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Incandescence
Stargell had it a prestigious job at a think tank; a beautiful Greek wife; and money enough to indulge his expensive tastes. But when he loses his job for using the think tankâ s computer to play the horses, his life starts taking a very definite turn for the worse. Suddenly heâ s broke, his wife is going crazy, and a very determined Lower East Side loan shark has his number. In the midst of all this danger and chaos, however, the resilient and darkly comic Stargell pushes his limits while playing it by ear. Stargell is sustained by those rare moments of redeeming grace when every experience feels vital and valuable, when even in the darkest moments.
251 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
121 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 2, 2008
Somewhere in the not so distant past New York City was a dirty and squalid place, mixed with some areas of respectability. Whole neighborhoods where hipsters would soon be playing were places where people went when there wasn't anywhere else for them to go. As a picture of this lost New York the book does an excellent job. Written at a time when Manhattan was somewhat of a shit hole in places, the book doesn't romanticize the city or the conditions, and neither does it have any foreboding signs lingering of the Disneyification to come. Because the novel is just being true to the time when it was written all of this isn't really even that interesting to the novel itself, but it's kind of a nice little bonus to a story that seems like it's been told a gazillion million times before but somehow seems pretty fresh in this telling.
May 20, 2009
This book is so alive I think it might crawl up the windowsill and jump out the window, land in a red convertable and then drive it off the pier. I cant say how powerful the imagery is. Its a rocket flare that makes everything bright and intensely surreal. See how I'm typing!
I suggest reading it just for the sheer bright brilliance of writing so intense it reminds me of Chuck Palahniuk, only much stronger. Almost always after reading I was ... not tired, not wired, somewhere in the middle, but higher... I had to take a few big deep breaths and come slowly down. The prose is both stubbornly short and symbolistic firewoks ... I liken it to a concrete wrecking ball obliterating a impressionist crystal vase. I can see and hear every shattering second very clearly.
Maybe I shouldnt write these reviews right when I put the book down? What a ride!
~D
PS. Personally the book inspired me to a little impulsiveness more than once. Example: One late work-night, remembering a scene in the book, I went out and surprised my girlfriend with champagne and strawberries (she's allergic to clams) and we stayed up, picnicing on the bed, shooting the breeze like good friends way way past our bed time.... thanks for the idea Mr. Nova, but more importatnly thanks for a book so thousand-watt strong that I blink, cringe and look in all kinds of other directions.
PPS. Two quotes I love:
"A good meal is a spit in the face of death."
"I want to tell him that grief is a flower that only blooms in the best gardens."
I suggest reading it just for the sheer bright brilliance of writing so intense it reminds me of Chuck Palahniuk, only much stronger. Almost always after reading I was ... not tired, not wired, somewhere in the middle, but higher... I had to take a few big deep breaths and come slowly down. The prose is both stubbornly short and symbolistic firewoks ... I liken it to a concrete wrecking ball obliterating a impressionist crystal vase. I can see and hear every shattering second very clearly.
Maybe I shouldnt write these reviews right when I put the book down? What a ride!
~D
PS. Personally the book inspired me to a little impulsiveness more than once. Example: One late work-night, remembering a scene in the book, I went out and surprised my girlfriend with champagne and strawberries (she's allergic to clams) and we stayed up, picnicing on the bed, shooting the breeze like good friends way way past our bed time.... thanks for the idea Mr. Nova, but more importatnly thanks for a book so thousand-watt strong that I blink, cringe and look in all kinds of other directions.
PPS. Two quotes I love:
"A good meal is a spit in the face of death."
"I want to tell him that grief is a flower that only blooms in the best gardens."
March 10, 2016
No heroes. No hope. It's all dirty, desperate, underside of humanity disguised as art. Schemes and failed dreams.
September 3, 2022
I thought I would like this book more than I did, but I didn’t really like any of the characters, and I was really kind of glad when it ended. It’s a depressing story that ends badly and the entire experience was pretty much a downer. The narrator is a train wreck and an oddly willing one. I can’t recommend this one.
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September 16, 2025Pretty sure I got this at Book Alcove before it became WonderBook
February 6, 2009
This book was given to me by my husband as an anniversary gift. He told me that it was one of the best books he'd ever read so I'm eager to find out why!
UPDATE: I stand corrected. He said it was one of his favorite books which is NOT the same thing as saying it was one of the "best books he'd ever read" lol
I'm still reading it so the jury's still out for me.
Finished 2/5/09. Eh.
UPDATE: I stand corrected. He said it was one of his favorite books which is NOT the same thing as saying it was one of the "best books he'd ever read" lol
I'm still reading it so the jury's still out for me.
Finished 2/5/09. Eh.
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July 14, 2008I seriously have to give this book no stars. Sad but true. A person who I really adore picked this for our book group. I didn't make it past page 11.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews