Panorama City - Hardcover

Wilson, Antoine

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0547875126 ISBN 13: 9780547875125

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012

Synopsis

Oppen Porter, a self-described “slow absorber,” thinks he’s dying. He’s not, but from his hospital bed, he unspools into a cassette recorder a tale of self-determination, from village idiot to man of the world, for the benefit of his unborn son.

Written in an astonishingly charming and wise voice, Panorama City traces forty days and nights navigating the fast food joints, storefront churches, and home-office psychologists of the San Fernando Valley. Ping-ponging between his watchful and sharp-tongued aunt and an outlaw philosopher with the face "of a newly hatched crocodile," Oppen finds himself constantly in the sights of people who believe that their way is the only way for him.

Open-hearted, bicycle-riding, binocular-toting Oppen Porter is "an American original" (Stewart O'Nan) for whom finding one's own way is both a delightful art and a painstaking science. Disarmingly funny and surreptitiously moving, Panorama City makes us see the world, and our place in it, with new eyes.
 

About this title

Review:

"Clever and wisely funny."--Ellissa Schappell, "Vanity Fair" "A gift . . . An astonishing narrative that offers the pleasures of irony without the sting . . . Nowhere in [Oppen's] purview is there blame or regret. He travels from innocence to experience without falling into disillusionment. The great triumph of the book is that Oppen matures without spoiling. He comes to affirm the integrity of his innocence, which is its own wisdom." --Amy Parker, "Los Angeles Review of Books" "A crisp comic novel...This isn't, by heritage, a California book...."Panorama City"'s spent quality, its ruminative room, recalls some of the best of the mid-century South, New Orleans specifically, "The Moviegoer" and "A Confederacy of Dunces," particularly. Those books never mistook time spent seeing through a cracked idea for a loss of urgency. Their absurdism was a claim on the page, a strong-arm of a story from the concluders...Wilson's [novel] is a trot and a treat." --Theo Schell-Lambert, "San Francisco Chronicle" "In his second novel, Antoine Wilson brings much comedic grace and a sure feel for Southern California. In spots, "Panorama City" is laugh-aloud funny, building toward a slapstick climax that the Marx Brothers might have relished . . . Wilson has said his aphoristic, funny novel is meant to make a case for direct observation over ideology. It does. It is also worth cheering for taking a route rare in serious contemporary fiction: finding a way to a happy ending."--"Cleveland Plain Dealer" "As enjoyable a comic novel as I have read all year, a coming of age story that vividly captures the modern world through innocent eyes."--"Largehearted Boy" "Idiosyncratic...Charming...Indelible."--Josh Mak, "Flavorwire"

"Oppen Porter is an American original, an innocent who believes he's bursting with wisdom. The funniest thing is that, despite himself, he actually is. Though it takes place in down-at-heel "Panorama City" with its crappy burger franchises and abandoned shopping c

"Clever and wisely funny." --Ellissa Schappell, "Vanity Fair
"
"A gift . . . An astonishing narrative that offers the pleasures of irony without the sting . . . Nowhere in [Oppen's] purview is there blame or regret. He travels from innocence to experience without falling into disillusionment. The great triumph of the book is that Oppen matures without spoiling. He comes to affirm the integrity of his innocence, which is its own wisdom." --Amy Parker, "Los Angeles Review of Books
""A crisp comic novel...This isn't, by heritage, a California book...."Panorama City"'s spent quality, its ruminative room, recalls some of the best of the mid-century South, New Orleans specifically, The "Moviegoer" and "A Confederacy of Dunces," particularly. Those books never mistook time spent seeing through a cracked idea for a loss of urgency. Their absurdism was a claim on the page, a strong-arm of a story from the concluders...Wilson's [novel] is a trot and a treat." --Theo Schell-Lambert, "San Francisco Chronicle
""In his second novel, Antoine Wilson brings much comedic grace and a sure feel for Southern California. In spots, "Panorama City" is laugh-aloud funny, building toward a slapstick climax that the Marx Brothers might have relished . . . Wilson has said his aphoristic, funny novel is meant to make a case for direct observation over ideology. It does. It is also worth cheering for taking a route rare in serious contemporary fiction: finding a way to a happy ending." --"Cleveland Plain Dealer
"
"As enjoyable a comic novel as I have read all year, a coming of age story that vividly captures the modern world through innocent eyes." --"Largehearted Boy"

"Idiosyncratic...Charming...Indelible." --Josh Mak, "Flavorwire
""Oppen Porter is an American original, an innocent who believes he's bursting with wisdom. The funniest thing is that, despite himself, he actually is. Though it takes place in down-at-heel "Panorama City" with its crappy burgero

A "New York Times Book Review "Editor's Choice

A "San Francisco Chronicle "Best Book of 2012 "Antoine Wilson's delightful "Panorama City" is a transcript of 10 tapes recorded over one long night in the hospital by Oppen Porter, a 28-year-old, 6'6" 'slow absorber' who fears he won't live until morning, laying out for his unborn son an account of his life . . . With very dry wit, a cockeyed tolerance for human foibles and a goofy idealism, Oppen painstakingly records his journey, helped along the way by bus drivers, a pretty police officer, a collector of abandoned shopping carts, and Carmen, the Mexican prostitute who's carrying his child. Long before the last tape begins, readers will have grown to love Wilson's earnest, well-meaning protagonist, who just wants to learn what it means to be a man of the world." -- "Shelf Awareness" "Charming and oddball . . . A bracingly humane story whose narrator's wisdom and forbearance make you see the world afresh . . . A delightful performance, a winning and warm story whose success can be credited to Wilson's canny and often piercing use of Oppen's sensibility . . . Like Oppen, the reader concludes his story feeling something akin to joy." -- Adam Ross, "New York Times Book Review" "Clever and wisely funny." -- Ellissa Schappell, "Vanity Fair" "In his second novel, Antoine Wilson brings much comedic grace and a sure feel for Southern California. In spots, "Panorama City" is laugh-aloud funny, building toward a slapstick climax that the Marx Brothers might have relished . . . ["Panorama City" is] worth cheering for taking a route rare in serious contemporary fiction: finding a way to a happy ending." -- "Cleveland Plain Dealer" "A gift . . . An astonishing narrative that offers the pleasures of irony without the sting . . . Nowhere in [Oppen's] purview is there blame or regret. He travels from innocence to experience without falling into disillusionment. The great triumph of the book is that Oppen matures without spoiling.

A "New York Times Book Review "Editor's Choice

A "San Francisco Chronicle "Best Book of 2012"Antoine Wilson's delightful "Panorama City" is a transcript of 10 tapes recorded over one long night in the hospital by Oppen Porter, a 28-year-old, 6 6" slow absorber who fears he won't live until morning, laying out for his unborn son an account of his life . . . With very dry wit, a cockeyed tolerance for human foibles and a goofy idealism, Oppen painstakingly records his journey, helped along the way by bus drivers, a pretty police officer, a collector of abandoned shopping carts, and Carmen, the Mexican prostitute who's carrying his child. Long before the last tape begins, readers will have grown to love Wilson's earnest, well-meaning protagonist, who just wants to learn what it means to be a man of the world." "Shelf Awareness""Charming and oddball . . . A bracingly humane story whose narrator s wisdom and forbearance make you see the world afresh . . . A delightful performance, a winning and warm story whose success can be credited to Wilson s canny and often piercing use of Oppen s sensibility . . . Like Oppen, the reader concludes his story feeling something akin to joy." Adam Ross, "New York Times Book Review""Clever and wisely funny." Ellissa Schappell, "Vanity Fair""In his second novel, Antoine Wilson brings much comedic grace and a sure feel for Southern California. In spots, "Panorama City" is laugh-aloud funny, building toward a slapstick climax that the Marx Brothers might have relished . . . ["Panorama City" is] worth cheering for taking a route rare in serious contemporary fiction: finding a way to a happy ending." "Cleveland Plain Dealer""A gift . . . An astonishing narrative that offers the pleasures of irony without the sting . . . Nowhere in [Oppen s] purview is there blame or regret. He travels from innocence to experience without falling into disillusionment. The great triumph of the book is that Oppen matures without spoiling. He comes to affirm the integrity of his innocence, which is its own wisdom." "Los Angeles Review of Books""A crisp comic novel . . . Recalls some of the best of the mid-century South, New Orleans specifically, "The Moviegoer" and "A Confederacy of Dunces" particularly. Those books never mistook time spent seeing through a cracked idea for a loss of urgency . . . Wilson s [novel] is a trot and a treat." "San Francisco Chronicle""As enjoyable a comic novel as I have read all year, a coming-of-age story that vividly captures the modern world through innocent eyes." "Largehearted Boy""Idiosyncratic . . . Charming . . . Indelible." "Flavorwire""Fresh and flawlessly crafted as well as charmingly genuine . . . Untouched by cynicism, Oppen s interpretation of the world around him evokes both the sublime and the ridiculous . . . framing a classic coming-of-age story in an unexpected way." "Publishers Weekly" (starred review)"Candid and perceptive . . . Readers who enjoyed Mark Haddon and Greg Olear will appreciate Wilson s authorial voice . . . A funny, heartfelt, and genuine novel." "Booklist""This is a book you will hold in your head all day long, a book you will look forward to when you get home from work, a book you will still be savoring as you drift into sleep. "Panorama City" is often very funny. It is filled with joy and wonder, and a sort of goodness you had stopped believing might be even possible. Antoine Wilson s sentences are like diamond necklaces but his greatest treasure is his human heart." Peter Carey, author of "Parrot and Olivier in America""God bless Oppen Porter! His innocence and lack of pretense are our good fortune and our delight. Under his observation, our follies and schemes and manias go up in the brightest, funniest, heart-rending flames. This is precisely (and artfully) because he does not judge them. "Panorama City" is charming, absurd, very funny, and best of all, humane through and through." Paul Harding, author of "Tinkers"

"This funny and wise novel reminds us that the best fiction often treads the subtle line between tragedy and comedy. With ears keenly tuned to the music of language, and a limpid mind slyly hidden behind a persistent soliloquist, Antoine Wilson has written an intricate novel that makes us laugh and cry." Yiyun Li, author of "Gold Boy, Emerald Girl""

A New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice

A San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of 2012

"Antoine Wilson's delightful Panorama City is a transcript of 10 tapes recorded over one long night in the hospital by Oppen Porter, a 28-year-old, 6'6" 'slow absorber' who fears he won't live until morning, laying out for his unborn son an account of his life . . . With very dry wit, a cockeyed tolerance for human foibles and a goofy idealism, Oppen painstakingly records his journey, helped along the way by bus drivers, a pretty police officer, a collector of abandoned shopping carts, and Carmen, the Mexican prostitute who's carrying his child. Long before the last tape begins, readers will have grown to love Wilson's earnest, well-meaning protagonist, who just wants to learn what it means to be a man of the world." -- Shelf Awareness

"Charming and oddball . . . A bracingly humane story whose narrator's wisdom and forbearance make you see the world afresh . . . A delightful performance, a winning and warm story whose success can be credited to Wilson's canny and often piercing use of Oppen's sensibility . . . Like Oppen, the reader concludes his story feeling something akin to joy." -- Adam Ross, New York Times Book Review

"Clever and wisely funny." -- Ellissa Schappell, Vanity Fair

"In his second novel, Antoine Wilson brings much comedic grace and a sure feel for Southern California. In spots, Panorama City is laugh-aloud funny, building toward a slapstick climax that the Marx Brothers might have relished . . . [Panorama City is] worth cheering for taking a route rare in serious contemporary fiction: finding a way to a happy ending." -- Cleveland Plain Dealer

"A gift . . . An astonishing narrative that offers the pleasures of irony without the sting . . . Nowhere in [Oppen's] purview is there blame or regret. He travels from innocence to experience without falling into disillusionment. The great triumph of the book is that Oppen matures without spoiling. He comes to affirm the integrity of his innocence, which is its own wisdom." -- Los Angeles Review of Books

"A crisp comic novel . . . Recalls some of the best of the mid-century South, New Orleans specifically, The Moviegoer and A Confederacy of Dunces particularly. Those books never mistook time spent seeing through a cracked idea for a loss of urgency . . . Wilson's [novel] is a trot and a treat." -- San Francisco Chronicle

"As enjoyable a comic novel as I have read all year, a coming-of-age story that vividly captures the modern world through innocent eyes." -- Largehearted Boy

"Idiosyncratic . . . Charming . . . Indelible." -- Flavorwire

"Fresh and flawlessly crafted as well as charmingly genuine . . . Untouched by cynicism, Oppen's interpretation of the world around him evokes both the sublime and the ridiculous . . . framing a classic coming-of-age story in an unexpected way." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Candid and perceptive . . . Readers who enjoyed Mark Haddon and Greg Olear will appreciate Wilson's authorial voice . . . A funny, heartfelt, and genuine novel." -- Booklist

"This is a book you will hold in your head all day long, a book you will look forward to when you get home from work, a book you will still be savoring as you drift into sleep. Panorama City is often very funny. It is filled with joy and wonder, and a sort of goodness you had stopped believing might be even possible. Antoine Wilson's sentences are like diamond necklaces but his greatest treasure is his human heart." -- Peter Carey, author of Parrot and Olivier in America

"God bless Oppen Porter! His innocence and lack of pretense are our good fortune and our delight. Under his observation, our follies and schemes and manias go up in the brightest, funniest, heart-rending flames. This is precisely (and artfully) because he does not judge them. Panorama City is charming, absurd, very funny, and best of all, humane through and through." -- Paul Harding, author of Tinkers

"This funny and wise novel reminds us that the best fiction often treads the subtle line between tragedy and comedy. With ears keenly tuned to the music of language, and a limpid mind slyly hidden behind a persistent soliloquist, Antoine Wilson has written an intricate novel that makes us laugh and cry." -- Yiyun Li, author of Gold Boy, Emerald Girl

From the Back Cover:

“This is a book you will hold in your head all day long, a book you will look forward to when you get home from work, a book you will still be savoring as you drift into sleep. Panorama City is often very funny. It is filled with joy and wonder, and a sort of goodness you had stopped believing might even be possible. Antoine Wilson’s sentences are like diamond necklaces but his greatest treasure is his human heart.”—Peter Carey

“Oppen Porter is an American original, an innocent who believes he’s bursting with wisdom. The funniest thing is that, despite himself, he actually is. Though it takes place in down-at-heel Panorama City with its crappy burger franchises and abandoned shopping carts, The World According to Oppen is full of wonders and mysteries.”—Stewart O’Nan

“God bless Oppen Porter! His innocence and lack of pretense are our good fortune and our delight. Under his observation, our follies and schemes and manias go up in the brightest, funniest, heartrending flames. This is precisely (and artfully) because he does not judge them. Panorama City is charming and absurd, very funny and, best of all, humane through and through.”—Paul Harding

“Antoine Wilson draws us in to the weird, wonderful world of Oppen Porter, whose advice and lessons are jarringly original, funny, and moving.”—Steve Hely

About this edition

• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0547875126
• ISBN 13: 9780547875125
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 292