Model Behavior: A Novel by Jay McInerney (English) Paperback Book

Description: Model Behavior by Jay McInerney "A Great Gatsby for the end of the century." — "The Baltimore SunJay McInerney's first novel, Bright Lights, Big City, helped bring about a revolution in contemporary fiction in trade paperback. But more importantly, its publication brought us a major writer of great literary talent and incisive perception.In his latest novel, Model Behavior, McInerney offers us the portrait of a doubting devotee of the city where vocation, career, and ambition (which only occassionally coincide) run head-on with friendship and love—or merely desire. We see Conor McKnight's well-earned ennui fast becoming anxiety as he tries to protect himself from the harrowing fate that unfolds before his bleary eyes. McInerney is at the peak of his craft in what is sure to become a classic at the end of the century.This edition contains only the novel Model Behavior, and not the additional seven stories which were published in the original hardcover. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description "A Great Gatsby for the end of the century." — "The Baltimore Sun"Jay McInerney's first novel, Bright Lights, Big City, helped bring about a revolution in contemporary fiction in trade paperback. But more importantly, its publication brought us a major writer of great literary talent and incisive perception.In his latest novel, Model Behavior, McInerney offers us the portrait of a doubting devotee of the city where vocation, career, and ambition (which only occassionally coincide) run head-on with friendship and love—or merely desire. We see Conor McKnight's well-earned ennui fast becoming anxiety as he tries to protect himself from the harrowing fate that unfolds before his bleary eyes. McInerney is at the peak of his craft in what is sure to become a classic at the end of the century.This edition contains only the novel Model Behavior, and not the additional seven stories which were published in the original hardcover. Author Biography Jay McInerney is the author of seven novels including "Bright Lights, Big City" and "Brightness Falls," He has also published a collection of short stories, "How it Ended," and two books on wine. He is a regular contributor to "New York Magazine," the "Guardian Weekly," and "Corriere della Serra," He lives in New York City and Water Mill, New York. Review Quote "Smart, funny, sexy, and well observed." --Esquire "Swift and amusing. . . . An astute social observer of the cruelties of modern New York, [McInerney] is also capable of great tenderness."--The Boston Globe "The careful observation of that downward spiral . . . [is] brightened by McInerneys facility with the bon mot, and his fondness for skewering the pretensions of the nouveau hip." --The Miami Herald "Very funny, and full of the rakish, old-fashioned literary elegance that McInerney always manages to mix into the slangy idioms of his characters." --The New York Review of Books Excerpt from Book MODEL COUPLE When Philomena looks in the mirror she sees a creature fat and unattractive. This despite the fact that she is a woman whose photographic image is expensively employed to arouse desire in conjunction with certain consumer goods. Or rather, because of that fact. Toxic body consciousness being the black lung of her profession. Dressing for the party, she screams that shes bloated and has nothing to wear. Im clutching a preparty martini when she makes this declaration. "You look terrific," I say. She seizes my glass and hurls it at the mirror, shattering both. Its all right, really. I drink too much anyway. THE PARTY The name of the party is the Party You Have Been to Six Hundred Times Already. Everybody is here. "All your friends," Philomena states in what can only be described as a citric tone. It seems to me that they are her friends, that she is the reason we grace this fabulous gala, which takes place in the Waiting Room of Grand Central, presumably evicting dozens of homeless people for the night. Were supposedly on hand for the benefit of a disease, but we were comped, as was everyone else we know. "Im sick of all this pointless glamour," my glamorous girlfriend says. "I want the simple life." This has become a theme. Weariness with metropolitan life in all its colonoscopic intricacy. I wonder if this ennui is somehow related to that other unstated domestic theme: sex, infrequency thereof. We are accosted by Belinda, the popular transvestite, whom I am nearly certain is a friend of my girlfriends, as opposed to one of my very own. I cant exactly remember if I know him from the gossip columns or if I know him personally, from events like these. Belinda is with an actual, ageless woman with striking dark eyebrows and buzzcut white hair, a woman who is always here at the party and whom I always sort of recognize. One of those women with three names: Hi Howareyou Goodtoseeyou. All the women lately have either three names or just one. Even the impersonators. "Oh God, hide me," says the woman whose name I always forget, "theres Tommy Kroger, I had a bad date with him about five thousand years ago." "Did you sleep with him?" Philomena asks, raising one of her perfectly defined eyebrows, which looks like a crow in flight in the far distance of a painting by van Gogh. "God, who can remember?" "If you cant, then you did," says Belinda. "Thats the rule." Ah, so thats the rule. "Hello, darlings." Who could it be but Delia McFaggen, the famous designer, streaking toward Belinda, blowing kisses all over everyone. I retreat, slaloming through the thick crowd to find beverages, the first of many trips. A FRIENDLY FACE At the bar I encounter Jeremy Green, an unlikely and conspicuous figure at this venue, his golden locks falling superabundantly across the square shoulders of his rented tux--which juxtaposition suggests a flock of begowned angels camped atop the Seagram Building. He is an actual friend, my best friend, in fact, though he ignores my repeated greetings. Not until I pour vodka on his shirt does he deign to acknowledge my existence. "Fuck off." "Excuse me. Arent you Jeremy Green, the famous short story writer?" "Thats an oxymoron. Same category as living poet, French rock star, German cuisine." "How about Chekhov?" "Dead." Jeremy pronounces this verdict with a po Details ISBN0679749535 Author Jay McInerney Short Title MODEL BEHAVIOR Pages 192 Language English ISBN-10 0679749535 ISBN-13 9780679749530 Media Book Format Paperback DEWEY FIC Year 2000 Publication Date 2000-03-31 Series Vintage Contemporaries (Paperback) Publisher Vintage Imprint Vintage DOI 10.1604/9780679749530 Audience General/Trade Subtitle A Novel We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:8322228;

Price: 45.41 AUD

Location: Melbourne

End Time: 2024-11-25T12:25:44.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 AUD