This is a hardcover book. I purchased it at A La Page, a used book store on Provencher Avenue. I have not read anything written by Richler and after this book appeared on the CBC list of 100 Novels that make you Proud to be Canadian I decided I should. It was marked down to $10 for this first edition hard cover.

Barney Panofsky is a fictional character but from what I have read of the author's persona and life he is largely drawn from Richler's own experiences. This book was the last one Richler completed before his death and it is a fitting tribute to his career I think. Of course, I haven't read any of the other books Richler wrote but I do still remember the film made from The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz which I thought was equal parts hilarious and disturbing. (Duddy Kravitz makes a few cameo appearances in this book.)

Barney is in his 60s living on his own since his third wife left him but still continuing to direct his TV production company, drinking at the bar and at home, and smoking cigars at all hours. He has learned that an old compatriot, Terry McIvor, is publishing an autobiography which will paint Barney in a very bad light and so he has decided to write his own autobiography which will contain his version of events. Barney divides the book into three parts named for his three wives (Clara, the Second Mrs. Panofsky and Miriam) but don't expect a straightfoward narrative from Barney. He does eventually get to the point but it is a long and winding, albeit fascinating, road. We do eventually learn that his first wife Clara was someone he met while living in Paris and that she committed suicide very young. Barney returned to Montreal determined to make more of his life and that meant finding another woman to marry. At his wedding reception to the Second Mrs. Panofsky he met Miriam and fell instantly in love. In case you think this is artistic license this same scenario played out between Richler and his second wife. His second marriage ended when he found his wife in bed with his close friend at the cottage he owned in the Laurentians. Barney was secretly glad to have a reason to divorce his wife so that he could woo Miriam but when his friend never returned to the cottage after going for a swim in the lake Barney was charged with his murder. Barney swore to the end that he did not kill the man but are we to believe Barney who has proven to be an unreliable narrator about events both big and small. Although the police could find no body nor any blood they charged him with murder. Barney was acquitted by a jury but most people believe he got away with murder. Miriam, however, did believe him and they did get married, have children and live together quite happily. And then Barney committed one mistake that Miriam could not forgive so she left him and married a younger man. Barney continues to be devastated about losing Miriam and thinks they will eventually reconcile. He also thinks his friend will show up out of the blue proving that he was innocent all along. As Barney continues to pen this autobiography it becomes clear that he is having memory problems and very quickly he deteriorates until he has been put into a personal care home. The book is corrected for errors by his son who also adds an Afterword which sheds some more light on Barney Panofsky, the man, the husband and the father.

Although I felt like I should abhor this character I actually grew to love Barney Panofsky. I'm sure he would have been horrendous to live with but life would not have been dull. And I suspect the same applies to Mordecai Richler. This book was selected by CBC as one of 100 Novels that Make us Proud to be Canadian and I think it was an inspired choice.

I left this book inside this LFL which is in front of 151 Machray Avenue. If you find this book and like it you might also want to watch the movie made from it starring Paul Giametti as Barney and Dustin Hoffman as his father. It is available from the Winnipeg Public Library as a DVD.
This release is for the 2020 Canada Days Release Challenge.

When you find a BookCrossing book it is yours to do with what you like. You can read it and keep it or pass it on or if you don't think it is your kind of book pass it on to someone who might like it or release it in a spot for someone else to find like you just did. Whatever you choose it would be great if you could write a short note letting us know what new adventures the book is on.