"Wonder Boys," by Michael Chabon

Novel, 1995

A cracking paced novel involving grown-up academics behaving appallingly, with some very amusing set pieces and dialogue, which build and build, generating mayhem and anarchy and involving more and more characters. The trouble I find with the book is that although this pace is wonderfully sustained, and although there are moments when some of his characters threaten to have an epiphany - not least Grady Tripp, first person narrator and main protagonist - they don't. The book rather splutters to an end often tripping over itself, one last time. Really entertaining, though a little unsatisfying.