08 September 2015

Today's Read: The Fall of Princes by Robert Goolrick

The Fall of Princes by Robert GoolrickRemember riding high in the wild money-making days of the 1980s? The era was a paradise for Wall Street hot shots, who indulged in everything their inflated salaries could buy. Oh how life has changed for our protagonist, Rooney, in the decades since the bubble burst.

When you strike a match, it burns brighter in the first nanosecond than it will ever burn again. That first incandescence. That instantaneous and brilliant flash. 1980 was the year, and I was the match, and that was the year I struck into blinding flame.
The Fall of Princes by Robert Goolrick (Algonquin, 2015, p. 1)

Quick Facts
  • Setting: New York City & the world; 1980s & beyond
  • Circumstances: A humbled working stiff recalls his former self as a top dog in the fast-paced, drug-fueled, money-filled world of the 1980s.
  • Characters: Rooney in young adulthood as a major player in a New York investment firm and in middle age, maybe wiser and certainly poorer; friends, family, lovers, and colleagues in both time periods
  • Genre: literary fiction; fictionalized autobiography
  • Themes: greed, loss, redemption, excesses, marriage, regret
  • Discussion points: women's status in 1980s, greed, AIDS, irresponsibility, loss of wealth, marriage, adjusting to changing circumstances
  • Why I want to read this: I absolutely loved Goolrick's earlier novels and I have every hope for The Fall of Princes. Goolrick's sympathetic characters and poetic writing create an unforgettable atmosphere, pulling me into whatever story he has to tell.
  • Something to know: Goolrick himself was an ad man who lost it all in the crash and had to cope with new realities, including rehab.

25 comments:

Sarah (Sarah's Book Shelves) 9/8/15, 6:42 AM  

I just posted my review of this one today! I love a good 80's debauchery story and this one was really different than I expected, but I liked that about it! It was Rooney looking back on his bad behavior after his fall, which gave the whole book a sad tone.

Nadene @Ttly Addicted 2 Reading 9/8/15, 7:32 AM  

Thanks for sharing. Here is mine
http://totallyaddictedtoreading.blogspot.com/2015/09/teaser-tuesday-26.html

Yvonne 9/8/15, 7:47 AM  

This one sounds interesting.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea 9/8/15, 7:53 AM  

This one is high on my TBR list. Sounds excellent to me.

bermudaonion 9/8/15, 8:40 AM  

Oh yeah, this sounds really good!

Catherine @ Book Club Librarian 9/8/15, 8:53 AM  

I like this author and look forward to reading this one.

sherry fundin 9/8/15, 8:54 AM  

Such a true tease. Sounds like a good read.
sherry @ fundinmental My TT

Dual Reads 9/8/15, 8:54 AM  

I love that intro, so interesting.
http://dualreads.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/tuesday-intros-and-teaser-tuesdays_8.html

Nise' 9/8/15, 9:50 AM  

I remember those days and know a couple of people that this book could be about. Look forward to your thoughts.

Laurel-Rain Snow 9/8/15, 10:39 AM  

Ah, yes, after the laid-back seventies, the 80s felt like the bubbles in champagne. Glitzy happenings and the feeling that anything was possible. Until the bubbles burst.

Thanks for sharing and piquing my curiosity...and for visiting my blog.

JoAnn 9/8/15, 11:51 AM  

Love the time/place and have been wanting to give this author a try... on to the wish list it goes!

Sandra Nachlinger 9/8/15, 12:43 PM  

This sounds like one of those rare books that both my husband and I would enjoy. I have not heard of this author, but I'll be adding his books to my TBR list.
Thank you for leaving a comment on my blog today.
My Tuesday post features Shadow of the Hawk.

Monica's Bookish Life 9/8/15, 1:14 PM  

I love the intro! I'd keep reading.

Literary Feline 9/8/15, 1:33 PM  

I admit I hadn't given this book much thought and likely would have dismissed it, but I do like the intro quite a bit! And the tidbits you shared about the book has me curious.

Unknown 9/8/15, 3:23 PM  

I'm really interested in this one, Beth; thanks so much for sharing it with us!

Margot 9/8/15, 7:14 PM  

I think I'd like to read this one. I haven't read anything set in the 80s in a long time. I like the match analogy in the first paragraph. Sounds like it might be written well.

Cleopatra Loves Books 9/9/15, 12:01 AM  

The intro held my attention even though this isn't a book I'd normally have picked up - love the extra pieces of information you provided too.

(Diane) bookchickdi 9/10/15, 7:43 AM  

I've heard mixed reviews for this one, I'll be interested to hear your thoughts.

Daryl 9/10/15, 7:45 AM  

i didn't love The Reliable Wife .. i am not sure i want to spend the $$ to find out i feel the same about this .. i will wait til you're done

Unknown 9/10/15, 11:36 AM  

I loved Robert Goolrick's previous two novels. I'm so glad he has a new one out!

Unknown 9/10/15, 11:36 AM  

I loved Robert Goolrick's previous two novels. I'm so glad he has a new one out!

Unknown 9/10/15, 11:36 AM  

I loved Robert Goolrick's previous two novels. I'm so glad he has a new one out!

Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms 9/12/15, 12:15 PM  

This sounds really interesting, Beth! Some non-fiction appeals more to me than others...

Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews

Lisa 9/27/15, 12:26 PM  

Dark but definitely interesting. Of course, it's dark!

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