John Kenny’s entertaining novel will appeal to fans of MAD MEN. Finbar Dolan, the narrator of True in Advertising, works for a major ad agency. One of their clients, Snugglies Diapers, wants to run a commercial during the Super Bowl. But, Finbar and his team, have only a short time to Make It Happen with Christmas looming. Kenny captures the manic energy of advertising and the zaniness of the commercials. I was less interested in Finbar’s dysfunctional relationships and his dying father. Kenny’s background in advertising brings plenty of Real World experience to what actually goes on behind the cameras. Check out what Kenny has to say about his novel below. GRADE: B
Missed hearing about this one.
TRUTH IN ADVERTISING was reviewed in the NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REIVEW, Patti. I teach a course in ADVERTISING every Fall Semester so I thought this would be fun. It was, sort of.
I’m guessing George read this to get psyched up for the new series of MAD MEN.
Jeff, you would be guessing right. My favorite parts of MAD MEN are when the agency works on an ad campaign. The soap-opera aspects of MAD MEN tend to bore me.