THE GREAT SWEET DAYS OF OLD SHIBUI

by H.D. Miller ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 10, 1964

Devoted practitioner of Shibui, the art of being as unconscious as possible while still staying alive, is cool John Mingo, swimming in a New York limbo. John is living with Boston bred Thea, but is still hung up on exotic Leeann who claims a Japanese prison camp in her past, and is not averse to taking up with an elderly client's thirty-four year old wife while he tries to sell him smuggled fake (?) pre-Columbian art. Peopling his world are Iris, the grandmother of them all, Max, the fat and rich who simply begs to be sponged off of, Leo, who obliges him, Clete, the Negro grant-getting writer, Black Dress Betty with her dog and Bella who believes she is in constant danger of being mugged. The main action: Thea tires of John's casual cruelty an walks out on him to Frank, for whom she works, but cannot stick it and returns. John, chastened by Thea, by Stein's price tag on his wife Sandra, and by the truth about Leeann, decides that the days of disengagement and Shi-boo-ee are done. Miller catches the spirit of the thing very well, and if he turns a bit soft at the end, with John committing himself and Max finding Betty, there has to be some growth for denouement...Candid camera oxis Zentialism.

Pub Date: July 10, 1964

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1964

Categories: FICTION