Zinsky the Tall. Zinsky the Bald. Zinsky the Fascinating!
What a character! Ariel Zinsky is flawed and determined. He is smart and single minded. He is funny, sometimes brutal, and almost always awkward.
I had such a wonderful time reading this book. There were some difficult scenes, to be sure, but they were integral to the story. You won’t always like what he does but I can promise that you will be rooting for him.
Football and literature references are sprinkled throughout this book. As a fan of both of those I was thrilled. Most irresistible are the relationships that Zinsky is involved in. His ties to his mother and his bumbling ways with women struck me as natural and true. His relationship with his father is difficult, to say the least.
Mochari has written a compelling tale about one young man’s journey to manhood that reads like a modern classic. I can’t wait to see what he does next.
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| Ilan Mochari |
Ilan Mochari’s novel, Zinsky the Obscure, has earned rave reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and Booklist. Ilan’s short stories have appeared in Keyhole, Stymie and Ruthie’s Club. He is a contributor to Cognoscenti, the online magazine for Boston’s NPR News Station. He has a B.A. in English from Yale University. He used it to wait tables for nine years in the Boston area.
To see the rest of the stops on this tour please visit TLC Book Tours.
The Relentless Reader 
This sounds great! I did love Perks of Being a Wallflower when I read it years ago, so maybe this'll be perfect for me!Also, glad the guy's name is Ariel. (My poor nephew's name is Jariel, which lots of people assume is a girl's name b/c of the similarity…)
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Jennifer, thank you so much for reviewing — and tweeting about — my book!
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I think you'd really like this one Sarah. I really hope that this book gets the attention that it deserves.Ah yes, my youngest is named Avery and people sometimes assume that she's a boy.
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Thanks for visiting Ilan! It was my pleasure 🙂 Wonderful book, can't wait to see what you have on tap for us!
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This one sounds a little too realistic and contemporary for me, but I'm glad you enjoyed it! Plus, it's always fun when the author stops by your review ^^ Awesome 🙂
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I really loved Perks, though Confederacy of Dunces left me annoyed… And hearing Comic Book Guy's voice in my inner monologue for weeks afterward… Would you say heavier Perks or heavier Dunces?
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Stop building up my TBR. Stop it! Ok, don't stop it.
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Well, this doesn't sound like something I'd usually pick up but the comparison to A Confederacy Of Dunces has totally caught my attention. That's my favourite! I'm always on the lookout for books that remind me of that!
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Isn't that the most fun? 😉 I always get a big happy jolt out of that, lol.
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Perks is a masterpiece 😉 I haven't read Dunces! (Shhh, don't tell anyone!) I would say that this is a work that can't be compared to anything else I've read. I mean, I guess it's a BIT like Perks? Maybe? I'm zero help. Ignore me.
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Muahahahaha! This is my favorite part about book blogging! 😉
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This one is seriously funny and moving. I do hope you pick it up Marie!!
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Zinsky sounds like an awesome character, I want to read this one.
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I thought this book sounded so great when it was first posted on TLC, I was hoping it would be one you would like so I could add it to the old TBR 🙂 It sounds a little like The Unknows, which I just finished and loved, so I'll be keeping an eye out for it.
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Thanks, too, for posting the review on Amazon and Goodreads!
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This book sounds like so much fun! The Perks of Being a Wallflower was one of my favorite books in high school, so I'm definitely interested in this one!
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Yes you DO! One of the best characters I've come across!
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I almost didn't say yes to review this one but I'm SO glad that I did! Definitely keep your eyes peeled for this one Shannon!
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You betcha! (That's Midwestern for \”You're welcome\”) 😉
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It really was a lot of fun! Crazy and awkward and good 🙂
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Sounds like a good one, different from all the usual plots out there. Glad you liked it.
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Indeed it was. Both good AND different! 😀
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Oh my, I regret not accepting this one now… I think it kind of scared me. I'll put this on my TBR now, for sure!
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I'm so glad you reviewed this one today, I had meant to put it on my TBR list a while back… went to double check just now, and I hadn't! You know how I love something different. 🙂
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Oh rats! You'll definitely have to pick up a copy!!
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Oooh ooh, go read it! I want to hear what you think! 😀
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Wow, \”reads like a modern classic\” is a great recommendation for sure! I'm glad you enjoyed getting to know Zinsky!Thanks for being on the tour. I'm featuring your review on TLC's Facebook page today.
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It was so good. SO GOOD. 🙂 Thanks Heather, I appreciate that!
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I looooove when books have literary references, especially ones I recognize! -Rebecca @ Love at First Book
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Ditto 🙂 It always gives me a little jolt for some reason, lol. I'm easily amused?
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I don't think I will enjoy this one hey…. But thanks for sharing your thoughts 🙂
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No? That's too bad. But not every book is for everybody right? It would be a boring world if that were the case 🙂
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