Reviews
"No one makes me laugh like John Kenney. So I expected Truth in Advertising to be very funny, and it is. But I was unprepared for how deeply felt and richly observed it would be. This is a beautiful novel and a dazzling debut." - Andy Borowitz, New York Times bestselling author, A Book Riot Funniest Novel of the Year "The protagonist, Finbar Dolan, is Don Draper stripped of all his glamour, success and pomade. What Fin, a midlevel copywriter, does have on Don is a sense of humor. . . . Framed around a surprisingly sweet romance, as well as Fin's eventual confrontation with his painful family history, this debut offers a pleasing lightness-to-heart ratio.", Truth in Advertising has a cinematic sense of motion. . . . [Kenney is] a naturally comic author who has created a likeable narrator in Fin Dolan. . . . Humor springs from a deep well of family-induced anguish, and soon enough comedy and tragedy are braided throughout the narrative., Eoethe Comedy Sparkles [With] Mordant One-Liners, Snappy Banter, and Hilarious Workplace Scenarios.E, Hilarious. . . . Kenney mixes inside advertising jokes with the broad comedy necessary to keep those in the real world laughing., It will make you laugh out loud at times and it will also touch you deeply. . . . This is the sort of book where you really care about the characters. . . . You will not be disappointed in Truth in Advertising. The plot is highly entertaining, but it is the joy of getting to know such a realistic, likeable, believable character as Finbar Dolan that makes this novel such a treat. Fin is the sort of guy you will enjoy spending time with.|9781451675542|, With wry humor, always on point, Kenney guides us through the maze of work, family, love (elusive) and friendship (a lifesaver). This is an outstanding debut., No one makes me laugh like John Kenney. So I expected Truth in Advertising to be very funny, and it is. But I was unprepared for how deeply felt and richly observed it would be. This is a beautiful novel and a dazzling debut., With wry wit, excellent pacing, and pitch-perfect, often hilarious, dialogue, Kenney has created something remarkable: a surprisingly funny novel about an adult American male finally becoming a man. Highly recommended., eoe[Kenneye(tm)s] insights are dead-on. . . . [His] plot is perfectly balanced between the insanity of both work and family, and the ending is satisfying without being saccharine. . . . Engaging and entertaining . . . The joy is in the journey, of spending time with a character that is, at times, annoying and thoughtful,arrogant and scared, childish and mature e" in other words, someone like the rest of us.e, [Kenney's] insights are dead-on. . . . [His] plot is perfectly balanced between the insanity of both work and family, and the ending is satisfying without being saccharine. . . . Engaging and entertaining . . . The joy is in the journey, of spending time with a character that is, at times, annoying and thoughtful,arrogant and scared, childish and mature -- in other words, someone like the rest of us., A snortingly funny debut ... Although Nick Hornby is the obvious reference - humor and heartbreak of ordinary life - this wonderful book is more J. Alfred Prufrock., It will make you laugh out loud at times and it will also touch you deeply. . . . This is the sort of book where you really care about the characters. . . . You will not be disappointed in Truth in Advertising. The plot is highly entertaining, but it is the joy of getting to know such a realistic, likeable, believable character as Finbar Dolan that makes this novel such a treat. Fin is the sort of guy you will enjoy spending time with.e|9781451675542|, New York-based Kenney . . . knows of what he speaks. He is particularly brilliant at clashing Fine(tm)s jadedness with the unglamorous products hee(tm)s forced to pitch. . . . [A] delightfully caustic piece of satire., In this Nick Hornby-esque fiction debut, midlife crisis and family tragedyforce a 39-year-old ad man to reevaluate his priorities., "No one makes me laugh like John Kenney. So I expected Truth in Advertising to be very funny, and it is. But I was unprepared for how deeply felt and richly observed it would be. This is a beautiful novel and a dazzling debut." - Andy Borowitz, The Borowitz Report, eoeThis debut novel reads at times like a laugh-out-loud standup routine. What sustains it, though, is much more substantial: an engaging, believable plot, a fascinating if jaundiced view inside the contemporary world of New York advertising, and most of all, a lead character you're glad you get to know. . . . It's a measure of Kenney's writing talent that the regular gusts of delicious, smart-alecky ad agency banter among Dolan and his witty comrades and the painful-to-read scenes depicting the toxic relations among siblings feel equally real in this novel. . . . [A] smart, cinematic story.e, It will make you laugh out loud at times and it will also touch you deeply. . . . This is the sort of book where you really care about the characters. . . . You will not be disappointed in Truth in Advertising. The plot is highly entertaining, but it is the joy of getting to know such a realistic, likeable, believable character as Finbar Dolan that makes this novel such a treat. Fin is the sort of guy you will enjoy spending time with., A snortingly funny debut ... Although Nick Hornby is the obvious reference -- humor and heartbreak of ordinary life -- this wonderful book is more J. Alfred Prufrock., "A snortingly funny debut ... Although Nick Hornby is the obvious reference e" humor and heartbreak of ordinary life e" this wonderful book is more J. Alfred Prufrock.", Peppered with colorful impressions of New York City life, Truth in Advertising is a quick-witted, wry sendup of the advertising industry and corporate culture. . . . Delivers a clear-eyed, sympathetic story about complex family ties and the possibility of healing., John Kenney writes with style, intelligence, humor, and heart. Truth in Advertising is a frank and wickedly funny peek into a world you only think you've seen, a glossy high-powered ad agency. But it is also something more: the story of a man thoroughly marinated in the little white lies of advertising who must learn, finally, to be honest with himself. Highly recommended., You'd expect that a man who writes humor pieces for the New Yorker would be funny and he is. John Kenney, who also worked as an advertising copywriter, knows that world and skewers it mercilessly and hilariously in his debut novel. . . . It would also be safe to say that amazing things will most likely be happening in John Kenney's literary career right now. Truthfully., eoeYou'd expect that a man who writes humor pieces for the New Yorker would be funny e" and he is. John Kenney, who also worked as an advertising copywriter, knows that world and skewers it mercilessly and hilariously in his debut novel. . . . It would also be safe to say that amazing things will most likely be happening in John Kenney's literary career right now. Truthfully.e, "No one makes me laugh like John Kenney. So I expected Truth in Advertising to be very funny, and it is. But I was unprepared for how deeply felt and richly observed it would be. This is a beautiful novel and a dazzling debut." --Andy Borowitz, New York Times bestselling author, eoe[A] comedic send-up of the ad industry's self-importance, as narrated by a good-hearted if skeptical underachiever . . . A pleasure to read.e, In this Nick Hornby-esque fiction debut, midlife crisis and family tragedy force a 39-year-old ad man to reevaluate his priorities., In this Nick Hornby-esque fiction debut, midlife crisis and family tragedy force a 39-year-old ad man to reevaluate his priorities., With wit and style, John Kenney's Truth in Advertising nails the advertising world's absurd complexities and hilarious personalities. But it goes beyond a send-up of corporate America: this is an open, funny, emotionally true book, with numerous charms. I found it irresistible., The protagonist, Finbar Dolan, is Don Draper stripped of all his glamour, success and pomade. What Fin, a midlevel copywriter, does have on Don is a sense of humor. . . . Framed around a surprisingly sweet romance, as well as Fin's eventual confrontation with his painful family history, this debut offers a pleasing lightness-to-heart ratio., John Kenney has written a funny, biting, brilliant account of modern capitalism and consumerism. If Mad Men has glamorized the ad game then Truth in Advertising goes one better by making it funny as hell. This is the Catch-22 of contemporary corporate America., eoe Truth in Advertising has a cinematic sense of motion. . . . [Kenney is] a naturally comic author who has created a likeable narrator in Fin Dolan. . . . Humor springs from a deep well of family-induced anguish, and soon enough comedy and tragedy are braided throughout the narrative.e, You'd expect that a man who writes humor pieces for the New Yorker would be funny - and he is. John Kenney, who also worked as an advertising copywriter, knows that world and skewers it mercilessly and hilariously in his debut novel. . . . It would also be safe to say that amazing things will most likely be happening in John Kenney's literary career right now. Truthfully., "John Kenney writes with style, intelligence, humor, and heart. Truth in Advertising is a frank and wickedly funny peek into a world you only think you've seen, a glossy high-powered ad agency. But it is also something more: the story of a man thoroughly marinated in the little white lies of advertising who must learn, finally, to be honest with himself. Highly recommended." --William Landay, author of Defending Jacob, "With wit and style, John Kenney's Truth in Advertising nails the advertising world's absurd complexities and hilarious personalities. But it goes beyond a send-up of corporate America: this is an open, funny, emotionally true book, with numerous charms. I found it irresistible." - Jami Attenberg, author of The Middlesteins, "Made me laugh my ass off. Now I have a new ass." - Eric Idle, founding member of Monty Python and author of Spamalot, What really amazed me was the unexpected depth and subtleness of the rest of the book, which showcases writing that, in terms of talent, puts Kenney in a league with the best of American writers of his generation., A hilarious ad-world satire . . . The advertising insider lore and commercial shoot set pieces are golden. . . . A comic tour de force; fans of Nick Hornby and Jonathan Tropper will have a new author to watch for., "John Kenney has written a funny, biting, brilliant account of modern capitalism and consumerism. If Mad Men has glamorized the ad game then Truth in Advertising goes one better by making it funny as hell. This is the Catch-22 of contemporary corporate America." - Karl Taro Greenfeld, author of Triburbia, This debut novel reads at times like a laugh-out-loud standup routine. What sustains it, though, is much more substantial: an engaging, believable plot, a fascinating if jaundiced view inside the contemporary world of New York advertising, and most of all, a lead character you're glad you get to know. . . . It's a measure of Kenney's writing talent that the regular gusts of delicious, smart-alecky ad agency banter among Dolan and his witty comrades and the painful-to-read scenes depicting the toxic relations among siblings feel equally real in this novel. . . . [A] smart, cinematic story., [A] comedic send-up of the ad industry's self-importance, as narrated by a good-hearted if skeptical underachiever . . . A pleasure to read., eoeThe rare novel that's truly cinematic. It is sexy, the plot twists in just the right places; simply put, it's untamable. You will laugh almost as much as you will relate to the plight of the protagonist.. . . This book might just rouse the creative genius in you, too.e, The rare novel that's truly cinematic. It is sexy, the plot twists in just the right places; simply put, it's untamable. You will laugh almost as much as you will relate to the plight of the protagonist.. . . This book might just rouse the creative genius in you, too., New York-based Kenney . . . knows of what he speaks. He is particularly brilliant at clashing Fin's jadedness with the unglamorous products he's forced to pitch. . . . [A] delightfully caustic piece of satire., [A] comedic send-up of the ad industry's self-importance, as narrated by a good-hearted if skeptical underachiever . . . A pleasure to read., Here's a smart one. . . . Lovers of the city will find much to love in this relatable, redemptive, and sometimes very funny story., eoeIn this Nick Hornby-esque fiction debut, midlife crisis and family tragedyforce a 39-year-old ad man to reevaluate his priorities.e, Kenney, whoe(tm)s worked as a copywriter for 17 years, mines this rich territory for satire. . . . Fine(tm)s struggle to understand his dad brings a layer of emotional complexity to the tale. . . . Kenneye(tm)s novel wrestles with deep questions: What makes a good man? What makes a good life? What should onee(tm)s contribution to the world be?, [Kenney's] insights are dead-on. . . . [His] plot is perfectly balanced between the insanity of both work and family, and the ending is satisfying without being saccharine. . . . Engaging and entertaining . . . The joy is in the journey, of spending time with a character that is, at times, annoying and thoughtful,arrogant and scared, childish and mature - in other words, someone like the rest of us., eoePeppered with colorful impressions of New York City life, Truth in Advertising is a quick-witted, wry sendup of the advertising industry and corporate culture. . . . Delivers a clear-eyed, sympathetic story about complex family ties and the possibility of healing.e, eoeThe protagonist, Finbar Dolan, is Don Draper stripped of all his glamour, success and pomade. What Fin, a midlevel copywriter, does have on Don is a sense of humor. . . . Framed around a surprisingly sweet romance, as well as Fine(tm)s eventual confrontation with his painful family history, this debut offers a pleasing lightness-to-heart ratio.e, A masterful blend of wit and seriousness, stunning in its honesty. A novel sure to appeal to fans of Nick Hornby., "John Kenney writes with style, intelligence, humor, and heart. Truth in Advertising is a frank and wickedly funny peek into a world you only think you've seen, a glossy high-powered ad agency. But it is also something more: the story of a man thoroughly marinated in the little white lies of advertising who must learn, finally, to be honest with himself. Highly recommended." - William Landay, author of Defending Jacob, It's the Stuff of Jonathan Tropper Novels and Judd Apatow Films And Every Zooey Deschanel Fantasy., It's the Stuff of Jonathan Tropper Novels and Judd Apatow Films and Every Zooey Deschanel Fantasy., Kenney, who's worked as a copywriter for 17 years, mines this rich territory for satire. . . . Fin's struggle to understand his dad brings a layer of emotional complexity to the tale. . . . Kenney's novel wrestles with deep questions: What makes a good man? What makes a good life? What should one's contribution to the world be?, eoeIt's the stuff of Jonathan Tropper novels and Judd Apatow filmsand every Zooey Deschanel fantasy.e