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xmlHttp.send(null); idtohide = "loading"; document.getElementById("loading").style.display = 'block'; } function showall(lang) { $('relatedtagsarea'+lang).innerHTML = ''; if (!lang) { $('loader').show(); } var url = "/ajaxinc_showbooktags.php"; var params = "work=9332750&all=1&print=1&doit=1&lang="+lang; basic_ajax( url, params, function(r) { $('relatedtagsarea'+lang).innerHTML = r.responseText; if (!lang) { $('loader').hide(); } }); } function change_swapcolumnpreference(checkbox) { currentid = 'swapspan'; createXMLHttpRequest(); xmlHttp.onreadystatechange = handleStateChange; if (checkbox.checked) { var URL = "/ajax_changeswapcolumnprefs.php?checked=1" } else { var URL = "/ajax_changeswapcolumnprefs.php?checked=0"; } xmlHttp.open("GET", URL, true); xmlHttp.send(null); document.getElementById("swapspan").innerHTML = " (saving)"; } // following added csd because it got left out of redesign of works page. function loadlanguages(lang, lang2, lang_original) { currentid = 'languagediv'; //Ajax thing createXMLHttpRequest(); xmlHttp.onreadystatechange = handleStateChange; xmlHttp.open("GET", "/ajax_cardedit_loadlanguages.php?lang="+lang+"&lang2="+lang2+"&lang_original="+lang_original, true); xmlHttp.send(null); document.getElementById("loading").innerHTML = "Loading..."; } function loadScore(work) { var url = '/ajax_willilikeit.php?work=' + work; basic_ajax_updater(url, null, 'score'); return false; } function ajax_work_makeworkCloud(work, check) { var url = '/ajax_work_makeworkCloud.php?work=' + work + '&check=' + check; basic_ajax_updater( url, null, 'ajax_work_makeworkCloud' ); } var clickedISBN=''; var removeRelationshipConfirm = "Are you sure?"; function sizeImage() { var mainCoverWidth = $J('#mainCover').width(); var mainCoverHeight = $J('#mainCover').height(); if(mainCoverWidth == 1 && mainCoverHeight == 1) { var imageUrl = $J('#mainCover').attr('src'); var url = "/ajax_problemcoverreporter.php?cover="+imageUrl; basic_ajax_updater(url, null, 'problemcoverreporter'); } } function onchange_upgradeauthors() { var upgradeauthors = $('upgradeauthors').getValue(); 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Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.</div></div></div> </div><div id="gbss"> <h1>Results from Google Books</h1> <p>Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.</p> <div id="gbss_content"></div> </div><div class="content summary"><input type="hidden" name="cgtag_lb_title" value="CoverGuess Tags" id="cgtag_lb_title" class="" ><input type="hidden" name="work" value="9332750" id="work" class="" > <table class="wrapper" width="100%" border=0> <col width="160"> <col> <col width="210"> <tr> <td class="left"><div id="maincover"><a href="#" onclick="si_info('isbn_0385343663'); return false;"><img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/fugue21/magnifier-left.png" class="icon"></a><img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0385343663.01._SX180_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg" srcset="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0385343663.01._SX360_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg 2x, https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0385343663.01._SX540_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg 3x" /></div><div class="leftnav workleftnav alwaysblue noline"><ul><li class="first selected"><a href="/work/9332750/summary">Main page</a></li> <li class="gap"><a href="/work/9332750/workdetails">Work details</a></li> <li class="gap"><a href="/work/9332750/reviews">Reviews</a> <span class="count">(229)</span></li> <li ><a href="/work/9332750/recommendations">Recommendations</a></li> <li ><a href="/work/9332750/members">Members</a></li> <li ><a href="/work/9332750/descriptions">Descriptions</a></li> <li ><a href="/work/9332750/conversations">Conversations</a> <span class="count">(293)</span></li> <li ><a href="/work/9332750/commonknowledge">Common Knowledge</a></li> <li ><a href="/work/9332750/popularity">Popularity</a></li> <li ><a href="/work/9332750/covers">Cover images</a></li> <li ><a href="/work/9332750/editions">Editions</a></li></ul></div> </td> <td class="middle" id="middleColumn"> <div id="loading">Loading...</div><div class="headsummary"><h1>The Imperfectionists <span class="date">(2010)</span></h1><h2>by <a href="/author/rachmantom">Tom Rachman</a><hr></h2><div class="authorsandseries"><h3><b>Other authors:</b> See the <a href="#otherauthors">other authors</a> section.</h3></div></div><div class="wslcontainer"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="wsltable"><tr class="wslheader"><td width="18%" class="firstchild">Members</td><td width="18%">Reviews</td><td width="18%">Popularity</td><td width="22%">Average rating</td><td width="25%" class="lastchild">Mentions</td></tr><tr class="wslcontent"><td valign="middle" class="firstchild"><a href="/work/9332750/members">3,859</a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="/work/9332750/reviews">229</a></td><td valign="middle"><a href="/work/9332750/popularity">3,419</a></td><td valign="middle"><nobr><a href="/work/9332750/members"><img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/ss7.gif" style="margin-bottom: -2px;"></a> <span class="dark_hint">(3.66)</span></nobr></td><td valign="middle" class="lastchild"><a href="/work/9332750/conversations">293</a></td></tr><tr class="wslcontent wslsummary"><td colspan="7" class="lastchild"><div class="" >An "imperfect" crew of reporters and editors working for an international English language newspaper stumble toward an uncertain future as the era of print news gives way to the Internet age. The story is set against the gorgeous backdrop of Rome.</div class="" ></td></tr></table></div><div id="workpagesort_10" class="quickedit light flipped"><div class="nav"><div class="sectionhead_rbutcontainer"><span style="font-size:9px;font-weight:normal;"><a value="all members" value="all members" class="func_lt2_display_ui lt2button btn ltbtn-button-float-right btn-tiny btn-default" type="button" role="button" href="/work/9332750/members/" ><span class="btntxt">all members</span></a></span></div><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'members', 'u_8f4b5cbc', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>Members</span><span class="sectionTitleST"></span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_8f4b5cbc" style="display:block;"><table class="wstable" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td class="label memberlistLabel"><span style="white-space:nowrap;text-align:right;">Recently 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class="thumbvoter" id="vote_6_86539"><span class="main"><i class="far fa-thumbs-up votethumb"></i><span class="gray">0</span><i class="far fa-thumbs-down votethumb"></i><span class="gray">0</span></span></div><a href="/work/10691842" data-workid="10691842" data-title="Ladies-and-Gentlemen" class="" >Ladies and Gentlemen</a> by <a href="/author/rossadam">Adam Ross</a> <span class="by">(<a href="/profile/marie-dune">marie-dune</a>)</span></li><li><div class="thumbvoter" id="vote_6_96807"><span class="main"><i class="far fa-thumbs-up votethumb"></i><span class="gray">0</span><i class="far fa-thumbs-down votethumb"></i><span class="gray">0</span></span></div><a href="/work/2710485" data-workid="2710485" data-title="Office-Politics" class="" >Office Politics</a> by <a href="/author/sheedwilfrid">Wilfrid Sheed</a> <span class="by">(<a href="/profile/giovannigf">giovannigf</a>)</span><blockquote class="" ><a href="/profile/giovannigf">giovannigf</a>: Office Politics reads like a direct predecessor to The Imperfectionists: a fairly realistic (and biting) satire of the machinations behind a literary magazine, described from the point of view of each of the main characters.</blockquote class="" ></li><li><div class="thumbvoter" id="vote_6_92326"><span class="main"><i class="far fa-thumbs-up votethumb"></i><span class="gray">0</span><i class="far fa-thumbs-down votethumb"></i>1</span></div><a href="/work/65541" data-workid="65541" data-title="Amsterdam" class="" >Amsterdam</a> by <a href="/author/mcewanian">Ian McEwan</a> <span class="by">(<a href="/profile/BookshelfMonstrosity">BookshelfMonstrosity</a>)</span></li><li><div class="thumbvoter" id="vote_6_102168"><span class="main"><i class="far fa-thumbs-up votethumb"></i><span class="gray">0</span><i class="far fa-thumbs-down votethumb"></i>1</span></div><a href="/work/35156" data-workid="35156" data-title="44-Scotland-Street" class="" >44 Scotland Street</a> by <a href="/author/smithalexandermccall">Alexander McCall 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'profile'); return false;">show all</a>)</div><div class="bookReview"><div class="bookReview_content"><div id="brtext_273665867" class="commentText brslop"><div class="brev_cover"><a href="/work/9332750" data-workid="9332750" class="" ><img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0385343663.01._SX100_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg" srcset="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0385343663.01._SX200_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg 2x, https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0385343663.01._SX300_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg 3x" class="bookReview_cover cover" /></a></div><div class="commentHeader"></div>smart, funny, dark - there is a lot to like in this novel, and i enjoyed it a lot. i enjoyed the different eras and perspectives of this fictional newspaper and its cast of characters. there were two moments that actually made me go "WTF?!?!", and that showed rachman to be a bit of a dark and twisty soul. while i know where this story was headed, once i got there it felt too abrupt and not quite as solid as the rest of the book. i also felt there were some inconsistencies in how characters/story lines were handled. but neither of these criticisms were enough to seriously impact my enjoyment of this novel. <span class="rating">( <img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/ss8.gif"> )</span></div><div id="rfd_273665867" class="reviewFlagDialogBox"></div><div class="commentFooter"><span class="reviewMods"><span class="reviewVoteInfo"><span class="reviewVoteCount" id="rvc_273665867"> </span> </span><span class="reviewFlags"> <img id="rfi1_273665867" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/flag-trans.gif"> <img id="rfi2_273665867" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/flag-trans.gif"><span id="rfrf_273665867"> </span></span></span> <span class="controlItems ci3"><a href="/profile/JuniperD" target="_top">JuniperD</a> | Oct 19, 2024 | <a href="/review/273665867"><img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/permalink.gif" width="16" height="7"></a></span> </div></div></div><div class="bookReview"><div class="bookReview_content"><div id="brtext_273619467" class="commentText brslop"><div class="brev_cover"><a href="/work/9332750" data-workid="9332750" class="" ><img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0385343663.01._SX100_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg" srcset="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0385343663.01._SX200_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg 2x, https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0385343663.01._SX300_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg 3x" class="bookReview_cover cover" /></a></div><div class="commentHeader"></div>I was waiting for something at the end to tie everyone together, but then I realized part of what makes this novel so good is that the reader makes those connections and the author doesn't waste space spelling it out. Some of the characters are odd and maybe I would've enjoyed more if I had ever worked for a newspaper. I will read more from this author, but not this one again. <span class="rating">( <img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/ss6.gif"> )</span></div><div id="rfd_273619467" class="reviewFlagDialogBox"></div><div class="commentFooter"><span class="reviewMods"><span class="reviewVoteInfo"><span class="reviewVoteCount" id="rvc_273619467"> </span> </span><span class="reviewFlags"> <img id="rfi1_273619467" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/flag-trans.gif"> <img id="rfi2_273619467" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/flag-trans.gif"><span id="rfrf_273619467"> </span></span></span> <span class="controlItems ci3"><a href="/profile/jenbanks208" target="_top">jenbanks208</a> | Oct 18, 2024 | <a href="/review/273619467"><img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/permalink.gif" width="16" height="7"></a></span> </div></div></div><div class="bookReview"><div class="bookReview_content"><div id="brtext_273267231" class="commentText brslop"><div class="brev_cover"><a href="/work/9332750" data-workid="9332750" class="" ><img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0385343663.01._SX100_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg" srcset="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0385343663.01._SX200_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg 2x, https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0385343663.01._SX300_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg 3x" class="bookReview_cover cover" /></a></div><div class="commentHeader"></div>I don't know why I thought this book would be funny, must have been an impression I picked up during the purchasing process. It wasn't funny. In fact, it was unrelentingly grim. I enjoyed it quite a lot (grim doesn't turn me off) and did not find, as many others here did, that it was excessively stereotyped. Each character was unhappy in their own, unique way. For me, the structure did hold together. The individual stories were fleshed out just enough to pad the skeleton story. And it was enough. I don't think I would like to know more or read more about any one of the individual characters than I was given. I don't understand the attention that is given to the fact that the novel is about a newspaper. I think any enterprise could have been substituted to the same effect: a restaurant, a classroom, a law firm, a car rental agency. The real story is the back story and not enough detail or attention or importance is placed on the fact of the newspaper to make it of any particular relevance. Nor do I understand the attention give to the fact that it is set in Rome. The fact that Rome is of no relevance whatsoever is deftly handled by one small handprinted sign indicating that the office is outside the country. I did not pick up enough detail about the newspaper business or Rome to make me believe that the novel was written by anyone with more than a passing acquaintance with either. Regardless, I found the back stories intriguing and persuasive. All of the tragedy and misery of people's individual lives shouldered daily and dragged to work, set down underneath the desk while the work day proceeds, to be picked up and carried home at the end of the day. With one or two exceptions the stories are well written and touching and for me the characters are exposed enough to allow me to empathize with them rather than view them as sad specimens. <span class="rating">( <img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/ss6.gif"> )</span></div><div id="rfd_273267231" class="reviewFlagDialogBox"></div><div class="commentFooter"><span class="reviewMods"><span class="reviewVoteInfo"><span class="reviewVoteCount" id="rvc_273267231"> </span> </span><span class="reviewFlags"> <img id="rfi1_273267231" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/flag-trans.gif"> <img id="rfi2_273267231" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/flag-trans.gif"><span id="rfrf_273267231"> </span></span></span> <span class="controlItems ci3"><a href="/profile/kgabriel" target="_top">kgabriel</a> | Oct 11, 2024 | <a href="/review/273267231"><img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/permalink.gif" width="16" height="7"></a></span> </div></div></div><div class="bookReview"><div class="bookReview_content"><div id="brtext_95485956" class="commentText brslop"><div class="brev_cover"><a href="/work/9332750" data-workid="9332750" class="" ><img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0385343663.01._SX100_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg" srcset="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0385343663.01._SX200_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg 2x, https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0385343663.01._SX300_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg 3x" class="bookReview_cover cover" /></a></div><div class="commentHeader"></div><i>The Imperfectionists</i> has received nothing but rave reviews at work; in fact, "we" loved it so much that we sent out an email to our customers offering a discount on it, just in an attempt to share it with as many people as possible. So as you can imagine, I was REALLY anxious to get my hands on it! Well, it took a while; the galley was in high demand amongst the staff. But I was patient, and waited in line, and eventually I was rewarded when my turn came up.<br><br>I greatly enjoyed it, but I did not love it with the same fervor and intensity as my colleagues. (As a side note, once I admitted this fact, there were several others who agreed that they felt a bit let down after the storewide buzz about it.) That is not to say it isn't a wonderful book. It's beautifully written; it has great, fully developed characters who are both quirky and entertaining; it offers a multifaceted and engaging window into the world of newspaper publishing, both in the 1950s (when the paper is founded) and now, as newspapers are a kind of endangered news form. In fact, in my opinion it has all the necessary ingredients of a great novel. <i>The Imperfectionists</i> is actually a collection of short stories, woven around the common thread of the newspaper. Each main character has a chapter, but also makes cameos in other chapters, a technique that adds dimension and offers the reader a multiple perspectives. Despite the fact that it is a connected collection of stories, it does read more like a novel. <br><br>So what is my complaint? What was missing for me? I'm not really sure, to be honest. Maybe nothing. I read the whole thing, I enjoyed it from start to finish, it held my interest and kept me entertained. But I was not in love with it. I recommend you pick up a copy and see for yourself! <span class="rating">( <img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/ss8.gif"> )</span></div><div id="rfd_95485956" class="reviewFlagDialogBox"></div><div class="commentFooter"><span class="reviewMods"><span class="reviewVoteInfo"><span class="reviewVoteCount" id="rvc_95485956"> </span> </span><span class="reviewFlags"> <img id="rfi1_95485956" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/flag-trans.gif"> <img id="rfi2_95485956" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/flag-trans.gif"><span id="rfrf_95485956"> </span></span></span> <span class="controlItems ci3"><a href="/profile/kdegour23" target="_top">kdegour23</a> | May 29, 2024 | <a href="/review/95485956"><img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/permalink.gif" width="16" height="7"></a></span> </div></div></div><div class="bookReview"><div class="bookReview_content"><div id="brtext_96298149" class="commentText brslop"><div class="brev_cover"><a href="/work/9332750" data-workid="9332750" class="" ><img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0385343663.01._SX100_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg" srcset="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0385343663.01._SX200_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg 2x, https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0385343663.01._SX300_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg 3x" class="bookReview_cover cover" /></a></div><div class="commentHeader"></div>Funny at times, poignant at others, tale of the rise and fall of an English-language paper in Rome. (The author worked at the International Herald Tribune.) Each chapter relates a different character's story linked together by the author's tone and their work at the paper. Wonderfully quotable descriptions throughout, plus chapter titles. <span class="rating">( <img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/ss8.gif"> )</span></div><div id="rfd_96298149" class="reviewFlagDialogBox"></div><div class="commentFooter"><span class="reviewMods"><span class="reviewVoteInfo"><span class="reviewVoteCount" id="rvc_96298149"> </span> </span><span class="reviewFlags"> <img id="rfi1_96298149" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/flag-trans.gif"> <img id="rfi2_96298149" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/flag-trans.gif"><span id="rfrf_96298149"> </span></span></span> <span class="controlItems ci3"><a href="/profile/featherbooks" target="_top">featherbooks</a> | May 7, 2024 | <a href="/review/96298149"><img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/permalink.gif" width="16" height="7"></a></span> </div></div></div><div class='reviewnav'><div class="right"><strong><a href="#" onclick="loadReviewsIntoContainer('',0,3,3,'wp_reviews',5,'','9332750','',false, null, 'profile');return false;">date<span class="sortArrow"> ▼</span></a></strong> | <a href="#" onclick="loadReviewsIntoContainer('',0,2,3,'wp_reviews',5,'','9332750','',false, null, 'profile'); return false;">votes</a></div>Showing 1-5 of 219 (<a href="#" onclick="loadReviewsIntoContainer('',5,0,3,'wp_reviews',5,'','9332750','', false, null, 'profile'); return false;">next</a> | <a href="#" onclick="loadReviewsIntoContainer('',0,0,3,'wp_reviews',10000,'','9332750','', false, null, 'profile'); return false;">show all</a>)</div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="workpagesort_53" class="quickedit light flipped"><div class="nav"><div class="sectionhead_rbutcontainer" style="float: right;"><span class="sectionTitleHelp"><span class="sectionTitleHelp"><a href="https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/Published_Reviews" class="blacklink" title="Help"><img style="vertical-align:middle;" class="helpIcon" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/helpq.png" alt="?"></a></span></span></div> <a name="publishedreviews"></a><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'mediareviews', 'u_3205eec7', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>Published reviews</span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_3205eec7" style="display:block;"><div id="mediareviews_container"><div id="mediareviews"><table class="sa_tools" id="u_b1cb1ae6_link"><tr><td id="left">7 reviews</td><td id="center"><a href="#" onclick="LibraryThing.mediareviews.edit({'workid':'9332750'});return false;">add a review</a></td><td id="right"> thingScore <a href="https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/Published_Reviews"><span class="mre_score mre_score_default">unrated</span></a></td></tr></table><div class="bookReview" mr_id="19293" style="font-size:12px;"><span style="float: right; margin: 5px 0px 5px 6px;"><span id="rate-u_58270fb4" title="0.0 Stars" aria-title="0.0 Stars" class="rating rating-style-2 " data-fn="ratingWidget_fromSettingsA" ></span></span><div id="brtext_19293" class="commentText">The novel is alternately hilarious and heart-wrenching, and it's assembled like a Rubik's Cube. I almost feel sorry for Rachman, because a debut of this order sets the bar so high.</div><div class="commentFooter" style="clear: right;"><span class="reviewMods"><span class="mredit">added by <a href="/profile/lkernagh">lkernagh</a> | <a title="edit review" href="#" onclick="LibraryThing.mediareviews.edit({'mr_id':'19293', 'workid':'9332750'});return false;">edit</a></span></span><span class="controlItems"><a href="http://news.scotsman.com/arts/Book-Review-The-Imperfectionists.6296525.jp" target="_top" class="nowrap"><span class="nowrap mre_source">The Scotsman</span>, <span class="nowrap"> Christopher Buckley</span></a> <span rawdate="1274068800" class="nowrap">(May 17, 2010)</span></span></div><div style="clear:both;height:1px;"> </div></div><div class="bookReview" mr_id="19291" style="font-size:12px;"><span style="float: right; margin: 5px 0px 5px 6px;"><span id="rate-u_658d585a" title="0.0 Stars" aria-title="0.0 Stars" class="rating rating-style-2 " data-fn="ratingWidget_fromSettingsA" ></span></span><div id="brtext_19291" class="commentText">Enjoy "The Imperfectionists" for the gem that it is. </div><div class="commentFooter" style="clear: right;"><span class="reviewMods"><span class="mredit">added by <a href="/profile/lkernagh">lkernagh</a> | <a title="edit review" href="#" onclick="LibraryThing.mediareviews.edit({'mr_id':'19291', 'workid':'9332750'});return false;">edit</a></span></span><span class="controlItems"><a href="http://www.denverpost.com/books/ci_15034211" target="_top" class="nowrap"><span class="nowrap mre_source">The Denver Post</span>, <span class="nowrap"> Robin Vidimos</span></a> <span rawdate="1273377600" class="nowrap">(May 9, 2010)</span></span></div><div style="clear:both;height:1px;"> </div></div><div class="bookReview" mr_id="19289" style="font-size:12px;"><span style="float: right; margin: 5px 0px 5px 6px;"><span id="rate-u_11d0b52f" title="0.0 Stars" aria-title="0.0 Stars" class="rating rating-style-2 " data-fn="ratingWidget_fromSettingsA" ></span></span><div id="brtext_19289" class="commentText">"The Imperfectionists" is about what happens when professionals realize that their craft no longer has meaning in the world's eyes (think of all those hardworking monk-scribes idled by Gutenberg) and that the only people who really understand them are on the same foundering ship, and that, come to think of it, they really loved that damn ship for all it made their lives hell. </div><div class="commentFooter" style="clear: right;"><span class="reviewMods"><span class="mredit">added by <a href="/profile/lkernagh">lkernagh</a> | <a title="edit review" href="#" onclick="LibraryThing.mediareviews.edit({'mr_id':'19289', 'workid':'9332750'});return false;">edit</a></span></span><span class="controlItems"><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/30/AR2010043002138.html" target="_top" class="nowrap"><span class="nowrap mre_source">The Washinton Post</span>, <span class="nowrap"> Louis Bayard</span></a> <span rawdate="1272686400" class="nowrap">(May 1, 2010)</span></span></div><div style="clear:both;height:1px;"> </div></div><div class="bookReview" mr_id="19292" style="font-size:12px;"><span style="float: right; margin: 5px 0px 5px 6px;"><span id="rate-u_a24915ed" title="0.0 Stars" aria-title="0.0 Stars" class="rating rating-style-2 " data-fn="ratingWidget_fromSettingsA" ></span></span><div id="brtext_19292" class="commentText">He's both testing and tender towards his people - their loneliness and purposelessness, moments of cleaving awareness ("one day, his son will die"), capabilities for love and commitment, devotion to kids, awareness of the fading future of a faded friend. It's convincing and compassionate; amusing and affectionate. In fact, it's a bit of a jewel.</div><div class="commentFooter" style="clear: right;"><span class="reviewMods"><span class="mredit">added by <a href="/profile/lkernagh">lkernagh</a> | <a title="edit review" href="#" onclick="LibraryThing.mediareviews.edit({'mr_id':'19292', 'workid':'9332750'});return false;">edit</a></span></span><span class="controlItems"><a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10637909" target="_top" class="nowrap"><span class="nowrap mre_source">The New Zealand Herald</span>, <span class="nowrap"> David Hill</span></a> <span rawdate="1271131200" class="nowrap">(Apr 13, 2010)</span></span></div><div style="clear:both;height:1px;"> </div></div><div class="bookReview" mr_id="19288" style="font-size:12px;"><span style="float: right; margin: 5px 0px 5px 6px;"><span id="rate-u_2e77c3ea" title="0.0 Stars" aria-title="0.0 Stars" class="rating rating-style-2 " data-fn="ratingWidget_fromSettingsA" ></span></span><div id="brtext_19288" class="commentText">Anyone who has ever spent time in newspaperland will recognise The Imperfectionists' high degree of authenticity. So – you hope – will quite a few people beyond it. The citadel may be crumbling, but the righteousness of the defenders, miraculously, endures.</div><div class="commentFooter" style="clear: right;"><span class="reviewMods"><span class="mredit">added by <a href="/profile/lkernagh">lkernagh</a> | <a title="edit review" href="#" onclick="LibraryThing.mediareviews.edit({'mr_id':'19288', 'workid':'9332750'});return false;">edit</a></span></span><span class="controlItems"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/apr/10/the-imperfectionists-tom-rachman-review" target="_top" class="nowrap"><span class="nowrap mre_source">The Guardian</span>, <span class="nowrap"> DJ Taylor</span></a> <span rawdate="1270872000" class="nowrap">(Apr 10, 2010)</span></span></div><div style="clear:both;height:1px;"> </div></div><div id="u_b1cb1ae6" style="display:none;"><div class="bookReview" mr_id="19290" style="font-size:12px;"><span style="float: right; margin: 5px 0px 5px 6px;"><span id="rate-u_9a707d90" title="0.0 Stars" aria-title="0.0 Stars" class="rating rating-style-2 " data-fn="ratingWidget_fromSettingsA" ></span></span><div id="brtext_19290" class="commentText">Time and again Rachman homes in on the human drama of the invisible people who make the institution tick, deftly capturing the petty rivalries and small kindnesses that give any workplace its human dimension.</div><div class="commentFooter" style="clear: right;"><span class="reviewMods"><span class="mredit">added by <a href="/profile/lkernagh">lkernagh</a> | <a title="edit review" href="#" onclick="LibraryThing.mediareviews.edit({'mr_id':'19290', 'workid':'9332750'});return false;">edit</a></span></span><span class="controlItems"><a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/life-aboard-the-sinking-ship/story-e6frg8nf-1225825894456" target="_top" class="nowrap"><span class="nowrap mre_source">The Australian</span>, <span class="nowrap"> James Bradley</span></a> <span rawdate="1265432400" class="nowrap">(Feb 6, 2010)</span></span></div><div style="clear:both;height:1px;"> </div></div><div class="bookReview" mr_id="19294" style="font-size:12px;"><span style="float: right; margin: 5px 0px 5px 6px;"><span id="rate-u_82989552" title="0.0 Stars" aria-title="0.0 Stars" class="rating rating-style-2 " data-fn="ratingWidget_fromSettingsA" ></span></span><div id="brtext_19294" class="commentText">this book is filled with gorgeous writing, jolts of insight and narrative surprises that feel both unexpected and inevitable. One finishes reading The Imperfectionists with the sense that Rachman not only knows his way around a newsroom, but is also well acquainted with storytelling masters such as Anton Chekhov and William Trevor.</div><div class="commentFooter" style="clear: right;"><span class="reviewMods"><span class="mredit">added by <a href="/profile/lkernagh">lkernagh</a> | <a title="edit review" href="#" onclick="LibraryThing.mediareviews.edit({'mr_id':'19294', 'workid':'9332750'});return false;">edit</a></span></span><span class="controlItems"><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/books/review-the-imperfectionists-by-tom-rachman/article1592414/" target="_top" class="nowrap"><span class="nowrap mre_source">The Globe and Mail</span>, <span class="nowrap"> Kevin Chong</span></a></span></div><div style="clear:both;height:1px;"> </div></div></div><div class="sa_tools"><a href="#" onclick="$('u_b1cb1ae6').toggle();$('u_b1cb1ae6_sa').toggle();$('u_b1cb1ae6_h').toggle();return false;"><span id="u_b1cb1ae6_sa">show all</span><span style="display:none;" id="u_b1cb1ae6_h">hide extra</span></a></div></div> </div></div></div><div id="workpagesort_56" class="quickedit light flipped"><div class="nav"><a name="otherauthors"></a><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'otherauthors', 'u_7fff6ccb', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>Other authors</span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_7fff6ccb" style="display:block;"><div id="otherauthors_container"><p style="margin-top: 5px !important;"><a href="javascript:otherauthors_edit(9332750)">» Add other authors (4 possible)</a></p><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" class="otherauthor"><tr class="head"><td>Author name</td><td>Role</td><td>Type of author</td><td>Work?</td><td>Status</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/author/rachmantom">Rachman, Tom</a></td><td>—</td><td>primary author</td><td>all editions</td><td>confirmed</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/author/apunenmatti">Apunen, Matti</a></td><td>Translator</td><td>secondary author</td><td>some editions</td><td>confirmed</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/author/bachmanbarbaram">Bachman, Barbara M.</a></td><td>Designer</td><td>secondary author</td><td>some editions</td><td>confirmed</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/author/biermannpieke">Biermann, Pieke</a></td><td>Translator</td><td>secondary author</td><td>some editions</td><td>confirmed</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/author/devicqdecumptichrobe">de Vicq de Cumptich, Roberto</a></td><td>Cover designer</td><td>secondary author</td><td>some editions</td><td>confirmed</td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="workpagesort_57" class="quickedit light flipped"><div class="nav"><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'relationships', 'u_bcfc0537', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>Series and work relationships</span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_bcfc0537" style="display:block;"><div id="seriesforwork_container"><h2>Belongs to Publisher Series</h2><div><a href="/nseries/256258/dtv" class="" >dtv</a> (14097)</div><div><a href="/nseries/259104/dtv-premium" class="" >dtv premium</a> (24821)</div></div><div id="relationships_container"></div></div></div><div id="workpagesort_59" class="quickedit light flipped"><div class="nav"><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'newaward', 'u_1e217bfd', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>Awards and Honors</span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_1e217bfd" style="display:block;"><div id="newawardforwork_container"><h2>Awards</h2><div id="u_e2868dc8" class="lt_itemlist"><div class="ltil_item " ><div><a href="/award/1744/Canadian-Authors-Association-Award" class="" >Canadian Authors Association Award</a> (<a href="/award/1744.1/Canadian-Authors-Association-Award-Winner">Winner</a> – <a href="/award/1744.0.5/Canadian-Authors-Association-Award-Fiction">Fiction</a> – <a href="/award/1744.0.0.2011/Canadian-Authors-Association-Award-2011">2011</a>)</div></div><div class="ltil_item " ><div><a href="/award/1209/Giller-Prize" class="" >Giller Prize</a> (<a href="/award/1209.3/Giller-Prize-Longlist">Longlist</a> – <a href="/award/1209.0.0.2010/Giller-Prize-2010">2010</a>)</div></div><div class="ltil_item " ><div><a href="/award/945/International-Dublin-Literary-Award" class="" >International Dublin Literary Award</a> (<a href="/award/945.3/International-Dublin-Literary-Award-Longlist">Longlist</a> – <a href="/award/945.0.0.2012/International-Dublin-Literary-Award-2012">2012</a>)</div></div></div><h2>Distinctions</h2><div id="u_3ce85318" class="lt_itemlist"><div class="ltil_item " ><div><a href="/award/229/Christian-Science-Monitor-Best-Book" class="" >Christian Science Monitor Best Book</a> (<a href="/award/229.0.5/Christian-Science-Monitor-Best-Book-Fiction">Fiction</a> – <a href="/award/229.0.0.2010/Christian-Science-Monitor-Best-Book-2010">2010</a>)</div></div><div class="ltil_item " ><div><a href="/award/1/New-York-Times-bestseller" class="" >New York Times bestseller</a> (<a href="/award/1.0.5/New-York-Times-bestseller-Fiction">Fiction</a> – <a href="/award/1.0.0.2010/New-York-Times-bestseller-2010">2010</a>)</div></div><div class="ltil_item " ><div><a href="/award/94/The-New-York-Times-Notable-Books-of-the-Year" class="" >The New York Times Notable Books of the Year</a> (<a href="/award/94.0.2234/The-New-York-Times-Notable-Books-of-the-Year-Fiction-Poetry">Fiction & Poetry</a> – <a href="/award/94.0.0.2010/The-New-York-Times-Notable-Books-of-the-Year-2010">2010</a>)</div></div><div class="ltil_item " ><div><a href="/award/297/Publishers-Weeklys-Best-Books-of-the-Year" class="" >Publishers Weekly's Best Books of the Year</a> (<a href="/award/297.0.5/Publishers-Weeklys-Best-Books-of-the-Year-Fiction">Fiction</a> – <a href="/award/297.0.0.2010/Publishers-Weeklys-Best-Books-of-the-Year-2010">2010</a>)</div></div><div class="ltil_item " ><div><a href="/award/202/San-Francisco-Chronicle-Best-Book-of-the-Year" class="" >San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year</a> (<a href="/award/202.0.5/San-Francisco-Chronicle-Best-Book-of-the-Year-Fiction">Fiction</a> – <a href="/award/202.0.0.2010/San-Francisco-Chronicle-Best-Book-of-the-Year-2010">2010</a>)</div></div></div><h2>Notable Lists</h2><div id="u_ff56217f" class="lt_itemlist"><div class="ltil_item " ><div><a href="/award/486/100-Best-Books-of-2010-2015-by-The-Oyster-Editors" class="" >100 Best Books of 2010-2015 by The Oyster Editors</a></div></div><div class="ltil_item " ><div><a href="/award/423/Globe-and-Mail-Top-100-Book" class="" >Globe and Mail Top 100 Book</a> (<a href="/award/423.0.4197/Globe-and-Mail-Top-100-Book-Canadian-Fiction">Canadian Fiction</a> – <a href="/award/423.0.0.2010/Globe-and-Mail-Top-100-Book-2010">2010</a>)</div></div><div class="ltil_item " ><div><a href="/award/15247/King-County-Library-System-Best-Books" class="" >King County Library System Best Books</a> (<a href="/award/15247.0.22339/King-County-Library-System-Best-Books-Fiction-Books">Fiction Books</a> – <a href="/award/15247.0.0.2010/King-County-Library-System-Best-Books-2010">2010</a>)</div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="workpagesort_60" class="quickedit light flipped"><div class="nav"><div class="sectionhead_rbutcontainer"><a value="view history" value="view history" class="func_lt2_display_ui lt2button btn btn-tiny btn-default" type="button" role="button" href="/commonknowledge/changelog.php?item=9332750&type=1" ><span class="btntxt">view history</span></a></div><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'ck', 'u_c193b8c3', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>Common Knowledge</span><span class="sectionTitleST"></span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_c193b8c3" style="display:block;"><div id="fwikiContainerTablediv"><table class="fwikiContainerTable ch1 " fn="inlineWikiItemsContent"> <tr> <td COLSPAN="2"> <div class="fwikiHint fwikiTopHint"><div class="fwikiWarningHint">You must <a href="/">log in</a> to edit Common Knowledge data.</div> For more help see the <a href="https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/Common_Knowledge">Common Knowledge help page</a>. </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_canonicaltitle"></a>Canonical title</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_d54fac05' itemType='1' itemNum='9332750' fieldType='21' name='u_d54fac05' allowmultiple='0' hasHistory = '1' fieldName = 'canonicaltitle' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Authoritative title for a work in the language of the site you are on' ><div class='fwikiItem divcanonicaltitle'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/commonknowledge/search.php?q=The+Imperfectionists&f=21&exact=1&type=1">The Imperfectionists</a> </div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_originaltitle"></a>Original title</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_6c0ca01e' itemType='1' itemNum='9332750' fieldType='41' name='u_6c0ca01e' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '1' fieldName = 'originaltitle' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = 'The original title in the original language' ><div class='fwikiItem divoriginaltitle'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/commonknowledge/search.php?q=The+imperfectionists&f=41&exact=1&type=1">The imperfectionists</a> </div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_alternativetitles"></a>Alternative titles</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_022c219f' itemType='1' itemNum='9332750' fieldType='42' name='u_022c219f' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '0' fieldName = 'alternativetitles' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Avoid titles already listed as the Canonical or Original titles as well as foreign-language titles available on the "Details" tab.' ><div class='fwikiItem divalternativetitles'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_originalpublicationdate"></a>Original publication date</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_b8ee6b2e' itemType='1' itemNum='9332750' fieldType='16' name='u_b8ee6b2e' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '1' fieldName = 'originalpublicationdate' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = '1952-12-30, 1933-10, 1902, or 120 BCE' ><div class='fwikiItem divoriginalpublicationdate'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/commonknowledge/search.php?q=2010&f=16&exact=1&type=1">2010</a> </div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_characternames"></a>People/Characters</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField fwikiGroup' id='u_300b87c8' itemType='1' itemNum='9332750' fieldType='3' name='u_300b87c8' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '1' fieldName = 'characternames' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Enter each character's name in a separate box. Examples: Hermione Granger, Andrew Jackson, Oberon, St. Paul of Tarsus, or Zeus (Deity)' ><div class='fwikiItem divcharacternames'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/character/Cyrus+Ott">Cyrus Ott</a></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class='fwikiItem divcharacternames'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/character/Arthur+Gopal">Arthur Gopal</a></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class='fwikiItem divcharacternames'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/character/Betty+Lieb">Betty Lieb</a></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class='fwikiItem divcharacternames'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/character/Leo+Marsh">Leo Marsh</a></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class='fwikiItem divcharacternames'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/character/Dave+Belling">Dave Belling</a></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class="itemnumberoverflow" id="link_u_895a6d44">(<a href="javascript:showHiddenfieldcontent('u_895a6d44')">show all 14 items</a>)</div><div id="u_895a6d44" style="display: none;"><div class='fwikiItem divcharacternames'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/character/Lloyd+Burko">Lloyd Burko</a></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class='fwikiItem divcharacternames'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/character/Craig+Menzies">Craig Menzies</a></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class='fwikiItem divcharacternames'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/character/Clint+Oakley">Clint Oakley</a></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class='fwikiItem divcharacternames'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/character/Hardy+Benjamin">Hardy Benjamin</a></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class='fwikiItem divcharacternames'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/character/Herman+Cohen">Herman Cohen</a></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class='fwikiItem divcharacternames'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/character/Kathleen+Solson">Kathleen Solson</a></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class='fwikiItem divcharacternames'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/character/Winston+Cheung">Winston Cheung</a></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class='fwikiItem divcharacternames'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/character/Ruby+Zaga">Ruby Zaga</a></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class='fwikiItem divcharacternames'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/character/Oliver+Ott">Oliver Ott</a></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </div></td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_placesmentioned"></a>Important places</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField fwikiGroup' id='u_ee93a37d' itemType='1' itemNum='9332750' fieldType='2' name='u_ee93a37d' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '1' fieldName = 'placesmentioned' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = '"Boston, Massachusetts, USA", "London, England", "The Plaza Hotel, New York, New York, USA", "Hogwarts", "Alpha Centauri", "Hell"' ><div class='fwikiItem divplacesmentioned'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/place/Rome%2C+Italy">Rome, Italy</a></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class='fwikiItem divplacesmentioned'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/place/Atlanta%2C+Georgia%2C+USA">Atlanta, Georgia, USA</a></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class='fwikiItem divplacesmentioned'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/place/Paris%2C+France">Paris, France</a></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> <div class='fwikiItem divplacesmentioned'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/place/Cairo%2C+Egypt">Cairo, Egypt</a></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_events"></a>Important events</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_72185bd9' itemType='1' itemNum='9332750' fieldType='34' name='u_72185bd9' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '0' fieldName = 'events' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Great Fire of London (1666), Battle of the Bulge (1944|1945), Assassination of John F. Kennedy (1963-11-22), Battle of Hoth' ><div class='fwikiItem divevents'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_movies"></a>Related movies</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_532b3506' itemType='1' itemNum='9332750' fieldType='37' name='u_532b3506' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '1' fieldName = 'movies' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Blade Runner (1982), The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Three Musketeers (1993)' ><div class='fwikiItem divmovies'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" editVal="The Imperfectionists (2013 | tt1666805)" ><a href="/commonknowledge/search.php?q=The+Imperfectionists&f=37&exact=1&type=1">The Imperfectionists</a> <span class="fwikiAutoLinks">(<a class="fwikiAutoLink" href="/commonknowledge/search.php?q=2013">2013</a> | <a class="fwikiAutoLink imdblink" target="_top" href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1666805/">IMDb</a>)</span></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr>     <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_epigraph"></a>Epigraph</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_07e04c8a' itemType='1' itemNum='9332750' fieldType='28' name='u_07e04c8a' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '0' fieldName = 'epigraph' uitype = '3' ltlang='eng' hint = 'The work's epigraph, "a phrase, quotation, or poem that is set at the beginning of a document or component." ' ><div class='fwikiItem divepigraph'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextLong fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_dedication"></a>Dedication</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_cc022d90' itemType='1' itemNum='9332750' fieldType='30' name='u_cc022d90' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '1' fieldName = 'dedication' uitype = '3' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Author's dedication' ><div class='fwikiItem divdedication'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextLong fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" >For Claire and Jack.</div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_firstwords"></a>First words</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_83046fcb' itemType='1' itemNum='9332750' fieldType='25' name='u_83046fcb' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '1' fieldName = 'firstwords' uitype = '3' ltlang='eng' hint = 'The first sentence of the work.' ><div class='fwikiItem divfirstwords'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextLong fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" >Lloyd shoves off the bedcovers and hurries to the front door in white underwear and black socks.</div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_quotations"></a>Quotations</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_93a0853b' itemType='1' itemNum='9332750' fieldType='27' name='u_93a0853b' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '1' fieldName = 'quotations' uitype = '3' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Well-known, relevant or interesting quotations from the work; Quotation marks are unnecessary.' ><div class='fwikiItem divquotations'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextLong fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" >If history taught us anything, Arthur muses, it is that men with mustaches must never achieve positions of power.</div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_lastwords"></a>Last words</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_e1ed602b' itemType='1' itemNum='9332750' fieldType='26' name='u_e1ed602b' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '1' fieldName = 'lastwords' uitype = '3' ltlang='eng' hint = 'The last sentence of the work. Content will be hidden unless clicked.' ><div class='fwikiItem divlastwords'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextLong fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" id="u_bfdb6c02" style="display: none; min-height:12px;" >The paper - that daily report on the idiocy and the brilliance of the species - had never before missed an appointment. Now it is gone.</div><a href="javascript:showHiddenfieldcontent('u_bfdb6c02')" id="link_u_bfdb6c02">(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)</a><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_disambiguation"></a>Disambiguation notice</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_3389aee3' itemType='1' itemNum='9332750' fieldType='13' name='u_3389aee3' allowmultiple='0' hasHistory = '0' fieldName = 'disambiguation' uitype = '3' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Clarifications to be used by future combiners and separators, or just as information.' ><div class='fwikiItem divdisambiguation'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextLong fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_series"></a>Publisher's editors</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_98376c61' itemType='1' itemNum='9332750' fieldType='1' name='u_98376c61' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '0' fieldName = 'literaryeditors' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Publisher's or acquiring editor' ><div class='fwikiItem divliteraryeditors'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_blubers"></a>Blurbers</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_7f9132a8' itemType='1' itemNum='9332750' fieldType='29' name='u_7f9132a8' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '1' fieldName = 'blurbers' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Who blurbed the book? A blurb is defined as a super-short review, done before the book is published or reviewed professionally. As Rachael Donadio wrote, "Book blurbs are a tangled mass of friendships, rivalries, favors traded and debts repaid, not always in good faith." This field aims to capture that tangle! <b>Note:</b> Please enter only the names of people, not publications. Use the form: Lastname, Firstname.' ><div class='fwikiItem divblurbers'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ><a href="/commonknowledge/search.php?q=Phillips%2C+Arthur&f=29&exact=1&type=1">Phillips, Arthur</a> </div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_originallanguage"></a>Original language</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_41ff9528' itemType='1' itemNum='9332750' fieldType='58' name='u_41ff9528' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '0' fieldName = 'originallanguage' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = '' ><div class='fwikiItem divoriginallanguage'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_canonicalddc"></a>Canonical DDC/MDS</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_a12f95fd' itemType='1' itemNum='9332750' fieldType='61' name='u_a12f95fd' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '0' fieldName = 'canonicalddc' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Best consensus choice within the Melvil Decimal Classification System' ><div class='fwikiItem divcanonicalddc'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel"><a name="ck_canonicallcc"></a>Canonical LCC</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_8b761c59' itemType='1' itemNum='9332750' fieldType='66' name='u_8b761c59' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '0' fieldName = 'canonicallcc' uitype = '1' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Best consensus choice within the Library of Congress Classification system' ><div class='fwikiItem divcanonicallcc'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" ></div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> </table></div></div></div><div id="workpagesort_65" class="quickedit light flipped"><a class="nooffset" name="references"></a><div class="nav"><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'references', 'u_16fe10ee', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>References</span></div><div class="qelcontent references alwaysblue" id="u_16fe10ee" style="display:block;"><p>References to this work on external resources.</p><h2><img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/favicon_wikipedia.gif" class="icon">Wikipedia in English</h2><p>None</p></div></div><div id="workpagesort_80" class="quickedit light flipped"><div class="nav"><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'desc', 'u_8fa915aa', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>Book descriptions</span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_8fa915aa" style="display:block;">An "imperfect" crew of reporters and editors working for an international English language newspaper stumble toward an uncertain future as the era of print news gives way to the Internet age. The story is set against the gorgeous backdrop of Rome.</div></div><div id="workpagesort_25" class="quickedit light"><div class="nav"><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'libdesc', 'u_b7479512', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>Library descriptions</span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_b7479512" style="display:block;"><p>No library descriptions found.</p></div></div><div id="workpagesort_70" class="quickedit light flipped"><div class="nav"><div class="sectionhead_rbutcontainer"><span class="sectionTitleHelp"><a href="https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/Common_Knowledge#LibraryThing_members.27_description" class="blacklink" title="Help"><img style="vertical-align:middle;" class="helpIcon" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/helpq.png" alt="?"></a></span></div><span class="navInfoTitle"><span class="divotBig" onclick="LibraryThing.work.handleSectionHide(this, 'ckdesc', 'u_d7940df0', '0');"><span class="chdivot" style="font-size:9px;vertical-align:bottom;">▼</span></span>LibraryThing members' description</span></div><div class="qelcontent" id="u_d7940df0" style="display:block;"> <div class="workSection"> <table class="fwikiContainerTable ch2"> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel">Book description</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_d046cf6f' itemType='1' itemNum='9332750' fieldType='14' name='u_d046cf6f' allowmultiple='0' hasHistory = '1' fieldName = 'description' uitype = '3' ltlang='eng' hint = 'This is a general description. It is not a review.' ><div class='fwikiItem divdescription'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextLong fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" >Employees of an old-style English language newspaper based in Rome struggle with personal tragedies, dilemmas, and blunders while eyeing the rising tide of technology.</div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> </table></div> <a name="haiku"></a> <div class="workSection"> <table class="fwikiContainerTable ch2"> <tr> <td valign="top" class="fwikiLabel">Haiku summary</td> <td><table class="fwikiGroup"><tr><td class='fwikiField' id='u_26e057af' itemType='1' itemNum='9332750' fieldType='57' name='u_26e057af' allowmultiple='1' hasHistory = '1' fieldName = 'haikusummary' uitype = '3' ltlang='eng' hint = 'Add a summary or other appreciation in haiku form (17 syllables; 5/7/5); include your member name in parentheses.' ><div class='fwikiItem divhaikusummary'><div class='fwikiItemText fwikiItemTextLong fwikiItemTextUnknownUser'><div class="fwikiAtomicValue" style="min-height:12px;" >Declining news biz<br>intertwined sad, fun stories<br>journalists' lives suck <br>(ReadWriteLib)</div><img style="float:left;" src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/transdot.gif' height='12px' width='1px' alt=''></div></div> </td><td class='fwikiItemControls'></td></td></tr></table></td> </tr> </table></div> </div></div> </td> <td class="right"> <div class="greenbox currentdiscussions" style="position: relative;"><h2>Current Discussions</h2>None</div><div class="greenbox popularcovers"><h2>Popular covers</h2><div id="popularcovers"></div></div><div id="buyborrowswapbox" class="greenbox bluntbottom"><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width="100%"><tr><td><h2 class="first">Quick Links</h2></td><td width="20px"></td></tr></table><div class="quicklinks_in_greenbox"><div class="ql_printdisplay_line" bsm_code="500:395"><a href="javascript:eda(9332750, 500, 395);"><img class="ql_iconthing flim" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/steps-1.gif?20"></a><a href="javascript:eda(9332750, 500, 395);">Amazon.com</a> (<a href="#" blurb="https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0385343663/ref=nosim/librarythin06-20" onclick="recordquicklink('https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fexec%2Fobidos%2FASIN%2F0385343663%2Fref%3Dnosim%2Flibrarythin06-20');">direct</a>)</div><div class="ql_printdisplay_line" bsm_code="500:388"><a href="javascript:eda(9332750, 500, 388);"><img class="ql_iconthing flim" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/steps-1.gif?20"></a><a href="javascript:eda(9332750, 500, 388);">Abebooks.com</a></div><div class="ql_printdisplay_line" bsm_code="800:6"><a href="javascript:edbp('http://www.amazon.com/');"><img class="ql_iconthing flim" src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/steps-3.gif?20"></a><a 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want)</span></div></div></div><div class="greenbox genrething"><h2 class="first">Genres</h2><div id="genregreenbox"><div class="genreline"><div class="text"><a href="/genre/8/General-Fiction" class="" >General Fiction</a></div><div class="chartline2" style="min-width:200px;height:20px" ><span style="width:82%"></span></div></div> <div class="genreline"><div class="text"><a href="/genre/58/Fiction-and-Literature" class="" >Fiction and Literature</a></div><div class="chartline2" style="min-width:200px;height:20px" ><span style="width:82%"></span></div></div></div><h2 style="margin-top: 2em;" class="" >Melvil Decimal System (DDC)</h2><span class="cattype_label ddc"><a href="/mds/813.6">813.6</a></span><a class="bluelink cattype_item" href="/mds/813.6">Literature <span class="breadcrumb_separator">&rsaquo;</span> American literature in English <span class="breadcrumb_separator">&rsaquo;</span> American fiction in English <span class="breadcrumb_separator">&rsaquo;</span> 2000-</a><h2 class="" >LC Classification</h2><div class="cattype_item"><span class="cattype_label lcc"><a href="/lcc/PR9199.R323" class="" >PR9199.R323</a></span><span class="lccsch"><a href="/lcc/P" class="bluelink cattype_item" target="_top" ><span class="wording">Language and Literature</span></span></a> <span class="breadcrumb_separator">&rsaquo;</span> <span class="lccsch"><a href="/lcc/PR" class="bluelink cattype_item" target="_top" ><span class="wording">English</span></span></a> <span class="breadcrumb_separator">&rsaquo;</span> <span class="lccsch"><a href="/lcc/PR0-10000" class="bluelink cattype_item" target="_top" ><span class="wording">English Literature</span></span></a> <span class="breadcrumb_separator">&rsaquo;</span> <span class="lccsch"><a href="/lcc/PR8309-9680" class="bluelink cattype_item" target="_top" ><span class="wording">English literature: Provincial, local, etc.</span></span></a></div></div> <div class="greenbox"> <h2>Rating</h2>Average: <nobr><img src="https://image.librarything.com/pics/ss7.gif" style="margin-bottom: -2px;"> <span class="work_hint">(3.66)</span></nobr><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 class="greenbar"><tr><td class='gbl'>0.5</td><td class='gbr'><img src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/gb.gif' height=5 width=0> 1</td></tr><tr><td class='gbl'>1</td><td class='gbr'><img src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/gb.gif' height=5 width=6> 26</td></tr><tr><td class='gbl'>1.5</td><td class='gbr'><img src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/gb.gif' height=5 width=1> 3</td></tr><tr><td class='gbl'>2</td><td class='gbr'><img src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/gb.gif' height=5 width=20> 90</td></tr><tr><td class='gbl'>2.5</td><td class='gbr'><img src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/gb.gif' height=5 width=6> 26</td></tr><tr><td class='gbl'>3</td><td class='gbr'><img src='https://image.librarything.com/pics/gb.gif' height=5 width=64> 282</td></tr><tr><td class='gbl'>3.5</td><td class='gbr'><img 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