March Book Club: "Buffalo Lockjaw" by Greg Ames

I am excited to announce the March book club selection: Buffalo Lockjaw, by Greg Ames. This is a bit of a departure for the EDIWTB book club, as Buffalo Lockjaw is a brand-new book from a first-time novelist, so I don't have many reviews to draw on. I thought it might be fun to try a totally new book - and one from a male author - for the book club this month. It is not due out until April, so we would be reading advance copies.

Here's a description from the publisher, Hyperion:

Ames' debut novel, Buffalo Lockjaw, is the story of a struggling, quarter-life-crisis writer in Brooklyn who returns home to Buffalo, NY -- a town frozen in cold and in the past -- to celebrate Thanksgiving. His mother is in a nursing home, suffering from Alzheimer's, and James and his family struggle with how best to care for her. His mother isn't the only character who is ill -- the town of Buffalo has been dying for decades, and with reconnecting eyes, James explores the offbeat artistic community, the local dives, and old high school buddies who never seemed to move on or move up. Darkly comedic, touching, and well-written, Buffalo Lockjaw is a gem of a story that will resonate with everyone who has ever had to grow up.

I was reminded of Jonathan Tropper when I read this description, though others have compared Ames to Chuck Klosterman or Jay McInerney. 

Hyperion has generously agreed to send copies of Buffalo Lockjaw to EDIWTB readers who are interested in particupaing in the book club. Books will likely go out around the end of February, with the book club being held here on the blog around the third week of March.

To participate, please send an email with your mailing address to [email protected].

Thank you, Hyperion, for providing copies of the book!

UPDATE: We have reached our limit of books from Hyperion, so I am unfortunately no longer taking new names for the book club. 2/16/09

Comments

[Kathy]

That sounds good, but I've got too much on my plate in March.

[Ti]

I'd really like to but I have a lot to review for March and can't guarantee getting to this one.

I will "tune" in so to speak to hear what everyone says about it though.

[gwendolyn b.]

I'm interested -- I sent you an email with my mailing info. Thank you to you and Hyperion!

[Susan]

Hi Gayle, Please include me.

[Susan]

Gayle I don't know why but I am unable to email it bounces back. I would like to join the book club's discussion in March. Would you email me with a blank and hopefully I can send you my information that way.

Thank you,
Susan

[Gayle]

Susan - I emailed you, and I think I also have your email address from the last one.

Gwendolyn - got your email.

[Len]

I'm bummed to have missed the book club this time, but I'm putting this one on the TBR list. Now if I could just start working through that list instead of reading things that aren't on it...