Singer

by Ira Sher

Against the backdrop of the Singer Sewing Company, a novel of phobias, obsessions, a string of motel fires, and a troubled friendship In the early 1980s,Milton Menger, a wealthy art dealer living in New Jersey, is called by an estranged friend, Charles Trembleman, with whom he's had no contact in years. Charley is a traveling salesman for the Singer Sewing Company and his hands have just been badly burned in a motel fire near Memphis.He needs a driver so he can continue traveling and selling.Milty rises to the occasion.Together they embark on a journey across the South, visiting showrooms and staying in locally owned motels. Is it a coincidence that these motels keep going up in flames?
With a DeLillo-like nostalgia for Americana, combined with the dark humor of a Coen brothers film, Ira Sher's storytelling draws the reader in like a moth to the flame.

Genres: Fiction

319 pages, Hardcover

First published March 23, 2009

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit slow moving and I knew who the arsonist was from the start, but I didn't immediately figure out the climactic twist. A book for a reader with staying power.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were several things I did not enjoy about this one, but it did have a few redeeming qualities. First, it shifted between three different time periods which was confusing, especially at the very beginning when readers are just being introduced to all the characters. Normally I enjoy this, however, it was not well done in Singer. I enjoy the uniqueness of the story line; it was unlike anything I'd ever read before which, once I got more into was enjoyable. Another aspect that was both good and bad was the overall syntax. Sher had a tendency to add a lot of interjections and appositives and other things into his sentences which often produced more choppy and difficult to read sentences. On the other hand, there were some absolutely beautiful portions and thought provoking ideas.

[Julie Boylan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Possibly the worst book I’ve read. Not just the story line but the actual writing. One sentence had 10 commas, 2 semicolons, 3 dashes, and 103 words. The characters were unlikable. I didn’t care about any of them.

[Rusty · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like black comedy tackle this read. There's murder, light romance, fire and scads of information about Singer. It all begins when Milton Menger, a wealthy art dealer, joins a friend who works for Singer. He needs someone to drive him on his route because his hands were burned in a fire. Milt becomes that someone. Their experiences are unique indeed and you can't help but laugh at some of the incidents they encounter. It's strange that many of the motel fires occur on the friend's route. And, the woman who follows them is an interesting character who helps the reader put it all together. At times the flashbacks made it difficult for me to follow the tale but once I caught on, it became clear. Strange, darkly funny and interesting.

[Colleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had really high hopes for this book: art,sewing machines, mysterious motel fires. It's too bad the author spent more time writing annoying sentences than an interesting story. After ninety pages, I just couldn't take it anymore.

[Chantel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I heard Ira Sher read one of his short stories on This American Life and was really blown away by it, so I decided to read one of his novels. His writing is really beautiful but can be stagnant and too wordy in some places. Overall, I enjoyed it.

[Tuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

a bit slow, reviews had it as good and edgy, but its just good. good twist at end, so trudge through if you wish.