Beth Fish Reads: Today's Read: Paradime by Alan Glynn

19 July 2016

Today's Read: Paradime by Alan Glynn

Say you're down on your luck, your relationship is crumbling, and you're suffering from PTSD thanks to your military service. What woud you do if you met your doppelganger, who just happens to be one of the rich and famous?

There's no app for this.

Though I seem to have one for nearly everything else. I can track my movements over the course of a day, every footstep, every heartbeat. I can monitor my stress levels, boost productivity, enhance cognition.

But relieve anxiety? Eliminate dread? Not a chance.

—Paradime by Alan Glynn (Picador, 2016, p. 3)

Quick Facts

Setting: New York City; in the near future (?)
Circumstances: Danny Lynch has returned home from Afghanistan, traumatized by what he's seen. While working as a prep cook in a Manhattan restaurant, he notices Teddy Trager, who looks enough like Danny to be his twin. As Danny becomes obsessed with the other man, he begins to take on his mannerisms, eventually fooling people into believing he's Teddy. Can an ordinary guy pass for a world-famous technology genus?
Genre: reviewers have called this novel everything from dark comedy to conspiracy theory, futuristic Gothic, and psychological thriller
Characters: Danny Lynch, a veteran with PTSD; Kate, his girlfriend; Teddy Trager, a billionaire techy; and (according to reviews) a handful of real people.
Why I might read it: A review in Publishers Weekly mentioned that the novel was a take on The Prince and the Pauper, but I'm under the impression that only one of the men is actually playing the game. From the Kirkus review, I'm expecting a fast-paced story with a few twists. Something about the premise has grabbed my attention, although I'm still on the fence.

17 comments:

Mia P. Manansala, 7/19/16, 6:58 AM: Hmm, it almost feels like there's shades of The Talented Mr. Ripley. That small bit feels more ominous than humorous.
Kathy Reads Fiction, 7/19/16, 7:04 AM: Hmmm. I didn't think this book would appeal to me, but it does. There's something exciting about that teaser and the quick facts you listed. I would definitely want to see where this one goes.
(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea, 7/19/16, 7:11 AM: I like the intro and actually have a copy for this one so I plan to try it.
Juli Rahel, 7/19/16, 8:02 AM: The premise of this one sounds really intriguing! Doppelgangers are always interesting and the contrast between these two couldn't be bigger! I think I'd have to read a little bit more before I know if the writing works for me! Thanks for sharing :) I hope you have a great week!
My Teasers
Juli @ Universe in Words
Unknown, 7/19/16, 8:23 AM: I can see this as going all kinds of bad for both of them. Got me curious.

My TT from A Whole Lotta ARCS
bermudaonion, 7/19/16, 8:47 AM: I generally don't gravitate towards books like that but I'm intrigued by the premise of this one.
Daryl, 7/19/16, 9:03 AM: hummmmmmm ... i am going to wait till after you read it ... :)
Enbrethiliel, 7/19/16, 9:07 AM: +JMJ+

The book sounds really interesting to me because I'm studying a foreign language right now, and one of my motivations is to get so good that native speakers will think I'm one of them. That is, so everyone will think I'm someone I'm not. Perhaps I should take a cue from Danny and find someone whose mannerisms and expressions to copy. She wouldn't be an actual doppelganger, but it might speed up the language learning process!

Here's my Teaser for the week!
Majanka Verstraete, 7/19/16, 9:12 AM: Sounds interesting. Not sure I'd pick it up with all the excellent books out there (so many books, so little time) but if I did, I'm pretty sure I'd enjoy it.

Here's my teaser for the week.
Kathy Martin, 7/19/16, 9:50 AM: Sounds intriguing. My teaser this week comes from Rock Wedding by Nalini Singh. Happy reading!
Catherine @ Book Club Librarian, 7/19/16, 11:40 AM: I am very intrigued, and am putting this one on my wish list.
Laurel-Rain Snow, 7/19/16, 11:48 AM: I love how this one sounds....a doppelganger. Wow! I am also a fan of psychological thrillers. Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.
Margot, 7/19/16, 12:01 PM: I like the clever, contemporary start. I'd keep reading.
Unknown, 7/19/16, 1:09 PM: This sounds interesting. There is almost a reversal duplicate of this one circulating currently about a woman who trades places with her doppelganger (can't remember the title). This one doesn't sound like one for me.
Alice Audrey, 7/19/16, 2:33 PM: Isn't that the difference between collecting data and doing?
Mine is here: http://www.aliceaudrey.com/?p=14165
Unknown, 7/19/16, 2:34 PM: This gas potential. I would definitely read on. Enjoy!
Cleopatra Loves Books, 7/19/16, 4:03 PM: I'm not normally interested in futuristic books but this one does sound interesting - I liked the opening and a bit of humour never goes amiss.