I thought the book was somewhat hard to follow. It was also a downer. I thought a book about best friends would focus on the good parts of their lives, not the bad. I realize bad things happen and friends are there for each other but what about the good times? I felt depressed after reading this book.

This book claims to be a story about friendship that is suitable to give to your best friend. Hmmm…I don’t know if I’d inflict the pornography business, a murder/suicide, and the emotional stresses of an AIDS doctor on someone who I consider my best friend. No, I think I’ll stick with something that really gets the message across. Unfortunately, I think this book fails.

• PS I just realized that I mistakenly thought this was on the NYT Best Books List and I was mistaken. It is Thomas Berger’s “Best Friends”.