Buddy Cooper Finds a Way: A Novel

by Neil Connelly

Playing a notorious masked villain who always loses to the hero of the flamboyant pro-wrestling circuit, Buddy Cooper struggles to control his rage over his divorce and finds his life spinning out of control when an overzealous fan shoots at him during a match. A first novel. 17,500 first printing.

304 pages, Hardcover

First published June 29, 2004

About the author

Before returning to his home state of Pennsylvania, where he teaches at Shippensburg University, Connelly was director of the MFA program at McNeese State University. He has published five books and numerous short stories.

Reviews

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can only tell you what I know of the first couple chapters, but basically it's a story about a pro wrestler (as in WWE-style) who is a loser by choice--that is, someone who loses the matches. For some reason all of his friends are doctors outside of the ring. I never quite understood that. He's had a recent divorce and sees his daughter every other weekend.

The opening chapters were too hard to accept. I never had the chance to suspend disbelief enough to get into this one. I decided that, instead of forcing my way through it and regretting having picked it up, well, I should just put it down and start another. So that's what I did. And I don't feel regret for having made that choice.

[Adam Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prepare yourself for a rocket ship of a ride, fueled by brilliance and vision, through Buddy Cooper Finds a Way. Here you'll find alien graffiti, oracular lobsters, drive-by cavemen, and asteroids that fall from the clear blue sky. Neil Connelly's characters walk the same streets as us, yet they see the subliminal and sublime, and in every detail, no matter how funny or fiercely imagined, is the secret script of the human heart. How can a book be both startlingly new and timelessly wise? You'll find out when you turn the last page of this grand debut, and suddenly feel like it's always been with you.

[Ben · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started reading it but it's not the type of book for someone that's been reading semi serious thrillers