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The Poor Man's Guide to Suicide
THE POOR MAN’S GUIDE TO SUICIDE is a powerful, slashing, terrifying, hilarious, explosive, sarcastic, misanthropic and lyrical black comedy about losing your will to live—and possibly getting it back.
OVERVIEW
Wesley Weimer, a twice-divorced prison guard and failed father of two, realizes that his life has grown lifeless. Child support payments suck him dry and so he’ll never finish that degree. Most of his free time is spent tending to his crippled mother or else writhing through painful visits with his children.
So with Christmas right around the corner, Wesley persuades a prisoner to strangle him for ten thousand dollars—this way, at least his kids can cash in on the life insurance. The only problem is, he doesn’t have ten thousand dollars…
THE POOR MAN’S GUIDE TO SUICIDE is a noir why-done-it that shoves a microscope into the guts of a bleak yet fascinating subculture while managing to throw a spiritual life-ring to a drowning demographic: non-custodial fathers.
OVERVIEW
Wesley Weimer, a twice-divorced prison guard and failed father of two, realizes that his life has grown lifeless. Child support payments suck him dry and so he’ll never finish that degree. Most of his free time is spent tending to his crippled mother or else writhing through painful visits with his children.
So with Christmas right around the corner, Wesley persuades a prisoner to strangle him for ten thousand dollars—this way, at least his kids can cash in on the life insurance. The only problem is, he doesn’t have ten thousand dollars…
THE POOR MAN’S GUIDE TO SUICIDE is a noir why-done-it that shoves a microscope into the guts of a bleak yet fascinating subculture while managing to throw a spiritual life-ring to a drowning demographic: non-custodial fathers.
- GenresFiction
287 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
4 people are currently reading
542 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Armacost
6 books27 followersAndrew Armacost studied literature and writing in Scotland at the University of Edinburgh after serving in the U.S. Navy, during which time he worked at sea and overseas, with long-term assignments to both Afghanistan and Singapore. Formerly a Corrections Officer for the State of Indiana, Mr. Armacost has also resided in Illinois, Ohio, Georgia, Florida, Japan and, most recently, California, where he currently lives with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
June 13, 2014
Armacost creates a compelling dark noir story with a protagonist pulling at your emotions. He is direct in addressing the depths of depression and suicidal thoughts.
We are introduced to Wesley Weimer, a correctional officer through a gritty confessional lens of depression. Weimer has his share of disappointments, failed dreams, situations out of his control and of course his share of mistakes. He reached the point of failing to see any goodness and feels suicide is his only recourse to end his suffering.
Armacost pulled off first person narration with ease, this isn't a happy read, rather a portrait of the recesses of depressions stealth clutches and the hopelessness one feels. It's raw, affecting and empathetic.
I kept hoping Wesley would try and realize things could be worse, to try and focus on the little things in life. As Wesley's story unfolds, you find his outlook is dimmed and he fails to see the light in the abyss of his obsidian tunnel of despair. His desire to commit suicide left me feeling helpless and frustrated. I found myself wrapped up in his story and my emotions were fully invested in this man's life. I saw a glimpse of myself in Wesley as many will when they read this book. It's not easy dusting yourself off after unexpected blow after blow life delivers, but we do by working at happiness. Pause and enjoy the moment and realize things will eventually improve. Life is a challenge, fix what you can and work on what's out of your control. Do your best, all anyone can do. All this evoked from Armacost's sensitive story, a sign of a talented writer.
A dark noir fiction, with plenty of sarcasm and humor with an endearing character facing a sensitive and avoided topic. Hardcore look into depression from a writer fully capable of presenting this challenging subject with ease, honesty and respect.
We are introduced to Wesley Weimer, a correctional officer through a gritty confessional lens of depression. Weimer has his share of disappointments, failed dreams, situations out of his control and of course his share of mistakes. He reached the point of failing to see any goodness and feels suicide is his only recourse to end his suffering.
“I have this fantasy,” he says, “where I’m woven in a circle of friends who talk the way people talk over dinner in Woody Allen films, with that sublime witty banter and those heady insights into the crevices of life.”
Armacost pulled off first person narration with ease, this isn't a happy read, rather a portrait of the recesses of depressions stealth clutches and the hopelessness one feels. It's raw, affecting and empathetic.
I kept hoping Wesley would try and realize things could be worse, to try and focus on the little things in life. As Wesley's story unfolds, you find his outlook is dimmed and he fails to see the light in the abyss of his obsidian tunnel of despair. His desire to commit suicide left me feeling helpless and frustrated. I found myself wrapped up in his story and my emotions were fully invested in this man's life. I saw a glimpse of myself in Wesley as many will when they read this book. It's not easy dusting yourself off after unexpected blow after blow life delivers, but we do by working at happiness. Pause and enjoy the moment and realize things will eventually improve. Life is a challenge, fix what you can and work on what's out of your control. Do your best, all anyone can do. All this evoked from Armacost's sensitive story, a sign of a talented writer.
A dark noir fiction, with plenty of sarcasm and humor with an endearing character facing a sensitive and avoided topic. Hardcore look into depression from a writer fully capable of presenting this challenging subject with ease, honesty and respect.
April 1, 2014
"... She just doesn't feel like my daughter. I feel like an uncle, maybe a really good uncle, more involved than most. Nothing more, nothing less. Uncle Daddy that's me"
Sludging through the daily routine, one day Wesley stops to wonder what's the point in carrying on? His children are nothing more than friendly acquaintances and his job is going nowhere. He is lonely and bored and over it. Would it really be so bad to just stop existing? He's down on his luck and miserable and uncertain how to proceed. He tries to do the right thing, he's a decent guy but somewhere along the way he got lost.
Two amazing books in a row, surely I must be blessed by the book Gods. As I was reading through this book it came to mean a lot to me. As someone who battles depression I could relate to the main character. It was almost eerie how in tune the writing was with someone suffering from depression. Some parts of this book could have been taken right out of my own diary, if I was the sort of person to have a diary that is. That is not to say that this book is an Emo pity party, but rather an introspective mans journey through the hardest time in his life. I loved the main character, he made me laugh, he made me (almost) cry. I think that there are parts of Wesley in all of us and therefore it makes it easy to care for him.
I truly loved this novel and would recommend. I can't wait to read more from this author. Space Bush looks interesting.... 5/5
Note: I received this novel for free in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2016
This book reminds me of a cross between A Confederacy of Dunces, Slaughterhouse Five, and Death of a Salesman. As a Hoosier, I appreciated all the specific landmarks throughout the book (Roncalli, Butler University, Crawfordsville Rd., Washington Street, etc.)
Although the book was fairly depressing, I could understand the despair the protagonist felt. Wesley had children from different women that he rarely saw, yet he could never really get ahead because he was always paying support or spending money on travel to see them.
Although Indy was described as a pretty depressing place to be, and I could relate to the less than scenic drives he had to take to the DOC, I also know that there are plenty of nice places in Indy, too. I found myself wondering if this book was a tiny bit biographical with its convincing first person narrative.
And then there was Coop, the best friend to Wesley. It's funny how true to life this story is, with the common feeling jealousy towards those who seems to have it all, even if they don't think they do, other people can see and appreciate what they have. Although Coop is mildly unsatisfied with his life, from Wesley's point of view, it beats his life. Throughout the narrative we return to their friendship and see how things can change in the blink of an eye.
The book ended on a somewhat positive note, which was rather surprising, given the tone throughout. This fast-paced read will entertain and hit home with a lot of people who feel trapped, caged, and like life is passing them by while they are unable to do anything about it.
This book was provided through netgalley thanks to Moonshine Cove Publishing.
Although the book was fairly depressing, I could understand the despair the protagonist felt. Wesley had children from different women that he rarely saw, yet he could never really get ahead because he was always paying support or spending money on travel to see them.
Although Indy was described as a pretty depressing place to be, and I could relate to the less than scenic drives he had to take to the DOC, I also know that there are plenty of nice places in Indy, too. I found myself wondering if this book was a tiny bit biographical with its convincing first person narrative.
And then there was Coop, the best friend to Wesley. It's funny how true to life this story is, with the common feeling jealousy towards those who seems to have it all, even if they don't think they do, other people can see and appreciate what they have. Although Coop is mildly unsatisfied with his life, from Wesley's point of view, it beats his life. Throughout the narrative we return to their friendship and see how things can change in the blink of an eye.
The book ended on a somewhat positive note, which was rather surprising, given the tone throughout. This fast-paced read will entertain and hit home with a lot of people who feel trapped, caged, and like life is passing them by while they are unable to do anything about it.
This book was provided through netgalley thanks to Moonshine Cove Publishing.
April 25, 2014
What a gem, just loved this books, its so hilarious and written in real life. I love the way the author tells the reader about his life, past and present and you get a feel from the books as he reminisces about life in the correctional institute and what twists and turns come out of that scenario. Its an outside looking in novel.
March 4, 2015
As with yesterday’s review, today’s represents the fulfillment of a long-neglected contract. Today I’m providing an overview of Andrew Armacost’s acclaimed Poor Man’s Guide to Suicide. Review continues at this link: http://www.examiner.com/review/the-po...
April 28, 2014
Think your job is bad? This hilarious book puts things in perspective. A dark comedy from the author of the cult classic among our military in Afghanistan, "Space Bush". I could not put it down.
July 8, 2014
I won this book through a drawing at "Shelf Awareness" and agreed to give it an honest review:
My first thoughts when reading this book was this poor man, his entire life has gone to crap! His way of describing his apartment, his work, his life, his thoughts on how things got that bad were dark but at times funny! I’ve been around men who were that depressed, and the thoughts they come up with are not always something I can relate to because even at my worst, I’ve always been something of an optimist. I enjoyed the book for the most part and felt the need to finish it, I had to find out if this poor guy was going to off himself or have someone do it for him, and/or if he was going to follow through with it!
This book was about Wesley Weimer a prison guard, divorced twice, father of two children whom he can’t really relate to, with no money left over after child support and rent. He has gotten to the bottom and can’t seem to find his way up. He had dreams at one time, he wanted to go to college he had things he wanted to do with his life and working as a prison guard was not really more than a blip on his radar in starting off with his life’s work. He now believes that his life is at the bottom and he has no way to go up….he can only go along with all of the life sucked out of him.
Its Christmas time, the time of year that takes anyone who is already deeply depressed further down. The expectation of family, the expectation of the person going through the holidays, of which expectations of self can’t come close to meeting. A bad time of year for someone who is already at the bottom.
Wesley actually goes through finding a criminal in the prison, who he can pay to off him. The big problem is he only can come up with a down payment, he doesn’t have the money! He goes through buying an insurance policy that he believes will be enough to take care of his children and his Mother….he can’t commit suicide as the policy wouldn’t pay. He has to come up with a way to find the rest of the money in order to get him killed. Will he do it? Will he go through with it? You’ll have to read the book to find out! I did and I liked the book.
The books description:
THE POOR MAN’S GUIDE TO SUICIDE is a powerful, slashing, terrifying, hilarious, explosive, sarcastic, misanthropic and lyrical black comedy about losing your will to live—and possibly getting it back.
OVERVIEW
Wesley Weimer, a twice-divorced prison guard and failed father of two, realizes that his life has grown lifeless. Child support payments suck him dry and so he’ll never finish that degree. Most of his free time is spent tending to his crippled mother or else writhing through painful visits with his children.
So with Christmas right around the corner, Wesley persuades a prisoner to strangle him for ten thousand dollars—this way, at least his kids can cash in on the life insurance. The only problem is, he doesn’t have ten thousand dollars…
THE POOR MAN’S GUIDE TO SUICIDE is a noir why-done-it that shoves a microscope into the guts of a bleak yet fascinating subculture while managing to throw a spiritual life-ring to a drowning demographic: non-custodial fathers
My first thoughts when reading this book was this poor man, his entire life has gone to crap! His way of describing his apartment, his work, his life, his thoughts on how things got that bad were dark but at times funny! I’ve been around men who were that depressed, and the thoughts they come up with are not always something I can relate to because even at my worst, I’ve always been something of an optimist. I enjoyed the book for the most part and felt the need to finish it, I had to find out if this poor guy was going to off himself or have someone do it for him, and/or if he was going to follow through with it!
This book was about Wesley Weimer a prison guard, divorced twice, father of two children whom he can’t really relate to, with no money left over after child support and rent. He has gotten to the bottom and can’t seem to find his way up. He had dreams at one time, he wanted to go to college he had things he wanted to do with his life and working as a prison guard was not really more than a blip on his radar in starting off with his life’s work. He now believes that his life is at the bottom and he has no way to go up….he can only go along with all of the life sucked out of him.
Its Christmas time, the time of year that takes anyone who is already deeply depressed further down. The expectation of family, the expectation of the person going through the holidays, of which expectations of self can’t come close to meeting. A bad time of year for someone who is already at the bottom.
Wesley actually goes through finding a criminal in the prison, who he can pay to off him. The big problem is he only can come up with a down payment, he doesn’t have the money! He goes through buying an insurance policy that he believes will be enough to take care of his children and his Mother….he can’t commit suicide as the policy wouldn’t pay. He has to come up with a way to find the rest of the money in order to get him killed. Will he do it? Will he go through with it? You’ll have to read the book to find out! I did and I liked the book.
The books description:
THE POOR MAN’S GUIDE TO SUICIDE is a powerful, slashing, terrifying, hilarious, explosive, sarcastic, misanthropic and lyrical black comedy about losing your will to live—and possibly getting it back.
OVERVIEW
Wesley Weimer, a twice-divorced prison guard and failed father of two, realizes that his life has grown lifeless. Child support payments suck him dry and so he’ll never finish that degree. Most of his free time is spent tending to his crippled mother or else writhing through painful visits with his children.
So with Christmas right around the corner, Wesley persuades a prisoner to strangle him for ten thousand dollars—this way, at least his kids can cash in on the life insurance. The only problem is, he doesn’t have ten thousand dollars…
THE POOR MAN’S GUIDE TO SUICIDE is a noir why-done-it that shoves a microscope into the guts of a bleak yet fascinating subculture while managing to throw a spiritual life-ring to a drowning demographic: non-custodial fathers
August 23, 2018
I was SO excited to read this book, sadly it was nothing like I had hoped for and I thought long and hard about my rating and review for it. I like books that are quirky, tackle difficult subject matter and have flawed characters, but no matter what I could not engage fluidly with this book.
What's it about?:
THE POOR MAN’S GUIDE TO SUICIDE is a slashing, terrifying, hilarious, explosive, misanthropic and lyrical black comedy about losing your will to live—and possibly getting it back.
OVERVIEW
Wesley Weimer, a twice-divorced prison guard and failed father of two, realizes that his life has grown lifeless. Child support payments suck him dry and so he’ll never finish that degree. Most of his free time is spent tending to his crippled mother or else writhing through painful visits with his children.
So with Christmas right around the corner, Wesley persuades a prisoner to strangle him for ten thousand dollars—this way, at least his kids can cash in on the life insurance. The only problem is, he doesn’t have ten thousand dollars…
My Review:
So, I was looking for the black humour in this book, I found a bit but not a lot, essentially we are in the mind and life of one very depressed Wesley Weimer who spends his long shifts as a Prison Warden and lives in a derelict house and essentially is morbid about himself and life.
I have no problem with that. None at all. Heck, many people feel like that right? The issue I had reading this was it got boring by the halfway point, like we were covering old ground, and the loop was stuck and I wanted to get off. It just simply could not hold my interest. I was frustrated because I felt it had so much more potential.
He's a man feeling very sorry for himself. I make no joke about the nature of depression or suicidal thoughts and plans. I thought the book would be more readable and at least enjoyable. It was ok, just ok. I got through it but I was left feeling that a whole lot of good stuff was missing.
I am sure this will be a like/dislike read. It's not the worst book I have ever read but it just didn't strike the satisfied reader chord in me unfortunately. In fact I was left feeling as depressed as he is after reading it.
I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What's it about?:
THE POOR MAN’S GUIDE TO SUICIDE is a slashing, terrifying, hilarious, explosive, misanthropic and lyrical black comedy about losing your will to live—and possibly getting it back.
OVERVIEW
Wesley Weimer, a twice-divorced prison guard and failed father of two, realizes that his life has grown lifeless. Child support payments suck him dry and so he’ll never finish that degree. Most of his free time is spent tending to his crippled mother or else writhing through painful visits with his children.
So with Christmas right around the corner, Wesley persuades a prisoner to strangle him for ten thousand dollars—this way, at least his kids can cash in on the life insurance. The only problem is, he doesn’t have ten thousand dollars…
My Review:
So, I was looking for the black humour in this book, I found a bit but not a lot, essentially we are in the mind and life of one very depressed Wesley Weimer who spends his long shifts as a Prison Warden and lives in a derelict house and essentially is morbid about himself and life.
I have no problem with that. None at all. Heck, many people feel like that right? The issue I had reading this was it got boring by the halfway point, like we were covering old ground, and the loop was stuck and I wanted to get off. It just simply could not hold my interest. I was frustrated because I felt it had so much more potential.
He's a man feeling very sorry for himself. I make no joke about the nature of depression or suicidal thoughts and plans. I thought the book would be more readable and at least enjoyable. It was ok, just ok. I got through it but I was left feeling that a whole lot of good stuff was missing.
I am sure this will be a like/dislike read. It's not the worst book I have ever read but it just didn't strike the satisfied reader chord in me unfortunately. In fact I was left feeling as depressed as he is after reading it.
I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 10, 2014
The Poor Man's Guide to Suicide by Andrew Armacost is a book that should put things in its right perspective. It is a tense but powerful, yet startling, sidesplitting, fiery and cynical book about a depression-hit guy who has lost the will to live, but regained his composure and make amends to live life to the hilt.
Wesley Weimer was once a cultured and educated young man brimming with life and hope. But within a short period of time everything has gone up in smoke. At the age of 33, he sees no promises and colors in the sunshine of tomorrow. Every which way he looks, it is dark and dreary. As a prison guard he is sometimes invaded by a desire to pay one of the inmates to kill him to enable his dear one to grab his life insurance. Twice divorced with two children who he gets to meet every other weekend, all his earnings are used up in child support.
He barely survives, lives a miserable life in a miserable condition, with no friends and family, he can’t grasp how things could turn so wretched within such a short time. Andrew Armacost paints a picture so stark and naked that you could almost hear Wesley’s deep breath. The writing is not perfect but beautiful and the story will bring much laughter as well. The book is truly insightful as it explores the subject of loneliness, failure and hopelessness. I like the way the author brings out these subject through the main character in the story. However, the book is crude, uncouth, and at times seem veering perilously close to being obscene with its depiction of the pathetic state of Wesley Weimer.
What is truly heartening in the affairs of men is that even in a sad, sad case like that of Wesley Weimer, there is hope yet for the future in the most surprising of ways.
Wesley Weimer was once a cultured and educated young man brimming with life and hope. But within a short period of time everything has gone up in smoke. At the age of 33, he sees no promises and colors in the sunshine of tomorrow. Every which way he looks, it is dark and dreary. As a prison guard he is sometimes invaded by a desire to pay one of the inmates to kill him to enable his dear one to grab his life insurance. Twice divorced with two children who he gets to meet every other weekend, all his earnings are used up in child support.
He barely survives, lives a miserable life in a miserable condition, with no friends and family, he can’t grasp how things could turn so wretched within such a short time. Andrew Armacost paints a picture so stark and naked that you could almost hear Wesley’s deep breath. The writing is not perfect but beautiful and the story will bring much laughter as well. The book is truly insightful as it explores the subject of loneliness, failure and hopelessness. I like the way the author brings out these subject through the main character in the story. However, the book is crude, uncouth, and at times seem veering perilously close to being obscene with its depiction of the pathetic state of Wesley Weimer.
What is truly heartening in the affairs of men is that even in a sad, sad case like that of Wesley Weimer, there is hope yet for the future in the most surprising of ways.
April 27, 2014
Great read - I read this on a 19 hour flight and could not put the book down. Be it fact or fiction we can relate to someone or heard of someone who wakes up everyday to his situation. I just passed it to a colleague.
nope
April 14, 2014I got to page 10 before ragequitting. Soooooo not the book for me.
May 11, 2014
Fantastic! I highly recommend. Really enjoyed this powerful book.
Read
June 17, 2014A copy was provided by the publisher through Netgalley in return for an honest review
When I first spotted this on Netgalley I was drawn to the quirkiness. I thought it seemed really different to anything else out there so I was looking forward to it.
Unfortunately The Poor Man's Guide to Suicide was a bit of a let down. It's not often that I dislike a book enough to completely give up on it but I just found it very hard to generate any will to pick this up.
I found it Dull really. That's a really fucked up thing to say about a book about suicide but it's true. I wasn't expecting a laugh a minute but some dark comedy would have help lift it from the drudges. It was marketed as a black comedy but I certainly couldn't find any.
Its sort of a fictional memoir ( I know that makes no sense but anyway...) about a man named Wesley. He has been married twice, divorced twice and has children from both whom he rarely sees.
He works hard as a prison guard but by the time bills and child support is paid there isn't much left towards finishing his degree.
It really is a whine fest. He hatches a plan to get an inmate to kill him so his children can cash in on his life insurance policy. How lovely of him.
The problem is most of the book is just general bitching with very little page time dedicated to hatching this plan. Its touched on in between him being slightly racist and complaining about things like his dad not paying for college. Boo hoo. I certainly don't know anyone who's parents funded there college degree. It was the inflated sense of self entitlement that finished it for me.
I haven't picked this book up in 2 weeks and have no desire to. I can safely say this will remain unfinished.
If you want an in depth review of everything that bugged me about this book check out
Kalliope's review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
He explains my grievances better than I could
When I first spotted this on Netgalley I was drawn to the quirkiness. I thought it seemed really different to anything else out there so I was looking forward to it.
Unfortunately The Poor Man's Guide to Suicide was a bit of a let down. It's not often that I dislike a book enough to completely give up on it but I just found it very hard to generate any will to pick this up.
I found it Dull really. That's a really fucked up thing to say about a book about suicide but it's true. I wasn't expecting a laugh a minute but some dark comedy would have help lift it from the drudges. It was marketed as a black comedy but I certainly couldn't find any.
Its sort of a fictional memoir ( I know that makes no sense but anyway...) about a man named Wesley. He has been married twice, divorced twice and has children from both whom he rarely sees.
He works hard as a prison guard but by the time bills and child support is paid there isn't much left towards finishing his degree.
It really is a whine fest. He hatches a plan to get an inmate to kill him so his children can cash in on his life insurance policy. How lovely of him.
The problem is most of the book is just general bitching with very little page time dedicated to hatching this plan. Its touched on in between him being slightly racist and complaining about things like his dad not paying for college. Boo hoo. I certainly don't know anyone who's parents funded there college degree. It was the inflated sense of self entitlement that finished it for me.
I haven't picked this book up in 2 weeks and have no desire to. I can safely say this will remain unfinished.
If you want an in depth review of everything that bugged me about this book check out
Kalliope's review : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
He explains my grievances better than I could
October 17, 2015
I can't pass a bookstore without having a quick look and my wallet knows best what that means: I will leave the shop with some books I don't have space for anymore, yet always pledge to do something about it. So far, I keep stacking them up. And that's how and where The Poor Man's Guide to Suicide – which I received through Goodreads Giveaway, ended up…
I was a bit embarrassed. How could I let this book slide down to the bottom of a Mont Blanc of books? Needless to say, the following message didn't make me feel any better:
“Nina, here's to light summer reads. Very best regards, Andrew Armacost.”
But then it clicked. It was a typical November day in Finland, dark and rainy. The grey weather added a certain atmosphere to certain parts, yet others would brighten up the day. There was a balance. Just like I felt comfortable with the main character, Wesley Weimer. He could have easily been a friend of mine. We'd sit at the kitchen table, having a cup of coffee or a beer, as he’d tell me his story. Or would Armacost he be telling mine?!?
Dark and splendid, served with a pinch of humour!
I was a bit embarrassed. How could I let this book slide down to the bottom of a Mont Blanc of books? Needless to say, the following message didn't make me feel any better:
“Nina, here's to light summer reads. Very best regards, Andrew Armacost.”
But then it clicked. It was a typical November day in Finland, dark and rainy. The grey weather added a certain atmosphere to certain parts, yet others would brighten up the day. There was a balance. Just like I felt comfortable with the main character, Wesley Weimer. He could have easily been a friend of mine. We'd sit at the kitchen table, having a cup of coffee or a beer, as he’d tell me his story. Or would Armacost he be telling mine?!?
Dark and splendid, served with a pinch of humour!
May 11, 2014
This was an amazing look into the psyche of a man who has lost all hope and optimism for life. The author does a wonderful job at conveying the voice of Wesley. The writing is smooth and jumps from past and present to really allow the reader to feel his despair. It's very dark and gritty. The reader will really find themselves on a journey of self discovery. This is the type of story that will hit home for a lot of people. I really liked how the author showed that no matter what a person is going through or may have things can change at any moment. As was shown in the sudden change of circumstances with Wesley's friend Cooper. The sudden downward spiral of Coopers life is the catalyst for Wesley to make changes in his own life. As a woman I found it interesting to read a book from the point of view of man who is also a noncustodial parent. It provided a lot of insight into how they may view their circumstances with their children as well the way it must feel to have children closer to their step parent than themselves. It was a brilliant portrayal of a truly decent man who through a series of events is at a dead end in life. This book has something for every reader to be able to connect with. Overall I would give it a 4/5 and I would recommend this for a read.
August 27, 2016
Andrew Armacost's "The Poor Man's Guide to Suicide" is not a book that glorifies Suicide in any sense of the word. So, haters, cool your heels. I have to say from the word go, it's easily one of the best books I've ever read. It's funny, witty, dark, a little spooky at times. It's a straight-froward fiction tale that is written so well, it rings of total truth. It's the kind of circumstances many can relate to. Wesley is a guy who life has kicked in the nuts for lack of a better term.He's a prison guard, which is not the best place in the world for a guy down in the dumps to be working. No matter which way he turns he cannot catch a break, barely making ends meet, twice divorced, two kids, working virtually just to pay child support. It never ends for poor Wes, add a crappy car and a dingy apartment and he has all the makings of a guy who is either going to go postal, or rid himself of his own existence. I don't give away spoilers, so you will have to find out if he does the deed or not on your own. But I was hooked from page one, found myself laughing and sympathizing with Wesley the entire time. Andrew Armacost is a brilliant honest writer and I look forward to more books from this very talented author! 5 Stars!
September 10, 2016
This is a very, very good book. Admittedly, this is not going to be everyone's cup of tea. I admire the author for taking on controversial subject matter and clearly not blinking. I could have gone for another 100 pages of it. Written in first person, character Wes Weimer seems credible, hopeless and credibly hopeless. ***SPOILER*** but he turns it around. The ride isn't always inspirational, but it does what a good fiction book is supposed to do; it pulls you in and engrosses you so completely that it's hard to put down. A winner.
March 5, 2015
This was an amazing book and a fascinating read. I was drawn in by the title and hooked by the brilliant dialogue and well-defined characters. Armacost manages to hook you early and keep you going with his prose and character development and evolution.
I highly recommend this exciting book. It's one of those books you just can't put down once you start reading.
I highly recommend this exciting book. It's one of those books you just can't put down once you start reading.
April 23, 2014
It was just painful to read. It started off good but it lost me half way through. I only finished it to review it for NetGalley. I was really expecting it to take off but it just didn't work for me.
May 17, 2014
I cannot begin to explain how good of a book this is. I highly recommend it. Read it and I'm sure you will agree with me.
June 5, 2014
Absolutely hilarious and shocking! This tale of depression and redemption is definitely a page turner, although meant for more mature audiences.
August 6, 2014
Viewing This Author's Other Books Now!
August 10, 2020
Perhaps I'm biased due to my time in corrections. This book really has a very compelling protagonist and the narrative (while a bit clumsy on a couple occasions), really manages to tell a great story.
I'd give it 5 starts but the ending feels a bit rushed. And since the pacing was near perfect throughout otherwise It was a little jarring.
I'd give it 5 starts but the ending feels a bit rushed. And since the pacing was near perfect throughout otherwise It was a little jarring.
October 27, 2014
Actual rating is 1.5 out of 5 stars.
Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher (Moonshine Cove Publishing) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
My Thoughts: Have you ever gone through a rough point in your life? I don’t just mean something didn’t quite fit the perfect life plan that you have. I mean it feels like everything is going wrong and your entire life feels like it’s completely out of your control. If you’ve experienced that, did suicidal thoughts seep into your mind?
The Poor Man’s Guide to Suicide addresses these thoughts in a very direct way. Just in case you’re under the impression that this will be a light, summer read, let me just kill those thoughts now (no pun intended). The Poor Man’s Guide to Suicide is the gritty and depressing story of prison guard Wesley Weimer. Wesley is not a character that is easily relatable (unless you’re a non-custodial father).
The writing is pretty great and it’s not a wholly bad book to read. It’s just very depressing. I got to the end and couldn’t even muster my usual enthusiasm when finishing a new book. It’s written from a first-person point of view, which we all know can be irritating if it’s not done right. This one was done right, but not worth raving about (mainly due to the subject matter).
Wesley’s job as a prison guard wasn’t the happiest thing to read about, but interesting nonetheless. In fact, a few of the descriptions for why inmates were in jail to begin with, were so disturbing that I almost stopped reading. I also realized that I will never be able to rid my brain of the images these descriptions conjured without a lobotomy (which is not something I want).
It seemed as though, Wesley’s life went from bad to worse and as a consequence his mind was clouded with the thought that suicide by proxy was the only answer. The fact that he thought this (and that so many people think this way in real life) made me sad. It really drove home the point that you have to work at being happy (enjoy life’s little moments). It’s the mark of a pretty great author if they can make you feel the ultimate highs and lows while reading their book.
So, as a whole not a bad book. Unfortunately I just did not enjoy reading The Poor Man’s Guide to Suicide at all. For me, reading is almost always an enjoyable experience. Not so much with this book. It was just too gritty and came across as a real life, times are hard, slap in the face type book. On a more positive note, I plan to read more from Andrew Armacost because I was a fan of his writing style. I would not recommend The Poor Man’s Guide to Suicide, unless you genuinely like reading dark noir fiction.
For more reviews, check out Reviews in a Pinch now!
Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher (Moonshine Cove Publishing) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
My Thoughts: Have you ever gone through a rough point in your life? I don’t just mean something didn’t quite fit the perfect life plan that you have. I mean it feels like everything is going wrong and your entire life feels like it’s completely out of your control. If you’ve experienced that, did suicidal thoughts seep into your mind?
The Poor Man’s Guide to Suicide addresses these thoughts in a very direct way. Just in case you’re under the impression that this will be a light, summer read, let me just kill those thoughts now (no pun intended). The Poor Man’s Guide to Suicide is the gritty and depressing story of prison guard Wesley Weimer. Wesley is not a character that is easily relatable (unless you’re a non-custodial father).
The writing is pretty great and it’s not a wholly bad book to read. It’s just very depressing. I got to the end and couldn’t even muster my usual enthusiasm when finishing a new book. It’s written from a first-person point of view, which we all know can be irritating if it’s not done right. This one was done right, but not worth raving about (mainly due to the subject matter).
Wesley’s job as a prison guard wasn’t the happiest thing to read about, but interesting nonetheless. In fact, a few of the descriptions for why inmates were in jail to begin with, were so disturbing that I almost stopped reading. I also realized that I will never be able to rid my brain of the images these descriptions conjured without a lobotomy (which is not something I want).
It seemed as though, Wesley’s life went from bad to worse and as a consequence his mind was clouded with the thought that suicide by proxy was the only answer. The fact that he thought this (and that so many people think this way in real life) made me sad. It really drove home the point that you have to work at being happy (enjoy life’s little moments). It’s the mark of a pretty great author if they can make you feel the ultimate highs and lows while reading their book.
So, as a whole not a bad book. Unfortunately I just did not enjoy reading The Poor Man’s Guide to Suicide at all. For me, reading is almost always an enjoyable experience. Not so much with this book. It was just too gritty and came across as a real life, times are hard, slap in the face type book. On a more positive note, I plan to read more from Andrew Armacost because I was a fan of his writing style. I would not recommend The Poor Man’s Guide to Suicide, unless you genuinely like reading dark noir fiction.
For more reviews, check out Reviews in a Pinch now!
April 20, 2014
A big thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for granting me this copy in exchange for an honest review.
A touching tale about a man who lost the will to live, but gradually grained the will again. Wesley is a depressed, twice divorced prison guard with two children he barely sees. He's only just making ends meet and feels like everyone else is better off than him, so separates himself from his friends and society. And yet there is hope for the future in he most surprising of ways.
This is a very different read for me. Honestly I'm still not quite sure what to make of it. I requested it because I thought it looked like a black humour read and I was interested in something a little lighter than the thrillers I usually read. This definitely fit that bill.
The way it's written is interesting; it's very crude, with talk about porn and masturbation and drugs. It all goes into vivid details and is very blunt in it's portrayal. I'm not sure whether I enjoyed this aspect or not. Sometimes when reading what's written my eyes sort of widen in surprise, and sometimes it has me chuckling to myself because of the dark humour within. This book is definitely for adults only.
Instead of building up slowly to the big turnaround at the end, it seems that the first 2/3 of the book are depressed Wesley, complaining about anything and everything, and then suddenly everything is fine again and he's not depressed anymore and whatnot. It seems like everything just turns around with little to no explanation at all.
Despite its flaws, however, I found this book a very interesting read. It caught my attention and had me giggling to myself in quite a few places. I learnt to feel for Wesley and I believe Armacost built up the character development well. I liked that I didn't quite know what was going to happen or who was going to end up with who. It was a very unique read and I appreciate the fact that Armacost has written something that has never been done before.
There were a few grammatical errors, and some tense issues that bothered me. For example, the past tense of "drag" is not "drug", it's "dragged". These are just some minor issues, and since my copy was before it was proofread and edited I hold out hope that these grammatical errors are going to be fixed before publication. Just a few little niggling errors that I saw.
Overall, this was an interesting book and the author's voice is once I haven't ever read before; however there were some faults with the novel as previously mentioned. That is why I gave this book 3 stars overall. Armacost has potential to be a wonderful author, and I'm intrigued to see some more books from him. I believe I'll be watching closely and picking up his other works when they appear.
A very interesting take on life, and a unique voice. 3 stars.
A touching tale about a man who lost the will to live, but gradually grained the will again. Wesley is a depressed, twice divorced prison guard with two children he barely sees. He's only just making ends meet and feels like everyone else is better off than him, so separates himself from his friends and society. And yet there is hope for the future in he most surprising of ways.
This is a very different read for me. Honestly I'm still not quite sure what to make of it. I requested it because I thought it looked like a black humour read and I was interested in something a little lighter than the thrillers I usually read. This definitely fit that bill.
The way it's written is interesting; it's very crude, with talk about porn and masturbation and drugs. It all goes into vivid details and is very blunt in it's portrayal. I'm not sure whether I enjoyed this aspect or not. Sometimes when reading what's written my eyes sort of widen in surprise, and sometimes it has me chuckling to myself because of the dark humour within. This book is definitely for adults only.
Instead of building up slowly to the big turnaround at the end, it seems that the first 2/3 of the book are depressed Wesley, complaining about anything and everything, and then suddenly everything is fine again and he's not depressed anymore and whatnot. It seems like everything just turns around with little to no explanation at all.
Despite its flaws, however, I found this book a very interesting read. It caught my attention and had me giggling to myself in quite a few places. I learnt to feel for Wesley and I believe Armacost built up the character development well. I liked that I didn't quite know what was going to happen or who was going to end up with who. It was a very unique read and I appreciate the fact that Armacost has written something that has never been done before.
There were a few grammatical errors, and some tense issues that bothered me. For example, the past tense of "drag" is not "drug", it's "dragged". These are just some minor issues, and since my copy was before it was proofread and edited I hold out hope that these grammatical errors are going to be fixed before publication. Just a few little niggling errors that I saw.
Overall, this was an interesting book and the author's voice is once I haven't ever read before; however there were some faults with the novel as previously mentioned. That is why I gave this book 3 stars overall. Armacost has potential to be a wonderful author, and I'm intrigued to see some more books from him. I believe I'll be watching closely and picking up his other works when they appear.
A very interesting take on life, and a unique voice. 3 stars.
March 9, 2014
Really a 3.5 but you can't do half stars on Goodreads.
Wesley is a depressed prison guard who has lost all enthusiasm for living. A twice divorced 33-year old father of two, he sees his kids every other weekend, lives in a rotting dive, and watches all his money disappear in child support payments. Once a social, educated, cultured young man, now he feels like a loser who can only help himself by paying an inmate to kill him so that his loved ones can inherit his life insurance.
Andrew Armacost delves into the male psyche in this novel, investigating feelings of failure and hopelessness in men through the character of Wesley Weimer. It was a different read for me, perhaps because I am a woman or perhaps because I’ve never considered how a male divorcee might feel upon losing his wives and his kids to other men; how it must feel to be an outsider in a family that was once your own; how empty it leaves you to have children who are almost strangers to you and who connect more with their step dads than with their actual dad.
Wesley’s pathetic existence can make any reader’s own life seem better. We’ve all hated jobs, felt alone or unloved, been dissatisfied with our living situations, but, hopefully and unlike Wesley, not all at once. He is a man so unhappy with life and himself that he has cut himself off from everyone and everything: news, sports, entertainment, the very things that form small talk and the basis of connecting with coworkers, strangers, acquaintances. Wesley has become so isolated that he can’t even hold a conversation with the people in his life. It’s a form of social suicide when one can’t “swim in the common soup, to speak the commercial language of modern society. These things are important. The only alternative is loneliness, isolation, despair.”
I enjoyed the narration and the voice Aramcost created with this character. It felt very honest. The despair and utter lack of hope rang true. I did think the story bogged down a bit in the middle. A bit too much digression, too much of a comparison between humans and cattle sent to slaughter, and I felt the end wrapped up very quickly, a reflection on the past that left some things – not so much unresolved, but with a feeling of being skimmed over or too lightly touched on. Overall, however, I liked the story and the character. And one quote that really stuck out to me and that I think anyone can relate to:
“Repetition erodes life, chips away at it until hardly anything is left because one day or week is interchangeable with any other, as if the days were coming off the assembly line ready made, identical, and therefore pointless.”
Check out this review and others at http://ggddizzy07.wordpress.com
Wesley is a depressed prison guard who has lost all enthusiasm for living. A twice divorced 33-year old father of two, he sees his kids every other weekend, lives in a rotting dive, and watches all his money disappear in child support payments. Once a social, educated, cultured young man, now he feels like a loser who can only help himself by paying an inmate to kill him so that his loved ones can inherit his life insurance.
Andrew Armacost delves into the male psyche in this novel, investigating feelings of failure and hopelessness in men through the character of Wesley Weimer. It was a different read for me, perhaps because I am a woman or perhaps because I’ve never considered how a male divorcee might feel upon losing his wives and his kids to other men; how it must feel to be an outsider in a family that was once your own; how empty it leaves you to have children who are almost strangers to you and who connect more with their step dads than with their actual dad.
Wesley’s pathetic existence can make any reader’s own life seem better. We’ve all hated jobs, felt alone or unloved, been dissatisfied with our living situations, but, hopefully and unlike Wesley, not all at once. He is a man so unhappy with life and himself that he has cut himself off from everyone and everything: news, sports, entertainment, the very things that form small talk and the basis of connecting with coworkers, strangers, acquaintances. Wesley has become so isolated that he can’t even hold a conversation with the people in his life. It’s a form of social suicide when one can’t “swim in the common soup, to speak the commercial language of modern society. These things are important. The only alternative is loneliness, isolation, despair.”
I enjoyed the narration and the voice Aramcost created with this character. It felt very honest. The despair and utter lack of hope rang true. I did think the story bogged down a bit in the middle. A bit too much digression, too much of a comparison between humans and cattle sent to slaughter, and I felt the end wrapped up very quickly, a reflection on the past that left some things – not so much unresolved, but with a feeling of being skimmed over or too lightly touched on. Overall, however, I liked the story and the character. And one quote that really stuck out to me and that I think anyone can relate to:
“Repetition erodes life, chips away at it until hardly anything is left because one day or week is interchangeable with any other, as if the days were coming off the assembly line ready made, identical, and therefore pointless.”
Check out this review and others at http://ggddizzy07.wordpress.com
May 2, 2014
A review book obtained through Netgalley THE POOR MAN'S GUIDE TO SUICIDE was one of those "why not" book choices. The overview describes it as "a powerful, slashing, terrifying, hilarious, explosive, sarcastic, misanthropic and lyrical black comedy about losing your will to live — and possibly getting it back."
Most of which is going to be very subjective based on the reader's own experience as THE POOR MAN'S GUIDE TO SUICIDE is an interesting beast.
Laced with irony and heavy on the sarcasm, the tone of this book needs the reader to get to grips with those aspects right up front. Without that "concept" in your head, or if you're the sort of reader that can't abide that idea, then Wesley Weimer is going to be a tricky undertaking. Told in the first person, without the sarcasm prism, his viewpoint is very self-indulgent and involved, very judgemental, and frequently just plain tacky and offputting. Even with the sarcasm prism firmly in place there are aspects of the inside of this bloke's head that make you want to head straight for a shower... or for your shotgun.
Having said that, there's something that seems fundamentally truthful about this portrayal. Weimer is a man in deep depression, and because of that everybody else is fat, stupid, ugly, unnecessary or at fault. Except for when it's all his fault. Either way, it's not a pleasant concept by any means but somehow it felt honest. Cruel. Judgemental. Misanthropic. Inconsistent. Confrontational. Nasty. And honest.
Partially because of this device and the amount of time you spend deep inside the head of somebody who really does need help, there are points where the story bogs down. You can't avoid the feeling that somebody as self-indulgent as Weimer doesn't really need quite this much airtime. At points, maybe when the sly sense of humour abated a bit, this reader found herself contemplating the shower or gun a little more firmly.
And therein probably lies the other challenge with this book - readers are probably going to find this voice funny, enlightening and revealing, or profoundly annoying and deeply disturbing. Doubt there's going to be a lot of middle ground. Which always makes books like THE POOR MAN'S GUIDE TO SUICIDE an interesting prospect. Albeit one that could lead to a bit of table thumping during discussion.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
Most of which is going to be very subjective based on the reader's own experience as THE POOR MAN'S GUIDE TO SUICIDE is an interesting beast.
Laced with irony and heavy on the sarcasm, the tone of this book needs the reader to get to grips with those aspects right up front. Without that "concept" in your head, or if you're the sort of reader that can't abide that idea, then Wesley Weimer is going to be a tricky undertaking. Told in the first person, without the sarcasm prism, his viewpoint is very self-indulgent and involved, very judgemental, and frequently just plain tacky and offputting. Even with the sarcasm prism firmly in place there are aspects of the inside of this bloke's head that make you want to head straight for a shower... or for your shotgun.
Having said that, there's something that seems fundamentally truthful about this portrayal. Weimer is a man in deep depression, and because of that everybody else is fat, stupid, ugly, unnecessary or at fault. Except for when it's all his fault. Either way, it's not a pleasant concept by any means but somehow it felt honest. Cruel. Judgemental. Misanthropic. Inconsistent. Confrontational. Nasty. And honest.
Partially because of this device and the amount of time you spend deep inside the head of somebody who really does need help, there are points where the story bogs down. You can't avoid the feeling that somebody as self-indulgent as Weimer doesn't really need quite this much airtime. At points, maybe when the sly sense of humour abated a bit, this reader found herself contemplating the shower or gun a little more firmly.
And therein probably lies the other challenge with this book - readers are probably going to find this voice funny, enlightening and revealing, or profoundly annoying and deeply disturbing. Doubt there's going to be a lot of middle ground. Which always makes books like THE POOR MAN'S GUIDE TO SUICIDE an interesting prospect. Albeit one that could lead to a bit of table thumping during discussion.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
March 18, 2016
Una novella scritta con una tecnica simile a quella del flusso di coscienza, nella quale un uomo, di mestiere guardia carceraria, esamina le molteplici ragioni del suo fallimento e nel frattempo parla in modo molto diretto della società ameriricana in generale e della gestione delle carceri in particolare. Il protagonista è un vero perdente, uno di quelli che passano la vita da una parte a dolersi dei propri errori e dall'altra e cercare soggetti su cui scaricare le proprie responsabilità, e per questo, in un qualche modo, si prova simpatia per lui, per quella sua piccolezza che è anche nostra.
Tutto questo va avanti, e anche piuttosto bene, fino ai capitoli finali, quando avviene una modifica sostanziale della personalità del protagonista. Nel corso della storia è abbastanza ovvio che una svolta prima o poi ci sarà, ma la modalità scelta dall'autore è decisamente quella peggiore.
Un grazie a Moonshine Cove Publishing e a Netgalley per avermi concesso una copia gratuita in cambio di una recensione onesta.
A novel written with a technique similar to that of the stream of consciousness, in which a man, by trade a prison guard, examines the many reasons for hisfailure and meanwhile speaks in a very direct way of American society in general and the management of prisons in particular. The protagonist is a real loser, the kind of man that spends his live on one side lamenting his mistakes, and on the other looking for someone on which to discharge his responsibilities,and therefore, in some way, you feel sympathy for him for the smallness that is also yours.
All this goes on, and also pretty good, until the final chapters, when there is a substantial change in the personality of the protagonist. Throughout history it is quite obvious that a breakthrough sooner or later there will be, but the method chosen by the author is definitely the worst.
Thanks to Moonshine Cove Publishing and Netgalley for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review
Tutto questo va avanti, e anche piuttosto bene, fino ai capitoli finali, quando avviene una modifica sostanziale della personalità del protagonista. Nel corso della storia è abbastanza ovvio che una svolta prima o poi ci sarà, ma la modalità scelta dall'autore è decisamente quella peggiore.
Un grazie a Moonshine Cove Publishing e a Netgalley per avermi concesso una copia gratuita in cambio di una recensione onesta.
A novel written with a technique similar to that of the stream of consciousness, in which a man, by trade a prison guard, examines the many reasons for hisfailure and meanwhile speaks in a very direct way of American society in general and the management of prisons in particular. The protagonist is a real loser, the kind of man that spends his live on one side lamenting his mistakes, and on the other looking for someone on which to discharge his responsibilities,and therefore, in some way, you feel sympathy for him for the smallness that is also yours.
All this goes on, and also pretty good, until the final chapters, when there is a substantial change in the personality of the protagonist. Throughout history it is quite obvious that a breakthrough sooner or later there will be, but the method chosen by the author is definitely the worst.
Thanks to Moonshine Cove Publishing and Netgalley for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review
November 22, 2015
Wesley is an unhappy Indiana prison guard who lost the woman he loves and seldom see his daughter. Worse, his disastrous second marriage left his ex-wife to raise their son as a miserable, entitled troll. Child support is bleeding poor Wesley dry. Left to live on pennies in a dilapidated garage, Wes believes he has the perfect solution: a large insurance policy for his children and medically fragile mother to share, and a self-procured convict attack to end his life.
Written first-person through the eyes of Wesley, the self-effacing humor and dry wit creates an endearing character. Life is not always roses and sunshine is a theme that authors can beat to death. However, this story unravels in an informal fashion, without morphing into a didactic lesson on how we’re a product of the choices we make.
Following Wesley’s psychological journey as he navigates a web of his own making is human and realistic. By developing an intelligent character, the author accentuates satiric humor to illustrate shifting emotions without creating a self-aware caricature. Armacost didn’t take literary licence with his depiction of Wesley’s journey into depression and weaves Wes’s laconic wit across the plot. His knowledge and research on correctional institutions is impressive and plays a significant role in delineating the character’s growing desperation.
The dialogue is weak in places, such as a scene with Wes's father. Spots of overdone narrative drag the pace, and dangler flashbacks create confusion. There are a few continuity issues and typos. Some editing to chop the nonessential filler and a good round of proofreading would quicken the pace and tighten the structure.
An enjoyable story about the battle between expectation and disappointment, which I recommend. To read the interview with author Andrew Armacost, visit http://lefraser.com/andrew-armacost/
Written first-person through the eyes of Wesley, the self-effacing humor and dry wit creates an endearing character. Life is not always roses and sunshine is a theme that authors can beat to death. However, this story unravels in an informal fashion, without morphing into a didactic lesson on how we’re a product of the choices we make.
Following Wesley’s psychological journey as he navigates a web of his own making is human and realistic. By developing an intelligent character, the author accentuates satiric humor to illustrate shifting emotions without creating a self-aware caricature. Armacost didn’t take literary licence with his depiction of Wesley’s journey into depression and weaves Wes’s laconic wit across the plot. His knowledge and research on correctional institutions is impressive and plays a significant role in delineating the character’s growing desperation.
The dialogue is weak in places, such as a scene with Wes's father. Spots of overdone narrative drag the pace, and dangler flashbacks create confusion. There are a few continuity issues and typos. Some editing to chop the nonessential filler and a good round of proofreading would quicken the pace and tighten the structure.
An enjoyable story about the battle between expectation and disappointment, which I recommend. To read the interview with author Andrew Armacost, visit http://lefraser.com/andrew-armacost/
December 14, 2014
Full disclosure: I received this novel directly from the author in connection with a Shelf Awareness giveaway, but this in no way affected my review.
Wesley Weimer, a prison guard with loads of baggage (he's twice-divorced, he's a failing father of two, he's never completed his education, and he's barely making ends meet), is failing at life. As autumn moves relentlessly towards Christmas and the New Year, he is depressed and suicidal. His life is at a standstill, he doesn't think it will ever get any better, and he wants out--out of the boredom of what constitutes his life. But how to accomplish that AND still provide for his children?
Mentally he has already checked out, but breath is still flowing through his lungs so he concocts a plan to commit suicide...by having a prison inmate kill him. Not a stretch for a prison guard who may have angered a "guest" of the facility to be killed in the line of duty, huh?
Using deprecating humor and sarcasm at himself and others, Wesley is a character that is both pathetic and (at times) decent. It is written from Wesley's perspective so the reader knows exactly what he is thinking and doing. Sometimes he is not-so-nice and downright disgusting; other times there is some real humanity seen.
Fair warning: there are quite a few typos and misused words (wrong word used) throughout. Is it because the man (Wesley), while obviously intelligent, uses the wrong word and messes up OR is it because an extra set of eyes was needed and would have been helpful when editing and proofing of the manuscript? This reader would like to think it was the former, but suspect it was the latter.
Wesley Weimer, a prison guard with loads of baggage (he's twice-divorced, he's a failing father of two, he's never completed his education, and he's barely making ends meet), is failing at life. As autumn moves relentlessly towards Christmas and the New Year, he is depressed and suicidal. His life is at a standstill, he doesn't think it will ever get any better, and he wants out--out of the boredom of what constitutes his life. But how to accomplish that AND still provide for his children?
Mentally he has already checked out, but breath is still flowing through his lungs so he concocts a plan to commit suicide...by having a prison inmate kill him. Not a stretch for a prison guard who may have angered a "guest" of the facility to be killed in the line of duty, huh?
Using deprecating humor and sarcasm at himself and others, Wesley is a character that is both pathetic and (at times) decent. It is written from Wesley's perspective so the reader knows exactly what he is thinking and doing. Sometimes he is not-so-nice and downright disgusting; other times there is some real humanity seen.
Fair warning: there are quite a few typos and misused words (wrong word used) throughout. Is it because the man (Wesley), while obviously intelligent, uses the wrong word and messes up OR is it because an extra set of eyes was needed and would have been helpful when editing and proofing of the manuscript? This reader would like to think it was the former, but suspect it was the latter.
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