The Object of My Affection Books

I ordered this book to cannabalize the pictures to make some collages for our bedroom. But when it came in the mail, I fell in love with it just as it is. The poems that were chosen are beautiful, and Lugg's illustrations capture that beauty and lift your spirit. Even though it is small, it would make a delightful book to leave on your coffee table or by the bedside in your guest bedroom. Just find a quiet place and sit back and enjoy!

I can't say much more than the other 5-star reviews already have. All of McCauley's novels are so funny, touching and insightful. He definitely captures what it means to be human - with humor, sarcasm and incredible warmth. It sounds so cliche, but I laughed, and I cried. If you're not a gay man with a straight female friend or vice-versa, don't think you wouldn't enjoy this book. Gender and sexual orientation are secondary to love, friendship and the complexities of the human heart. I came to love George, Nina and even the peripheral "bit players." I was sad when the book ended, and I have always carried a little piece of it with me. The book was far better than the movie. In the film, Nina was portrayed as almost pathetic, pining away for George. That's not the way it happened in the book at all. I wish the screenwriter and film makers had left this great story alone. The script seemed like an excuse to write parts for Alan Alda, Nigel Hawthorne, and Allison Janney. Oh, and the Paul in the book is FAR more interesting than the bland little actor twit in the film. READ THE BOOK!

I read this book because I couldn't fully understand the relationship between the characters in the movie. In the movie, you get the idea that Nina desires George more and in the book you get the idea that George desires Nina more. Both ways you can see that there is a deep love between them. They go through a lot of trouble trying to measure and confine what they have, because they are so young. I have a feeling that as time goes by, they will see that there are some things that cannot be measured or confined and finally be able to appreciate and even enjoy what they have. I recommend this book to anyone with an open heart.

I loved this book because of the story and characters but the clincher was the dialogue. So many authors simply cannot master believable dialogue but McCauley does; in fact he does it so well, I even wondered if he sat around listening to people and taking notes!

A two-word review for this novel would be, "wonderfully bittersweet." If Jerry Seinfeld's TV alter-ego considers helping a friend move "going all the way" in a friendship, he hasn't read this novel. This is the final friendship frontier.

This book poses the question, "Can we be there for each other always and still have other significant others?" far better than that ubiquitous sitcom has in the past six seasons, and the humor is more subtle. Stephen McCauley skillfull enraptures the reader with situations in which we don't know what we would do in the characters' shoes. He more than adequately captures that feeling of being with someone and wondering, "What the heck am I doing here?"

Remember this book was written in the 1980s when a gay main character in a mainstream novel was revolutionary. We like George. We wish that like George, we have a friend like Nina. We're pulling for them all the way to the end of the book, though we're not sure what we want for them any more than they are. When I finished the book, I felt like I was saying goodbye to some old friends whom I like even though they annoy me lots of times.

Notes to those who've seen the movie: This book is told from George's perspective, not Nina's. Nina exudes more self-confidence in the book than in the movie. George, slightly less. I think the book works best from George's P.O.V., but I had no problem with the change in the film. When I was reading the book, I was picturing Rebecca DeMornay more than Jennifer Aniston, who was still good--and whose comic timing made up for the fact that George was less humorous than in the book.

Also, the cousin wonderfully played by Allison Janney in the film is not a character in the book. But George is more humorous than in the movie, so that makes up for it. The character George hooks up with is totally different as well.

In general, the humor in the book is more subtle, and that's all I'm going to say for fear of talling too much. I actually thought the changes made for the film didn't harm it, but I still recommend the book first.

I've only read this book 5 or 6 times so I'm not sure I'm really qualified to review it BUT it's hilarious. If you like intelligent humor you will love all of Stephen McCauley's novels. He's a genius. His word choice is so precisely perfect, his similes are so appropriately amusing, his characters are so refreshingly REAL -- as in weak and defective -- you just adore them. This is a great book to read alone --you'll be howling with laughter and your eyes will water but it's so much fun you'll just be dying to share it . I recommend that you read it aloud to a friend or lover. Male or female, gay or straight, everyone will get a kick out of this insightful so delightful book which is almost NOTHING like the MOVIE. The movie didn't capture the spirit of the story or get much of the plot or characters right either. Skip the movie, read the book. But I dare you to read it just once. IMPOSSIBLE! F.Y.I McCauley fans should check out his new and improved website for more McCauley news including event information, "recent rants" and an interactive message center called the spin cycle forum. www.stephenmccauley.com.

Pinky Tomlin is less remembered than Kay Kyser, whom he resembled. Both were successful musical performers who went on to movie careers in the late 30s and early 40s.
Bandleader Kyser MIGHT have even modeled his 'Ol' Professor' persona from a film starring Pinky, 'Swing it, Professor', but that's another subject. Tomlin made his name as a songwriter initially, writing one of the biggest songs of the 30s, THE OBJECT OF MY AFFECTION, the title of this autobiography. He also wrote or cowrote THE LOVE BUG WILL GET YOU and some other hits.
This book is a pleasant read, chronicling his move from Oklahoma to Hollywood, finding a career as a vocalist and bandleader. They put him in a 'Hayseed' mold when he got to movies, from which he never really escaped. he turned his back on hwood, and made a fortune in geology and oil. Definitely worth picking up!