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Truth in Advertising: A Novel {Review and Giveaway}

January 20, 2013 by Dawn

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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Finbar Dolan is almost forty, recently unengaged, out of touch with his family, and a copywriter for a NYC advertising agency, mostly focusing on diaper campaigns. While that intro might give the impression of a somber novel ahead, I can reassure you that in John Kenney’s deft hands, the resulting Truth in Advertising is both uproariously comical and deeply tender. Perhaps sometimes the biggest sad-sacks make for the funniest storytelling.

Right from the start, the voice of Fin is crystal clear. This guy is sharply witty, heaping on mounds of self-deprecation and taking part in clever rapid-fire dialogue that keeps the reader on his toes. Fin relishes in his role as narrator here, revealing bits and pieces of a story in one chapter, only to fess up a chapter or two later about the parts that he left out. While he’s happy to indulge the reader in hilarious descriptions of everything that goes into a commercial shoot, complete with lively commentary about the various personnel on the job, Fin is less forthcoming about his personal life. Eventually, his story is laid out, and in the painful telling of a childhood filled with abandonment and loss, the tone of the novel gradually shifts from absurdly hilarious to complexly emotional.

I can’t help but report that I devoured this novel in less than a day, and much of the first half of the novel I read aloud to my husband because I desperately needed to share the biting style of writing that was slaying me. There were times that my words were barely audible over my gasping giggles, with my husband doubled over in laughter, wiping the tears from his eyes. Though out of context, these passages are just a couple that had me in stitches:

“Her colleagues nod. It’s as if they’re wired to Jan. Almost all are texting, talking on wireless headsets, tapping an iPad. Unless you are connected you are not alive. Earlier I heard one of the clients in the toilet on a conference call, his voice strained at times from peristaltic exertion.”

“I sit at the bar and drink a beer and enjoy a knockwurst (as you do on Christmas Eve) and the musical stylings of Surf ‘n’ Sand, a seventy-ish-year-old couple, he on piano, she holding a microphone and making noise into it with her mouth. Some might call it singing.”

“The company had a new drug that helped relieve what the account team referred to in meetings and emails as “NVD,” which I soon found out was pharma-speak for the family of symptoms known as nausea-vomiting-diarrhea. So Ian and I thought it would be interesting to personify them. We’d cast guys who looked like they might be nausea or vomiting or diarrhea. The amazing thing was how many actors in New York and Los Angeles actually look like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Seriously, I cannot adequately describe how hard I laughed. Just as I was secure in the knowledge that John Kenney was my new favorite comedic novelist, he shocked me with some punches to the gut as Fin’s back story was revealed, and he struggled with the idea of making amends with his past. I discovered that as good as he was at funny, he was equally as talented in conveying an intricately nuanced emotional story as well. Suffice it to say that the character development goes beyond the superficial for Finbar Dolan, even if that’s not what he originally had in mind as narrator.

At 5 Minutes for Books, we reserve one label for the best of the best, and in my opinion, Truth in Advertising easily garners the 5 Star Reads designation. John Kenney kept with the advertising theme in the creation of a trailer for the book, which speaks very little to the plot, but provides a glimpse into the use of focus groups, to hilarious effect.

We have a copy of Truth in Advertising to give to one of you. Please follow the directions in the rafflecopter to enter to win, starting by leaving a comment telling you what appeals to you about this novel.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Reviewer Dawn is a book pusher, and she’ll be adding this title to the list that she recommends to all her reader pals. She blogs at my thoughts exactly.

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Around the Blogosphere-Add YOUR Giveaway Link
Getting Happy in 2013: Making AND Keeping New Year’s Resolutions

About Dawn

When she's not reviewing books, 5 Minutes for Books contributor Dawn (and her online alter ego, morninglight mama) can be found blogging at my thoughts exactly and contributing to The DC Moms.

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31 Comments

  1. Kari Flores says

    February 2, 2013 at 8:00 am

    The humor, I love laugh at loud books.

    Reply
  2. Matt says

    February 2, 2013 at 5:26 am

    The humor…who couldn’t use a good laugh?

    Reply
  3. Danny Rubio says

    February 2, 2013 at 12:55 am

    The truth about 9 to 5 then 6 to 11 in a everyday day life.

    Thank you…Single Dad Danny

    [email protected]

    Reply
  4. debra stein says

    February 1, 2013 at 10:41 pm

    I work in advertising and would love to read this book.

    Reply
  5. Ed Nemmers says

    February 1, 2013 at 4:29 pm

    I like the name Finbar Dolan!

    Reply
  6. Don says

    February 1, 2013 at 11:31 am

    Sounds to be a pretty funny book to read.

    Reply
  7. Caryn S says

    February 1, 2013 at 10:01 am

    That it’s a funny story about what seems like a not-so-funny subject.

    Reply
  8. Maureen says

    January 30, 2013 at 8:05 pm

    I could use a good laugh in the evening when the kids are in bed….a “grown up” book is a plus too!

    Reply
  9. Dianna A says

    January 30, 2013 at 12:23 pm

    I need a good light hearted read to make me laugh

    Reply
  10. Caitlin McClure says

    January 29, 2013 at 7:22 pm

    the humour appeals to me

    Reply
  11. Renee G says

    January 28, 2013 at 11:51 pm

    I think I would enjoy the author’s writing style.
    rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

    Reply
  12. glykia says

    January 28, 2013 at 10:58 pm

    The end of January is a good time for a funny, well-written novel. Would love to win this.

    Reply
  13. Daniel M says

    January 28, 2013 at 9:59 pm

    sounds like a fun one, need something humorous to forget reality

    Reply
  14. Anita Yancey says

    January 28, 2013 at 2:00 pm

    I would love to read this book because of the humor. I really like reading anything that makes me laugh.

    Reply
  15. Missy says

    January 28, 2013 at 12:14 pm

    It’s a humorous, quick read

    Reply
  16. Susan P. says

    January 28, 2013 at 12:24 am

    Comedy and good writing appeal to me.

    Reply
  17. Idaho Jill says

    January 27, 2013 at 12:12 pm

    I can’t remember the last time I read a really funny book – it’s time!

    Reply
  18. Ciara B. says

    January 26, 2013 at 9:18 pm

    the style of the books seems right up my alley

    Reply
  19. Stephanie Larison says

    January 26, 2013 at 1:54 am

    I love the style of writing, sounds funny!

    Reply
  20. Jessica T says

    January 26, 2013 at 12:07 am

    Looks funny! I love a book that makes me laugh!

    Reply
  21. Danielle N says

    January 25, 2013 at 8:49 am

    Who doesn’t love a good book?

    Reply
  22. Danielle Lima says

    January 24, 2013 at 8:14 pm

    I haven’t read a funny novel in a while. I have been reading books like Sold.

    Reply
  23. ellie says

    January 24, 2013 at 11:09 am

    The writing style, and the humor makes this a great book.

    Reply
  24. Denice P says

    January 23, 2013 at 11:02 pm

    The wit, and the fact you said you read it in a day. I has to be a great book when you finished it so quickly.

    Reply
  25. emily l says

    January 23, 2013 at 6:42 pm

    I like the description. The way the book is layered with slowly given bits of his childhood, it intrigues me.

    [email protected]

    Reply
  26. Heather! says

    January 23, 2013 at 7:24 am

    I think it sounds funny, I love books that make me laugh! I am also interested in the sort of ‘Mad Men’ / ad man angle.

    Thanks!
    h4schaffer at gmail dot com

    Reply
  27. Charlene S says

    January 21, 2013 at 3:31 pm

    I really like books that make my laugh.

    Reply
  28. DEBIJOT says

    January 21, 2013 at 3:10 pm

    Occasionally I love a good quick read.

    Reply
  29. Liz says

    January 21, 2013 at 1:50 pm

    I second Denise. Laughter is good.

    Reply
  30. Denise M says

    January 21, 2013 at 11:34 am

    definitely the humor, i need a break from all the depressing books i seem to be reading

    Reply
  31. Anne says

    January 21, 2013 at 10:53 am

    The wit and humor as well as the ideas and learning about the topic.

    Reply

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