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· 23 ratings · 8 reviews

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Jan 27, 2019 Jim rated it it was amazing

I was fortunate enough to get an advanced copy of this audacious modern-day Mad Men. It's a novel of an American advertising creative director who takes a top position at an agency in Jarkarta, Indonesia. But it's unlikely that even Don Draper could keep up with Paul, our protagonist.

Early in the novel, Paul reveals that he's in Jakarta for the story. After finding international success with his "Get Juiced" ad campaign, he could have had his pick of any of the big global agencies. But he wants something more. Paul wants to write the Great American Novel—or something like it—and so he needs a place where he can live a story worthy of a novel. It's an advertising cliché that every copywriter has an unfinished novel in their drawer, but in the context of a novel, it does a strange thing—it gives Paul a kind of meta-awareness of his own plot. It both gives him motivation and calls into question his motivations. How do you live when your motivation is to be a good story? And is that any different than just living?

Paul definitely makes a good go at living a novel-worthy life. The book is filled with sex, drugs, danger, crime, love, comedy and general insanity. It's sometimes a little fratty, sometimes a little gonzo, sometimes over-the-top. When Paul is trying to describe what he imagines his novel to be to one of his clients, he says it's "Sort of a pseudo-biopic romantic comedy with a heavy dose of international intrigue."

That about nails it, but doesn't give credit to some of the weightier themes, which Cohen touches on without being heavy-handed. He shifts between general hilarity and poignant contemplations about poverty, religion, and purpose in life. He captures the feeling of dislocation one experiences in a completely foreign country and the difficulty of running the gauntlet of cultural faux pas.

One of my favorite parts is the man Paul sees daily from his office window—a poor man in a dirt lot behind the building. Paul contemplates this man, how their two existences are so close to each other in space but couldn't be more different. He is a kind of check on Paul's perspective, a constant reminder of the "real world."

The novel is peppered with funny moments and dry one-liners, like when he observes that his glass of 23-year Pappy Van Winkle tastes like "the last drink of a disgraced dictator, right before his public execution." It moves along at a good clip and is full of enough twists to keep the reader turning pages and on their proverbial toes.

A novel about a man trying to live a novel-worthy life is, as we'd say in the advertising business, a solid concept. I'd contend that the execution is just as strong.

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Jul 31, 2020 Anu rated it really liked it

Insightful

If God Allows is the fictional memoir of a high school dreamer, film school rebel, advertising hack, American atheist who sought a life worth writing about in a land where prayer and religion were only slightly more ubiquitous than sex, drugs, magic, and systematic corruption.

The book is divided into two parts: Part-I: a fictional memoir of Paul Goldberg and Part-II: written by the character Nisa where the "whys" and the "hows" will all be explained.

The protagonist Paul Goldberg give

Insightful

The book is divided into two parts: Part-I: a fictional memoir of Paul Goldberg and Part-II: written by the character Nisa where the "whys" and the "hows" will all be explained.

The protagonist Paul Goldberg gives the readers an insight into his childhood memories, breakups, his ambitions, dreams, creativity, life choices, and the desire to write a book. Well-narrated and quick read.

The plot takes on a smooth pace in the beginning and gradually makes the readers engaging. The Characters are brilliantly connected to the story.

Thoughtful conversations at the beginning of the book gradually turn into terrible incidents with an unexpected climax.

Perfect examples of Jakarta traffic and the comparison of the city to village life wonderfully portrayed. You can experience the beauty of Jakarta city through the author's description along with Paul's memory lane.

The right mix of heartwarming moments, true love, farewells, and tragic situations gives a realization that the simple pleasures are what life is all about.

I loved the way the author expressed the missing days of events as phone conversation messages.

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There were a few things that instantly made this novel/memoir appeal to me - I studied advertising so have a similar background to the main character and I've travelled quite a lot around Indonesia so have an understanding of the customs/religion. Everything else was a world away from anything I've experienced (including the excessive drug use, drinking, wild sex) but honestly, I was here for it. Normally I'm prudish about this kinda stuff but it just fit so well in the context of the novel and There were a few things that instantly made this novel/memoir appeal to me - I studied advertising so have a similar background to the main character and I've travelled quite a lot around Indonesia so have an understanding of the customs/religion. Everything else was a world away from anything I've experienced (including the excessive drug use, drinking, wild sex) but honestly, I was here for it. Normally I'm prudish about this kinda stuff but it just fit so well in the context of the novel and Paul's wild Indo adventure. I loved his sarcastic nature which formed the basis of my enjoyment for the whole book. I definitely preferred the first half as I felt part two ran off on a bit of a mad tangent but overall the story was fresh, unique, and honest with satirical undertones that had me in a perpetual state of L-O-L-ing (FYI book ref, not me being weird).

Thanks so much to the author and publisher for reaching out and sending me a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rating breakdown
Plot/narrative - 3.7
Writing style/readability - 4.6
Characters - 4.2
Diverse themes - 3.8
Ending - 2.5
Overall - 3.8
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Dec 31, 2019 Millie Brown rated it really liked it

Paul Goldberg is a successful advertising creative director but longs for a life of substance. His unfinished novel is a bitter reminder that he became successful rather than significant. An athiest in a world that is all about religion, Paul tries to transition to novelist while chasing sex, drugs, and debachery.

If God Allows is written as a memoir. Its rye humor keeps the book going at a steady pace, with moments that you need to think about for a minute before laughing at. Overall a good rea

If God Allows is written as a memoir. Its rye humor keeps the book going at a steady pace, with moments that you need to think about for a minute before laughing at. Overall a good read but maybe went to press a few revisions too soon. It could have been polished into something worthy of a Pulitzer. Over 5 pages of catching up on unread text messages was unneccesary, slowed the book down and should have been edited out.

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Jan 21, 2019 Scott rated it it was amazing

A breezy, entertaining romp through the backstreets, nightclubs and advertising offices of Indonesia, as told by an American ex-pat with a knack for keen observation and an ear for a good quip. Written in the style of a modern day Henry Miller, there's enough sex, drugs and violence to keep the reader titillated, as the author bravely explores the hidden corners of a place most of us will probably never dare to venture. Throw in a dry sense of wit and plenty of amusingly tragic miscommunications A breezy, entertaining romp through the backstreets, nightclubs and advertising offices of Indonesia, as told by an American ex-pat with a knack for keen observation and an ear for a good quip. Written in the style of a modern day Henry Miller, there's enough sex, drugs and violence to keep the reader titillated, as the author bravely explores the hidden corners of a place most of us will probably never dare to venture. Throw in a dry sense of wit and plenty of amusingly tragic miscommunications with the locals, and you've got yourself a jaunty, escapist first novel from this promising new author. ...more

Apr 25, 2019 Shareina rated it it was amazing

As a copywriter who has been in the industry for quite some time, I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! It was delightful to see the world advertising through Paul Goldberg's eyes. The novel clipped along at an advertiser's pace, fast like 24 hour turn around for a full campaign and in other times, a lot slower, like a week stretch of leaving early and coming in late. The writing is charming, often times unexpected but always fun. Will this novel change your world, probably not, but it As a copywriter who has been in the industry for quite some time, I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! It was delightful to see the world advertising through Paul Goldberg's eyes. The novel clipped along at an advertiser's pace, fast like 24 hour turn around for a full campaign and in other times, a lot slower, like a week stretch of leaving early and coming in late. The writing is charming, often times unexpected but always fun. Will this novel change your world, probably not, but it's an incredibly enjoyable way to spend a Saturday afternoon when you're supposed to be writing a radio script for your agency's most important client. ...more

I usually do not like novels about novelists, but Paul Goldberg isn't really a novelist, he is an advertising executive who wishes he was a novelist. He's also a colorful character. Depraved, crazy, drug and sex driven maniac worthy of anything William S Burroughs wrote.

If God allows has intrigue, susdpense, and romance, but most of all it has quirky humour. Paul Goldberg is a J Alfred Prufrock of our time. An expatriot American living in Jakarta, looking at the real world from his office window

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Feb 06, 2019 RC rated it it was amazing

Couldn't put it down

I finished this book a few hours after downloading it to my kindle. The story follows Paul on his quest to live a life worth writing about and I couldn't put it down until I found out if he wrote his novel or destroyed his life trying.
I recommend it.