invent himself in the hopes of getting over his depression and getting back to his writing. In the process he tries several things. I loved the fact he pursued Karate and decided after only one lesson that it just wasn’t for him. He tries painting and a number of things. His major problem is he is still stuck on his former girlfriend and can’t seem to move ahead. Read the book to find out if he succeds in this quest or does he change it up completely.
I will have to say that the author is very creative. I enjoyed reading about a struggling writer. Why? For those of us who write, we could definitely relate to Danny. Danny drinks too much, and tends to sleep around. For this reason I didn’t enjoy Danny the way I probably should have. I want to be honest and up front. I didn’t really enjoy the book as much as I have others. This book is written in first person and makes it and interesting read. Danny tries to re-invent himself in the hopes of getting over his depression and getting back to his writing. In the process he tries several things. I loved the fact he pursued Karate and decided after only one lesson that it just wasn’t for him. He tries painting and a number of things. His major problem is he is still stuck on his former girlfriend and can’t seem to move ahead. Read the book to find out if he succeds in this quest or does he change it up completely.
September 15, 2012
Started Sept 9th Finished Sept 15th. My review: Meh... Liked it enough to finish it but it was just Meh...
January 27, 2024
This was a good read. First person POV, which I've recently discovered some people don't like. I'm not sure why. It's the storyteller's voice, and it totally works here. I won't discuss the plot; others have done that adequately. Suffice to say, Danny is looking for something, and the thing he's looking for is himself. Aren't we all? And as is so often the case, it's the people we meet who show him the way. The book wanders, and I'll admit there were bits I skimmed. But not very many. It was a thoughtful and enjoyable read, and throughout it, I liked Danny. He reminded me a little of a guy I used to know.
June 15, 2013
Originally posted on my blog Guiltless Reading
You'll be just fine, Danny boy.
My two cents: I seem to be getting quite a few books written by male authors, featuring male authors and their writing -- usually anguished, angsty writing. And so I have stumbled upon another ...
But hey, Danny Bayle is ordinary and bland. In fact nothing really sticks in my mind about him. He's written one book which doesn't sell very well (very self-deprecating about it) and of course he continues to write. He is wallowing in his recent break up with his girlfriend Carah. He's recently lost his grandfather. He plods along, sort of aimlessly, with no real care in the world.
But maybe because I'm naturally nosy, I kept reading about the humdrum life of Danny Bayle. I didn't really see what the point of this rather unmemorable character. A 28-year-old who was acting like a total teenager? But as I got to know him, he started to grow on me -- like someone you hang around a lot, and you end up picking up on their small nuances, their little quirks, and just start to like them.
Danny starts to come out of his shell; he tries to move on. He tries karate (not for him), drumming lessons (a little more luck), falls into group therapy, takes on an unlikely lover, and makes some even more unlikely friends along the way. Danny Bayle is a "work in progress" in this unlikely coming-of-age story.
***
Danny Bayle has an endearing quality to him despite his sleeping around, his drinking, his pot smoking, his general bumming around ... he is a "nice guy," an all around "good guy." On the flip side, this is where I got this rather weird vibe about Danny's character, as though all these "dastardly" male acts are more for a show of bravado, like a young boy trying to act like the cool older guy. Yeah, I may be reading too much into his character but he seemed a sanitized version of a male ... or maybe just because he's just emotionally naive?
I had a feeling of High Fidelity about this book, with Danny's fixation on his ex-girlfriend Carah (who I didn't quite like for Danny in the first place). Katherine, a vivacious lovely young painter, who Danny becomes deeply connected with was much more interesting to me. And the fact that there's the woman he just happens to sleep around with (tsk tsk, typical male!) I think overall, the women in this book were such a nice range of different personalities!
The storyline isn't what I was expecting. Because I don't want to spoil it for anyone, I'll simply say that Danny will be fine, just fine. All those strange little details will fall into place and things will make sense. Besides, we all figure it out somehow and come out better people for it, right?
Verdict: Endearing, heartbreaking, tragic yet hopeful. Get to know Danny Bayle and find out why the journey rather then ending is what makes this book.
***
Uh-oh: When I first saw the cover, its minimalism struck me as at odds with the contents. Think greeting card. Its abstractness is understood only if you read the book; it may not attract too many readers as it's just too much work to figure it out at first look.
You'll be just fine, Danny boy.
My two cents: I seem to be getting quite a few books written by male authors, featuring male authors and their writing -- usually anguished, angsty writing. And so I have stumbled upon another ...
But hey, Danny Bayle is ordinary and bland. In fact nothing really sticks in my mind about him. He's written one book which doesn't sell very well (very self-deprecating about it) and of course he continues to write. He is wallowing in his recent break up with his girlfriend Carah. He's recently lost his grandfather. He plods along, sort of aimlessly, with no real care in the world.
But maybe because I'm naturally nosy, I kept reading about the humdrum life of Danny Bayle. I didn't really see what the point of this rather unmemorable character. A 28-year-old who was acting like a total teenager? But as I got to know him, he started to grow on me -- like someone you hang around a lot, and you end up picking up on their small nuances, their little quirks, and just start to like them.
Danny starts to come out of his shell; he tries to move on. He tries karate (not for him), drumming lessons (a little more luck), falls into group therapy, takes on an unlikely lover, and makes some even more unlikely friends along the way. Danny Bayle is a "work in progress" in this unlikely coming-of-age story.
***
Danny Bayle has an endearing quality to him despite his sleeping around, his drinking, his pot smoking, his general bumming around ... he is a "nice guy," an all around "good guy." On the flip side, this is where I got this rather weird vibe about Danny's character, as though all these "dastardly" male acts are more for a show of bravado, like a young boy trying to act like the cool older guy. Yeah, I may be reading too much into his character but he seemed a sanitized version of a male ... or maybe just because he's just emotionally naive?
I had a feeling of High Fidelity about this book, with Danny's fixation on his ex-girlfriend Carah (who I didn't quite like for Danny in the first place). Katherine, a vivacious lovely young painter, who Danny becomes deeply connected with was much more interesting to me. And the fact that there's the woman he just happens to sleep around with (tsk tsk, typical male!) I think overall, the women in this book were such a nice range of different personalities!
The storyline isn't what I was expecting. Because I don't want to spoil it for anyone, I'll simply say that Danny will be fine, just fine. All those strange little details will fall into place and things will make sense. Besides, we all figure it out somehow and come out better people for it, right?
Verdict: Endearing, heartbreaking, tragic yet hopeful. Get to know Danny Bayle and find out why the journey rather then ending is what makes this book.
***
Uh-oh: When I first saw the cover, its minimalism struck me as at odds with the contents. Think greeting card. Its abstractness is understood only if you read the book; it may not attract too many readers as it's just too much work to figure it out at first look.
January 16, 2016
This is one of those books you shouldn't judge by its' cover. Personally I don't find anything alluring about the cover, but thankfully the story within is not as simple.
The main character in the story, Danny Bayle, is the "work in progress". As we all are really. Life is all about growth and change, and this story is a fine account of one man's life. Or rather, life as a work in progress. Our experiences really do define us, and the author captured the heart of that in this book with Danny.
I admit, I got choked up a moment or two. It is at times quite a real story to read. It takes talent to pull you in and attach you to it so emotionally. Kudos to the author for that.
I was worried it wouldn't end right, but it delivered in so many ways. I really enjoyed this book.
The main character in the story, Danny Bayle, is the "work in progress". As we all are really. Life is all about growth and change, and this story is a fine account of one man's life. Or rather, life as a work in progress. Our experiences really do define us, and the author captured the heart of that in this book with Danny.
I admit, I got choked up a moment or two. It is at times quite a real story to read. It takes talent to pull you in and attach you to it so emotionally. Kudos to the author for that.
I was worried it wouldn't end right, but it delivered in so many ways. I really enjoyed this book.
February 16, 2014
I loved the circularity of this story, and the exploration of human nature and our longing for what we believe is normalcy. Perhaps there could have been more dynamic situations, but overall this was a good portrait of life.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews