Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates

The opening chapter is quite brilliant. Very few books have me laughing out loud, especially on a tube which is usually over-crowded and quiet, especially in the morning rush-hour. But laugh I did as I read the opening chapter which commenced with the local amateur dramatic company’s first – and dire – performance. In many ways, this opening chapter was the best part of the book for me; certainly the most entertaining.

The novel reminded me of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, especially its portrayal of Frank and his job and the wage-slave element. He isn’t quite as tragic as Willy Loman, granted, but he still reminded me of him. Outwardly he is a Madison Avenue exec, but in reality (or perhaps more accurately, at the back of his own mind he knows) he is a nobody.

Read the rest at: The Year Zero!