This Book Will Save Your Life

This Book Will Save Your Life by A.M. Homes strengthened my conviction that L.A. is a souless wasteland to be avoided as it is headed for almost certain annihilation.

Richard Novak lives in a magnificent house in the Hollywood Hills with only his housekeeper, nutritionist and physical trainer for companionship. He has effectively cut himself off from the outside world and the folks in it and worries only about keeping up with the most faddish trends in self-improvement. His fantastic wealth is earned through day trading which he does while working out on his treadmill.

An inexplicable and intense pain drives Richard out of his coccoon and forces him to take a hard look at his life. He comes into contact with real people (who aren't working for him) for the first time in a long time and decides he likes them: the donut shop owner, the unhappy housewife, the famous actor, the Salingeresque reclusive author. He reconnects with his family. He embarks on a frenzied series of charitable activites and heroic rescues (of a stranded horse and later a kidnap victim). Through these acts he redeems himself and becomes a lovable person. Hell, he even gets a dog.

This is the sort of dark satire that I find appealing. I enjoyed reading it and can hardly wait to read other Homes books.