Plot summary
Tom Farrell is a man in his thirties who resided in New York City in 2001 (before, during, and after the September 11 attacks). The novel is a slice of life story, briefly visiting several months of his life as he works as an editor of the weekend edition of the New York City newspaper, Tabloid. Although his friends and relatives advance in life (marriage, kids, etc.), Tom believes he is not. He makes around $86,000 a year, but the most expensive item he owns is a several thousand-dollar couches (he doesn't own a high-priced item like a home or car, for example). The novel tracks Tom as he moves through his life, with each chapter being a day in his life during 2001 (not all days are covered, and not all chapters start new days).
Throughout the book, Tom dates several women, including the woman he fancies, Julia. Unfortunately for him, Julia is living with another man and is ten years his junior in age. Julia also works at Tabloid, but while Tom is an editor, Julia is just starting out.
Tom's days are filled with drinking, watching TV (many cartoons), working at "Tabloid", and trying to deal with his deep desire to be in a relationship with Julia, who seems somewhat determined not to have said relationship.
On his ride through 2001, Tom interacts with some of his friends, including Bran, Karen & Mike, Rollo, and Shooter (among others).
Characters
Tom Farrell: Narrator and star of the novel, Tom is a man of relatively average height who describes himself as having the shape of a bowling pin (chubby, fat, overweight), who also happens to have long hair. Tom is the editor for the weekend edition of the NYC newspaper Tabloid. Tom has worked the majority of his professional career at this newspaper. His friends include his default date, Bran, who is something of a female friend, though the relationship is undetermined; Karen & Mike, the married couple (and unlike in the TV series, Karen is not his sister); Shooter, the tall, powerful, rich, ladies man, who is black. Tom is from Maryland, and his Missouri-bred mother still lives in Maryland; she is a dental hygienist.
Brandy 'Bran' Lowenstein: Bran works as a producer for a television news program, is Jewish, and is Tom's “default” date. They tend to like each other, but not in a romantic way.
Karen & Mike: Are Tom's married friends.
Katie/Kate/Katherine: Tom's law-student girlfriend, who is increasingly talking in lawyer speak and whose personality shifts from tarot card reading Katie to extremely serious Katherine as she moves through law school.
Julia: Julia is the young new copygirl at Tabloid, and the woman that Tom cannot seem to move past or get to enter into a serious relationship with him.
Liesl: Another of Tom's girlfriends, Liesl, is of German descent and works for a legal organization that represents high-profile terrorist, murder/serial killer type clients (like the terrorists who bombed the parking garage at the World Trade Center).
Shooter: Shooter comes from a wealthy family, and briefly worked for his father's company. Due to some poor decisions, the father decided that it would be more accessible for all involved if Shooter would be given a sum of money and told to spend his life spending it. Shooter has very strong feelings about women and never has a problem finding a woman to spend time with. One woman, though, really got to him and might have warped his mind.
Rollo: Respected veteran journalist Rollo now reviews movies at Tabloid, with Tom as his editor (and sometimes writer of the reviews). Well, he mostly spends his time drifting around bars getting drunk.
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