There are several novels based on ex-pats living in Latin America and this is one of the best I’ve read. The main character, Harry Christmas, embodies the very worst features of those of us from the US or Europe who live south of the Rio Grande, and he flaunts them all. We move from being fascinated by his horrendous but often funny behaviour, towards developing an unavoidable sympathy with him as we find out something of his past. Less convincing is ex-partner’s stepson who is determined to track him down to exact vengeance for Christmas’s treatment of his stepmother. The various scenes of violence jar with the rest of book: one can’t help feeling the same effect could have been achieved in another way.I haven’t yet visited Venezuela but the country is treated sympathetically in a book whose author clearly grew to know it pretty well. He finds ways of crediting the achievements of its erstwhile president Hugo Chávez without going over the top.And in the end, Harry Christmas’s immersion in the life of an obscure maritime village in Venezuela redeems him, as he falls in love with the wonderful, chubby Lola, who seems destined to replace his lost wife, Emily. There is a satisfying compulsion to finish reading to find out if Christmas manages to find lasting love, or not.We can now look forward to further novels from this new imprint, Inside the Dog Press. Why that name? – as Groucho Marx said: “Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” Absolutely nothing about this book is ordinary. When it came through the letter box I spent 20 mins studying the amazing cover art alone!Harry Christmas is a charismatic con artist. He has duped his ex wife and made of 26,000 pounds and needs an escape plan. He figures Caracas will be a safe bet. All the while poor Harry has to contend with "the rot" consuming everything with class in this world. The rot includes such things as the internet, hippies and French people. Even the sound of the langu
What do You think about A Bright Moon For Fools (2013)?
This is a brilliant book, I was hooked straight away. I would definitely recommend it!
—carlyceayfug
Utterly brilliant. Hilarious and tragic, edge-of-your-seat, unputdownable. Loved it!
—mwillow
did laugh at loud at points but felt disappointed by the ending.
—Carrie
