Mistaken for a famous but reclusive author of the same name, lonely Shriver attends a writers' conference at a small midwestern liberal arts college. Completely unfamiliar with the novel he supposedly wrote and utterly unprepared for the magnitude of the reputation that precedes him, Shriver is feted, fawned over, featured at stuffy literary panels, and barely manages to play it cool. Things quickly go awry when one of the other guest authors suddenly disappears and Shriver becomes a prime suspect in the investigation. Amid eager fans, Shriver must contend with a persistent police detective, a pesky journalist determined to unearth his past, and a mysterious and possibly dangerous stalker who seems to know his secret. But most vexing of all, Shriver has fallen in love with the conference organizer, who believes he's someone else.
When the "real" Shriver (or is he?) arrives to claim his place among the literati, the conference-and Shriver's world-threaten to unravel.
Filled with witty dialogue, hilarious antics, and a cast of bizarre and endearing characters, Shriver is at once a touching love story, a surreal examination of identity, and an affectionate tribute to the power of writing.
"A hoot…In a style somewhere between Evelyn Waugh and Mel Brooks, Belden's satire lampoons all things literary but also, amazingly, convinces us to care about the fools that these mortals be."
"A send-up of academia and literary pretension, as well as a poignant exploration of writerly insecurity."
"Shriver delivers intrigue, a cast of bizarre characters who are also somehow bizarrely believable, and moments of slapstick comedy that are laugh-out-loud funny-all the while exploring the deeply human need for meaning and connection. Read this book!"
"This picaresque and piquant satire of writers, academics, their quirky characters, and content-lacking conferences is reminiscent of David Lodge's satiric spins on academe. Darkly comic, Shriver also reminded me of Martin Scorsese's inversion of The Wizard of Oz in the movie After Hours-the obstacles, the quirky characters, the plot turns and pivots. Despite its ability to laugh at the writing world and its daffy denizens, Shriver nonetheless ultimately affirms the essential importance of the word."
"Hilarious and smart…Academic farces don't come any better."
