This farce reminded me of when I saw the film, “Wonder Boys” thinking it was supposed to be a serious film. My friend, a guy, said, “It was hilarious! Didn’t you get that it was a farce?!” And I didn’t, because I actually knew professors and other men just like that. In the same way, the main character in this story is supposed to be ridiculous, and yet, I’ve known them. He’s the kind of guy that thinks everything in the world exists *for* him.

On the plus side, the rest of the novel is weird and silly, and it’s a dark comedy with a lovely lilt of Ireland.