Lord Vishnu's Love Handles: A Spy Novel (Sort Of)

by Will Clarke

Book Overview

Travis Anderson has a psychic gift. Or so he thinks. So far he's used his premonitions only to acquire the external trappings of success -- pretty wife, big house, shiny Range Rover. But when ominous visions invade his consciousness, his yuppie contentment is threatened and his business faces an audit from the IRS.

Drowning in mounting financial problems and apparent mental illness, Travis clings to a raft of booze and pills. An intervention...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743271483
• ISBN13: 9780743271486
• Release Date: June 2006
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Psychic CIA agents

Do you love a crazy premise? Can you really get into wacky fiction like Chuck Pahalniuk? Psychic CIA agents tracking killers and each other are quite a stretch. It makes it seem as if the book should belong in the Sci-Fi section of the library, but as with Pahalniuks work, it manages to be well written enough to see the mainstream light of day. I love books that show their main characters coming to grips with their need for material goods. the lyfestyle of the main family reminds me of many Americans constant reach for more and more stuff, things and junk. The main character is forced to see what his life would be like with what is really important, his family, taken away, thus realizing what is truly important.

A Sleeper - Favorite Book of the Year

The odd title of this book prevented me from buying it for several months. I thought it might take place in India or be new age or something but it takes place mostly in a Texas suburb with pretty much nothing to do with India or anything new age. It turns out that it is a very funny and unique book -- the title is random which fits the style of this book in some ways.This is the story of a regular guy who lives with his wife, Range Rover, border Collie and kid in a wealthy suburb. He works at his own internet startup with his partner and old buddy. They meet with a lot of financial success and have some funny experiences.The writing style is sort if like a direct conversation with the reader and is a great style unlike any author I'm familiar with. The main character essentially has some weird ESP abilities that end up causing a great deal if hilarity and adventure and some very funny antics and very funny suburb humor.This book was 100% refreshing and 0% pretentious in that the author has invented his own style and is the complete opposite of stuffy...very funny, very original and very unique.

What a gas!

Okay, it's not your basic spy novel, or fantasy novel, or...novel, period. But what a bizarre and hilarious ride it is!From page one I was hooked and couldn't let go. Lord Vishnu's Love Handles is a story about a man holding on to the last threads of his sanity as he realizes, more and more, that he has visions and learns of things he should not (and could not) know. The narrative is strong and keeps the pace rolling nicely. I actually found myself wanting more when the story was over (@220 pages is like eating tapas--I'm never full).As a reader who normally does not enjoy "fantasy-like" or impossible elements to stories, I was easily pulled in to the plot line of this story (in the same way you may be pulled in to the impossibility of Chuck Palahniuk's Lullaby). Fans of Chucky P. or Dave Eggers will dig this.The writing is edgy, quirky and a blast! Too bad I couldn't find it in hardback - this one is a keeper.

Really interesting, and doesn't go where you think it will!

I randomly found this book and ordered it, not knowing anything about it and I was really suprised by how much I liked it. I don't even know what category to place it in, it would be definitely be very funny, but it also has a small sci-fi/other worldy twist, while at the same time being a very normal story of a man and his life.It is the story of an every day guy who very vivid visions. He is married with a wife and young son and has to try to keep things normal while he's constantly seeing and knowing things he shouldn't know. And that's only the first few chapters. I don't want to say anymore and risk ruining things, but suffice it to say, it gets really really good. Every character completely breaks out of whatever mold you placed them in and as you read the book, you are constantly amazed by where the book goes. But what's great is no matter how weird things get, the main character thinks completely rationally, so it keeps it easily readable and not "oh please" like when some books get rather weird and no one seems to care. At the time I'm writing this, there is no review with the book so I want to give information, but I also don't want to spoil it. It's not a John Grisham type book, or a mystery or even a suspense novel, it's just an extremely interesting, twist and turning, funny, great book. If you have an imagination and are not into the ordinary & predictable, you should definitely get this book!

And you think fortune cookies are wacky.

Will Clarke is the funniest man on this planet. This book is like nothing you have ever read.Psychically-gifted-but-tragically-shallow Travis Anderson milks his premonitions only to acquire an upper-middle-class lifestyle--pretty wife,big house, and shiny car--without having to make an effort. But recent visions threaten his yuppie contentment.It appears that his wife is cheating on him, and bad guys want to harness his mental powers.Travis has never spent much time contemplating how he could better mankind, but suddenly he is saddled with the responsibility of saving the world. The way he goes about it, complaining every step of the way, is laugh out loud funny.