SIGNAGE & WRAPS • DESIGN & INSTALLATION
TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | SEPT 2019 13
BOOK
REVIEW
By Nell Klein
MAN OF THE YEAR
By Caroline Louise Walker
It seems that there are so many books out right now with female titles -
Girl on the Train, Woman in the Window, Woman in Cabin 10, just to name a
few. Since I have been accused in the past of only reviewing “chick books,”
when I saw Man of the Year I knew I had to review it. It’s not about war or
cowboys and Indians or sports or whatever interests men, but I thought that
finally, a book that the male readers out there could relate to! Well, maybe,
maybe not. You need to be the judge.
The story begins at a grand gala honoring Sag Harbor’s Man of the
Year, Dr. Robert Hart. He has a thriving medical practice, a beautiful wife, a
beautiful home, a beautiful boat parked at the local marina, his whole life
is, well, beautiful. When Jonah, his teenage son from his previous marriage,
comes to live with him and Elizabeth, his second wife, everything seems
ideal.
But then Nick, Jonah’s best friend and roommate from college, comes to
visit. Although Nick has visited with Jonah many times in the past, this visit
seems different, and not in a good way. Robert thinks that Nick is getting
way too chummy with Elizabeth and he is not thrilled when she invites Nick
to spend the summer in their guesthouse. Robert’s jealousy and paranoia
take over and he decides to take matters into his own hands and force Nick
out. That’s when one seemingly harmless lie after another begin to mount
up and Robert’s life becomes a desperate downward spiral destroying the
lives that stand in his way.
When something tragic happens, all the truths begin to emerge about his
family and all Robert can think to do is try and cover his ass the best way
he can. Lies, lies and more lies! How is he going to get out of this mess
before his beautiful life is destroyed forever? Robert’s paranoia makes him
see things that aren’t as they seem and it’s amazing how, through his
jealously, his thinking can cause such deadly consequences.
Caroline Louise Walker, the author, does a wonderful job of manipulating
the reader’s perceptions of the situation right up to the very end. Just when
you think you have one character figured out, they change before your very
eyes! None of the characters are particularly likeable though. Robert is a
stuck-up SOB, Elizabeth is a total airhead, Jonah is a whiny wimp, Nick is
just too nice to be real, and their friends are snobs and busybodies. Sounds
terrible, but if you can get past the characters shortcomings, then this is a
really great book. There’s lots of suspense and surprises and I wouldn’t be
surprised if it was made into a movie.
This is Caroline Louise Walker’s debut novel and it’s a doozie. I give it
four stars because it’s good (but not great) but I promise you that once you
start reading you won’t want to put it down.
Until next time, pray for cool weather and read a book. If it’s a good
read, pass it on!
GRAPHICS 912-655-2791