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Buy it now from our Amazon.com store - Insignificant Others: A Novel

Having read three previous novels by McCauley, I knew to expect sharp wit and keen observation. A prevailing air of despondency was something new.  Aging is something few people look forward to, and McCauley’s character, Richard Rossi, is ever-aware of his fading looks despite his two workouts per day and the increasingly limited time he has to make major changes in his life. These depressing facts come packaged with the general misery of the Bush Regime including what Rossi sees as the irreparable decline of America and Richard’s unpleasant high tech place of business with surly co-workers and clear glass walls everywhere which leave zero privacy. 

I think some readers will initially have trouble warming up to Richard.   At first, he’s a bit cold with his sister and just about every female in the book.  He’s also more than a little disturbed when he finds out his partner, Conrad, is having a long distance affair while, hypocrite that he is, he’s had his own “insignificant other,” Benjamin (married with kids), for several years.  Richard does relate that he and Conrad have something of an unspoken agreement, and he follows the belief that gay relationships should be “handcrafted” instead of following a heterosexual model to allow for the needs of male libidos.  (Richard notes that the only long-term relationship he knew of where it was evident that two partners still retained a strong sexual spark was a lesbian one.)

However, Richard becomes both sympathetic and dynamic.  In a former career, he was a psychoanalyst, and it’s apparent he’s accustomed to playing the role of the one who holds up the mirror and shows other people their true selves.  Through the efforts of several characters, including his sister, his hot Brazilian personal trainer, his partner’s business associate, and his protégé at work, Richard begins to see new facets and new solutions. Sure, not everything comes up roses, but I found this to be hopeful and honest, even with the unavoidable heartbreaks.        

Insignificant Others is poignant, thoughtful, and filled with subtle humor.   McCauley’s take on the present time also makes this book sharply relevant and discerning.  A lovely read.

P.S.  If you’re looking for some side-splitting hilarity, you might want to pop over to Stephen McCauley’s blog and experience the shenanigans of McCauley’s imaginary (I hope!) summer assistant who is quite thrilled about his role as the Hot Naked Neighbor with No Lines in a very bad community stage production. 

Reviewed by Gavin Atlas