I almost stopped reading this after I'd started, as it seemed just a mite too clever. But the well-written sentences and plot are compelling, even as they teeter between floridness and cynicism, and I enjoyed it more the more I read. I found myself chuckling out loud at times. But I ultimately felt the balance tipped towards cynicism too much throughout for me to say that I really enjoyed this novel. I wonder where the author stands in relation to his characters -- is this just a complete farce?