Do you like complaints? I thought so. Dear American Airlines is one giant, scathing letter of a complaint. One-hundred ninety-two pages of rambling rage narrated by a 54-year-old disgruntled passenger. With a background in confessional poetry, he has a distinct advantage in both rambling and rage.
Relax. It's like a novel. It is a novel! Jonathan Miles, contributing writer of New York Times Style section's Shaken and Stirred column, is behind all this meandering that someone at PW called a "crisp yowl of a first novel." Oh. It's his first novel, which is kind of a big deal. At least to him. Knowing this will make you want to read it more or not at all. I think it depends on your birth order.
It's not all whining, though! The complaining turns from a flight lost to a life examined: drinking (too much), marriage (failed), mothers (suicidal), fathers (Nazi-labor-camp surviving). Supposedly, by the 192nd page it's a hilarious and exhilarating work of hope.
Tonight, it sits alone on Amazon unreviewed, not hated nor loved. Tomorrow it will be on the cover of the New York Times Book Review, which could be a harbinger of more praise TK or a reminder that the author works there.
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