The Last Temptation of Clarence Odbody [NOOK Book]

One of the best Books of 2011

¿I¿m so dreadfully sorry, Zuzu. Everything that¿s taken place since then happened because I allowed your father to die. I¿m responsible for why we¿re here, for the way things are.¿

This is what Clarence, the one-time Angel Second Class tells George Bailey¿s daughter over two decades after Bedford Falls¿ favorite son went missing that Christmas Eve. The Last Temptation of Clarence Odbody reimagines a world in which Clarence failed in his mission to save the distraught, yet warmhearted owner of the Building and Loan. The characters are familiar enough, but things have changed in Bedford Falls. Zuzu drives a beat up ¿65 Ford Mustang. Ernie Bishop, the former Bedford Falls taxi driver is now a renowned author and Frank Hagney, Potter¿s former henchman is racked with guilt and loneliness, trying to make amends for all that he did prior to George¿s disappearance. And poor Clarence, unsure if he did the right thing, is doomed to walk the earth, his worn-out suitcase in hand, trying to piece together the mysteries of life and fate.

Keeping with the spirit of the original story, The Last Temptation of Clarence Odbody offers readers familiar with the movie a look into the world of ¿what-ifs.¿ Meticulously researched and painstakingly faithful to the original characters, the novel is a breath of fresh air; a completely original take on a familiar story. As one who has made watching It¿s a Wonderful Life a yearly tradition, I was a bit skeptical at first by the premise of this book. It seemed almost blasphemous to mess with such an iconic American story. But The Last Temptation of Clarence Odbody does not take anything away from the classic film. If anything, it enhances that story and provides a means to contemplate the philosophical issues brought up in the film. This version is darker, to be sure. But beneath the tragedy and loss, it is a story of hope, forgiveness and redemption.

The Last Temptation of Clarence Odbody is one of the best books of 2011.

5 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

A few thoughts...

I did not understand the epilogue.

I did not like the foul language. The movie, "It's a wonderful life," was clean and wholesome. This book had too many swear words. It wasn't needed.

3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

More of a clunker than a bell ringer.

If you are not overly familiar with the movie, most of the story will be lost to you. Not a character to love in this one and found it overly depressing.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Could have been great

I might have given this book at least 4 stars if it hadn't been for the foul language (very unnecessary) and the confusing epilogue. I reread the epilogue several times trying to figure it out.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

So John Jughead has really done it this time. You might think t

So John Jughead has really done it this time. You might think that if an author, as the opening of his novel, took one of the most beloved films of all time and changed the ending from happy to tragic, that those who love the film would get very angry at him, right? You probably think it could never work. But it does, and then some. As a lover of Frank Capra’s 1946 It’s a Wonderful Life, starring Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, a movie I, and many others, grew up watching affectionately each year at Christmas-time, I can safely say Pierson’s book, although not quite as innocent as the film, is just as delightful. Written in straightforward yet artful prose, the novel stretches forth its ideas - about interconnectedness and causality, about appearances and attitudes - and frames them in a story peopled with characters, some from the movie, some not, but all well-rounded, believable, and, for the most part, likeable. The Last Temptation of Clarence Odbody provokes thought but, above all, following the tradition of it source, has a heart, and thus, although an alteration of the film, is simultaneously a tribute to it. Its details are complex and layered, but, by novel’s close, fit together neatly like a puzzle. Many years ago in Chicago, when I was fortunate enough to catch a production of one of Mr. Pierson’s early plays, I knew he was a talented writer, but he’s really outdone himself here. Read it, especially if you love the film, but even if you don’t. You won’t regret it.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Rather Dark

It had all of the familiar characters from the movie "It's a Wonderful Life", and became a 'what if...' sort of story. Was interesting to see the take that the author had, but I found it to be a rather dark story. Probably not to be read as a light and fluffy Holiday read!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

OK, but...

It's thought-provoking, but I prefer the movie.

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No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.