Swagbelly: A Pornographer's Tale

by David Levien

Despite his vast wealth, bachelor status, his own magazine Swagbelly, and the company of a succession of gorgeous models, Elliot Grubman finds happiness eluding him as his wife leaves him for her rock-climbing instructor, his son decides to convert to Catholicism, his girlfriend may be pregnant, and he has been tormented by impotence. Original.

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

David Levien is an American screenwriter, novelist, director, and producer. Best known as the co-writer of Ocean's Thirteen, Levien has also produced films such as The Illusionist and The Lucky Ones.

As a screenwriter, he has a deal with Paramount Studios. His next project with the studio is the 2009 film The Winter of Frankie Machine, starring Robert DeNiro.

As a novelist, he has published City of the Sun with Random House.

Reviews

[Christopher Roth]

Good lord, this one's a stinker. What was I even thinking? It had the same problem, for me, as Richard Ford's The Sports Writer: that is, it was sort of like Babbitt, except that I couldn't tell if the writer actually (as was not the case with Babbitt) expected us to LIKE the protagonist or not. If so, then it really makes one dislike the writer so much that it's almost impossible to proceed. I can't decide which was the worst scene in "Swagbelly": the scene where Elliott masturbates the prostitute with a banana, or the finale, where he cures his impotence by waking up in the hospital after a heart attack with a big boner, with his ex-wife and him both shedding tears. Yuck. I guarantee the next book I read will be better.

[Mailmanr5 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Torturous to read. Self loathing personified. Couldn't really like the main character.

[Chic2SD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ummm... Interesting book so far about the life of a man who started a pornographic magazine called, Swagbelly. Divorce, weird sex acts, polo, and trying to raise two kids in this world shuld led to an interesting story... Excited to finish this book.... Once again, patience as I am the world's slowest reader. Also, studying right now for an exam so fun reading is not in the picture. Ok picked up the book again... Ok I got to the banana part I am done....

[Andrew · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is crap. That's about as much of a review as this trash deserves.

[Doug · Rating 2 out of 5]

An updated, less readable and more graphic Portnoy's Complaint.