An Airy Book Review...

A little over a month ago I wrote about the film Up in the Air starring George Clooney. The film is based off of the 2001 Walter Kirn novel bearing the same name. I gave the movie a rave review, and naturally gravitated toward reading the book.

While not unexpected for the book to differ from the film, this book actually takes quite a different approach. Names are preserved in both formats, Ryan Bingham and his fellow-road-warrior-cum-lover Alex (short for Alexandra I’m guessing—Bingham makes it clear in the book he’s not gay) both appear in the original. A goal of obtaining frequent flyer miles into the millions is common of both Binghams, as is his career as a “Layoff Technician” (paraphrased title).

But that’s about all the commonalities between movie and manuscript. The book is filled with confusing, chaotic dialogue that is often near impossible to understand. At times it reeks of the sacrilegious, profane, and risqué.  Bingham's drug use and behavior in Las Vegas are sickening.  The dialogue becomes even less understandable as Bingham becomes ever-more stoned.  If some of the statements in this book are a glimpse into the author’s mind, then I’m lead to believe Kirn may be one sick artist.

On a lighter note, the book did leave me with a few questions. How come some nationally recognized brands such as Avis, Treasure Island (Las Vegas), and Delta Airlines make an appearance in the book while others are inventions of Kirn? Take for example: Great West Airlines, The Cinema Grande Las Vegas (once Kirn does mention the MGM—an error?), or Mount Olympus Las Vegas (a Greek-Empire spoof on Ceasars, no doubt—someone call Harrah’s, perhaps they can build a new resort!).

This book was written pre-9/11. It’s an interesting throwback to the days of lax security and simple air travel gone by. It’s ironic when Bingham and a realtor discuss hot real estate markets in the American West. How funny that in a time predating two economic recessions, Bingham works as a career transition counselor. Bingham, in his first-person narrative, even discusses the rise of discount airlines and their effects on mainline carriers. It’s interesting fodder for thought in our present-day cattle-car world of air travel.

In summary, this one where I’d say definitely catch the movie; don’t waste your time with the book. The movie has plot; it has substance. The silver-screen dialogue makes sense.  Occasionally I found myself smiling as a witty line from the movie popped out of a page at me.  But overall, this complex work needed to be dumbed down and made into a story that can appeal to a mass audience.

With widespread unemployment around the U.S. today and various security challenges facing our nation, the movie makes a relevant, contemporary, concise package out of Kirn’s ultimately twisted work.