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BOOK CLUB~NICE COPY~MYLAR
334 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1971
53 people want to read
About the author
Richard Condon
81 books106 followersRichard Thomas Condon was a satirical and thriller novelist best known for conspiratorial books such as The Manchurian Candidate.
After service in the United States Merchant Marine, Condon achieved moderate success as a Hollywood publicist, ad writer and Hollywood agent. Condon turned to writing in 1957. Employed by United Artists as an ad writer, he complained that he was wasting time in Hollywood and wished to write a novel. Without Condon's knowledge, his boss, Max E. Youngstein deducted amounts from his salary then fired him after a year giving him the amount of money he had deducted in the form of a Mexican bank account and the key to a house overlooking the ocean in Mexico. Youngstein told him to write his book. His second novel, The Manchurian Candidate (1959), featured a dedication to Youngstein. The movie made from it in 1962, made him famous. Prizzi's Honor (1982) was likewise made into a successful movie.
Condon's writing was known for its complex plotting, fascination with trivia, and loathing for those in power; at least two of his books featured thinly disguised versions of Richard Nixon. His characters tend to be driven by obsession, usually sexual or political, and by family loyalty. His plots often have elements of classical tragedy, with protagonists whose pride leads them to a place to destroy what they love. Some of his books, most notably Mile High (1969), are perhaps best described as secret history. And Then We Moved to Rossenara is a humorous autobiographical recounting of various places in the world where he had lived and his family's 1970s move to Rossenarra, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland.
After service in the United States Merchant Marine, Condon achieved moderate success as a Hollywood publicist, ad writer and Hollywood agent. Condon turned to writing in 1957. Employed by United Artists as an ad writer, he complained that he was wasting time in Hollywood and wished to write a novel. Without Condon's knowledge, his boss, Max E. Youngstein deducted amounts from his salary then fired him after a year giving him the amount of money he had deducted in the form of a Mexican bank account and the key to a house overlooking the ocean in Mexico. Youngstein told him to write his book. His second novel, The Manchurian Candidate (1959), featured a dedication to Youngstein. The movie made from it in 1962, made him famous. Prizzi's Honor (1982) was likewise made into a successful movie.
Condon's writing was known for its complex plotting, fascination with trivia, and loathing for those in power; at least two of his books featured thinly disguised versions of Richard Nixon. His characters tend to be driven by obsession, usually sexual or political, and by family loyalty. His plots often have elements of classical tragedy, with protagonists whose pride leads them to a place to destroy what they love. Some of his books, most notably Mile High (1969), are perhaps best described as secret history. And Then We Moved to Rossenara is a humorous autobiographical recounting of various places in the world where he had lived and his family's 1970s move to Rossenarra, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 17, 2016
A clever extended diatribe about corruption by power, money and religion in 1970s America. Vintage Condon.
March 4, 2021
Written in 1971, this is a rip-roaring satire with a rather brutal take on politics, classicism, religion and more. Not for the faint of heart, if you are sensitive about sexuality in particular, but otherwise some hilarious absurdist imagery (a character who uses Lady MacBeth laundry detergent)..
Osgood Noon and Ada Clarke, both "billionaire seniors" get together romantically after not seeing each other for many years. Their liaison is seen as a threat by hidden powers who want to advance Ada's dunce of a son-in-law, Duncan Milligan, as a puppet to US Senate and eventually the presidency in 1972. This sets in motions all manner of shenanigans involving the adult children and grandchildren of both Ada and Os who are variously involved in the Mafia, sex and drug trafficking, staged political riots, Women's Lib (yes, its dated), and pseudo-religion. Some of the themes echoed headlines of today, such as wanting an enemy "canceled," fabricating riots to sway public opinion and advance a "law and order" platform, and the opiating potential of TV.
Three stars for entertainment, vocabulary (keep a dictionary handy), broad cultural references, but the structure was too loosey-goosey for me.
Osgood Noon and Ada Clarke, both "billionaire seniors" get together romantically after not seeing each other for many years. Their liaison is seen as a threat by hidden powers who want to advance Ada's dunce of a son-in-law, Duncan Milligan, as a puppet to US Senate and eventually the presidency in 1972. This sets in motions all manner of shenanigans involving the adult children and grandchildren of both Ada and Os who are variously involved in the Mafia, sex and drug trafficking, staged political riots, Women's Lib (yes, its dated), and pseudo-religion. Some of the themes echoed headlines of today, such as wanting an enemy "canceled," fabricating riots to sway public opinion and advance a "law and order" platform, and the opiating potential of TV.
Three stars for entertainment, vocabulary (keep a dictionary handy), broad cultural references, but the structure was too loosey-goosey for me.
December 22, 2024
This jawn was a riot, superb read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews