Simon Lazarus

by M.A. Kirkwood

In a search for his identity, Simon leaves college in Connecticut and takes to the road in search of the grandfather he's never met.

324 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2003

Reviews

[Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm with Ainsley! I was telling a friend the other day about some great fiction reads of the past few years and I mentioned this little wonder. I decided to look it up here and came across this page with its ridiculous negative scores and empty and scant reviews. Most of these readers here just gave it a bad rating, but had NOTHING to say. Which makes me think there might be an indignant feeling to the claim that it is a ripe contender for the highly, over-touted, CATCHER IN THE RYE.

Let me tell you, I love Salinger's classic, but SIMON LAZARUS is a likely contender and actually bears a better quality story--- Throughout.

Simon is so charming, likable and hilarious. And so is Holden. But to be fair, both of these reads are great in their own way. "Allyse" here has a tone of superiority. And that's okay-- it's just she seems to take delight in cutting this book down to the level of being a "coaster"without realy saying why. I say, fine, just substantiate the claim, which she does not. The characters are all hilarious and entertaining, but most importantly, there is a depth in this story that rocks. And rocks with the best of 'em! (Yeah: THE KITE RUNNER, THE BOOK THIEF. Novels like that, only this one barely became known as it was a very small press book. I heard of it by word of mouth!)

If you come across this book, and enjoy substantive reads and abhor anything "shallow" (a dissenter right there, if you ask me. Just look at these low votes and EMPTY review spaces! Tells you everything right there.), you will love this story.

A last word on Salinger's novel: it's a great little read, but it really doesn't do what this story does and unfortunately, there's so much conditioning over the decades of Holden's hold on "teenage angst" that people see it as a sort of Holy Grail of YA fiction. It is not and SIMON LAZARUS-- if anyone really bothers to sit down and read it, will know it stands well on its own as a story for our times. Yes, it does take place in the late 1990's...and not today and that shouldn't matter. (Salinger's takes place in 1951!) But it's a wonderful story and most importantly, it's clearly not for the "Chick-lit" crowd--and I'm afraid that's what you have here on this page.

[Ainsley Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a few years ago and recently, I picked it up again. It is a fantastic read. It is better than something like "Catcher in the Rye"! This is an amazing interior journey of 18 year old Simon on his quest to discover truth about himself, about the world, about his family. It is filled with hilarious and delightful characters. It is deep, smart and fascinating. Poetic and beautifully written. I am amazed at how shallow people are.

This novel is exactly as Eckhart Tolle says on the cover: "a book to be treasured."

[Lit Buff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Word has gotten around about the posting on this site and I decided I am going to throw in my "two cents" on this magnificent read. I originally heard about this novel online and while I usually don't bother ordering books I've never heard of, I gave this one a go.

It's a fun, deliciously good read about a guy, Simon, and his journey to find out what makes a man a man.

He's 18 , born in the late 20th century, (as he tells us) and he is hungry for truth. He meets up with a host of characters along the way. I loved these people. I felt like I knew them by story's end and this is what makes this novel so incredibly good.

It baffles me to see the blatant bashing of this read--with no reviews to back those claims. I agree with Glenn's position that it seems the comparison to The Catcher in the Rye--might be why there's this "attitude"--as in: "How dare anyone compare to this unmistakable classic?"

It's worthy of the comparison, and actually, a better, more complex and multi-textured narrative that goes much further than what Salinger creates.

I think it's obvious these individuals haven't really read this very good book.

[Lit Folio · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, I looked at this novel with some mild skepticism but it actually turned into one of the best novels I have read in years. (four years after my first reading, I can still say this is so. And I read a lot).

I realize that my calling this a masterpiece might be brazen, or far-fetched. But it really is that good. Actually,I have never read anything quite like SIMON LAZARUS. As a story, it really has no match. But I also see this as an altogether original work with a fresh way of looking at our modern world, and everything that's relevant today or in any age. I love the way this writer writes. Whatever it is about this book, it's different. The humor, the uncanny-- yet very real-- dialogue scenes, the inner thoughts of Simon and his speculations on his father and hidden family secrets.

The variety of characters that entertain while Simon makes his journey does remind me of classic stories. But also, this novel touches on something very important. And that is the issue of men and their relationships with their fathers. (OUT STEALING HORSES is a beautiful work that does something similar but it's very subtle, so much so that a lot of people just don't get it). That is how unaccustomed society is (whether it's Norway across the world from the US which is where Simon's story takes place or anywhere else. The themes are universal ones)to this issue.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The only caution I give is to avoid making judgments until you get to its conclusion. It's a gorgeous work and I would love to see this book get the recognition it deserves.

[August Delmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

You may have never heard of this novel--yet it should be well-known. Even though the story takes place about around 1998--I was totally taken in by every aspect of this story. So it didn't matter to me, the time period. From the very first moment I started to read this intriguing story, I felt very drawn into Simon’s world. As I further read along, I couldn’t easily break away from his fascinating journey through his first year at college, his friends, Boyce, his "guide" and the journey that takes Simon into a fascinating discovery through the American South. By the time I finished, I had to leaf back through the sections some. I wanted to pick out the clues I missed—I was so taken in by it all. And so moved.

This story resonates in a way I don’t often see. And I can’t quite categorize it all, either. Yes, it is a bit like "The Catcher in the Rye" (which I last read in high school about 5 years ago), but it’s a story all it’s own. Holden isn’t much next to witty and brainy, 18 year old Si! And that’s only a small part of it. This story goes deeply into all of these characters—not just Simon! And it’s just not an everyday thing. Maybe you can’t "buy a thrill" as the old saying goes, but every once in a while, you sure can buy a good read. And that’ what I found here--a truly riveting story about youth, wisdom, secrets and old wounds. Powerful stuff--yet totally engrossing and entertaining at the same time.

[R.j. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend from college recommended this read--I guess because I don't see much on my generation. I was about this character, Simon's, age as the story takes place in the late 1990's. I was also a freshman in college back then when the Internet was new and cellphones not so commonplace (if you can believe that!). I also enjoyed the array of strange and quirky characters--really entertaining-- as Simon goes on a summer journey from Connecticut down to New 'Awlins. It is a very interesting trip. Simon is trying to figure out some things and one of them is the divide between himself and his dad. I don't see anything that handles a subject like this in the real way it is conveyed here. It's the stuff that I don't think many young guys have a chance to discuss--and the author explores the isolation of it all, but in a consistently entertaining way.

Truly enjoyed this story and I loved the rock music references-I too--love the old stuff--The Who and The Velvet Underground. But most of all, I really liked the story, itself. I loved the scenes with the "old man"--don't want to give it away--especially.

You will like this book. I guarantee it. Better than most stuff out there and it really should be better known.

[Aaron T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently finished this book--my brother mentioned it to me back in the summer, saying he thought it might be something I'd like. He also said he couldn't put the thing down; he especially enjoyed the references to vintage rock musicians-like Iggy & the Stooges,Kurt Cobain, Pink Floyd and the early music of the Velvet Underground. This is something that we're both into: eclectic rock-- old and not so old-- and Simon's into it, too-and so was his dad, Andy--where Si learns about all this stuff in the first place! It's a hilarious touch to this tremendously entertaining read. Actually, the characters are all enjoyable as is Simon, the protagonist.

I do agree that this is a far better story than what you find with the majority of reads that are supposed to be directed at younger people, including the over-rated, The Catcher in the Rye and any of Augusten Burroughs books.

Funny as hell and a mind-blowing story to boot. This is a class above and beyond many a work of fiction out there today.

Don't pass on this one.

[Aaron J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently re-read this novel and loved every page as I did way back in 2004 when I was still in college. This is an amazingly good read that I wish more knew about. It's the characters, though, that held my interest: all of them: Boyce, the great grandfather, the girlfriend, Lisa, and others are so interesting--even though I found Simon to be whiny!

The story takes place I think in 1998. It is just as good now as ever--even though the world has changed some (cell phones and the Internet were very new!) Essentially, though, the human story is just as universal and timeless as any classic story is, no matter the time period. And this story, I believe is not only classic, but far and above something like the over-praised CATCHER IN THE RYE.(It goes so much further and deeper than something Holden's charming journey back home)

It seems only remainders are available--get a copy, though, if you can. It's worth the trouble.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every page of this strange and fascinating novel. I got this years ago off Amazon and forgot about it, and only a few weeks ago, as I was moving to a new apartment, I took it out and decided to read it.

This is one of the best novels I have read in recent years. It has a gorgeous quote from Eckhart Tolle ( whose works I am not exactly a fan of!) --but what he says is spot on. This truly is a book "to be treasured." And I have no idea why no one seems to know of it. It's so entertaining and yet it's illuminating on some deep levels.

The story is about a guy names Simon who goes on a quest and through the people he meets up with, becomes a better human being. (It's also very funny and entertaining. The other characters are a lot of fun.)

Please don't pass this one up--I think it is only available as a re-sell--unfortunately. Get a copy if you can. And read it. You will be surprised at just how good it is.

[Germaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this novel a few years ago. I still tell people about this nugget of a masterpiece--and though most have never heard of it, I rank it as being far better than something like the over-touted, CATCHER IN THE RYE.

This story has been compared to such because the main character is 18, and his story is told in an engaging, humorous and self-deprecating, first-person "voice". Instead of the late '40's-early '50's, Si is a college freshman in the late '90's. Email is new, so is the Internet. There are few people on cell phones. The world is on the cusp of change, yet the story is so timeless, so real, you can't put this novel down. Much of the story's charm has to do with a bevy of colorful and entertaining characters: the shrink, Boyce, the recovering alcoholic father, Andy, the Detroit gal pal, Lisa, Si's roommates, his dwarf friend, Brad. It goes on and on as Simon makes his way down to New Orleans one summer to settle a family mystery that's bugged him all of his 18 years. There's also a depth and spiritual quality that brings this narrative to bigger heights--yet it is entertaining and humorous all the same.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book got terrible reviews on Goodreads, but great reviews on amazon.com, so hopefully it won't be a stinker! I can see, so far, why people compare it to "Catcher in the Rye", although, I don't know yet, if I agree with that (dicey comparison).
Now I am done and I must say I liked it better than people on Goodreads, but maybe not quite as much as those on amazon.com, although I really liked the ending.

[Wandering · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently read this author's latest, "Claire Ange", which I enjoyed tremendously, and since I read this first novel many years ago, I wanted to say a little bit about it here. Even though it has been many years (and I may just re-read it) I remember what got to me read this very beautiful story is a friend recommended it because I have two sons. They were in their late teens and early 20's at the time, and I, like so many, am a single mother. And father is big deal to boys and the men they become, let me tell you.

Firstly, I still think about this read because it is a powerful story that bravely brushes against the taboos in our culture, especially having to do with boys and men and most importantly,with their emotional lives. Every day we hear about another shooting. And you can guess, it is almost always young male with unexpressed emotional issues. Yes. That is it in a nutshell. And it runs the gamut. Here we have 18-year old Simon and his 45-ish Dad. While this story takes place in the late '90's at the cusp of the new century and millennium that we're now in, it remains more important than ever. The mystery of the emotional gulf between the two drives this narrative all the way through to its powerful conclusion.

Men and boys do have emotional lives and in our overly macho, testosterone-driven culture it is a reality that is stuffed away and buried. I applaud M.A. Kirkwood in exploring this taboo subject while managing to be colorful, dry-witted and entertaining throughout the tale. Understand, this is a quick-paced read with a distinct terseness to the writing that's vastly entertaining.

M.A.Kirkwood is a true story-teller of the best in literature and I wish more knew of this writer (I understand "Simon Lazarus" is going to be re-issued sometime this year, but you can probably find this in its original edition). So tremendously good.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took a while for me to get around to this earlier novel by the unknown writer, M.A. Kirkwood. It was worth the wait and so worth the time I spent reading this vastly enjoyable, strangely good story. I don't believe there really is anything quite like this read--and I know some of the other reviewers here have stated just that. It is so good, I want to read it a second maybe a third time. I went back over the last section a few times already..the characters, the winding journey of Simon and his discoveries remind me more of something like Mark Twain than Salinger--and I can see why people might refer to "The Catcher in the Rye", but this is a story that's far better than that. It is a classic in the sense that you have a vast array of characters, and this unexpected turn of things for the reader and the main character, Simon. Really loved this book, along with "Claire Ange". Recommend!

[Allyse]

I suppose it's unfair to begin a book comparing it with
one that you enjoyed and that is considered a classic.
I didn't even expect it to truly live up to what the reviews said about it..."A modern day equivalent to A Catcher In The Rye" However I also didn't expect it to be as bad as it was.

I kept waiting for it to get better. I kept waiting to begin to connect to the characters in some way. Nothing. (review not complete)