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Blue Heaven Paperback – August 1, 1988

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 95 ratings

Gilbert Selwyn, an unemployed, gay schemer, and Moira Finch, his demonically conniving fiancee, engage their friends, their families, and their wits in a plan to stage a wedding and make off with a fortune in wedding gifts
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In his debut novel, Keenan, a lyricist, illustrates what happens when Philip Cavanaugh, a homosexual and struggling songwriter, becomes embroiled in a scheme by his former lover, Gilbert Selwyn, who plans to marry a wealthy duchess's daughter to reap the wedding gifts. The plot grows more complicated with, among other things, the involvement of the Mafia, the unmasking of the duchess and a rekindled love affair between "Philly" and "Gilley." Yet, despite these elaborate plot machinations, the characters remain one-dimensional (flighty Gilbert, Philip's yuppie sister and brother-in-law in the suburbs, amoral Moira Finch, the bride), failing to engage the reader's interest in them or in their predicaments. Keenan has Philip narrating in a contrived, lighthearted tone replete with one-liners ("Holly's laugh sounds like a getaway car rounding a corner on two wheels") and pursuing stereotypes of pretentiously artsy New Yorkers and high-strung, irrational gays. A skillful ending cannot compensate for all that precedes it.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0140107649
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books (August 1, 1988)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780140107647
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0140107647
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.18 x 0.62 x 7.76 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 95 ratings

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Joe Keenan
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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
95 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book humorous and witty. They describe it as an enjoyable read that is worth their time. However, some readers feel the story is far-fetched and ridiculous.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

20 customers mention "Humor"16 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor. They find it witty and enjoyable, with some humorous situations. The writing is described as lighthearted and realistic.

"...I’m rereading now and laughing out loud all over again...." Read more

"...However, they are ALL great fun and well worth the time but "Blue Heaven" will always be my favorite." Read more

"...From the opening line to the last page, this books delivers pure hilarity. It is pointless to discuss the plot or reveal the jokes...." Read more

"Pleasure to read and funny." Read more

4 customers mention "Value for time"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and worth their time.

"...However, they are ALL great fun and well worth the time but "Blue Heaven" will always be my favorite." Read more

"...on New York, on contemporary lifestyles, gay and otherwise, it is unbeatable...." Read more

"Very interesting book. Lots of twist and turns and impossible to figure out what the heck would happen next...." Read more

"I loved this book. I read it a few years ago, and am STILL thinking about it. I just ordered it for a friend who is feeling down...." Read more

3 customers mention "Story quality"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the story far-fetched and ridiculous.

"...Although the prose is polished and glib, the story itself comes off as forced and very set-up -- which is often the kiss of death in farce...." Read more

"...But the story is so far fetched and plainly ridiculous that I just thought the whole thing camp...silly, stupid maybe...." Read more

"The story line is a bit absurd, and I grew tired of it about ⅔rds the way through...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2023
    I was astounded by Joe Keenan’s Blue Heaven when I first read it almost ten years ago. I’m rereading now and laughing out loud all over again. The novel is like watching a well-written episode of Will and Grace, only more skillful and much more devastatingly bitchy. In fact I’m certain the writers of will and grace were inspired by Joe’s work - his characters are not dissimilar but in many ways they’re more clever. The novel affords so much more room for depth than a sitcom. The fact that I want to live in Gilbert and Moira’s world and hang out with them, even though I know they are technically despicable people, makes this an absolute triumph. Can’t wait to read his other books!
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2009
    I'm not a literary critic so I can't speak to its technical proficiency. Some of these kinds of criteria seem to be a sticking point for some of the negative reviewers. "Blue Heaven" is a light read that is silly, fun and, at times, laugh-out-loud funny.

    It was interesting to note that new work by Joe Keenan seemed very hard to come by for quite a few years. As it turns out, I had thought, he had gone on to write for, and eventually help produce, a little sitcom known as "Frasier." ... You may have heard of it. As you get to know the characters in the book, see if they seem a little familiar. However, that Joe Keenan has subsequently said they a not the same person but went on to say he found the book so funny you can't read it in public. (See his review)

    I have read all of Joe Keenan's novels. I would ration them over time otherwise it is too much of a good thing one right after the other. However, they are ALL great fun and well worth the time but "Blue Heaven" will always be my favorite.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2010
    I read this several years ago. It is one of the funniest books I've ever read. I suppose you could call it gay fiction, but that's too small a category - and really doesn't matter. It's just damned funny. Which is what you would expect from one of the writers of Frazier. If Frazier and Niles weren't brothers and were gay and a few IQ points slower, this would be their story. Enjoy.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2004
    When we were seven and eight, my brother and I used to be Lucy and Ethel as the outer space moo-moos who landed on top of the Empire State Building and this book turns the same trick: people I know who read it, cite scene after scene, quoting Philip, Moira and Gilbert with glee. Every time I read this, I remember my excitement when as a kid I watched a new episode of I LOVE LUCY and laughed my heart out.
    This is THE funniest and most entertaining story I know. The proof is in the fact that I have read it at least three times and it's powerful humour has never flagged. I have given this book to scores of people and every single person has raved about it afterwards. As a social commentary on New York, on contemporary lifestyles, gay and otherwise, it is unbeatable. From the opening line to the last page, this books delivers pure hilarity.
    It is pointless to discuss the plot or reveal the jokes. All I can say is that it's the most successful piece of laugh therapy I know.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2023
    Pleasure to read and funny.
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2001
    Gee, this book is like watching a sitcom - and not a particularly funny one. Maybe it should come with a built-in electronic laughtrack. I give it one star for trying so hard.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2006
    Joe Keenan is a master of farce, the most difficult and demanding comic form. This novel, and it's two sequels, are the farce form honed to perfection. Laced with wit and malice, the real question is which is funnier, the dialogue or the descriptive similes? Yes, it's far-fetched and over-the-top. Of course it is. It's farce. It HAS to be. It will make you laugh on every page. If it doesn't; stick a fork in yourself. You're done.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2007
    From the TV Tropes Wiki:

    "IDIOT BALL: Coined by Hank Azaria on Hermans Head: Azaria would ask the writing staff, "Who's carrying the idiot ball this week?" This is not a compliment. The person carrying the idiot ball is often acting out of character, or misunderstanding something that could be cleared up by a single reasonable question that he isn't asking solely because the writers don't want him to ask. It's almost as if the character is being willfully stupid or obtuse."

    That's my problem with this book. The narrating character ("Philly") is supposed to be reasonably smart, sane, and sympathetic, yet time and again when the only course of action he should take is very obviously "run, do not walk, away" he makes a bit of a fuss and then stays involved. The author even devotes two pages to excusing this behavior halfway through the book, but that just ends up calling attention to it all the more. Although the prose is polished and glib, the story itself comes off as forced and very set-up -- which is often the kiss of death in farce.

    It's worth noting that this book landed the author a job on "Cheers" and this eventually led to him being Executive Producer on "Frasier" and it's easy to see why -- it reads like a novelized version of a TV show. The Christmas party set-piece in the center of the book, complete with a slapstick routine involving a mechanical version of the Three Wise Men being mistaken for Mafia hit-men, is so readily translatable to the movie screen that by the end of it I had my mental cast all picked out, starting with Hugh Grant as Philly.

    On the other hand, in the very thin ranks of contemporary comic novels, a book that never once takes itself too seriously is a breath of fresh air. Too many books have at their climactic moment some sympathetic character committing suicide or a traffic accident that leaves the hero's best friend an invalid or some other contrived tragedy -- because obviously just comedy for its own sake isn't to be regarded as worthy of attention or praise in our drama-snob society. What violence or darkness there is comes off more as outrageous and cartoony than anything else, and that's only a good thing in my opinion.

    So overall, witty and enjoyable, but contrived and lacking a sense of reality. Despite what all these other reviews say, with this book Keenan is no P.G. Wodehouse -- but neither was P.G. Wodehouse with his first offering. There is enough good here that I will keep reading at least the next book in the hopes that the author improves.

    One final thought, however: the reason Bertie Wooster is so likeable is that he's always -trying- to do right by everybody, even if he screws it up. Unfortunately, the same can not be said for the main characters of "Blue Heaven".
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • lector
    5.0 out of 5 stars the funniest book I'vbe ever read!!!!!
    Reviewed in Spain on June 30, 2016
    Oh my God!!!! This is such a funny book, you can't stop laughing. When you thought you could not laugh more, the next page was even better. It's a hard thing to keep a good story and make you roar with laughter until the very end without losing interest in the story. Great reading!!!!! Loved Keenan!!!!
  • butterblume
    5.0 out of 5 stars "Blues Heaven" von Joe Keema
    Reviewed in Germany on July 24, 2013
    "Blues Heaven" von Joe Keeman ist unübertroffen witzig und humorvoll, ja, sophisticated. Eine wunderbar gegensätzliches New Yorker Trio erlebt die die aberwitzigsten Geschichten. Ebenso die Nachfolger Bände "Puttinin on the Ritz" und "My Lucky Star". Vielleicht nicht direkt hintereinander lesen, das könnte etwas zu viel des Chaos und der Katastrophen werden, die Stories sind sehr unterschiedlich, aber letztlich nach dem selben Muster gestrickt.
  • Jonathan Morris
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 10, 2005
    Joe Keenan is the genius responsible for many, if not all, of the best episodes of Frasier - The Matchmaker, The Two Mrs Cranes, The Ski Lodge, Out With Dad, The Doctor Is Out... basically this guy is a master of farce construction.
    And this book is in the same tradition. The plotting is extraordinary. The jokes are stunning. You know those books where the back cover says 'Laugh out loud funny' which means there is a mildly amusing bit of wordplay on page 28? Well, this book isn't like that. It genuinely is laugh out loud material, though it's more snort out loud, whoop out loud and guffaw out loud.
    How would I describe the book? It's like PG Wodehouse - it has the same easy breeziness - but with more sex and drugs.
    I don't normally write these review things but this book was so much fun I feel moved to stick my hand up and say, 'Hey, people, buy this, it's great.'
  • Tatiana Beaverhausen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Just the funniest book ever!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 2, 2013
    This has one of the most convoluted plots I've ever read and is the funniest book I've ever read. I've lost SO many copies over the years, loaning it out to friends but not getting it back. I first read it when I lived in London and commuted into work on the tube. I would sit there stifling laughter with tears rolling down my face and often laugh out loud. I won't go into detail - just read it and if you don't laugh out loud too, there's something seriously wrong with you. Really.
  • Mr. P. A. Vickers
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the funniest books ever
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 24, 2014
    This is the sixth time I've bought this book as I lend it to people and never get it back!

    Full throttle, full on silly comedy from start to finish.
    Clever, acidic, silly and very, very well written.