The Art of Losing: A Novel

by Keith Dixon

Michael Jacobs, a talented but obscure New York City filmmaker, has just watched his third film flop at the box office. With few options available, Jacobs is tempted by the prospect of easy cash when Sebby Laslo, his producer, makes a one-time offer. With the help of a corrupt jockey, Laslo plans to fix a horse race, but his gambling debts have left him untouchable and he needs someone he can trust to be the public face of the operation. Though Laslo is known for taking risks, Jacobs, hoping to repay an old favor to his friend, agrees to help. Jacobs soon meets two Atlantic City Nikos Popolosikc, a quietly menacing restaurateur known for breaking hands; and Lad Keegan, a soft-spoken bar owner whose superstitions are bad for his clients' health. When Laslo's plan fails, Jacobs, heavily in debt, is ensnared by a violent underworld he neither knows nor understands. In the inevitable reckoning, Jacobs and Laslo become hunted men―and only one of them will escape. Keith Dixon's second novel is a morality tale of stunning resonance and breathtaking symmetry. Hard-boiled yet deeply contemplative, allegorical yet starkly realistic, The Art of Losing divines the corrosive nature of greed, the terrible power of recklessness, and the consequences that erupt when those forces meet.

Genres: Fiction

243 pages, Hardcover

First published February 20, 2007

About the author

Keith Dixon is the author of three novels -- 'This Is How You Fall,' 'The Art of Losing,' and 'Ghostfires' -- and 'Cooking With Gracie,' a memoir that recounts a year in the life of a parent learning to cook for three.

Reviews

[Shelley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm decluttering bookshelves and using a random number generator to pick the next book. So far, things aren't going so well. This was short and should have been a quick afternoon read, but then the religious stuff happened and I peaced the hell out at the first Bible verse. The first thing this heathen did as an adult was part ways with the Catholic church and I'd sooner volunteer to clean out septic tanks with my bare hands than step foot back inside to hear more invisible sky wizard tales.

[Christopher Swann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keith Dixon is an author to keep an eye on. It's like noir written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. While it becomes bleaker than I expected, it's unsettling in all the right ways. You get very wrapped up in the protagonist's moral turmoil, betting against all odds--like many of the novel's characters--that it will all turn out okay in the end. Very well done.

[Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

So often recent attempts at noir feel forced, stories that may have a bleak outlook on life but the stakes do not always feel the necessary despair. Dixon gets it right here with this story of a young New York filmmaker, Michael Jacobs. His current film has flopped at the box office, as did his other two. Broke and in need of cash, he accepts an offer from his shady producer Sebby: he will get involved in a scheme to fix a horse race for a quick score. As anyone familiar with noir stories has already figured, the plot fails. Now Jacobs needs quick money to deal with a pair of Atlantic City bookies. He is now a hunted man in this morality tale. Greed and recklessness combine to create a world that feels both familiar and frightening.

This is the kind of book that makes you stop to remind yourself life is not always so bleak and pointless. Dixon's view of blind ambition and betrayal of friendships make this the kind of bracing cautionary tale that all the best noir offers. Recommended for fans of this kind of storytelling.

[Rena Sherwood]

This is one of those books where you wish someone had broken into your home and murdered you in at least lukewarm blood before you had a chance to read the end of it. Honestly, do we need a reminder that life, no matter what we do, is pointless? Thanks for nothing, Keith Dixon. No stars for this crap.

[Sabrina Ma · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Art Of Losing" was an okay book, i didn't like it as much cause of how confusing it got through out the book or what had happened during each chapters. It was difficult to understand Michael's life, that he was a film maker, making his films and going through some tough times making the film a success. The think I didn't like as much in the story was the ending, and what had happened or what went on at that time.

[Warren Olson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Liked the concept, think it is a good idea ; but for me the story lost its way as we got religious beliefs and a miss mass of information thrust upon us. How come the only son of a loving father and wealthy man is left to struggle is hard to fathom ; Not often I dont bother to finish a book, but in this case thats what happened -

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful romp through the seedy world of horse-racing, and those who make and break livelihoods (and kneecaps) based on the results.

[Kimberly]

My cousin wrote this book...he is a writer for the New York Times

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

The protagonist makes a series of bad decisions that leave you slamming your palm into your head. Gut wrenching-ly bad things happen as a result. There is no respite. You have been warned.