Time: a novel (also subtitled Jean Buridan is Throwing Things Again) is a novel following the day of two primary characters; Jean Dóthain, an ex-tinsel factory worker, and Helen Day, a clerk at City Hall. From their meeting in the first chapter while waiting to cross the street, the two attempt to dine together, a task which will end up taking them the entire day, and which they appear to be off to finally consummating as the novel ends (not to spoil the ending, or anything).
The author is likewise for God Coffee, I Miss You, An Unrelated Story: another novel, Mongolian Wine: a novel, I guess, and The Vernon Hotel: a novelisation. He lives in New York City and London.
"...Hey, what exactly is the book about, anyway?"
Jean scribbled on the receipt and handed it to the man. "You know, I'm less and less sure as I go. I think it's mostly about dinner."
Jean and Helen's unsuccessful attempts at lunching are caused, in part, by three groups of stalkers --a group of quality assurance people working for the tinsel factory, a crew employed by Time Publishing, with whom Jean has published his first novel, and a misguided group of Trojan warriors, in a latter day continuation/reenactment of the Trojan War.
The book is interspersed with chapters from a second novel, one which Jean is rumoured to have written, though not as of yet. The chapters deal with the thirteenth century philosopher Jean Buridan, whose studies examined the nature of free will and the rotation of the Earth.
It is very much a satire, or perhaps a villanelle. Granted, a poorly structured villanelle, but one, nonetheless. Purists will probably argue that last point. In addition, it's a bit of a philosophical romp, one which frenetically winds it's way towards the carnival-like atmosphere outside of the City Hall for the finale with all the pace of a man who hasn't had a thing to eat all day.
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