T.C. Boyle, or whatever name he chooses to attach to his writing, is more fun to read than any other American author I can think of. His prose is not for those who seek an author who is economical with his writing, rather, every word, every sentence, is an adventure to be savored. Beneath all the literary pyrotechnics however, Boyle raises real issues in all of his work. In this book, as in many others, he paints a savage portrait of America and the American dream. IN East is East, its America as perceived by a Japanese half-breed seaman who jumps ship and lands smack dab in a swamp (both literally and figuratively) of American excess and shallowness. THe book alternates between its portrayal of the poor seaman and the colony of artists he lands in, where he is mistaken for all sorts of figures, including an artist and an arsonist/murderer. WE follow his misadventures as one of the writer/artists hides him from the law that seeks him while she also tries desperately to find the fame, fortune and recogniton she feels she is so entitled too. One misunderstanding and one funny scene after another builds up to a tragedy and farce of epic proportions as Boyle rips apart every misconception Americans and foreigners have of one another, what they do, and how they live. AS in some of the author's other books, especially Tortilla Curtain, his dual structure alternates between the two main characters. In East is East, its the Japenese seaman and the hack female writer in residence at the artists colony who winds up using him (in more than one way!) to write a story. The danger in any dual structure is that we will be more sympathetic to one story over the other. Boyle hints at where his sympathies lie by naming the seaman Hiro (Hero?), but I was not swayed. The weakness of Boyle's farce is that he so lambasts all the characters that he ends up denying any dignity to any of them. But still, of all of BOyle's books, this one is the most fun to read, but should probably not be taken as seriously as some of his other work. Just enjoy the author's unparalled use of the English language and the brilliant ways he skewers nearly everyone in the book. Can't wait for the next one, due out in September 2000!