The Wishbones

Tom Perrotta knows human nature and how to write about it. All of his books are very enjoyable and easy to read.

I may be in the minority here, but I feel that this is Perrotta’s best book so far. It is hilarious, insightful, and deeply felt, and really captures that moment when one has to make that awful decision about growing up. It also truly conveys the obsessive love of music which afflicts so many of us. The characters are well drawn, and we can infer their deeper feelings through external signs (as in a good movie, which I’m surprised this hasn’t been made into). I’ve re-read it several times, and each time laugh out loud and am impressed with Perrotta’s keen observations and incisive writing.My problem with Perrotta’s later books is in taking themselves too seriously. I’ve read them all, and they’re all quite good, but don’t have the light touch that Perrotta excels at. It’s as if he faced that same dilemma that Raymond Chandler did - how to taken as a serious artist while writing in a narrowly defined genre (in Chandler’s case, detective fiction). By sticking with his genre, Chandler demonstrated that he was as good a writer as anyone in a more “serious” field; his best novels are now recognized as masterpieces.At some level, I wish that Perrotta had stayed in New Jersey and and continued to develop his niche to classic dimensions.At any rate, you can’t go wrong by reading this great book.

I am a little bit torn in my rating for the book. For the sheer enjoyment of the read, I give it a five. There is a lot of humor and decent secondary character development, and the writing flows very well.I think that from a thoroughness perspective, Perrotta only scratches the surface of the conflict and feelings associated with Dave and Gretchen's relationship. I feel that I would have enjoyed this book even more if he had added another 100 to 200 pages to really delve into how it is that Dave can love and care about both Julie (his fiancée) and Gretchen.I really would have liked Perrotta to explore the turmoil that Dave experienced. Dave as a character isn't your typical jerk who cheats on his girlfriend for one last fling before marriage. I think that he is truly conflicted by his predicament and I would have liked a much deeper analysis. Also he really only touches on Dave's other mistress, his music, and what it will be to have to give up this dream to make Julie happy. Gretchen offers Dave music and happiness and love, but he still can't get his act together in time to choose her over Julie. How is it that in the end, Dave is able to give up so many of his old dreams and choose Julie?I also would have loved to have gained more of a perspective from Gretchen's point of view. Here she has found the man of her dreams and he is engaged to another woman. No matter how much she loves him and how perfect they could be together, she can't get him to give Julie up. You catch a glimpse at the pain she is experiencing through her poems, even though Dave doesn't get the meaning in them, but I would have like to see Perrotta give us a clearer view of Gretchen's loss, a true exploration of what it is to be the other woman, knowing that you will never have what it is that will make you most happy and fulfilled.Perrotta only really suggests these inner struggles and heartbreaks, but fails to deliver what could have been a very powerful and thought provoking novel.

Though not as good as subsequent novels "Little Children" and "Election," Tom Perrotta's first, "The Wishbones," already laid the groundwork as to why he has so many admirers: quirky characters in uncomfortable scenarios narrated in a snappy way. Here, the protaganist (Dave Raymond) is what one might consider a bit of a loser -- at age 31, he still lives with his parents, and although obviously intelligent, hasn't done much with his life. He messengers during the day, plays guitar at night for a wedding band known as "The Wishbones," and hangs out when he can with his on- again-off-again girlfriend of 15 years, Julie. The monkey wrench is thrown, however, when he finally (but still impulsively) proposes to Julie who accepts, and immediately meets Gretchen at a wedding, who's dramatically different than Julie, and whom he thinks he's fallen in love with. What to do?An interesting story that kept my attention. Two things, though, stretched my belief. First, if Julie is so wonderful and beautiful, there's no way she's staying with someone like Dave for 15 years. Second, there was a scene in which The Wishbones mistakenly find themselves as a houseband for neo-nazis. I think Perrotta was trying too hard here and not staying true to the anally meticulous character "Artie," the manager and sax player of the band, who would never have contracted to be anybody's house band without doing a little research on who the band would be playing for.In any event, Perrotta is one of the most fun authors around to read, and I'm one who can be included as a fan, even though I think he has yet to write that elusive five star novel (at least the way I rate things).

A solid read. I am pretty picky with literature, and when someone whose taste in books I respect recommends something, I read it. This was the case here, and I was not disappointed. The Wishbones is a fun ride, with interesting, well-developed characters and a totally relatable, believable story about a dude in a band who just wants to be exactly that and never really grow up. I would not be surprised in the least to discover this had been made into a fantastic dramatic film. If you like Vonnegut, this will appeal. If you don't (and I am not a huge Vonnegut fan), it will engage you thoroughly anyway, rewarding the (picky) reader who seeks out books with great characters and compelling stories, as I do--and who puts down a book halfway through when it has lost their interest (I also do this), which this great story did not. HIGHLY recommend.

I read it. Tom Perrotta never disappoints.

The first couple of chapters of this book totally confused me, I thought I was reading the book of The Wedding Singer, as it all seemed so familiar and it was only when the penny dropped that I had actually read this book before, many years ago, that I could relax and enjoy it properly. It is a fantastic, extremely well written read about The Wishbones, a wedding band and in particular their guitarist Dave, who is a bit of a drifter - 30, still living with parents, never had a proper job, lives for playing the guitar and has been dating Julie for 15 years, although he would stress that it is "on and off".The real story starts when in a moment of sentimental weakness he proposes to Julie and the plans for the wedding commence. We watch him head towards his wedding day in a state of panic and worry that he is not ready for a long term commitment. Should he follow his head or his heart? Does he even know what his heart wants?It is a wonderful story with a lot going on in it; never boring, you can just sit and lose yourself in it. It is not predictable, as you are reading it, you are never quite sure what is going to happen in the end. Dave himself is not a perfect guy, he is human and does some stupid things at times which really make you want to shout at him, but you still just can't help liking him.It is like a grittier The Wedding Singer - sometimes funny, sometimes moving, just a damn good story with a great bunch of characters who are believable and likeable. A very visual read, as it unfolds you can see it in your minds eye, like the movie it could possibly make. Highly recommended.

Second book I've read by Tom Perotta. Have now bought two more.

Perrotta the consummate story teller is at his best in The Wishbones. Dave pursues happiness doing what he loves to do and is good at - playing a guitar in a wedding band. Happiness on the other hand pursues him and gets him i the end. A riveting reading.

I read this because I loved Perotta's 'The Leftovers'. Not as much of a fan of this but then again they are two completely topics so that's probably up to taste. Perotta seems to grasp the complexities of human nature better than most. I'm used to reading male-authored books solely focused on action themes so its great to see a male author explore the human experience. The characters are likeable and relatable, I was rooting for Dave although his behaviour was at times questionable. Ending seemed abrupt but fitting. Very enjoyable.