We’re all Damaged is listed under humor and satire. I decided to read it for the humor but found it to be more of a goofy satire with a strange love story (or two?) thrown in.
The main character is a sad sack named Andy Carter, who is a bartender in New York City.
Originally from Omaha, his wife left him for a paramedic, he lost his job and ruined his best friend’s wedding by getting drunk and punching his ex-father-in-law. With no reason to stay in Omaha, he ran away to NYC to start a new life and try to forget his ex-wife.
Two years later he finds himself back in Omaha to say good-bye to his dying grandfather.
When he returns home, his past quickly catches up with him in the form of his ex-wife, her paramedic boyfriend, his right-wing talk-radio-host mother, his parents’ crumbling marriage, and his best friend’s family, who have not forgotten the wedding he ruined.
In the middle of all this Daisy, a friend of his grandfather, who everyone at the rest home thinks is his sister, shows up. A Midwest misfit who is covered in tattoos, has no job, and a huge secret that complicates everything; Daisy pushes Andy to believe in himself and seek the life he deserves.
I’m leaving out a whole bunch of twists, turns and complications that frankly define Andy as “an accident looking for a place to happen”. About the time you’re getting bored with hard to believe characters and a plot going nowhere, Daisy shows up and perks your interest back up.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t last long and their relationship doesn’t go where I expected it to go or, where I would have taken it. Add to that a strange ending that I’m not sure exactly how it ties in, and you end up with a disappointing story.
My recommendation, just okay.
#truthaboutbooks