Items related to Doctor Syntax
Synopsis
Harmon Nails III, wry observer of the human condition, cynical divorcee, reluctant literary student and reckless sportsman, tracks a priceless stolen heirloom. In the course of his pursuits, Harmon presents bemused readers with a satirical glimpse of academia, the Southern California lifestyle, and the rigors of finding one's identity, sexual and otherwise.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Michael Petracca was conceived in Brooklyn but transported in utero to Los Angeles, where he was born. As a youngster Michael enjoyed watching sudsy clothes tumble in the laundry room. This unnatural behavior evolved into a lifelong passion for surfing. After moving to Santa Barbara in pursuit of advanced degrees, Michael became a full-time lecturer in the Writing Program at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he has taught for the past seventeen years. Michael conducts fiction writing workshops at the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program and Antioch University as well. His publications include novels, such as Doctor Syntax and Captain Zzyzx, college-level writing texts, such as Common Culture and AC/DC (co authored with Madeleine Sorapure and Bonnie Beedles, respectively), short stories and articles on interpreting the products of popular culture, and a fiction writing text that recently came out with Prentice Hall, titled The Graceful Lie.
Review
A sexy, funny romp ... Details on other aspects of Harmon's life: his relationship with his Jewish ma, the night of his biggest poker loss, the surfing experience that almost took his life, etc. ... supply a good share of the comedy and outline Harmon's character even more sharply. -- Santa Cruz Sentinel, Christine Watson
I don't have enough grey cells left to recall all the wonderful passages. The satiric observations about academe had me laughing out loud. It was a great read with great wit, and I'm not sure Petracca hasn't created a genre: pop/sub/contemporary culture/detective. Whatever, it's fabulous, and I enjoyed every page of it. -- Christopher Buckley
Michael Petracca has written a mystery that cleverly reveals his reverence for the genre while madly spoofing it at the same time ... The book is a fast, fun read, whether you are a Rincon surfer or an English teacher, or both, as the author is. -- Santa Barbara News-Press, Joan Crowder
There is a new California writer named Michael Petracca who has just checked in, and he has an antic sense of humor that belongs in a category with Tom Robbins. His two thematically connected novels, Doctor Syntax and Captain Zzyzx, are alternately erudite and silly -- and overwhelmingly funny. -- Prodigy network, Digby Diehl
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherBorgo Pr
- Publication date1991
- ISBN 10 0809540835
- ISBN 13 9780809540839
- BindingPaperback
- LanguageEnglish
- Number of pages272
- Rating
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