The Average American Marriage (2013) - Plot & Excerpts
THE AVERAGE AMERICAN MARRIAGE is the follow up to Chad Kultgen's THE AVERAGE AMERICAN MALE. You need not have read the first to read this but you really should, because where this is a good book, the first is a friggin great book.As you can tell I did not find myself as smitten with the new book. I ask myself why? Could it be that after reading my tbird Kultgen book I've become somewhat jaded to his over-the-top honest approach to relationships? Could it be that this book wad more brains and less brash? Or could it be that this one was a tadmore predictable where the others were not? Dare I quip that I felt this book was just a little too average?I think its a little bit of all of those. This is a case where, for me, the author has set the bar so high for himself that eventually he will not preform to his usual expectations. That being said, this is still a book that delivers the truth of the male perspective in spades. Sometimes I want tell the story to shut up for letting out all those dark male points of view. At the same timeI revel in the gusto, the honesty and the accuracy of the sometimes hum drum life of married people.There may be lessons to learn here. A cautionary tale perhaps. But don't live your life acording to or against this book. Just read it and enjoy the words of a great writer who basks in simplicity of prose.3.5 stars (4 possibly if it settles well in my psyche after some time) This book is not for everyone. This book is not for most people. This book is for you if you want to read an averagely-written, entirely-obscene novel with terrible character development about the actions and thoughts of a married-with-kids asshole (really, he's a complete douchecanoe) in which every page is him having sex, thinking about sex, getting in trouble because of sex, etc. Every page. You might be thinking you don't want to do that, which is a completely reasonable attitude, but in its defense the book can be quite funny and the character shows just enough humanity (barely) to make you have a bit of hope for him. Also, the typical male mindset on display here is of course exaggerated but as with all great exaggerations it bursts forth from a place of truth, and this makes in my view for a somewhat compelling and squirming read.But many people would not find these features redeeming. These people include the reviewer for Publishers Weekly, who wrote, "Derivative, dull, and misogynistic, this is not a satire of modern life; it is a sad book written by a cynical man." Also, the reviewer for Kirkus: "Even if Kultgen intends this as satire, it’s hard to believe anyone can develop an interest in such a narcissistic, unsympathetic and downright odious narrator—one who makes Shallow Hal look like Heathcliff." Now that's a bit unfair, but still, dear reader, you were warned.
What do You think about The Average American Marriage (2013)?
Okay, three of this guy's books in one week should just about do it.
—yashika
