The Angry Buddhist — Seth Greenland

From the author of I Regret Everything comes this “great novel. It's satirical, it's political, it's sexual. All the things that I love dearly” (Larry David, creator of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Seinfeld).
 
Seth Greenland's timely novel is a smart and darkly amusing dissection of the American political establishment in all its sordid glory. Set in the hardscrabble California desert community of Desert Hot Springs and the manicured enclave of Palm Springs, the novel lives at the intersection of the political disarray of today.
 
In this sun-blasted territory, with its equally arid culture, a fiercely contested congressional election is in progress. The wily incumbent, Randall Duke, is unburdened by ethical considerations and his opponent, Mary Swain, is a sexy and well-financed newcomer who does not have a firm grip on American history or elemental economics.
 
As election day nears, the exploitable backgrounds of these two candidates are teased out by the desire to one-up each other. The campaign gets carried away when the personal escapades of friends and family spill over into the election, including lesbian love triangles, and sudden spiritual enlightenment.
 
“A wild entertainment as well as a novel about the way we live now that dares to dance with the profound.” -- Los Angeles Times
 
“The Angry Buddhist approaches all its characters with reliable misanthropy (not for nothing does Larry David provide this book's most visible blurb). And its story unfolds with dexterous ease . . . A fine, high-end beach read for this election season.” -- The New York Times Book Review
 
“A novel about three brothers, The Angry Buddhist is a steamy mix of murder, matching manga kitten tattoos, and a fierce congressional election.” -- Lion's Roar