The Bar Tab Also Rises - by Brian Burns (Paperback)

About the Book

Meet the Lost Generation's most dysfunctional expatriates. A comedy about wealthy people with ridiculous problems, written by someone who clearly spent too much time in cafés.

Book Synopsis

A hilarious journey through 1920s Europe with the most self-absorbed expatriates you'll ever meet.

Jake Barnes thought chronicling the lives of wealthy Americans living abroad would be straightforward. He was wrong. Dead wrong.

Meet the Lost Generation's most dysfunctional circle: Robert Cohn, an interpretive dance champion with an unhealthy obsession with a cartoon rat; Brett Ashley, a beautiful woman whose mere presence seems to financially ruin every man she meets; and an eccentric cast of characters who treat existential crises like dinner conversation and consider a two-hundred-dollar jar of gourmet mustard a worthy investment.

Set against the backdrop of 1920s Paris and Spain, this comedy follows Jake as he documents the increasingly absurd adventures of Americans who have too much money, too much time, and far too little perspective on their own lives. From heated debates about theme parks that may not exist to encounters with gothic café owners, vampire-obsessed artists, and professional trading game card players, every day brings a new level pretentiousness.

But when the group travels to Spain to witness the legendary "Running of the Supreme Roosters"-a tradition that makes bullfighting look like a peaceful afternoon-Jake realizes that some customs are better left undisturbed. Especially when they involve poultry with anger management issues, mechanical leg braces that shouldn't exist, and people who think interpretive dance can solve international conflicts.

A comedy that proves some generations aren't just lost-they're completely, hilariously clueless.

What readers are saying:

"Finally, a book that understands how ridiculous privileged people can be while still being genuinely entertaining."

"I haven't laughed this hard at wealthy people's problems since... well, ever."

"Part literary parody, part absurdist comedy, all hilarious."

Perfect for readers who enjoy:

• Satirical comedy about the wealthy and self-absorbed
• 1920s period settings with a comedic twist
• Literary parodies that stand on their own
• Stories about Americans abroad making questionable life choices
• Anyone who has ever wondered what happens when interpretive dance meets international relations