God-Shaped Hole

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Overview

When I was twelve, a fortune teller told me that my one true love would die young and leave me all alone.
Everyone said she was a fraud, that she was just making it up.
I'd really like to know why the hell a person would make up a thing like that.

Written with the snap, glitter and wit of The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing, God-Shaped Hole is a memorable, poignant love story that will leave you weeping with laughter. It is told in the wry, vulnerable voice of Beatrice "Trixie" Jordan who replies to a personal ad, "If your intentions are pure I am...

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Overview

When I was twelve, a fortune teller told me that my one true love would die young and leave me all alone.
Everyone said she was a fraud, that she was just making it up.
I'd really like to know why the hell a person would make up a thing like that.

Written with the snap, glitter and wit of The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing, God-Shaped Hole is a memorable, poignant love story that will leave you weeping with laughter. It is told in the wry, vulnerable voice of Beatrice "Trixie" Jordan who replies to a personal ad, "If your intentions are pure I am seeking a friend for the end of the world."

In doing so, she meets Jacob Grace, a charming, effervescent thirty-something writer, a free spirit who is a passionate seeker of life. He possesses his own turn of phrase and ways of thinking and feeling that dissonantly harmonize with Trixie's off-center vision as they roller coaster through the joys and furies of their wrenching romance. Along the way they try to come to terms with the hurt brought about by their distant fathers who, in different ways, forsook them.

This story will prove so touching you will rush to share it with a friend or loved one or even a stranger.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
In the brief prelude to this conventional contemporary love story, a fortune-teller predicts that Beatrice Jordan (then 12) will meet a soul mate whom she'll lose to tragedy. Fifteen years later, lonely and feeling like an outsider in her hometown of Los Angeles, this self-professed "cynical but lovable...chick" impulsively answers a personal ad in a weekly newspaper. Jacob Grace is two years her senior, a freelancer with a novel called Hallelujah in progress; Beatrice's work as a jewelry designer gives her life meaning, as do music, books and sex, not necessarily in that order. Both of their fathers hers a workaholic lawyer, his an alcoholic author decamped, and they still feel abandoned; they also both feel that music is "a cosmic language" and that people are "all searching to fill up" the titular hole in their souls. Jacob renames Beatrice "Trixie" and takes her for a midnight swim in the frigid Pacific before they bed down in her apartment. Their ensuing relationship is sensuous, but marred by her jealousy of his former girlfriend, his fondness for taking solo sojourns without notice and their shared antagonism toward their fathers. Beatrice comes across as bright but brittle, independent but superstitious, sophisticated but trailer-park profane. Jacob is Byronic, misunderstood and (of course) destined for tragedy. For readers compelled by bedroom athletics and the self-destructive tendencies of free spirits, and unopposed to prose that's not much better than competent, this first novel offers some appeal. (May) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
From The Critics
Beatrice "Trixie" Jordan, a lonely, 27-year-old jewelry designer living in Los Angeles, responds to a personal ad from a man "seeking a friend for the end of the world." The man is Jacob Grace, a 30-year-old writer. They fall madly in love and believe they are soul mates. Abandoned by their fathers, they spend much of their time helping each other come to terms with their feelings. After enduring some emotionally desperate times, they hope better days are ahead and plan to leave L.A. and spend the rest of their lives together. However, when Beatrice was 12, a fortune-teller told her that her true love would die young. First-time novelist DeBartolo, writer and director of the film Dream for an Insomniac, has written an edgy story of love and fate rife with expletives and sex. This is a love story in which a happy ending isn't guaranteed. Some readers may be unfamiliar with some of the pop-culture references and may not appreciate the frank and brutally honest tone, but overall this is an engaging first novel. For public libraries. Samantha J. Gust, Niagara Univ. Lib., NY Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781570719585
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks, Incorporated
  • Publication date: 5/28/2002
  • Pages: 336
  • Sales rank: 593,411
  • Product dimensions: 5.13 (w) x 8.13 (h) x 0.96 (d)

Meet the Author

Tiffanie DeBartolo is the author of a previous novel, God-Shaped Hole. She also wrote the Columbia Tristar release Dream for an Insomniac. She lives with her husband in Boulder, Colorado.

Read an Excerpt

Chapter One


If your intentions are pure
I'm seeking a friend
for the end
of the world

    That's all the ad said. That, plus a phone number.

    It was the biggest one under the section titled Men Seeking Women in the LA Weekly. I didn't usually even read the Weekly. I never liked going out all that much. Reading it only reminded me that I lived in L.A., and no one with any sense would want to be reminded of that. With its constant contradiction of sunshine and violence, going out in Los Angeles was like offering yourself up as a sacrifice to the god of hellfire. It just brought me down.

    But for some reason that day, I felt an urge. Was it claustrophobia of my apartment, or of the couple-hundred mile radius I helped populate? I had my suspicions. Either way, it all screamed Get me out of here!

    I picked up the Weekly right in front of the natural food market two blocks from my apartment. It was only six o'clock and I didn't feel like spending the entire evening alone, nor did I feel like succumbing to a knock on the door from Greg, my neighbor-slash-ex-boyfriend, who deep down I loathed to all hell but who also, conveniently, lived right down the hall. When he was bored he came looking for sex, and I wasn't in the mood to endure the wrestling match of my conscience versus my libido. I was feeling weak and wanted to see what my other options were.

    I was flipping the pages, looking for movie listings, when it caught my eye.

    Seeking a friend for the end ofthe world.

    I couldn't have put it better myself. Except to add one question: Where the fuck have you been all my life?

    I read the ad over a few more times and then, for some nonsensical reason I'll probably never be able to explain, I did it. I skipped the movie, went up to my apartment, and called the number. Sometimes the most consequential moments in my life originate from a state of completely witless human auto-pilot.

    After four rings an answering machine picked up and a computer-generated voice asked me to leave my name and number. It caught me off-guard. I didn't know what to say and didn't want to sound asinine. I hung up.

    Ten minutes later, after jotting down exactly what I would tell him to make myself sound enchanting, I called back and left a floundering message that wasn't even close to what was written on the Post-It note I held in my hand.

    "Uh, hi. My name's Beatrice. I'm twenty-seven years old and, well, I don't know what else to say. I saw your ad in the Weekly. I was intrigued. Call me if you want. I mean, I don't know, I've never done anything like this before but, anyway ... here's my number."

    Like I told the machine, I'd never called a personal ad before, and hadn't ever planned on calling one. As a matter of fact, I made fun of people who had to advertise for dates, and I usually prefer my own company to any old idiot, unless I'm really horny. But I wasn't too proud to admit that in a city where women choose men by the kind of car they drive, and men choose women by the size of their breasts, I'd become moderately despondent.

    I'm only a B cup.

    Besides, the ad seemed different, inspiring in a way. I asked myself if any of my former lovers would have ever thought of something that provocative to write in a personal ad, and because the answer to my question was a resounding no, I figured it was worth a shot.

    I didn't hear from anyone for almost two weeks, and I had all but forgotten about it until I answered the phone and heard his voice.

    He said, "Trixie?"

    I paused. "Do you mean ... Beatrice?"

    Chuckling a little, he said, "Isn't Trixie short for Beatrice?"

    If it was, I said, I'd sure as hell never been called it.

    I knew it was the guy from the ad as soon as he spoke. Whoever he was, that is. The tone of his voice was smooth and rich, like freshly ground coffee. And he spoke softly, deliberately, as if every word he uttered were a self-portrait.

    He told me his name was Jacob Grace, and he apologized for not calling me back sooner, although he gave no explanation as to why it took him so long. He said he was twenty-nine, that he was a writer—currently working part-time at the Weekly—and that he'd very much like to meet me as soon as possible. He said all this as if he were in pain, as if I were a lost love he never got over. Or maybe that was the dreamer in me. I try to find meaning anywhere I can. It's the only way I know how to validate my existence.

    Jacob and I arranged to meet for lunch the next day at Fred's on Vermont. It wasn't too far from where he worked, he explained. He ate there a couple times a week.

    "They have corn dogs and pop-tarts on the menu," he said boyishly.

    I asked him what he looked like, pretending I needed to know in case it was crowded. I really just wanted to make sure he wasn't some kind of Quasimodo.

    "What do you look like," he said back to me, more a statement than a question.

    "I have long black hair, and I'll wear a topaz stone around my neck."

    "You were born in November," he said. "So was I."

    "How do you know that?"

    "Topaz is the birth stone for November. I have brown hair. See you tomorrow."

Chapter Two


    I got to Fred's a few minutes early and stood outside, peering in through the slats of the wooden blinds. The place was like a time warp, with brown and yellow leather booths, caricatures of old movie stars on the walls, and vintage white toasters on every table. I'd never been to a restaurant where they let you toast your own bread. There was a jukebox in the corner, and a massive cappuccino machine behind the counter. But what really caught my eye was something on the wall. I could see it from where I was—a painting of a rocky beach with a raging sea crashing down upon it. In big letters across the front was scribed the phrase: NOT NOW.

    It was a kitschy piece of shit but something about it made my heart hurt.

    I was going to walk in and get a table, then I spotted Jacob. He was in the booth right under a bad likeness of Lauren Bacall. Don't ask me how I knew he was the guy, I just did. It was a typical spring day: warm, clear, a predictable bore, with the temperature reaching the mid-seventies, but he was wearing a black, ratty, old wool coat that looked like it had been through a war. He was smaller than I'd pictured him—a little taller than me, but he looked fragile somehow, sitting alone with his head down. He hadn't shaved that morning, I could tell because there was a hint of scruff across his delicate jaw. And his hair was brown, like he said, but a fiery brown, as if it were flecked with cinnamon. It was disheveled and still...

(Continues...)


Excerpted from God-Shaped Hole by tiffanie debartolo. Copyright © 2002 by Tiffanie DeBartolo. Excerpted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.


Customer Reviews
Average Rating 4.5
( 39 )

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  • Posted August 22, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    SIMPLY MY FAVORITE FOREVER!

    Every single one of my girlfriends have heard me talk about this book and I have recommended it to EVERYONE! When I first read it I never expected it to be one of those books that I would want to read more then once! I loved her writing and the characters with such great twists!

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  • Posted April 9, 2010

    It will become your favorite

    I bought this book for a friend for her birthday, expecting it to be good because of how the employee at B&N was gushing over it, but I was not expecting it to be THIS good! One of the few books I have actually screamed at the pages while reading, and balled my eyes at over. I have told all of my friends to read this, some of my friends being the type who hate to read, and every single one has absolutely loved it.
    Definitely more a girl book though! Great story, you won't regret purchasing this! I promise you!

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  • Posted March 2, 2009

    VERY GOOD!!

    I really did like this book. The whole idea of a God Shapped Hole is so mind blowing. And the story was so cute and romantic. (although quite farfetched but who doesn't like a litte of that) Although I really hated the ending. (Not that is wasn't good but if you read it you will see) DeBartolo is a great writer. If you liked this book read How to Kill a Rock Star!!!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 8, 2008

    A friend for the end of the world

    I bought God-shaped hole after reading How to Kill a rock Star and let me tell you I was not disappointed.Ms. DeBartolo has become one of my favorite authors, I only wish that she had more books to enjoy. Finally an author that totally related to how I feel about life since loosing my dad. Rock on Trixie !!!!!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 24, 2007

    Excellent Book

    very well written and you really can 'feel' the characters. I love books like this!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 8, 2006

    a terrific love story.

    the story is wonderful.i cried,laughed,and related a lot to it.I think you will too.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 9, 2006

    the most amazing book ever

    A romance you have to read. one of the best books i have ever read!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 3, 2006

    A Bittersweet Love Story by Bartolo

    Tiffanie de Bartolo's God-Shaped Hole is truly a book that is much deeper than its cover. Trixie and Jacob are completely lovable and very realistic from beginning to end. Not a novel for sensitive, easily hurt readers. You will cry your eyes out at the end. A very fun and relaxing read.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 21, 2005

    A song can save your life

    This is an amazing book. It has great refernce of music, books, places to go, etcetera. Jacob Grace, what a damn concept. It has been one of the best books I've read in awhile.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 9, 2005

    4 years later still love it

    I loved this book. It was one of those books i had to make myself put down. It was a wonderful story about love and loss. I have a Jacob so it hit home for me. I even emailed DeBartolo and she wrote me back a couple times! I highly recommend it.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 19, 2005

    I can't get the story out of my head

    I read this book in two days. And even though I could figure out how it was going to end, it still broke my heart. I cried like a baby. And since I have read it, the story lingers in the back of my head. This was a very good book.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 3, 2005

    An Avid Reader...

    I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK!!! So sad it's over! Trixie feels like my best friend, and I love Jacob. What an amazing read! Should be required reading for all!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 9, 2004

    One Of My all Time Favorites!

    I absolutely loved this book. If is one of my all time favorite books. I loved the way the author writes. The characters are so special and real. I felt for the characters. I read it and gave it to my sister, who also loved it. I was sorrry to see it end. An unforgetable book that men and women will love and treasure.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 22, 2004

    Wonderous

    This book is like anything I've read before. It's full of emotion and pulls at the heart.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 28, 2004

    phenominal

    all i can say is wow... i don't usually read romance books but a friend loaned me this (who actually designed the front and back cover of the book) and i felt i had to read it. she said it was a tear-jerker. i've never cried when reading a book but even though i knew jacob's impending doom, it still clenched my heart and brought tears to my eyes. this book moved me in ways i can't explain. i simply loved it.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 24, 2003

    i simply LUv it!

    iLUv the book i just couldnt put it down! i was able to relate to alot of scenes especially those girly things trixie do! & i felt the joys and sorrows of jacob&trixie! best book i have read in my life!ÜÜ

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 21, 2003

    Good

    This is a good book. The tension is set up from the beginning and you know what's coming and don't want it to. Well written. Keeps your attention the whole way through. One of those that you can't wait to get back to.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 12, 2003

    Amazing.

    This book is seriously so good. I just finished reading it the fourth time through. It's just so brilliant and amazing. I recommend it to every single person out there. It's also inspired by the death of Jeff Buckley. Good stuff. XXX

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 7, 2003

    This is a great book

    I love reading, and I've read a lot of books, but never in my life have I come across a book like this. This is truly a magnificent book! I greatly reccommend this book! I could read it over and over. The author (DeBartolo) pulls you in and makes you believe you are acutally there. This book is a tearjerker and can touch even the coldest of hearts!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 12, 2003

    I have recommended this to every reader I know!

    I am an avid reader who averages about 3-4 books per week. God Shaped Hole is the best book I can remember reading. It had a profound effect on me. I love the fact that it is based on a Chris Cornell song (and a wonderfully written song at that) and DeBartolo¿s writing is superb! So far, I have purchased this title for three of my friends and they have all loved it and recommended it to others. I have to wonder if the critics are even reading the same book?!?! If you only read one book this year, please, read this one. It is an amazing work of fiction

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