Living the Dream, Keeping it Real: Aisling Ltd., Sean Harnett

It's more refined than hardboiled, but Sean Harnett's cracking tale, Aisling Ltd, is well worth a couple of hours of your time: "sparse, sardonic and enjoyable …" say the folks at Open Book, and who are we to argue? No one, that's who - we just direct you to an extract from the novel and let you make your own mind up, 'cos that's the kind of guys-'n'-gal we are. Although, if you jump here, you'll discover that it's "a hugely enjoyable parody of an idealistic young businessman who is equal parts Holden Caulfield and Tom Ripley," apparently. Which is nice ...