Ablutions

Ablutions

by PatrickDeWitt (Author)

Synopsis

A nameless barman tends a decaying bar in Hollywood and takes notes for a book about his clientele. Initially, he is morbidly amused by watching the regulars roll in and fall into their nightly oblivion, pitying them and their loneliness. In hopes of uncovering their secrets and motives, he establishes tentative friendships with them. He also knocks back pills indiscriminately and treats himself to gallons of Jameson's. But as his tenure at the bar continues, he begins to lose himself, trapped by addiction and indecision. When his wife leaves him, he embarks on a series of squalidly random sexual encounters and a downward spiral of self-damage and irrational violence. To cleanse himself and save his soul, he attempts to escape ...

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 176
Publisher: Granta Books
Published: 05 Jan 2012

ISBN 10: 1847086349
ISBN 13: 9781847086341

Media Reviews
PRAISE FOR ABLUTIONS .. . dark and provocative ... deWitt has painted a portrait of the human condition ... And ABLUTIONS has achieved something remarkable. -- The New York Times Book Review

.. . deWitt's writing is sharp and bitter and funny ... -- Los Angeles Times

DeWitt's dirty realism makes me want to roll in the mud with him. Brilliant. --Gary Shteyngart, author of Absurdistan Viciously hilarious ... deWitt's portrayal of the drinking life is staunchly unromantic. -- Time Out New York (Five stars; Book of the day)

These scenes are stunningly depicted ... deWitt writes beautifully about ugliness, and his book casts a haunting spell. -- Booklist

DeWitt's style of prose is refreshing and more like real life speak than most books, without losing the necessary descriptiveness to relay the feel and pure nuttiness of the situation inside the Hollywood bar where the scenes are set. -- About.com

Ablutions is like an intense art-house movie, where the lead

Author Bio
Patrick deWitt was born on Vancouver Island in 1975. He has also lived in California, Washington, and Oregon, where he currently lives with his wife and son. He is the author of two novels, Ablutions and The Sisters Brothers.