The Broom of the System

January 1, 1987
In this intriguing, readable business novel, which illustrates state-of-the-art economic theory, Alex Rogo is a UniCo plant manager whose factory and marriage are failing. To revitalize the plant, he follows piecemeal advice from an elusive former college professor who teaches, for example, that reduction in the efficiency of some plant operations may make the entire operation more productive. Alex's attempts to find the path to profitability and to engage his employees in the struggle involve the reader; and thankfully the authors' economic models, including a game with match sticks and bowls, are easy to understand. Although some characters are as anonymous as the goods manufactured in the factory, others ring true. In addition, the tender story of Alex and his wife's separation and reconciliation makes a touching contrast to the rest of the book. Recommended for anyone with an interest in the state of the American economy.

Starred review from August 30, 2010
Fans of the late, great David Foster Wallace will delight in narrator Robert Petkoff’s wonderful audio version of the author’s first novel. When Lenore Stonecipher Beadsman, a young switchboard attendant at the publishing firm of Frequent and Vigorous, discovers that her great-grandmother has disappeared, her search leads to the recently constructed Great Ohio Desert. Petkoff’s narration is energetic, compelling, and well-paced. He deftly handles Wallace’s linguistic gymnastics and entertains with brutally sharp comedic timing. Listeners will particularly appreciate the range of zany and pitch perfect voices Petkoff lends to Wallace’s equally kooky cast of characters. Fun, funny, and very highly recommended. A Penguin paperback.

This debut novel (which was written before the hit INFINITE JEST) imagines a Great Ohio Desert, companies with names like Hunt & Peck, characters who speak without attribution, and story lines that both intertwine and find dead ends. As narrator, Robert Petkoff presides with gusto over this alternative slice of Americana, and he does so with a bevy of character voices, subtle asides, and a style that captures one's attention from the book's first word. He has an energetic rhythm that moves the story along and keep one engaged when the action moves back and forth in time. Petkoff also does a wonderful job with the author's rich language by highlighting key words and allowing them to linger before he moves on to the next idea. R.I.G. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

Starred review from October 1, 2010

Lenore Beadsman is surrounded by bizarre characters: a brother who talks to his fake leg as though it were a person, a psychiatrist who wears a gas mask, a pet bird that quotes the Bible. When her Wittgenstein-obsessed great-grandmother disappears, Lenore questions whether she is able to determine her own destiny. Wallace's debut novel, originally published in 1987 and available for the first time on audio, showcases his skills for telling hilariously excessive stories. Whether he is imitating a cockatiel or singing the part of a televangelist's choir, actor/Audie Award nominee Robert Petkoff (robertpetkoff.com) shows his immense talent for narration--he definitely deserves another Audie nod for this performance. Those liking a quirky yet weighty story--think Thomas Pynchon or even David Sedaris--will especially enjoy.--Johannah Genett, Hennepin Cty. Libs., Minneapolis

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