Love Warps the Mind a Little Author:John Dufresne General FictionLarge Print Edition(Dufresne) weaves a powerful spell, proving himself once again a writer of great energy and a big, open heart. starred, Publishers WeeklyAstounding and wise . . . A deeply affecting book. New York TimesLafayette Proulx has quit his day job, left his wife, and hauled his dog and Royal portable across town to J... more »udi Dubeys house, setting out at last to be a fiction writer. But things arent working out as hed anticipated. Judis dysfunctional family is unraveling; rejection letters are pouring in; and Judi has sent him to a marriage counselor to sort out his angry feelings about his wife. To make matters worse, Judi has just been diagnosed with stage IV cancer. Love Warps the Mind a Little is hilarious, deeply moving, and surely one of the untold and most original love stories of our time.« less
Ok, I chose this book for the funny title but I was soon hooked by the story. The main character, a struggling writer, is also struggling with life in general. He has trouble leaving his failed marriage and trouble committing to a new relationship. The book is full of quirky characters that remind me of those found in books by Anne Tyler or John Irving. And like those characters, they're funny and eccentric, but also very human and complex. I love a book that can both make me laugh and cry, and this one did.
Amazon.com
Lafayette Proulx is affectionately called Laf by his friends, and with good reason. As the likeable narrator of John Dufresne's terrific new book Love Warps the Mind a Little, Laf has an eye for the comic elements that can be found in the everyday events of life, and an armchair philosopher's sense of detached bemusement. Laf quits his day job and decides to pursue his dream of writing fiction, a move precipitated by the breakup of his marriage and followed by a torrent of rejection slips. He moves in with his hesitant girlfriend Judi, and for a time, the story sets into a domestic story of befuddled affection and incidental affairs. Suddenly, Judi is diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and from here on out, Love Warps the Mind a Little becomes a stunning love story, sweetly moving in its description of love amid tragic circumstances. Its honesty and insight are wonderful and the comic elements are never lost. The highly acclaimed author of Louisiana Power & Light has met the high expectations of his critics and readers alike in this wonderful novel.
