"Up in the Air" by Walter Kirn, is the story of a
man, Ryan Bingham, who lives his life on the road going from place to place. A
career transition counselor, Ryan is paid to talk to people who have just been
fired or laid off. He tries to navigate them to their next job or opportunity. Bingham is on a journey with no real sense of
direction. His highest priority is to become a business guru and make money on
the executive lecture circuit. 
Like Bingham the book lacks any real sense of direction, at least in my opinion.. The aimlessness narrative kind of matches the aimlessness journey Bingham takes. I am not sure if that is what Kirn is trying to do. The book is pretty lifeless, and I was not jumping at the next chance to pick it up. I have to be Honest and say I caught myself more than a couple times skimming the paragraphs. I felt the book never really developed into any substance, at least enough to allow me to have a good perspective. I needed something to grab on to, and Kirn just didn't do it. I think that is why I was skimming, trying to find something to grab onto. Bingham isn't really the kind of guy that I would like to read about for 300+ pages. Bingham seems cold with emotions hidden underneath, I kind of feel like that could describe the book as well. The book just didn’t warm me up and bring out any emotions kind of like Bingham. Like I mentioned before, I am not sure if Kirn is trying to mimic Binghams' Journey in the way he writes this novel?
Image Source: http://mormonlit.byu.edu/lit_author.php?a_id=1505
http://www.amazon.com/Up-Air-Walter-Kirn/dp/0385722370
Work Cited
Kirn, Walter. Up in the Air. New York: Anchor Books, 2001. Print.
Anthony, Thank you for your candid post on the book "Up in the Air". Like you I found myself not wanting to pick the book up and read. There seemed to be nothing there that intrigued me. I did not skim paragraphs because I was hoping so much that something was going to click and it would all make sense. That did not happen for me until the last two paragraphs...yikes!!! It seems a good percentage of us felt the book was not a favorite. Once again thank you for your post.
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