Button Man: A Novel

by Paul Lyons

During the scorching hot summer of 1988, Michael Dukakis leads George Bush senior in the polls. And while political conventions, campaigns continue to be in session, Hawk and the rest of the "button gang" sell their buttons first to Democrats in Atlanta, then Republicans in New Orleans. As always, the gang sells to either side of any persuasion, offering a unique underview of the American political process, amoral hucksterism, and a corrupted form of capitalism.

Sought after by loan sharks and his girlfriend’s Ginsu-wielding ex-husband, Hawk is a witty and likeable character full of street smarts and unmatchable survival instincts. His story explores trust-and trust betrayed, along with the ethics of the street-and ethics compromised. Hawks tale is one of an edgy outsider's will for survival and love.

Drawing from a side of politics and capitalism rarely seen by the general public, Button Man , with its unnerving violence and biting wit, is reminiscent of the worlds of Elmore Leonard, Nathaniel West, William Kennedy, and Quentin Tarantino.

Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade, Yucca, and Good Books imprints, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in fiction—novels, novellas, political and medical thrillers, comedy, satire, historical fiction, romance, erotic and love stories, mystery, classic literature, folklore and mythology, literary classics including Shakespeare, Dumas, Wilde, Cather, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2004

Reviews

[Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a really interesting short read. It takes the point of view of someone you wouldn't normally notice, and shows that they have a life as intricate as your own. There was a lot of really interesting political/economic commentary and the author got across a lot of the messages through irony and wit. It was a very satisfying read, set in a unique time about unique characters. I would definitely recommend it!

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[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I download this book for free. It sounded interesting, but my mind continued to wander as I listened to the story. There were too many characters with weird transitions between scenes. I thought the story line was different, somewhat interesting, but the book ended up being just okay.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Crazy guy sells buttons for a living & gambles and gets in all kinds of trouble.