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    *  *    simonisinhogheavenisnthe?

    afifty-three-year-oldarchitectwitha&aseofbrick,"simontakesayearssabbaticalfroonewyork.theapartmenthesubletsisspaciousandehreegorgeouslingeriemodels——halfhisageandalittledownontheirluck——atalexingtonavenuebar,itseeouation,theypointout,&aalefantasy."simonshouseguestsprovetobesurprisinglyperceptiveandintelligent,buttheyareeachalittlelost,strugglingtofindtheirwayinthatdifficultcity.siive,temptedandhorrified,offersthemhisskewedphilosophiesoflifeandlove.privately,hemournshisage,hisstalledcareer,hisdiminishingsexualprowess,andtheinevitabledaywhenthewomenwillleavehim.

    inthequirky,inimitablestylethathasalwayscharacterizeddonaldbarthelmeswork,paradiseisabawdy,optidprovocativetaleoflivesmeshinginaquixoticworld.

    &aicandmelancholyacharmingbook"——newsweek

    "paradiseisbarthel,ainingbook.hehasfixedhiseyeontheaging,urbanheirfrailties,thedreadfulchaosoftheirlives,andsmiled."——people