My Year as Clown
A Novel
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4.2 • 12 Ratings
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- $7.99
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
With My Year as a Clown, Williams introduces us to the Philadelphia Eagles-obsessed Chuck Morgan, reeling after being blindsided by the abrupt collapse of his 20-year marriage. Morgan is a new kind of male hero, imperfect and uncertain, who—like his favorite football team—is fumbling forward into uncertainty. The 2013 Silver Medal Winner for Popular Fiction from the Independent Publisher Book Awards.
Initially, Chuck worries he’ll never have a relationship again, that he could stand in the lobby of a brothel with a hundred dollar bill plastered to his forehead and still not get lucky. But as his emotionally raw, 365-day odyssey unfolds, Chuck gradually relearns to live on his own, navigating the minefield of issues faced by the suddenly single—new routines, awkward dates, and even more awkward sex.
Clown will attract fans of the new breed of novelists that includes Nick Hornby, Jonathan Tropper and Tom Perrotta. Like others in that distinguished group, Robert Steven Williams delivers a painfully honest glimpses into the modern male psyche while writing about both sexes with equal ease and grace in a way that’s both hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time.
"Williams has written a terrific novel. His book pulls back the curtain on male masculinity--showing us what a guy really goes through when dealing with the difficult mess of his beloved spouse's infidelity and the ensuing divorce. Williams' characters give us the real-deal: a gut wrenching and often humorous look, showing us the everyday horrors of what it's like to start all over again as one approaches middle age."
- Suzan-Lori Parks, winner Pulitzer Prize for Drama
"Robert Steven Williams has written a novel of tremendous honesty, humor, and insight. His story of Chuck Morgan, cast adrift on the rocky shoals of dating when his wife of twenty years suddenly leaves him, does for men what Bridget Jones's Diary did for women."
- Joy Johannessen, editor for Alice Sebold, Amy Bloom, Michael Cunningham and My Year as a Clown
"When we first meet Chuck Morgan, he's broken, twisted and confused. And that's what makes him so interesting. Like other intriguing literary heroes, he is at his best after life has knocked him to the ground, forcing him to find a new way to be strong again; damaged maybe, but more confident this time, with a kinder, more open heart."
- Jimmie Dale Gilmore, The Flatlanders
Customer Reviews
My Year As A Clown
It took a while before I warmed up to the unlikely hero Chuck in Robert Williams' 'My Year As A Clown' but somewhere along the way I began to cheer for him from the sideline.
Williams has written an enjoyable, quick paced, witty narrative that gives us all a chance to see a little bit of our own stories. Chuck's highs and lows, strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures will echo with us all if we are honest with ourselves. But it is his struggle with loyalty that is ultimately most endearing.
By the end of this 'year' in Chuck's life I was sure the worst was over and congratulating him for it. But the Eagles? That will take a sequel, or more.
Engaging
I enjoyed this book from start to finish. Great characters, real laughs and sensitivity on the subject of post divorce life from the view point of a 40 something man, the protagonist Chuck Morgan. Throw in some great sports metaphors, life in the suburbs and of course...the pot smoking rabbi and you have an engaging ,throughly entertaining read.
An honest portrayal of heartbreak and healing
I laughed a lot and at the same time really felt Chuck’s pain as he lost control after his wife’s betrayal. I felt like it was happening to me and I couldn’t put this book down. I enjoyed the journey as Chuck redefined himself and found his footing as a single man in his 40’s. The cast of characters, including a pot smoking rabbi, an overprotective mother and a sexy yoga instructor, was engaging. My Year as a Clown is fast-paced and the diary-like structure of tracking the days worked very well. I heartily recommend this book.