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Mr. Wizard: A Novel
"The writing is knowing and engaging, wise about its cultural orientations, and driven to discoveries both reassuring and life-enhancing."—Michael Curtis, Fiction Editor Emeritus, The Atlantic
"Jeff Wallach is a prodigiously gifted writer—insightful, funny, and always surprising. Mr. Wizard twists and turns like a double helix. When you finish, you'll want to go back to the very first page and experience it all over again, just to see how Wallach pulled it off."
Two brothers. One mother. One big question.
Two days before her death, Jenny Elliot suggests to her fifty-year-old son Phillip that, being half Irish, he should be more careful about his drinking. Phillip, along with his brother Spencer, has grown up believing they were the fully Jewish-American offspring of Jenny and her late husband who died in the Vietnam War. Was his mother uttering some dementia-inspired fantasy, or was her true character shining through in her last moments to leave the brothers a clue to their real heritage? After her death, Phillip decides to take a DNA test.
The brothers set off on a genetic treasure hunt in search of who they really are—and what that might mean. Are they purely products of their genetics; or were they formed more completely by their social interactions and upbringing? Are they merely victims of randomness; or are they some combination of those factors? And who, exactly, is Mr. Wizard?
"Jeff Wallach is a prodigiously gifted writer—insightful, funny, and always surprising. Mr. Wizard twists and turns like a double helix. When you finish, you'll want to go back to the very first page and experience it all over again, just to see how Wallach pulled it off."
Two brothers. One mother. One big question.
Two days before her death, Jenny Elliot suggests to her fifty-year-old son Phillip that, being half Irish, he should be more careful about his drinking. Phillip, along with his brother Spencer, has grown up believing they were the fully Jewish-American offspring of Jenny and her late husband who died in the Vietnam War. Was his mother uttering some dementia-inspired fantasy, or was her true character shining through in her last moments to leave the brothers a clue to their real heritage? After her death, Phillip decides to take a DNA test.
The brothers set off on a genetic treasure hunt in search of who they really are—and what that might mean. Are they purely products of their genetics; or were they formed more completely by their social interactions and upbringing? Are they merely victims of randomness; or are they some combination of those factors? And who, exactly, is Mr. Wizard?
211 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2020
10 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Wallach
9 books8 followersJeff Wallach is the award-winning author of four books of non-fiction as well as nearly 1,000 articles, essays, columns, and reviews in such publications as The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News, The Oregonian, Men’s Journal, Men’s Health, Sports Illustrated, GOLF Magazine, Golf Digest, Popular Science, Outside, and many, many others.
Jeff holds a Masters Degree in Fiction Writing from Brown University (1984) and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Vassar College (1982). He has taught both fiction and magazine writing classes in high school, college, and adult education programs and at writers conferences.
Jeff's first novel, Mr. Wizard, will be published by Open Books in April 2020. He lives, works, hikes, and plays golf and soccer in Portland, Oregon.
Jeff holds a Masters Degree in Fiction Writing from Brown University (1984) and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Vassar College (1982). He has taught both fiction and magazine writing classes in high school, college, and adult education programs and at writers conferences.
Jeff's first novel, Mr. Wizard, will be published by Open Books in April 2020. He lives, works, hikes, and plays golf and soccer in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 24, 2020
Fun comedy romp through the gorse. Entertaining characters and uplifting sibling rivalry gone good. It's a feel-good read set within an eccentric family surrounded by the ever-present links. The story pokes playfully at questioning what makes us who we are and what debts need to be settled between parents and their children. Wallach writes with charm and confidence, broadly stroking delightful characters for us to ride along with on this good-spirited journey.
July 2, 2020
Funny, charming book that brings to life exceptions & surprise. Well written so that you go on the DNA journey to Ireland with two brothers. The perfect read for a joyful escape.
October 19, 2021
I was meant to read this book. I had been told that I was selected to receive an advance readers' copy. but did not receive it. I searched high and low, contacted my source, looked high and low again without luck. I recently installed a new operating system and bingo! There was Mr. Wizard doing wizardly things and appearing out of nowhere!
I am so glad I found this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The protagonists are two fiftyish year old brothers, neither married (although one was at one time) who have just lost their quite eccentric mother. They had never known their father, who they were told died in a war. Their story revolves around searching for the real identity of their father and along the way discovering they really didn't know their mother as well as they had thought.
There is a beautiful and very realistic relationship between the brothers, fraught with tiny irritations but grounded in a strong bond. The author serves up some very witty dialogue and develops strong characters. Cultural differences are handled gracefully. The plot is fairly believable and wholly satisfying. An insightful and diverting read; I am so glad my computer decided to release this book to me!
I am so glad I found this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The protagonists are two fiftyish year old brothers, neither married (although one was at one time) who have just lost their quite eccentric mother. They had never known their father, who they were told died in a war. Their story revolves around searching for the real identity of their father and along the way discovering they really didn't know their mother as well as they had thought.
There is a beautiful and very realistic relationship between the brothers, fraught with tiny irritations but grounded in a strong bond. The author serves up some very witty dialogue and develops strong characters. Cultural differences are handled gracefully. The plot is fairly believable and wholly satisfying. An insightful and diverting read; I am so glad my computer decided to release this book to me!
August 31, 2020
NOTE: I won a free eBook copy of this book in MOBI format from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers (May 2020).
Two middle-aged brothers set off for Ireland in search of their father and unravel a few mysteries involving their recently-deceased, eccentric mother along the way, and play a few rounds of golf to boot. I found this novel well-paced and easy to read, and though the golf bits were technical they did not detract from the flow of the story. The dialogue between the protagonists, though sometimes overwrought, was very witty. The resolution of the novel ties everything up nicely and delivers additional surprises.
Two middle-aged brothers set off for Ireland in search of their father and unravel a few mysteries involving their recently-deceased, eccentric mother along the way, and play a few rounds of golf to boot. I found this novel well-paced and easy to read, and though the golf bits were technical they did not detract from the flow of the story. The dialogue between the protagonists, though sometimes overwrought, was very witty. The resolution of the novel ties everything up nicely and delivers additional surprises.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2023
At the intersection of modern mail-order DNA tests and good old-fashioned trysts lies "Mr. Wizard." A story for our time. (literally our time) With the advent of DNA clearing houses like "Ancestry.Boom!" and "23 and Really?," who among us hasn't heard of salacious secrets falling out of of overstuffed family closets?
Jeff Wallach digs deep to explore all the knotty emotions that come from a life-narrative turned abruptly on its head. Funny, charming, and poignant. A great read!
Jeff Wallach digs deep to explore all the knotty emotions that come from a life-narrative turned abruptly on its head. Funny, charming, and poignant. A great read!
August 1, 2020
What a fun premise! Two brothers, already past middle age, discover their father and their roots following the death of their mother. Although the writing is awkward at times, I enjoyed the plot and the characters.
*I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review.
*I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review.
February 17, 2021
Humorous and enjoyable.
I loved the characters and their relationships. Loved the writing and the plot. I will look for more books by this author.
I loved the characters and their relationships. Loved the writing and the plot. I will look for more books by this author.
September 19, 2021
This was such an enjoyable story! I loved the lateral thinking puzzles, the loving rivalry between the 50-something brothers, and their interactions with old and new friends.
July 11, 2023
Enjoyed the relationship between the brothers and the details that brought time and place to life
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews