In the same breath, Iris Smyles describes herself as "possessed by literature to the point of total incompetence" and one who "pinks out" when she drinks too much, because she's a girl, and that sounds more appropriate. Smyles is the author of this book, but she's also a fictionalized character. A 20-something living in New York, throwing away internship opportunities at monolithic publishers and drinking up all the booze in Manhattan suddenly discovers that she can mine her own shame and regret for money by publishing articles about herself. A labyrinthine concept, paired with a refreshingly straightforward (and lovable) narrator, Iris Has Free Time is a series of serious one-liner gems, laugh-out-loud hilarity, "no-she-didn't" moments of vicarious embarrassment and truly intelligent philosophical observations. The most believable untrue autobiographical treatise on life, love, liquor and literature you'll have the pleasure of reading this year, or maybe ever.
