Humpty Dumpty in OaklandHumpty Dumpty in Oakland
Title rated 3.05 out of 5 stars, based on 6 ratings(6 ratings)
Book, 2007
Current format, Book, 2007, 1st U.S. ed, No Longer Available.Book, 2007
Current format, Book, 2007, 1st U.S. ed, No Longer Available. Offered in 0 more formatsAl Miller is a sad case, someone who can't seem to lift himself up from his stagnant and disappointing life. He's a self-proclaimed nobody, a used car salesman with a lot full of junkers.
His elderly landlord, Jim Fergesson, has decided to retire because of a heart condition and has just cashed in on his property, which includes his garage, and, next to it, the lot that Al rents. This leaves Al wondering what his next step should be, and if he even cares.
Chris Harman is a record-company owner who has relied of Fergesson's to fix his Cadillac for many years. When he hears about Fergesson's sudden retirement fund, he tells him about a new realty development and urges him to invest in it. According to Harman, it's a surefire path to easy wealth. Fergusson is swayed. This is his chance to be a real businessman, a well-to-do, respected gentlemen, like Harman.
But Al is convinced that Harman is a crook out to fleece Fergesson. Even if he doesn't particularly like Fergesson, Al is not going to stand by and watch him get cheated. Only Al's not very good at this, either. He may not even be right.
Set in San Francisco in the late 1950s, Humpty Dumpty in Oakland is a tragicomedy of misunderstandings among used car dealers and real-estate salesmen: the small-time, struggling individuals for whom Philip K.Dick always reserved his greatest sympathy. Jim Fergesson is an elderly garage owner with a heart condition, who is about to retire; Al Miller is a somewhat feckless mechanic who sublets part of Jim's lot and finds his livelihood threatened by the decision to sell; Chris Harman is a record-company owner who for years has relied on Fergesson to maintain his cars. When Harman hears of Fergesson's impending retirement he tips him off to what he says is a cast-iron business proposition: a development in nearby Marin County with an opening for a garage. Al Miller is convinced that Harman is a crook, out to fleece Fergesson of his life's savings. As much as he resents Fergesson he can't bear to see it happen and--denying to himself all the time what he is doing--he sets out to thwart Harman.
Set in San Francisco in the late 1950s, Humpty Dumpty in Oakland is a tragicomedy of misunderstandings among used car dealers and real-estate salesmen: the small-time, struggling individuals for whom Philip K.Dick always reserved his greatest sympathy. Jim Fergesson is an elderly garage owner with a heart condition, who is about to retire; Al Miller is a somewhat feckless mechanic who sublets part of Jim's lot and finds his livelihood threatened by the decision to sell; Chris Harman is a record-company owner who for years has relied on Fergesson to maintain his cars. When Harman hears of Fergesson's impending retirement he tips him off to what he says is a cast-iron business proposition: a development in nearby Marin County with an opening for a garage. Al Miller is convinced that Harman is a crook, out to fleece Fergesson of his life's savings. As much as he resents Fergesson he can't bear to see it happen and--denying to himself all the time what he is doing--he sets out to thwart Harman.
In 1950s San Francisco, as Jim Ferguson, an elderly garage owner with a heart condition prepares to retire and sell his business, he is offered the deal of a lifetime by record-company owner Chris Harman, but Al Miller, a somewhat irresponsible mechanic who works in Jim's Garage, believes that Harman is a crook and sets out to protect his mentor. 35,000 first printing.
In 1950s San Francisco, elderly garage owner Jim Ferguson prepares to retire and sell his business, but when he is offered the deal of a lifetime by record-company owner Chris Harman, Al Miller, one of Jim's mechanics who thinks that Harman is a crook, sets out to protect his mentor.
His elderly landlord, Jim Fergesson, has decided to retire because of a heart condition and has just cashed in on his property, which includes his garage, and, next to it, the lot that Al rents. This leaves Al wondering what his next step should be, and if he even cares.
Chris Harman is a record-company owner who has relied of Fergesson's to fix his Cadillac for many years. When he hears about Fergesson's sudden retirement fund, he tells him about a new realty development and urges him to invest in it. According to Harman, it's a surefire path to easy wealth. Fergusson is swayed. This is his chance to be a real businessman, a well-to-do, respected gentlemen, like Harman.
But Al is convinced that Harman is a crook out to fleece Fergesson. Even if he doesn't particularly like Fergesson, Al is not going to stand by and watch him get cheated. Only Al's not very good at this, either. He may not even be right.
Set in San Francisco in the late 1950s, Humpty Dumpty in Oakland is a tragicomedy of misunderstandings among used car dealers and real-estate salesmen: the small-time, struggling individuals for whom Philip K.Dick always reserved his greatest sympathy. Jim Fergesson is an elderly garage owner with a heart condition, who is about to retire; Al Miller is a somewhat feckless mechanic who sublets part of Jim's lot and finds his livelihood threatened by the decision to sell; Chris Harman is a record-company owner who for years has relied on Fergesson to maintain his cars. When Harman hears of Fergesson's impending retirement he tips him off to what he says is a cast-iron business proposition: a development in nearby Marin County with an opening for a garage. Al Miller is convinced that Harman is a crook, out to fleece Fergesson of his life's savings. As much as he resents Fergesson he can't bear to see it happen and--denying to himself all the time what he is doing--he sets out to thwart Harman.
Set in San Francisco in the late 1950s, Humpty Dumpty in Oakland is a tragicomedy of misunderstandings among used car dealers and real-estate salesmen: the small-time, struggling individuals for whom Philip K.Dick always reserved his greatest sympathy. Jim Fergesson is an elderly garage owner with a heart condition, who is about to retire; Al Miller is a somewhat feckless mechanic who sublets part of Jim's lot and finds his livelihood threatened by the decision to sell; Chris Harman is a record-company owner who for years has relied on Fergesson to maintain his cars. When Harman hears of Fergesson's impending retirement he tips him off to what he says is a cast-iron business proposition: a development in nearby Marin County with an opening for a garage. Al Miller is convinced that Harman is a crook, out to fleece Fergesson of his life's savings. As much as he resents Fergesson he can't bear to see it happen and--denying to himself all the time what he is doing--he sets out to thwart Harman.
In 1950s San Francisco, as Jim Ferguson, an elderly garage owner with a heart condition prepares to retire and sell his business, he is offered the deal of a lifetime by record-company owner Chris Harman, but Al Miller, a somewhat irresponsible mechanic who works in Jim's Garage, believes that Harman is a crook and sets out to protect his mentor. 35,000 first printing.
In 1950s San Francisco, elderly garage owner Jim Ferguson prepares to retire and sell his business, but when he is offered the deal of a lifetime by record-company owner Chris Harman, Al Miller, one of Jim's mechanics who thinks that Harman is a crook, sets out to protect his mentor.
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