How I Became a Famous Novelist

 How I Became a Famous Novelist by Steve Hely

Pete Tarslaw wants to be rich but he won't get that way at his current job working for EssayAides, writing application essays for people trying to get into college and grad school. They send him their sad attempts and he polishes them till they are the impressive, if not so truthful, applications the institutions are looking for.    

He decides novel writing is the best way to get the things he wants, which include a beautiful home, "new avenues of sexual opportunity", and not having to work for the rest of his life. But what he wants most is to be a best selling author in time for his ex-girlfriend's wedding, where he hopes to walk in and take all the attention from her, ruining her day and getting revenge for her leaving him. 

Pete's belief is that anyone can write a novel, so with just a few ground rules (abandon truth, write a popular book and don't waste energy making it a good book, etc.) he writes an outline, fills it in enough to make a manuscript, and finds a publisher. 

The income is considerably less than he expected but it does sell moderately well for a time. After he publicly criticizes a more popular author for doing exactly what he himself has done, i.e. written a bad book for quick money, his own book sales start to pick up. Unfortunately his remarks land him in a face-to-face public confrontation with the offended author that does not end well for Pete. 

Meanwhile, having accepted a less-than-ethical job (not that anything he's done has been ethical to this point) writing letters for a shady investment company, he finds himself in hot water for bilking seniors out of their hard-earned money. This, too, does not end well for Pete. 

The book is funny, but not as funny as advertised. Pete is a jerk who wants something for nothing and makes a mess of everything, especially his ex-girlfriend's wedding where he wreaks unbelievable havoc. I tried but couldn't work up much sympathy for him.

The skewering of the publishing industry was enteraining - authors, editors, publishers, reviewers - no one escaped his ripping off of masks and tearing down of pretenses. It was amusing, and refreshing, to hear him say out loud things the rest of us think but won't say.  

I liked the concept, just not the main character. I suppose that shouldn't make a difference, but evidently I am not evolved enough to get past it.  2.5/5