UP, DOWN, AND SIDEWAYS

First-time novelist Patton continues his impressive debut with a droll send-up of Wall Street, as he follows the fortunes of 24- year-old whiz-kid Philip Halsey, who, having dropped out of college at the age of 20, has parlayed a relatively small stake into a major portfolio. In the space of a fairly brief narrative, played out against the lurid backdrop of the go-go '80s, Philip blithely betrays friends, makes and loses considerable amounts of money, juggles the affection of several women, and ultimately comes out not only wealthier but wiser. Patton nicely mingles some sharp satire of Wall Street antics with an understated tale of a confused, not entirely pleasant, but very bright young man figuring out the nature and purpose of his life. Assured and entertaining.