Pre-Owned The Ask (Hardcover) by Sam Lipsyte

from kishields

Enjoyable in parts, some very clever prose, but too much free association that sometimes can leave the reader scrambling behind. Some quite accurate and depressing observations on the state of modern professional life and the inadequacy of a college education in preparation for it. But too fantas...

from randalrh

I read a review prior to buying this book which claimed it was hilariously funny. It's clever, it's even brilliant in places, but it's not funny unless you find hilarity in the embarrassing failures of TV reality show contestants. Which I guess a lot of people do. There's no one in this book to l...

from pivic

A dark, modern comedy with ruined-relationship ends strewn through old friendships and fiendish colleagues, Milo Burke goes through life in a seemingly endless game where he's suddenly rehired at his old job, specifically to successfully lure a big donation from an old friend. Lipsyte's second mo...

from gkyoungen

Cynical, sarcastic and snarky. I almost gave it up after 30 pages, but kept reading and am glad I did. It's a modern day Lucky Jim, only set in the Development Office of a mediocre university. There's no sympathizing with any of the characters here, but eventually you understand their motivations.

from kvrfan

"The Ask" is about a jaded development officer as a third-tier college who is invited to make an "ask" (i.e. solicit a large charitable contribution) from an old college friend who has since become quite wealthy. As it turns out, the friend has a big "ask" to make of the development officer, too....