The Organ Grinder and the Monkey

Sam Moffie
Xlibris (2008)
ISBN 9781436327756
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (7/08)

Sam Moffie’s second novel, “The Organ Grinder and the Monkey”, is unique and takes a look at the lives of three very different protagonists with one common thread linking them.  Although filled with the same crude humor as Moffie’s first book, “Swap”, the writing style of this second novel is very different.  The novel is very complex with intelligent writing and it is definitely not a beach read, as it requires concentration to decipher the stories and to keep the characters straight.  The font in the book is also a little on the smaller side which I also find a little more difficult to read.   

The first character that we are introduced to in the book is Seymour Petrillo from Steubenville, Ohio.  Seymour’s father is gay and also has an obsession with all things Dean Martin.  Growing up, Seymour spent a lot of time with his grandparents and on walks through town his grandfather educated him about the history of Steubenville.  Seymour’s therapist has written a book about things Seymour had done and ended up making big bucks off of him.  After leaving Steubenville, Seymour received a college education and ended up in New York with the goal of becoming a veterinarian.

The second character we meet is Irving Hanhart from Brookline, Massachusetts.  Irving’s Jewish mother and Irish father own a bookstore called Moishe Pipecks, which was a meeting place for radicals.  When he was young, after being separated from his class during a field trip, he received help from a policeman.  From this incident he decided that his career goal in life was to become a New York City policeman. 

The final main player in the novel is Constance Powers from Boardman, Ohio who comes from a wealthy family but has never reaped the benefits of that money.  Her career goal in life is to move to New York City and become a Rockette.  However, upon arriving in the city she finds that in order to survive she needs to dance in a strip-club and does some Off-Broadway work.

All three characters have very intriguing and different lives, and following each of their individual stories is quite interesting.  Moffie has a knack for creative, humorous writing, and his stories will definitely grab your attention.  What I said in my review of Moffie’s first novel, “Swap”, also holds true for “The Organ Grinder and the Monkey.”  If you are easily offended by raw humor and explicit language then this book is not for you.  However, if you enjoy that type of writing, then definitely give “The Organ Grinder and the Monkey” a try!