Calvin Trillin

An ordinary man, Murray Tepper unwittingly turns New York upside down when he engages in the normal activity of reading the newspaper in his car, which always seems to be parked in the same desirable parking spot in Manhattan.

A Novel

Tepper Isn't Going Out

Sarah Sammis

About three years ago Tepper Isn't Going Out by Calvin Trillin first appeared at our local BookCrossing group. Someone grabbed it and that's that last most of us thought of it. Until it reappeared earlier this year. Suddenly it was the hottest book in our group. Curious about it, I grabbed it when it reappeared at the most recent meeting.

Tepper works in marketing research. His day job it to figure out the magic product that would bridge the maximum number of demographic groups. Right there I have a point of love for Tepper as my mother is in the same line of work and I've skimmed it with my work in web marketing.

But the book isn't so much about that magic product or service. It's about Tepper needing a little time to himself and his quiet act of rebellion through parking. New York City has notoriously complex parking rules. Tepper though has figured them out. The only place he can get peace and quiet and the time to read his paper is in his car.

Unfortunately a person in a car draws attention. Hopeful drivers see him in his car and hope he's "going out" of the spot. If there's time on the meter or his time is otherwise not up, he isn't. When Tepper's parking and reading develop into a routine, he gets the attention of the mayor of New York. He sees a threat to his authority and possibly some sort of espionage.

Tepper Isn't Going Out is dry and slow book. You have to be in the right mood to read it. I struggled with it but it grew on me and continues to do so even though I've passed it along to a new reader in our book club.

Tepper Isn't Going Out A Novel

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