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Blood Test: A Comedy
From the winner of the PEN/Malamud Award and “one of our most gifted writers” (Chicago Tribune) comes a comic novel about a divorced Midwestern dad who takes a cutting-edge medical test and learns that he has a predisposition to murder.
In this fresh take on love and trouble in America, Brock Hobson, an insurance salesman and Sunday-school teacher, finds his equilibrium disturbed by the results of a predictive blood test. Baxter, a master storyteller, brings us a gradually building rollercoaster narrative, and a protagonist who is impertinent, searching, and hilariously relatable. From his good-as-gold, gentle girlfriend to the excessively macho subcontractor guy his ex-wife left him for, not to mention his well-raised teenage kids, now exploring sex and sexuality, the secondary characters in Brock's life all contribute meaningfully to the drama, as increasing challenges to his sense of self and purpose crash over him. The final battle—no spoilers, but there is one—couldn't be more delightful, as this quick and bracing novel reminds us to choose the best people to love, accept the ones we love even if we didn’t choose them, and love them all well.
In this fresh take on love and trouble in America, Brock Hobson, an insurance salesman and Sunday-school teacher, finds his equilibrium disturbed by the results of a predictive blood test. Baxter, a master storyteller, brings us a gradually building rollercoaster narrative, and a protagonist who is impertinent, searching, and hilariously relatable. From his good-as-gold, gentle girlfriend to the excessively macho subcontractor guy his ex-wife left him for, not to mention his well-raised teenage kids, now exploring sex and sexuality, the secondary characters in Brock's life all contribute meaningfully to the drama, as increasing challenges to his sense of self and purpose crash over him. The final battle—no spoilers, but there is one—couldn't be more delightful, as this quick and bracing novel reminds us to choose the best people to love, accept the ones we love even if we didn’t choose them, and love them all well.
- GenresFiction
224 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 22, 2024
About the author
Charles Baxter
77 books395 followersCharles Baxter was born in Minneapolis and graduated from Macalester College, in Saint Paul. After completing graduate work in English at the State University of New York at Buffalo, he taught for several years at Wayne State University in Detroit. In 1989, he moved to the Department of English at the University of Michigan--Ann Arbor and its MFA program. He now teaches at the University of Minnesota.
Baxter is the author of 4 novels, 4 collections of short stories, 3 collections of poems, a collection of essays on fiction and is the editor of other works. His works of fiction include Believers , The Feast of Love (nominated for the National Book Award), Saul and Patsy , and Through the Safety Net . He lives in Minneapolis.
Baxter is the author of 4 novels, 4 collections of short stories, 3 collections of poems, a collection of essays on fiction and is the editor of other works. His works of fiction include Believers , The Feast of Love (nominated for the National Book Award), Saul and Patsy , and Through the Safety Net . He lives in Minneapolis.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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July 13, 2024I really wanted to love this novel. After all, Charles Baxter’s Feast of Love is one of my favorite books of all time.
But I found myself picking it up, putting it down, picking it up again – until I decided that I am not the right reader for this book. The premise is compelling: an insurance salesman submits to a predictive blood test and finds out he possesses the seeds of violence inside him. The writing is fine. But somehow, I didn’t connect.
I owe a big thanks to Pantheon for allowing me to be an early reader. It’s a good book that will appeal to other readers, but not to me. As a result, I am not going to rate it.
But I found myself picking it up, putting it down, picking it up again – until I decided that I am not the right reader for this book. The premise is compelling: an insurance salesman submits to a predictive blood test and finds out he possesses the seeds of violence inside him. The writing is fine. But somehow, I didn’t connect.
I owe a big thanks to Pantheon for allowing me to be an early reader. It’s a good book that will appeal to other readers, but not to me. As a result, I am not going to rate it.
July 21, 2024
An interesting concept for a comedy - a blood test returns positive for the main character resulting in a murder gene with a high probability of committing a murder. Also in the mix are the ancillary businesses that want to reap the financial rewards of this new blood test. Examples would be insurance for said deed or legal coverage once said deed is done. And to be fair, this concept weaved in and out of the story which was written and read by our main character, Brock Hobson, directly to the reader. But more than that promising premise, Blood Test: A Comedy was mostly about a progressive mild mannered man of faith, divorced dad of two teens, significant other to a park ranger and still sort of in love with his ex-wife.
Brock goes off on tangents often in his writing/narrating which takes the reader from the main point of the chapter. His children and significant other know of his blood test results and are expecting him to go gonzo. To that point, Brock does consider he's been given a license to kill but it really isn't in him.
The bigger story is Brock's love for his family new and past. And though he doesn't like him, Brock even includes his ex-wife's new love interest in his generosity of both spirit and pocketbook.
Though enjoyable, the book failed to live up to what were my expectations.
Thank you to Pantheon Books for an early reader's copy. All opinions are my own.
Brock goes off on tangents often in his writing/narrating which takes the reader from the main point of the chapter. His children and significant other know of his blood test results and are expecting him to go gonzo. To that point, Brock does consider he's been given a license to kill but it really isn't in him.
The bigger story is Brock's love for his family new and past. And though he doesn't like him, Brock even includes his ex-wife's new love interest in his generosity of both spirit and pocketbook.
Though enjoyable, the book failed to live up to what were my expectations.
Thank you to Pantheon Books for an early reader's copy. All opinions are my own.
June 27, 2024
3.5 Stars
Blood Test: A Comedy by Charles Baxter is an intriguing read that blends dark humor with a compelling narrative. The story revolves around a quirky, somewhat dysfunctional family facing an unusual medical crisis, leading to a series of unexpected events and revelations.
Baxter's writing is sharp and witty, and his ability to infuse humor into serious situations is commendable. The characters are vividly drawn, each with their own eccentricities that add depth and entertainment to the story. The protagonist's journey is both relatable and amusing, making it easy to get invested in the outcome.
However, while the humor is a strong point, it occasionally overshadows the emotional core of the story. At times, the balance between comedy and the gravity of the situation feels uneven, which might leave some readers wanting more depth and less levity.
The pacing is generally good, although there are a few moments where the story seems to drag. Despite these minor issues, the book remains engaging and thought-provoking, with plenty of memorable scenes and clever dialogue.
Overall, Blood Test: A Comedy is a delightful, if slightly uneven, read that offers a unique blend of humor and drama. Baxter's skillful storytelling and keen sense of irony make it worth picking up for those who enjoy a good laugh intertwined with life's more serious moments.
Blood Test: A Comedy by Charles Baxter is an intriguing read that blends dark humor with a compelling narrative. The story revolves around a quirky, somewhat dysfunctional family facing an unusual medical crisis, leading to a series of unexpected events and revelations.
Baxter's writing is sharp and witty, and his ability to infuse humor into serious situations is commendable. The characters are vividly drawn, each with their own eccentricities that add depth and entertainment to the story. The protagonist's journey is both relatable and amusing, making it easy to get invested in the outcome.
However, while the humor is a strong point, it occasionally overshadows the emotional core of the story. At times, the balance between comedy and the gravity of the situation feels uneven, which might leave some readers wanting more depth and less levity.
The pacing is generally good, although there are a few moments where the story seems to drag. Despite these minor issues, the book remains engaging and thought-provoking, with plenty of memorable scenes and clever dialogue.
Overall, Blood Test: A Comedy is a delightful, if slightly uneven, read that offers a unique blend of humor and drama. Baxter's skillful storytelling and keen sense of irony make it worth picking up for those who enjoy a good laugh intertwined with life's more serious moments.
May 3, 2024
ARC for review. To be published October 22, 2024.
Kingsboro, Ohio resident Brock Hobson is a divorced dad, an insurance salesman and a Sunday School teacher. Pretty much a good guy. He takes a predictive blood test and gets some disturbing news about his potential proclivities. This begins the drama that turns his life upside down.
And everyone who is a part of his life is involved. There’s his sweet girlfriend, Trey, the paragon of toxic masculinity for whom is wife left him, his ex-wife, herself, Cheryl, who always needs just a little more money from him, and his teenage children, Lena and Joe who are beginning to explore their sexuality. Can Brock come to terms with everything?
From the author of FEAST OF LOVE this is an enjoyable look at fate, middle age and “I think this story has been about love and not about the blood test in the title.” Some great witty moments too, “If you were to ask him where Italy is located on the globe, he wouldn’t know, but he would despise you for asking. Did I mention his hat? No. But you can imagine the hat. I don’t have to explain everything.” Oh, we laughed as we prayed that people did not vote for him! Good book.
Kingsboro, Ohio resident Brock Hobson is a divorced dad, an insurance salesman and a Sunday School teacher. Pretty much a good guy. He takes a predictive blood test and gets some disturbing news about his potential proclivities. This begins the drama that turns his life upside down.
And everyone who is a part of his life is involved. There’s his sweet girlfriend, Trey, the paragon of toxic masculinity for whom is wife left him, his ex-wife, herself, Cheryl, who always needs just a little more money from him, and his teenage children, Lena and Joe who are beginning to explore their sexuality. Can Brock come to terms with everything?
From the author of FEAST OF LOVE this is an enjoyable look at fate, middle age and “I think this story has been about love and not about the blood test in the title.” Some great witty moments too, “If you were to ask him where Italy is located on the globe, he wouldn’t know, but he would despise you for asking. Did I mention his hat? No. But you can imagine the hat. I don’t have to explain everything.” Oh, we laughed as we prayed that people did not vote for him! Good book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews