Gypsy Hearts

by Robert Eversz

A darkly comic thriller tells the story of Richard Milhous Miller, a twenty-five-year-old American scam artist posing as a Hollywood screenwriter in Prague, who meets his match in the amoral half-gypsy Monika.

354 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

A graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz and UCLA's MFA Program in Film, Television, and Digital Media, ROBERT EVERSZ pounded the mean streets of Hollywood for a decade before fleeing to Europe to write Gypsy Hearts, an expatriate novel set in Prague and Budapest, and his five novels about Nina Zero and the American Obsession with celebrity culture.

Among other distinctions, his novels have been translated into 15 languages and have appeared on the critical best-of-year lists of The Washington Post, Oslo Aftenposten, Bookpage, the Manchester Guardian, and January Magazine.

At least a part-time resident of Prague since 1992, he helped found the Prague Summer Writer's Workshop, now the Prague Summer Program, and serves on its permanent faculty. He has also lived, at various times, in San Pol de Mar, Spain, Morelia, Mexico, and Silvi Marina, Italy. In 2007, he judged the Association of Writers and Writing Programs' Award Series In the Novel, and is currently Writer in Residence at Western Michigan University.

Reviews

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ate up this book. The narrator is such a massive dirtbag I really enjoyed watching him suffer :) He's SO extremely stupid but like any dirtbag fancies himself a genius. On a slightly more in-depth level, it was intriguing to read from a narrator who lies to HIMSELF. It made for some psychological tough spots when he had to face his lies and stupid idiotness. The girl he's obsessed with (Monika) is super complex. Nix (protag) thinks himself obsessed with her, but he misses almost everything about her unless she puts it into words for him. The ability of the writing to show her (and others) complexities, clear annoyances with Nix, distractions, etc. while the narrator is completely oblivious of what he is describing to the reader fascinated me. I enjoyed the Hollywood themes interwoven with the story and Nix's lies. I read this book because it's written by one of the faculty members for my Prague writing program. This book was marketed as a thriller. I don't read a lot of thrillers, and while the book definitely thrilled me, it felt a little more psychological than what I think of as a traditional thriller. But yeah, I enjoyed this (library) book, and I got another book by Eversz- Killing Paparazzi. I probably won't have time to read it before my trip, but maybe when I get back. I would definitely read more of his works. ALSO! I'm currently reading The Unbearable Lightness of Being and I'm seeing a LOT a lot a lot of parallels and similar ideas in two books set in Prague. Just something funky I noticed.

[Michaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narrator a complete cad. Fascinating pyschopath.

[Rhiannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so glad I found this on a whim in an underground secondhand bookshop. An insight into the dark secrets of Europe and chasing an unrequited, murderous love. His descriptions are wild and unconventional but it just works. I was honestly so addicted to this novel. My journey with the anti-hero was frustrating yet engaging. This novel operates outside all cliches! Very authentic character - bravo Robert Eversz!

[Tim Petersik · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not fair for me to review this, as I like anything set in Prague. This has the added benefit of moving the setting to Budapest. Oh... the story itself is pretty good too.