Infinite Joe

I liked a lot about this book. I liked the writing style, the length, the prose, and the story itself. There were only a few moments when I gave an incredulous "oh, come on...", but they were minor and few, and didn't detract much from my overall enjoyment of the book.

The main character deals with life-changing tragedy growing up, and spends the rest of the story dealing with it, struggling mightily, and trying to come to terms with knowing he is ultimately like his father, and coping with it the best that he can.

The book also explores the theme of good things happening to bad people, or at least coming from bad situations, and handles it not in a divine "it's a lesson" sort of way, but in a deterministic "that's just the way it is sometimes, so deal with it" kind of way.

Finally the book is mainly about finding that one thing that moves you so deeply that it is able to carry you through this cesspool called life (Theo's words) and make it just a little more bearable. For Theo, it was art, and a particular painting. But for us, it could be anything. We just have to find it.