ALL THE SAD YOUNG LITERARY MEN

Gessen ties together three tangentially related stories of young men aspiring to write and leave an impact on their times in response to the political events of the recent decade, but none of them can get their act together long enough to actually produce something of meaning. Instead, they wallow in self-pity, self-aggrandizement, and self-mockery, destroying their abilities, connections, and opportunities. Scott Brick captures the vocal personas of the main characters while also delivering a solid narration that emphasizes moments of significance and irony. He maintains strong secondary characters throughout, and his pace holds listener attention through the less well-differentiated parts. L.E. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 08]