Ever heard of Chad Kultgen? Look on Myspace and his profile “The Average American Male” will show that you will need to read this novel. If you’re culturally aware and a tad cynical or just part of the title’s social group, then you will have a good idea of the protagonist.
According to the man himself, the author has based the unnamed main character on himself. Like the writer, our anonymous narrator likes nothing more than to play videogames, get paid from his insignificant job, and pretend to care about what his girlfriend has to say just for the sex (while not cheating on her).
As the story begins, this life is going quite well for the twenty-something until one fateful night- his girlfriend coaxes him into engagement. Soon he finds out her parents are on their way to help plan for the wedding, and the narrator’s world begins to crumble. From this point, he must make the decision either to leave his bride-to-be or see if the married life is the best shot at happiness…or at least contempt.
From a grand perspective, this is a novel about the image America has created for the young male and the one he has created for himself at the same time. The anonymous narrator’s storytelling matches his dialogue, so he hardly ever feels the need to tell what is on his mind.
I would recommend this book to almost anyone out there who can find it (and it’s not hard). Although, some of the punch lines will hit home more with an average American male.
