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Book Summary and Reviews of The Odds by Stewart O'Nan

The Odds by Stewart O'Nan

The Odds

A Love Story

by Stewart O'Nan

  • Critics' Consensus (1):
  • Readers' Rating (1):
  • Published:
  • Jan 2012, 192 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

Stewart O'Nan's thirteenth novel is another wildly original, bittersweet gem like his celebrated Last Night at the Lobster. Valentine's weekend, Art and Marion Fowler flee their Cleveland suburb for Niagara Falls, desperate to recoup their losses. Jobless, with their home approaching foreclosure, and their marriage on the brink of collapse, Art and Marion liquidate their savings account and book a bridal suite at the Falls' ritziest casino for a second honeymoon. While they sightsee like tourists during the day, at night they risk it all at the roulette wheel to fix their finances - and save their marriage. A tender yet honest exploration of faith, forgiveness and last chances, The Odds is a reminder that love, like life, is always a gamble.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"The plot eventually devolves toward cliché... an otherwise tender tale of imperfection and commitment." - Publishers Weekly

"Readers of contemporary literary fiction should enjoy the subtle dry humor and a story that gains momentum and pitches toward a satisfying, if somewhat ambiguous happy ending." - Library Journal

"Starred Review. How O'Nan saves his story from debilitating darkness or cringing sentimentality presents an impressive reading experience." - Booklist

"An emotional richness permeates this short novel about a couple on the verge of ending their marriage while pondering whether they can salvage it." - Kirkus Reviews

This information about The Odds was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

Reader Reviews

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Diane S.

The Odds by Stewart O'Nan
O'Nan has a singular knack of making the commonplace and mundane of vast interest and importance. Loved the odds statistics he gave at the start of each chapter. The hidden meanings he derives from everyday events, especially those that occur within a long marriage where each character has his or her own secrets, longings and expectations. Another very good read from this author.

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Author Information

Stewart O'Nan Author Biography

Stewart O'Nan's award-winning fiction includes Snow Angels, The Speed Queen, A Prayer for the Dying, and Last Night at the Lobster. Granta named him one of America’s Best Young Novelists. He was born and raised and lives in Pittsburgh.

Author Interview
Link to Stewart O'Nan's Website

Other books by Stewart O'Nan at BookBrowse

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