Schmuck [Paperback]

1969. In advertising, there are mad men. On radio, there are funny men. Tune In&.In 1960s New York, radio is king, and Elkin and Fox are the hottest morning team in town. Jerry Elkin is the funny halfa genius at dialects and double-talk, zingers and zany characters. Sinatra flies him to Vegas on his private plane, and Rocky Graziano drinks with him (and punches him). But Jerrys life? Thats no laughing matter. Secretly, he seethes at his straight-man partner, Ted Fox, a handsome rake whod rather shtup a secretary in the studio than entertain TV offers, a guy who makes Jerry feel less a star and more a schmuck. Turn On&.And thats before Jerry ever hears the name Sari Rosenbloom. The stunning eighteen-year-old is a mystical American dream, irresistible to menand her most obsessed admirer is Jake, Jerrys son. With the 1960s world spinning out of control, Jake is fighting for a girl who can have anyone she wantsfrom the world-famous artist who has sketched her nude to bon vivant Ted Fox, whos singing her name on air. Drop Out&.And thats before Jerry gets a gander at Saris father. Max Rosenbloom works in salvagein other words, he burns down factories, sells poisoned pajamas to Chinese children and sometimes buries his enemies in cement. If Jake doesnt stop going after his princess daughter, Max might make Jerrys son, Jerrys career and Jerrys whole post-war world disappear right off the dial&. Schmuck. A raucous, wild novel of love, war, rioting and radio thats as funny as a heart attack and as serious as hell. Praise for Schmuck A madcap morning-radio team hanging with Sinatra, intimate father-and-son conversations at the Friars Club, a mystery woman swiveling everyones head.... Ross Klavan was raised on this canvas. No wonder I felt in such expert hands.  David Pollock, author of Bob and Ray, Keener than Most Persons Klavans light touch and sharply drawn characters echo Carl Hiaasen, and are also very much his own.  Emily Bazelon, author of Slq