The Poser: A Novel

if there was was a no star for this book I would post it. the Poser was supposed to be humorous and I just couldn't find any! My book club scheduled this book for our humor month....NONE of us liked the book at all. very explicit sex, and I am still trying to figure out why. what was the plot of this book? Just not my type of read....

With sparkling good humor and unself-conscious creativity, the narrator tells of his picaresque adventures as a remarkable imitator of others. He is not an imposter. Rather, he is so capable of capturing the "thread" of anyone's self-presentation that all are astounded. Yet, ramifying implicitly is the sense that, yes, he is an imposter, that his quest for identity is futile and ultimately tragic. Wonderfully narrated (for those who get the audio), the book comes alive with immediacy and vigor.

So so good. I loved this book-- a fascinating take on fame and speaks to the performative selves in all of us!

The Poser is a beautifully written fable about selfhood and what it means to be a modern social animal -- surrounded by people and always alone. It is a deeply psychological book, yet remains light on its feet throughout. The author's deft writing allows us to be engaged on multiple levels -- the adventurous storyline, the book's emotional insight, its character craft, its wit, its cinematic sensibilities, its social commentary. Rubin uses an ebullient, thoughtful surrealism reminiscent of Jonathon Lethem, but has a confident voice and aesthetic that are entirely his own. There are so many moments where Rubin crystalizes an insight about people or life that I hadn't noticed in its totality, or been able to put into words myself. It's a wonderful feeling for a reader to be led through a story by a tremendously skilled author with something to say. Rubin's unflinching dissection of the human condition is balanced with tenderness and a clearly genuine affection for people. This is an author who has truths to reveal to us. This is literature.

I suppose it will impact a mimeticist more than an experiential adept, but it is a hell of a read either way.

This novel features humor, pathos, finely crafted writing, and memorable, outrageous characters. Lethem, Chabone, and now Rubin. I can't wait for his next book.

The Poser, Jacob Rubin’s debut novel, has a unique premise and ambitious goals. Unfortunately, much like Giovanni (the book’s main character and narrator), this book falls short of meeting those.It starts as an engaging and quick read with a delightful (although not necessarily likeable) cast of characters. Once Max enters the picture, we are treated to fine humor without expense of the plot. When Giovanni begins his career as an impressionist under Max’s watch, we start to see the big ambition of this book. It becomes a tale of finding oneself, of really learning who we are, but without the usual triteness and overdone tropes (other than the mother-son issues).Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite make it there.Another reviewer commented that s/he became bored with the story and only cared about Rubin’s prose, to the point s/he no longer cared what happened to Giovanni. I can’t fully agree with this. While the story did begin to drag, by the third part of the book I found myself caring only about what happened to Giovanni (as in I just wanted to skip ahead to the ending). The language had ceased to entertain, and the premise had faded into something thin and tired. Whereas the story and writing had fully engaged early on, the latter part of the book all but loses the reader completely.I won’t spoil anything (not that there’s much to be spoiled about the ending), but the last few dozen pages or so feel cliche, forced, and rushed. Rather than learning anything about the human condition, we are forced into sentimentality and reflection. There’s also a new character that frustratingly serves as a pseudo deus ex machina. It’s a shame the book had to end this way after starting with so much promise. I will say this (very small spoiler alert): did we really need another story narrated from a mental hospital?Overall, it’s a promising debut that comes up a little short. It’s worth a read if you’re really looking for something new.

The premise of "The Poser" -- a youth with a preternatural gift for mimicry trying to maneuver through a vaudevillian world -- is as promising as it is perilous. Opening the novel, especially given that it is a first novel, I deeply doubted the writer's ability to pull off his novel's promise.No need for suspense. Rubin succeeds and succeeds with a deft touch and a glowing sense of humor. Slim prose and great characterization help establish this as a pleasure of a read. That said, it isn't for everyone. The story, character driven as it is, doesn't push much beyond its quite straight forward plot. The joy is in the getting to know the characters and Rubin's sharp prose. His metaphors and similes stand out especially. Reading I was often reminded of Twain's great aphorism about the right word and the almost right word; Rubin is a writer who conjures far more lightening than lightening bugs.A great debut, I've little doubt that I'm far from alone in expecting great things from this young talent.